Off the field business has provided another unwelcome diversion from Munster’s crucial RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park tonight, with news of a second loan move by Peter Stringer fromSaracens to Newcastle Falcons.

Ulster’s Nevin Spence hopes to avoid the blues when he runs-up against Gavin Henson in Cardiff’s traditional Arms Park home tonight.

Gavin Henson could be in line for a first RBS 6 Nations appearance since 2009 after being included in head coach Warren Gatland's 35-man training squad.

TABLE-TOPPERS Leinster have named a close to full-strength team for today’s Rabo Pro-12 match against Cardiff.

Gavin Henson has been selected in a 24-man Wales squad for next month’s Millennium Stadium clash against the Barbarians.

ALUN-WYN JONES will make his debut as Wales captain next week — and he could keep the job for a potential RBS 6 Nations title showdown against Ireland.

WALES boss Warren Gatland has no doubt that Gavin Henson is fit and ready to make his long awaited Test rugby return in Paris on Friday night.

British Lion Dwayne Peel has been left out of the Wales squad for this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship.

JAMES HOOK has been given the responsibility of guiding Wales to Grand Slam glory after reclaiming the fly-half jersey for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown with France in Cardiff.

James Hook has reclaimed the fly-half jersey from Stephen Jones for Wales’ RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam showdown with France at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Stephen Jones has won the race to start at fly-half in Wales’ Triple Crown showdown with Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.

Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel will start in the half-backs against Italy a week on Saturday after Wales head coach Warren Gatland made six changes to the side that beat Scotland.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN’S odds on being the British and Irish Lions coach for the 2009 tour to South Africa drifted further yesterday after an admission by Lions bosses that the coach may not be from the four home nations.

Gavin Henson will make his first Test start for more than a year when Wales tackle world champions South Africa at the Millennium Stadium this weekend.

ROB ANDREW has hailed “an English solution for the English game” after the Twickenham unveiling of a new detailed agreement governing professional rugby in England.

Gavin Henson has been recalled by Wales to the preliminary squad for their one-off Test against world champions South Africa this month.

DECLAN KIDNEY insists his Munster side failed to grab their opportunities in yesterday’s dismal 16-3 defeat to the Ospreys.

Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins has dropped Brent Cockbain from his World Cup plans - and given a surprise call-up to uncapped Gloucester lock Will James.

Gavin Henson has today been named in the Wales squad for their Test matches against Australia on May 26 and June 2.

FORMER Ireland prop Justin Fitzpatrick believes today’s Magners League game against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium could be the turning point in Ulster’s season.

BELEAGURED England boss Andy Robinson has reacted to his team’s shambolic defeat against Argentina by making seven changes for the Twickenham appointment with South Africa on Saturday.

Stephen Jones has been handed the Wales captaincy through to next year’s World Cup in France.

OSPREYS boss Lyn Jones has predicted “an encounter to remember” when his star-studded Welsh challengers tackle English champions Sale Sharks in a mouth-watering Heineken Cup clash this evening.

Ulster 43 Ospreys 7

OF all the overseas signings that Ulster have made in recent seasons, Wallaby Justin Harrison jumps out as the one to have made the biggest impact.

CONNACHT’S strong record against Welsh sides at the Sportsground this season will be under pressure this evening when they entertain the Neath/Swansea Ospreys (6.30pm).

Wales have dropped flanker Colin Charvis for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against title favourites France in Cardiff.

Gavin Henson has been given the opportunity to redeem himself from the bench in Wales’ RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Italy on Saturday.

Gavin Henson named among replacements for Wales’ RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Ireland on Sunday.

Clive Woodward has taken the drastic action necessary against his first Test flops by naming a radically changed team for Saturday’s showdown with New Zealand at Westpac Stadium.

WELLINGTON scrum half Piri Weepu will face the British and Irish Lions for the second time in five days believing the Maori’s victory can help his provincial side.

British and Irish Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll will make his first start of the 2005 tour against Bay of Plenty in Rotorua next Saturday.

The British & Irish Lions today sent out a strong message of intent by naming a powerful side to take on Bay of Plenty in their opening tour match on June 4.

The Ospreys have named their squad to play Ulster at St Helens on Saturday April 30 (kick off 5.30pm).

Brian O'Driscoll has been confirmed as captain of the Lions squad to tour New Zealand this summer, with 11 Irish players included but no place for England's Jonny Wilkinson.

THE names don’t yet roll off the tongue like the legendary team of 1978, but that could happen yet.

Andrew Baldock

Wales coach Mike Ruddock has named an unchanged side for his team’s RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam bid against Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday.

WHEN Clive Woodward was announced as coach of the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand, we all made a couple of assumptions.

WALES coach Mike Ruddock last night urged his team to “be bold” in their crunch RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against unbeaten title rivals France on Saturday.

LIONS boss Clive Woodward yesterday spent the day with the Scottish squad as they continue preparing for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations meeting with Ireland at Murrayfield.

Gavin Henson will continue as Wales’ back-up goalkicker in the RBS 6 Nations Championship – despite his Millennium Stadium heroics against England last weekend.

BLUE prop John Yapp is the only uncapped player in Wales’ 31-man squad for the forthcoming RBS Six Nations.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock has named one uncapped player – Cardiff Blues prop John Yapp – in his squad for this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship.