Just short of 10 months ago, Munster pulled off one of the most important wins of their 2015/16 season when they beat Ulster by two points (9-7) in the Guinness PRO12 at Kingspan Stadium. 

Ulster’s South African workhorse Franco van der Merwe has signed a one-year extension to his contract which will keep him at the Kingspan Stadium until June 2017.

CJ Stander can finally start practising the words to Amhrán na bhFiann.

Ulster are delicately managing their players through a potentially difficult season, as Director of Rugby Les Kiss starts with Rob Herring at hooker and captain in place of Rory Best for this evening’s crucial Guinness Pro12 clash with an in-form Edinburgh side at the Kingspan Stadium.

Ulster’s new director of rugby Less Kiss has named Rory Best and Ruan Pienaar on the bench for tomorrow’s Guinness PRO12 clash away to Newport Gwent Dragons.

Joe Schmidt has charged his medical staff with putting his players back together to face Argentina in next Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final after Ireland survived a battle of attrition to defeat France last night.

International centre Luke Marshall is likely to start as an emergency fly-half when Ulster play the Ospreys in the Guinness Pro12 opener at the Kingspan Stadium tomorrow night.

Joe Schmidt had called the process of selecting a 31-man squad for Ireland’s 2015 World Cup campaign an imperfect one but having finally taken his leap into the unknown, the head coach likes the look of the group he hopes can reach at least the semi-finals.

Versatility... It’s been rugby’s buzz word of the summer and nobody’s name has been more prominent in that conversation than Iain Henderson’s who is moonlighting as a lock right now despite his growing renown as a flanker in Ulster.

Ireland international wingers Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble start for Ulster in the pre-season game against Edinburgh at Goldenacre tonight (6:30).

When Ulster coach Neil Doak named 33 players in his matchday panel for tonight’s friendly with Leinster (7.30pm), he said he was throwing down a challenge in his squad.

Ireland 28 Scotland 22: Though a myriad of questions remain to be answered, Saturday’s run against the Scots seemed to confirm that, for some, it all but marked the beginning of the end of their World Cup ambitions.

Joe Schmidt has said his Ireland side were "tested on a number of levels" today against Scotland.

Scotland may be the opposition as Ireland continue their World Cup preparations in this the second of four rehearsals, but the standout performances of so many of their colleagues in Cardiff last week will serve as just a useful barometer for many of those wearing green today.

Paddy Jackson

When the Barbarians come to town, there is no promised script. That is what makes this invitational team so attractive in the rugby world.

Eoin Reddan believes Ireland can be more assured about what they will bring to the table at the World Cup in England later this year than was the case in New Zealand in 2011 or France eight years ago.

Ulster signalled its serious intent for tonight’s Guinness Pro12 semi-final at Glasgow Warriors by naming its strongest possible side.

Ian Humphreys finally makes his 100th Ulster appearance tonight (7.35pm) when the Scarlets visit a sold-out Kingspan Stadium.

Jack Coonan, the highly-promising Leinster back-row forward and Connacht prop Nathan White, are the only uncapped players in the extended 46-strong Ireland squad announced yesterday by head coach Joe Schmidt. 

The Ireland coaching staff has today named an extended squad of 46 players for the upcoming RBS 6 Nations matches against Italy and France, as well as the Ireland Wolfhounds fixture against the England Saxons.

European Champions Cup Pool 3

European Champions Cup Pool 3

Ireland’s Jared Payne returns to a strong Ulster’s match-day squad for tomorrow’s difficult Pro12 trip to Treviso.

Ireland international lock, Dan Tuohy, has agreed a three-year contract extension with Ulster that will keep him at Kingspan Stadium until at least the summer of 2018.

Leinster 24 Ulster 11

Ian Madigan tallied up 19 points as the in-form fly-half masterminded Leinster’s 24-11 Guinness PRO12 derby win over Ulster at the RDS Arena.

Ulster have made four personnel changes and Leinster five for the PRO12 meeting between the two sides in the RDS tomorrow afternoon.

Scarlets 22 Ulster 13

Ireland centre Luke Marshall returns to the midfield role as Ulster are forced to make three changes for their return visit to the Scarlets tomorrow.

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 3

Ulster’s playmaker scrum-half, Ruan Pienaar, has timed his return to rugby to perfection.

Munster head coach Anthony Foley yesterday added new centre signing Pat Howard to the province’s registered European Champions Cup squad as doubts continued over Andrew Smith’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s must-win pool showdown with Clermont Auvergne.