Alex Wootton needs no encouragement to grab his chance to impress Munster’s new head coach Johann van Graan and if he continues his current try-scoring run, he will soon find himself in pole position for a Champions Cup wing berth.

It was called Route 6’6”. With the stocks of tall second rows at a critically low ebb, Leinster launched the search for alternatives around about this time five years ago.

Ireland’s promising hooker Zack McCall says the World Rugby U-20 Championship is a huge stepping stone for anyone hoping to become a professional rugby player.

Ireland, 2014 Six Nations champions, are the only nation in the IRB’s top 20 test sides without a men’s Sevens team.

Ireland U19 15 England U19 16

Former Ireland international and Leinster player Girvan Dempsey has been appointed to the role of Academy Manager for Leinster.

Colin McEntee has been appointed IRFU High Performance Manager.

ALL eyes may be on Thomond Park and the Aviva Stadium this weekend, but the more discerning Munster and Leinster supporters will also be keeping tabs on proceedings at the RDS this evening.

COLIN McENTEE’S Leinster A couldn’t add the scalp of London Welsh to those of Esher, Melrose and Llanelli at Donnybrook yesterday but a draw was enough to secure a home quarter-final in the British & Irish Cup.

Twenty-one-year-old flanker Dominic Ryan will captain Leinster ‘A’ in their interprovincial friendly against Ulster ‘A’ in Donnybrook on Friday (6pm).

MUNSTER’S new signing, Will Chambers, and scrum-half Tomas O’Leary will both see game time for the Munster A team in the Sportsground, Galway, today against Connacht (kick-off 2pm).

Leinster coaching staff have expressed their satisfaction with the opening stages of their Route 6’6” initiative, which hopes to attract taller players to the sport.

IF THIS was a learning process for the Irish players, their coach Colin McEntee will have learned more than most of them in what was a high-skilled, highly entertaining uncapped Age Grade international at Anglesea Road yesterday.

LAST season’s British and Irish Cup finalists Munster made a bright start to the new season when they proved too good for Leinster in yesterday’s A Interprovincial at Donnybrook.

IRELAND play Scotland, France and England next August as part of their preparations for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

IRELAND internationals Girvan Dempsey, Trevor Hogan, Bernard Jackman, Malcolm O’Kelly and Mike Ross have been named in the extended Leinster squad for Saturday’s British & Irish Cup clash against Exeter at Sandy Park on Saturday (3pm).

Girvan Dempsey has been added to the Leinster squad to face the Cornish Pirates in Friday's British & Irish Cup clash at Donnybrook (KO: 4pm).

There is an exciting look to the young side coach Colin McEntee has selected to represent Leinster against Plymouth Albion in the opening round of the first British & Irish Cup at Brickfields Recreation Grounds on Saturday (KO: 4.30pm).

Leinster Academy manager Colin McEntee has announced the squad of young players charged with making the breakthrough into the senior set-up.

Greystones 15 UL Bohemians 38, Dr. Hickey Park

Greystones 23 Blackrock College 22

Greystones 15 Galwegians 23

Greystones 0 Ballymena 27

Dungannon 14 Greystones 16

Greystones 10 Cork Constitution 19

THE IRFU have appointed three new members to the management of the national team.

Leinster A will be coached by Colin McEntee, Richie Murphy and Emmet Farrell for their confirmed fixtures for the season.

GREYSTONES 33 CITY OF DERRY 28

The Ireland Under 18 Squad that will compete in the Four Nations Tournament which begins in Belfast on Saturday has been announced.

The Ireland Youths/Under 18 team to play Wales U18 in Kelso RFC, Scotland on tonight at 5pm is as follows: