Ronan O’Gara explains that Patrick ’Rala’ O’Reilly has been his precious friend and confidante over the past 21 years and he will be a huge loss for the Irish rugby internationals

Gone are the days when these A internationals were mere consolation prizes for those who missed out on Test caps. Tonight’s clash of Irish Wolfhounds and English Saxons at Musgrave Park represents a full-blown RBS 6 Nations audition, writes Simon Lewis.

Pro12 title holders Leinster have made seven changes to their starting line-up as they aim to begin the traditional Christmas interprovincial period with victory over Connacht at the RDS tonight.

RIP Elwood. You were beautiful on the inside.

RABODIRECT PRO12

Connacht 3 Glasgow Warriors 20

In a night of farewells, Connacht bring the curtain down on this season’s RaboDirect Pro12 tonight when they entertain semi-finalists Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground.

Outgoing Connacht head coach, Eric Elwood, will be able to call upon centre Eoin Griffin and hooker Jason Harris-Wright for Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO 12 clash against Glasgow Warriors, with both players returning from injury for the Galway man’s last game in charge.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four personnel changes from the team that lost to Ulster last weekend for tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Treviso at the Sadio di Monigo (8.30pm).

Andrew Trimble knows what to expect when he travels to the Sportsground this evening for the big RaboDirect Pro12 derby battle where there is more than bragging rights up for grabs.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has rewarded the players who produced an impressive 32-24 win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield last weekend by naming an unchanged team for tomorrow’s league meeting with Ulster the Sportsground (7.45pm).

Connacht centre Dave McSharry has been ruled out of the Irish summer tour and will miss the start of next season.

Promising centre Dave McSharry is in a race against time to be fit for Ireland’s summer tour in June.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four personnel and two positional changes to his pack for tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Treviso.

Munster 22 Connacht 0

One of the strengths of Munster rugby over the year has been the ideology that opponents must be respected at all costs, not necessarily feared but at least respected.

Connacht centre Dave McSharry has signed a contract extension which will keep him at the Sportsground until the summer of 2015.

Having seen his team win their last three league encounters, Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has kept changes to a minimum for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Munster at Musgrave Park (5.45pm).

Having endured an injury-plagued season so far, Connacht head coach Eric Elwood is pleased with the strength of his squad as they prepare for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Munster in Musgrave Park (5.45pm).

Connacht have announced that backs coach Billy Millard will leave his role with the club at the end of the current season to take up a position in the United States.

It is 12 years since Connacht came away from Cardiff Arms Park with a win, and coach Eric Elwood says that needs to change when the sides meet this evening in the RaboDirect Pro12 (7.30pm).

Following Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO 12 win over defending champions Ospreys, Connacht head coach Eric Elwood believes his charges can achieve the targets they have set for themselves for the season.

RaboDirect PRO12: Scarlets v Connacht

Connacht Rugby defence coach Mike Forshaw has revealed that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season after three years at the Sportsground.

Connacht received a welcome boost today with a number of players returning from injury as the province resumed training after a week off to begin preparations for their RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting with the Scarlet on February 8.

Connacht 25 Zebre 20

Crabs probably feel pain and take action to avoid it, according to new academic research.

The food industry is being asked to reconsider how they treat crustaceans after Belfast researchers found evidence that crabs are likely to feel pain.

Harlequins 47 Connacht 8

Connacht have announced that Pat Lam will replace Eric Elwood as their coach.

Heineken Cup Pool 3: Harlequins V Connacht

By Ian Cusack

With Dan Parks unavailable through injury Eric Elwood has selected 22-year-old Matthew Jarvis at flyhalf for Saturday's Heineken Cup round 5 game against Harlequins at the Stoop (1.35pm).

From schools rugby last season to Heineken Cup fare today, Connacht full-back Robbie Henshaw has enjoyed a meteoric rise in his career.

New Zealander Pat Lam is expected to be unveiled as Connacht’s new head coach this week.

Conor O’Shea believes outgoing Connacht coach Eric Elwood deserves hero status out west but does not want to add to the legacy of his former Ireland team-mate this weekend.

Connacht chief executive Tom Sears has hit out at those who have breached the confidentiality of the process of choosing a successor to Eric Elwood the province’s chief executive Tom Sears.

Connacht’s search for Eric Elwood’s successor looks to have been reduced by one after former Ospreys coach Sean Holley said he has turned the western province down.

Connacht 30 Newport Gwent Dragons 11

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood was delighted to see his charges return to winning ways against the Dragons in the RaboDirect PRO12 ahead of their Heineken Cup Pool 3 meeting with Harlequins next weekend.

Billed as a must-win for both sides, Connacht return to the Galway Sportsground for this evening’s RaboDirect Pro 12 joust with the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Connacht look set to receive a boost ahead of their RaboDirect PRO 12 match against Newport Gwent Dragon on Saturday (5pm) with a number of players returning to training after injury.

Leinster 17 Connacht 0

Munster’s bid to close the gap on RaboDirect Pro12 leaders Ulster tomorrow at Thomond Park (5.30pm) may be enhanced by the return of an Ireland Test trio but Rob Penney is under no illusions about the size of the task.