Under 20 Six Nations: Italy 15 Ireland 47: Nigel Carolan’s reign as Ireland U-20 coach got off to a perfect start in dreadful conditions in northern Italy last night as seven different players scored tries.

Ireland U20 preview: Expectations aren’t confined to Joe Schmidt’s Ireland side this next two months.

Irish rugby was relatively slow to cotton onto the benefits accrued from assimilating players with southern hemisphere backgrounds into the national team, but that process has belatedly taken hold in recent years.

More misery for Munster with the selection of just four of their players on Nigel Carolan’s expanded Ireland squad of 30 for the U20 Six Nations.

Leinster U20s 32 Munster U20s 20

Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup final:

Clongowes Wood College stand between Blackrock College and their back-to-back Senior Cup aspirations, after Noel McNamara’s charges held off a strong showing from St Andrew’s College to book their place in the March 16 decider.

Munster 12 Leinster 34

Cavan put their troubles at senior level behind them to advance to an Ulster U21FC semi-final in impressive fashion at Kingspan Breffni Park last night.

CENTRE Rory O’Loughlin and replacement wing David Busby finished off well-worked moves for the Ireland Schools to outgun the Ireland Clubs in this Age-Grade International at Merrion Road yesterday.

ROSCOMMON had a timely return to form in New York last night as the Connacht champions began the defence of their title impressively in the Bronx.

New York 1-11 Roscommon 3-21

SECOND quarter goals from Patrick Harte and debutant Aidan O’Shea were the catalyst for victory as Mayo withstood a determined New York start to earn an impressive 15-point win in the opening game of the 2009 GAA Connacht Senior Football Championship.

The Sligo team chosen for Sunday's Connacht SFC opener against London (Ruislip, throw-in 2.30pm) shows only two changes to the side that started last summer's historic Connacht final win.