London Irish captain Bob Casey has been named captain of the Ireland A team for the upcoming Churchill Cup to take place in Canada and the USA in June.

RICHARD HILL limped up the steps and into the Vicarage Road press room some distance behind his team-mates in order to speak to the media.

Dolphin number eight James Coughlan will lead Munster A into battle with their Leinster counterparts in an 'A' interprovincial at The Sports Bowl in University of Limerick on Thursday (2.30 kick-off).

Munster will give Magner's League debuts to centres Kieran Lewis and Rua Tipoki, out-half Paul Warwick and back-rowers Billy Holland and Niall Ronan against Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park on Saturday.

Munster have given first-time full contracts to Welsh international Chris Wyatt, Australian Tim McGann, former Leinsterman Eoghan Hickey, Denis Fogarty, Ian Dowling, Jeremy Manning and Barry Murphy in the official announcement of their Senior Squad for the season 2006/2007.

Coach Mark McDermott will lead his Ireland U21 squad into battle at the World Cup in France next month.

The Ireland U21 team to play Scotland U21 this Friday in Dubarry Park, Athlone shows three changes to the side that lost narrowly to Wales.