Veteran Irish Paralympian John Twomey from Kinsale Yacht Club will bow out from his long career as the flag bearer for Team Ireland at Rio 2016 in September.

New Munster director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus has drafted in compatriot Jacques Nienaber as the province’s new defence coach.

Anthony Foley has acknowledged that the combination of an inexperienced coaching ticket and a playing-group shorn of veteran players through injury and retirement saw Munster struggle to compete this season.

Chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald ushered in a new era for Munster Rugby by insisting incoming director of rugby Johan “Rassie” Erasmus would not undermine existing head coach Anthony Foley.

Can Ireland’s new boys survive in Twickenham tomorrow?

Tommy O’Donnell, Donnacha Ryan and James Cronin return to action for Munster in tonight’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Glasgow Warriors on the 4G pitch at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock.

This week’s news that Connacht star Robbie Henshaw has decided to leave his native province and link up with Leinster has come as another source of disappointment for Munster fans disenchanted with their team’s poor form and a perception that not a whole lot is being done about it.

CJ Stander admitted he had experienced his worst moments in a Munster jersey following their embarrassing defeat to Stade Francais and said the players had to stand up and take more responsibility.

Chances are that as you watch Munster play Stade Francais in Paris today, the television director will cut to a camera trained on the coaches’ box at Stade Jean Bouin.

Munster head coach Anthony Foley was advising staff, players, and public alike in UL yesterday that it will take a concerted effort by all concerned if the team’s morale and well-being are to be restored after a bitterly disappointing run of bad results.

A few hours after qualifying for his 11th consecutive Paralympic Games, John Twomey, was brought back down to earth — or to a Melbourne kitchen, to be exact.

Their time together in the Ireland team may have been limited to just 15 prior appearances but Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald will be delighted if tomorrow’s meeting with Canada goes as well as their first joint-venture against the Canucks.

Guinness Pro12

Munster assistant coach Ian Costello last night dismissed media reports that Robbie Henshaw could be on his way to the province at the end of next season. 

Munster may well travel to Italy this weekend within reach of the Guinness PRO12 lead but they are acutely aware how quickly their status could change if they allow complacency to creep in ahead of Saturday’s visit to Zebre.

Ireland wing Keith Earls could be in line for a seasonal debut at Zebre this weekend as Munster weigh his need for match fitness ahead of their crucial Champions Cup tie with Saracens.

GUINNESS PRO12:

Munster are holding out hope that Lions winger Keith Earls will be available for their final Champions Cup pool games in the new year, putting him in line for a late run into Ireland’s Six Nations reckoning.

GUINNESS PRO12:

He may be Munster’s standout performer this season, but the province are still to see the best of CJ Stander, believes coach Ian Costello.

The last-ditch heroics may have become a staple of Munster’s European campaigns but for Andrew Conway, the dramatic Champions Cup victory over Sale Sharks was a whole new experience.

Munster fly out of the province today on their latest European adventure as the players prepare for tomorrow’s Champions Cup Pool 1 opener against Sale Sharks in England’s north-west.

ANOTHER league game, another rave review, but CJ Stander is taking nothing for granted when competition for places in the Munster back-row places is so intense ahead of Saturday’s European opener at Sale Sharks.

Munster are keeping their fingers crossed that a hooker crisis can be warded off over the next week and Duncan Casey and Damien Varley are available for the European Champions Cup clash away to Sale on Saturday week.

As much as Munster could do with the help of their international brigade following their opening-day Guinness Pro12 home defeat, Ian Costello has warned supporters not to expect the entire cavalry to come charging to the rescue this weekend.

GUINNESS PRO12:

WHEN he retired from playing in 2008, Anthony Foley thought it might be wise to step away from rugby for a while.

Tomorrow, sailing will become the first Irish sport to contest for a place at the 2016 Paralympic Games.

Emotions ran high in the aftermath of Ireland's 25-18 loss to Women's World Cup hosts France, especially with Fiona Coghlan and Philip Doyle heading up the list of departing players and coaches.

Munster’s new assistant coach Ian Costello believes ridding the inconsistencies which dogged them last season will be the first step to restoring past glories.

Donncha O’Callaghan believes Anthony Foley is the right man to take Munster forward and will help heal ‘the scars’ of losing two semi-finals as the province reflects on going a third successive season without silverware.

Driving down the motorway yesterday from Dublin to Newbridge, the road to Munster stretched out in front. The gravitational pull of Cork.

Munster will have to produce the best game they have ever played if they are to overcome Toulon in Marseille next Sunday and reach the Heineken Cup final, head coach Rob Penney has warned.

The appointment of Anthony Foley as Munster’s next head coach was great, the timing was right, and I think there is so much more to come from him that we haven’t yet seen.

Saying ‘yes’ was the easy part, but having fulfilled his ambition to be Munster head coach Anthony Foley will lean on the coaches he faithfully served as he prepares to take charge of his beloved province next season.