OVER the years, Munster have always had difficulty on the road against Welsh opposition. Given the Ospreys’ lofty position at the top of the Celtic League, yesterday’s duel was always going to be a difficult assignment. And so it proved.

Leinster coach Declan Kidney has decided to go with Barnhall's Brendan Burke and Clontarf's David McAllister as the players to fill the two places he left open on the replacement bench earlier in the week.

A NEW season and a new coach. Hell, they’ve even got a new image, but will it still be the same old Leinster this year?

A new coach, a new backroom staff and a new name for the Leinster rugby team.

CONFIRMATION of Declan Kidney's appointment as Leinster coach in succession to Gary Ella came yesterday.

Declan Kidney has cited family reasons for his decision to quit Gwent Dragons in order to take a job with Leinster.

Gwent Dragons have released Declan Kidney from his contract in order that the former Munster coach can replace Gary Ella as Leinster head coach.

Former Munster coach Declan Kidney may be in line to take over from Gary Ella as Leinster's head coach.

Gary Ella has stood down from his position as head coach of Leinster today after a disappointing season for the province.

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Leinster coach Gary Ella will be fighting for his professional life when Leinster entertain Gwent Dragons at Lansdowne Road on Friday evening.

Leinster coach Gary Ella has decided to name a strong squad for the Celtic League clash with title-chasing Gwent Dragons at Donnybrook on Friday night.

The Leinster players have given their support to coach Gary Ella.

RIVAL coaches Geoff Moylan and Brian Walsh saw their future in the game in a different light in the aftermath of Saturday’s AIB League final at Lansdowne Road.

THE Leinster squad last night issued a statement in support of beleaguered coach Gary Ella, just days after a number of them complained to a newspaper about the Australian’s 10-month reign at the province.

Ulster will be odds-on favourites to dismantle what will probably be an under-strength Leinster in the penultimate round of the Celtic League at Ravenhill on Friday.

Leinster coach Gary Ella has hailed Brian O’Driscoll’s decision to pledge his immediate future to the club as “great news for Irish rugby”.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL will become the highest paid player in the history of Irish rugby after rejecting overtures from French and English clubs to agree a new two-year contract with the IRFU and Leinster.

Gary Ella, coach of the Leinster Lions, today announced that this year's Open Training Day with the Leinster team will take place from 11am to 2pm on Sunday, May 9, 2004 in Old Belvedere RFC.

Munster Coach Alan Gaffney will have a full squad to select from for the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Stade Francais at Thomond Park on Saturday, as Ronan O'Gara has been given a clean bill of health.

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TRIPLE Crown heroes Gordon D’Arcy and Girvan Dempsey have been passed fit for Leinster’s Celtic League tie with Glasgow Rugby on Friday night.

Coach Gary Ella has called in Victor Costello for Aidan McCullen, who suffered concussion against Cardiff last Friday, for Leinster's cross-country run to Connacht on Saturday.

Gary Ella may select fit-again back rower Aidan McCullen and prop John Lyne for Leinster's clash with the Cardiff Blues at Donnybrook on Friday.

Leinster centre Kieran Lewis has handed Gary Ella a boost by saying that he could make a full recovery from injury before the end of the season.

Felipe Contepomi will start at out-half for Leinster as Gary Ella's men bid to put their Celtic League campaign back on track against the Celtic Warriors at Donnybrook tomorrow night.

Leinster coach Gary Ella may include Argentinian Felipe Contepomi for the Lions match against the Celtic Warriors in the Celtic League at Donnybrook on Friday evenijng.

THERE was a hint of Friday the 13th as Munster stormed back with another top-notch second half display to keep their Celtic League hopes alive at Musgrave Park last night.

MUNSTER'S Celtic League title is on the line at Musgrave Park this evening (7.30pm). Alan Gaffney's troops have to win to keep their chances of ultimate victory alive as the league moves into the second stage.

OF all the Irish players involved in Saturday’s Six Nations clash with France, Gordon D’Arcy is surely the most versatile.

Leinster coach Gary Ella has welcomed back Matt Leek, Niall Breslin and Des Dillon from injury for Friday's Celtic League date with Munster at Musgrave Park.

TO the relief of Gary Ella - and Leinster supporters everywhere - out-half Christian Warner has recovered from a hamstring injury and will start in Saturday’s Heineken Cup Pool 3 decider against Biarritz in the south of France.

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Argentina and Leinster out-half Felipe Contepomi has been diagnosed with a broken bone in his ankle by the Leinster medical team and will be out of rugby for three to six weeks, it has been confirmed this afternoon.

TALENT is a trait that has rarely been questioned in Leinster. Mental toughness, on the other hand, has. Frequently.

Coach Gary Ella has chosen an unchanged side for the penultimate Pool game with Cardiff Blues at Lansdowne Road on Friday night (7.45pm).

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Sale coach Jim Mallinder admitted the loss of fly-half Charlie Hodgson with a recurrence of his knee injury proved crucial in his side’s 23-16 home Heineken Cup defeat by Leinster.

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IF you had to bet your house on the likely winner of Heineken Cup Pool 3 before last weekend, it would have been difficult to see beyond Leinster.