LANSDOWNE set the pace in the AIB Division Two campaign way back in October when they hammered Bruff, on their own patch.

AIB LEAGUE DIVISION 2 FINAL:

IN a year when one Trimble disappeared from the political landscape, another emerged on the sports landscape as a likely long-term Irish midfield prospect.

Former Ballymena team mates Andy Maxwell and Ian Humphreys inspired Ireland to a place in tomorrow's Rugby World Cup Sevens Plate quarter-finals in Hong Kong.

Ireland endured a baptism of fire at the Rugby World Cup Sevens at Hong Kong's Happy Valley today.

The Irish team to take part in the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong from March 18-20 has been named.

The big news is that Gordon D'Arcy and Keith Gleeson return to the Leinster squad to meet The Neath-Swansea Ospreys at Donnybrook on Sunday.

Ireland squad members Eric Miller and Guy Easterby have been included in Leinster’s 26-man squad to face Edinburgh at Murray field on Saturday evening.

UCD did just enough to take the spoils from a competitive AIB League encounter against Galwegians at Crowley Park yesterday on a 13-19 scoreline.

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Coach Declan Kidney has included former Gauteng Lion second row Kristian Kos and Ireland Under-21 David Gannon in the Leinster squad to travel to The Borders for Saturday night (7.30).

Ireland picked up their first win of the two-day IRB Dubai Sevens tournament this morning, defeating Canada 24-17 to earn a place in the Shield final.

The Irish squad to take part in the Dubai Sevens has been named.

England A prop Ricky Nebbett has signed a one-year deal with Leinster.

LEINSTER coach Declan Kidney has chosen an experimental 37-man squad for pre-season friendlies in England.

LEO CULLEN will lead Leinster for Declan Kidney's first game in charge, against Zurich Premiership newcomers Worcester, at Castle Avenue tonight (7.30).

The Ireland Sevens are on course for the Sevens Rugby World Cup in 2005 after emerging as winners on the European Sevens Circuit, a pre-qualifier for the World Cup, at Sopot, Poland, over the weekend.

Ireland have announced the squad that will take part in two tournaments in the European Sevens Circuit that will act as pre-qualifiers for the sevens Rugby World Cup in 2005.

A mounting injury list has resulted in Connacht waiting until later in the week to name their side to play Munster at Thomond Park on Friday evening.

SO, the party is over, the Connacht dream of Parker Pen Challenge Cup glory ended, with it the concurrent dream that would have come as reward, a place in next year’s Heineken Cup.

Connacht have been forced to make one change ahead of Sunday's Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final second leg against Harlequins.

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Connacht will this Friday bid to make it four wins from four visits to Scotland this weekend when they take on The Borders at Netherdale on Friday evening (7.30 pm).

The Connacht team to play Edinburgh on Friday night at Meadowbank shows eight changes from that which went down to Celtic Warriors at the weekend, as coach Michael Bradley and his assistant John McKee continue their squad rotation system.

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Connacht have made seven changes to the side which defeated Narbonne in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final for Saturday's Celtic League clash with Celtic Warriors at Bridgend.

The Connacht team to play Narbonne Saturday in the second leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final clash shows two changes from that which defeated the French in the first leg.

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The Connacht team to play Gwent Dragons in the Celtic League at Rodney Parade on Sunday shows a number of changes from the side pipped by Edinburgh in the Celtic Cup semi-final.

ERIC ELWOOD is back to lead the Connacht challenge for a place in the Celtic Cup final at the Sportsground, Galway, tomorrow (2.p.m.), but there is no place for captain Tim Allnutt.

ULSTER apart, these are vital weeks for the Irish provinces in the Celtic League.

The Connacht team to play Neath-Swansea Ospreys at St Helen's on Friday night shows eight changes from that which went down to Llanelli at the weekend.

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I T’S A big evening in the fledgling Celtic Cup with the four Irish provinces all in action.

Connacht have again left the fly-half position vacant in the hope that Eric Elwood will recover to play Llanelli at Stradey Park on Friday night in the quarter-finals of the Celtic Cup.

Connacht make nine changes for their Celtic Cup tie with Borders tonight.

The Connacht team to play Scottish Borders in the opening round of the Celtic Cup at Galashiels on Friday night (7.35pm) shows nine changes from the team that went down to Cardiff at the Arms Park on Saturday.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named an unchanged side for Saturday¹s Celtic League clash with Cardiff at the Arms Park (kick-off 5.30 pm).

DAVID WALLACE and Ronan O’Gara have thrown their weight behind Munster colleague Frankie Sheahan’s appeal against a doping conviction, to be heard in Dublin next Monday.

Eddie O'Sullivan and the other members of the Irish rugby management will be in attendance as Connacht take on London Irish in a pre-season friendly to mark the official opening of the new Connacht Rugby headquarters at the sportsground this Tuesday evening (kick-off 6.30 pm).

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has unveiled a host of new signings as the province bids to improve on last season's performances when they reached the quarter-finals of the Celtic League and Parker Pen Challenge Cup.

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