Samoan legend Brian Lima is part of Munster's 26-man squad for Sunday's Heineken Cup quarter-final tie with Biarritz in San Sebastian.

Scrum-half Frank Murphy will make his first start this season in Munster's away date at Connacht on Fiday night.

INJURY-HIT Cardiff still hope to spring a Celtic League surprise on Munster at the Arms Park this evening (5.30).

SO it's farewell Alan Gaffney and thank you for your time.

Ireland international John Kelly will make his first start since October when he lines out for Munster against Glasgow on Sunday.

Denis Leamy has won the Guinness Draught Can Celtic League Player of the Month award after two outstanding performances in the 3-0 win over Connacht and the 13-9 win against The Ospreys.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney had an almost injury free squad to select from for Saturday’s Celtic League clash with provincial rivals Leinster.

Ireland's Ronan O'Gara will take over the captaincy from the absent Anthony Foley as Munster bid to close the gap on leaders The Ospreys at Musgrave Park on Saturday evening (8.05pm).

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has chosen to list a 26-man squad for the top-of-the-table clash with Neath-Swansea Ospreys at Musgrave Park on Saturday evening.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has made three changes to his starting 15 for tomorrow's Heineken Cup game against Castres at Thomond Park.

Munster have delayed the announcement of their team to meet Castres at Thomond Park until Friday morning.

MUNSTER go into their third successive day of intensive preparation for Saturday’s crucial Heineken Cup tie against Castres Olympique at Thomond Park with coach Alan Gaffney still none the wiser about the composition of his team.

Alan Quinlan is the odd one out from four international players vying for the back row positions in Munster's assignment at Castres Olympique in the Heineken Cup tomorrow night.

Munster 25 Gwent Dragons 16

Coach Alan Gaffney has decided to stick with just four players - namely, Christian Cullen, Shaun Payne, Donncha O'Callaghan and David Wallace - from last Sunday for their Celtic League get-together with Ulster at Ravenhill on Saturday.

Anthony Foley has been selected to captain the Munster squad for this season's Heineken Cup campaign.

ALAN GAFFNEY has expressed his support for the 10-week pre-season afforded to international players.

Munster 27 Connacht 27

JOHN KELLY and Jason Holland are back in action for Munster against Connacht at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.

MUNSTER have done it before and they'll do it again, insisted coach Alan Gaffney yesterday, as he struggled to overcome the huge disappointment of Sunday's defeat by London Wasps at Lansdowne Road.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has named an unchanged side for their Heineken Cup semi-final against Wasps on Sunday.

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Alan Gaffney has only been able to name an extended squad of 24 players ahead of Munster's Celtic League assignment at second-placed Llanelli in Stradey Park on Friday.

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 will be hot favourites to scalp Leinster, given the strength of their selection, in the Celtic League at Musgrave Park on Friday.

Irish international Marcus Horan will replace Gordon McIlwham at loose-head in the only alteration to the Munster side to meet Bourgoin at Thomond Park on Saturday.

MUNSTER have prepared for a huge battle in Italy this weekend, but their plans have been slightly disrupted with two-try hero Marcus Horan ruled out of the team.

Coach Alan Gaffney has shown that he is not underestimating Treviso by selecting the strongest available Munster side for the trip to Italy on Saturday.

THE lingering memory of last year’s devastating Heineken Cup defeat to Munster will ensure that Gloucester will take nothing for granted in Saturday’s crunch Pool Five encounter at Thomond Park.

Tight head John Hayes returns to the Munster side for their Heineken Cup showdown with Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday (5pm).

Ireland prop John Hayes, an integral part of Alan Gaffney’s Munster side, trained today with the rest of the squad in advance of Friday’s Heineken Cup encounter with Gloucester.

JEREMY STAUNTON, who has struggled in many of his matches this year, has lost his place on the Munster team.

Scotland’s new coach Matt Williams today cut his squad down from 44 to 34 for their two three-day training camps at the start of the new year.

Ireland's John Kelly replaces Mossie Lawlor on the wing in the only change to Alan Gaffney's side for their first foray into the Heineken Cup at Bourgoin on Saturday.

MUNSTER have signed Scottish international prop Gordon McIlwham. The 33-year-old former Glasgow and Begles Bordeaux prop will join Alan Gaffney’s squad at the conclusion of Scotland’s World Cup campaign, until the end of the current season.

Munster have confirmed the season-long signing of Scottish international prop Gordon McIlwham.

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan today made wholesale changes to his side for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

Scotland A team manager Dougie Arneil has made wholesale changes to his side for their game against Italy A on Friday.

Scotland international James McLaren has issued a ‘come-and-get-me’ message to professional clubs north of the border.

THE search is on for a sponsor of the Six Nations as Lloyds TSB has ended its five-year association with the competition.

Bordeaux have beaten off the challenge of Munster to sign Scotland international Gordon McIlwham.

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