Dave Calnan had no grand plan of where he wanted his education or even his employment to take him, but he had a fair idea where he didn’t want it to go.

Ex-Munster hooker Denis Fogarty has been named in the French Pro D2 team of the season after an excellent first year with Aurillac.

As you would expect from a player just named in his division’s team of the month, life is pretty sweet right now for former Munster hooker Denis Fogarty.

Rob Penney has been able to name Ireland internationals Donncha O’Callaghan and Mike Sherry in his first competitive squad for Munster’s RaboDirect Pro12 opener at Edinburgh tomorrow night.

Donnacha Ryan capped a remarkable season for Munster and Ireland when he was named the province’s Player of the Year at the 2012 Munster Rugby Awards in association with Irish Examiner on Saturday.

Munster’s next generation may be targeting Heineken Cup medals long term, but got an early taste of success in Cork last night as the province’s A team lifted the British & Irish Cup for the first time.

Munster A secured a first British and Irish Cup victory with an accomplished all-round performance that overpowered brave Cross Keys at Musgrave Park last night.

Munster hooker Denis Fogarty has inked a deal with French second division club Aurillac coached by former Ulster, Ireland and Lions second row Jeremy Davidson.

Friday’s British & Irish Cup final against Cross Keys in Musgrave Park (5.30pm) is likely to be the last time Munster fans will see Denis Fogarty wearing the red jersey, with the hooker moving to French side Aurillac at the end of the season.

Keith Earls has been included in Tony McGahan’s extended squad for the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Glasgow Warriors in Musgrave Park on Saturday (7.15pm).

David Wallace, Paul O’Connell, Donnacha Ryan and Conor Murray have all been named in Tony McGahan’s squad for the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Ulster on Sunday.

Conor Murray and Paul O'Connell have both been omitted form the Munster squad for Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Leinster at Thomond Park (7.30pm).

Munster supporters watching Donnacha Ryan’s man of the match performance and Sean Cronin making a massive impact off the bench in Ireland’s victory over Scotland must have been wondering why the former is being closely linked with Leinster for next season and the latter is already one of the boys in blue.

A Munster career going back to 1998 will be marked tonight when Mick O’Driscoll captains the RaboDirect Pro12 champions in a crucial fixture against Newport Gwent Dragons for what will be his 200th career for the province.

On the day that Mick O'Driscoll makes his 200th appearance for Munster, Save Tokula will make his first, in the side that takes on Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade tomorrow (6.30pm).

A combination of international commitment and injuries has resulted in a relatively inexperienced 28-man squad for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO 12 fixture in Thomond Park against Cardiff on Friday (7.05pm).

Felix Jones, Mike Sherry and Tommy O'Donnell have all been included in the 28-strong Munster squad that will travel to Italy in the morning for the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso on Saturday.

Tony McGahan has named a 28-strong squad for Munster’s final pool match against Northampton Saints that will be played in the stadium:mk Milton Keynes on Saturday (6pm).

Niall Ronan, who retired injured (knee) in the first half of Munster's win over Treviso last weekend has been included in the provisional Munster squad for the Heineken Cup game against Castres Olympique on Saturday (3.40pm).

All those who were rested as part of the national player welfare policy, for the Christmas/New Year local derbies against Connacht and Ulster have all been named in Munster's extended squad for the visit of Benetton Treviso to Limerick on Saturday.

Munster have named a 31-strong squad for the trip to Belfast and the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Ulster on Friday evening.

Keith Earls has been included in the 29-strong Munster squad named today for the Heineken Cup Round 4 game against the Scarlets at Thomond Park Stadium on Sunday (KO 12.45).

The team may be in transition but the squad still contains considerable strength in depth with the likes of Springboks BJ Botha and Wian du Preez along with Irish internationals Donncha O’Callaghan and Denis Leamy.

It is a question of almost same again for Munster as they name a similar squad as last week, with the notable exception of Doug Howlett, for Saturday's Heineken Cup clash with Scarlets in Llanelli (3.40pm).

Marcus Horan will win his 200th cap when he runs out with Munster at the Liberty Stadium against Ospreys on Saturday.

After opting to play an inexperienced team in Munster’s 34-17 victory over Edinburgh, McGahan has reinstated his senior players for the challenge of taking on The Ospreys in Wales.

AS one of only two players to have kept their place in the side after two Heineken Cup pool victories, Denis Hurley will feel more responsibility than most to get Munster’s defence of their league title back on track when they face Edinburgh tonight.

Munster coach Tony McGahan gives a host of his younger players the opportunity to make an impression in the RaboDirect PRO12 game with Edinburgh in Thomond Park tomorrow (KO 8.30pm).

MUNSTER rugby does strange things to people.

WHO would be a hooker with Munster? With Jerry Flannery out indefinitely and Mike Sherry missing for the next six to eight weeks, it’s not been a good time for the doughty men whose skills are so vital at set-piece time.

David Wallace has been left out of the Munster squad for the group stages of the Heineken Cup.

Munster 13 Ospreys 17

Tony McGahan has made eight changes for the visit of the Ospreys to Thomond Park on Saturday night (7.30pm) for the last game in the opening phase of the RaboDirect PRO12 League.

The Leinster medical team have reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO 12 clash with Connacht at the RDS (5pm).

DESPITE being short a host of internationals, Munster continue their rotation policy for tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 away clash at Edinburgh.

The Munster starting XV for Friday's clash with Edinburgh in Murrayfield, shows 10 changes from the one that ran out against Cardiff Blues last weekend.

DANNY BARNES returns for Munster in tonight’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Cardiff Blues at Cardiff City Stadium, but the Reds’ hopes of forward dominance took a hit yesterday with news of illness and injury to key front rowers Marcus Horan and BJ Botha.

DUNCAN WILLIAMS has suffered more than his share of injuries over the last few seasons but is now ready to challenge all three international scrum-halves for his place on the Munster team.

Munster fitness coach Paul Darbyshire died this morning.

MIKE SHERRY reels off all the names he must leapfrog to achieve his ultimate ambition of becoming Ireland’s first choice hooker.

Cork Constitution 17 Old Belvedere 20

Old Belvedere have won the Ulster Bank league Div 1 final by three points as they saw off Cork Constitution by three points.

JEAN DE VILLIERS is interested in returning to Munster after this year’s World Cup.

Cork Constitution 19 Young Munster 9