The Ospreys will aim to halt Leinster’s bid for a European and domestic double in its tracks on Sunday when they contest the RaboDirect PRO12 final.

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.

IT feels, this week and in this country, like someone should gently place a Sinatra record under a record player stylus as we bob downstream together towards oblivion.

A 37-man panel has been announced for the next Ireland camp which is due to take place in Limerick from August 16-19.

Coach Declan Kidney has named the first Ireland camp of the season which will take place in Belfast from July 26-29.

England Saxons 22 Ireland A 49

Ireland coach Declan Kidney will challenge his 'A' players to give everything they have got to win the Churchill Cup final for the first time against the England Saxons, who are looking for their third straight win in the competition tonight (K.O. 9.30pm Irish time).

There are seven changes to the Ireland A team that will play England Saxons this Sunday in the final of the Churchill Cup (kick off: 9.30pm Irish time) from the side that won last time out in the tournament against Georgia.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney will look for his players to improve against Georgia on Sunday from their win over Canada in order to qualify for the Churchill Cup final, where the England Saxons will be waiting.

LEINSTER’S Heineken Cup hero, Jonathan Sexton, is a notable absentee from the Ireland A side that faces Canada in the 2009 Churchill Cup at Denver, Colorado tomorrow (4.30pm local time, 11.30pm Irish time).

Ulster's Isaac Boss will lead Ireland A team into their opening game of the Churchill Cup against Canada in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday.

Connacht's John Muldoon will lead the Ireland a squad into the Churchill Cup in June.

The location: The Brasserie Restaurant, Lapps Quay, Cork The line-up: Ralph Keyes, Donal Lenihan, Eric Miller, Charlie Mulqueen. The Subject: Take a wild guess. The Eye Witness: Michael Moynihan.

“CHRISTMAS came early to Garryowen,” words of consolation for losing Lansdowne head coach Liam Toland from a happy local supporter after this AIL Division 1 clash at Dooradoyle.

Ireland Under 21 coach Mark McDermott has named a squad of 24 players for the opening Six Nations match against Italy in Dubarry Park, Athlone on Friday, February 3 at 7.35pm.

The following 31 players have been selected for the next Ireland Under 21 squad session which will take place in Dublin on Sunday, January 15 – Tuesday, January 17 2006.

The Ireland Under 19 team to meet Japan in Durban on Wednesday for the right to take part in the 9th-10th place play-off next Sunday has been named.

South Africa U-19 32 Ireland U-19 8

Ireland Under-19s face the daunting task of meeting host nation South Africa in the IRB World Cup in Pietermaritzburg this afternoon.

The Ireland Under 19 team to play Georgia Under 19 in Kings Park, Durban on Friday has been named.

The Irish under-21s will have their first competitive outings this season when they take on two French regional selections in Paris.