The Ireland A team to play France A in Belfast on Friday night shows three changes from the team which beat Italy A 10 days ago.

Buccaneers 14 Dungannon 8

Ireland A 28

IRELAND has made three changes in its side for the A international against Italy in Rovigo on Friday night.

Ireland squad of 22 for the RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Italy in Rome on Saturday (starting 15 and replacements to be announced on Wednesday).

Leinster Lions will hold a lunchtime press conference today to announce their side to play Ulster on Friday

By Kenny Archer ULSTER won the battle but lost the war at a jam-packed Ravenhill last night.

SIMON BEST has been retained by coach Alan Solomons as Ulster named an unchanged side to take on Northampton in their crunch Heineken Cup game at Ravenhill on Friday night (7.05).

RYAN CONSTABLE is back in the Ulster side for Saturday’s win-or-bust Heineken Cup pool 6 tie in Cardiff.

IRELAND lock Gary Longwell is back in business following a tough fitness test yesterday and will line-out for Ulster for their Heineken Cup shoot-out against Biarritz at Ravenhill on Friday night.

There were no surprises on the Ulster side to travel to Glasgow for Saturday's Celtic League quarter-final at Hughendon.

Alan Solomons has named his side that will play Connacht this evening at Stevenson Park (6pm).

ANDY WARD is back and raring to go. Ulster’s inspirational skipper returns to action for the friendly fixture with Connacht tomorrow night at Dungannon (6pm kick-off) after being out of action for three months.

ULSTER coach Alan Solomons is not enamoured with the Heineken Cup format.

Leinster’s struggle in the Celtic League means they must win their clash against Newport tonight at Donnybrook.

Alan Solomons has named both David Humphreys and Gary Longwell - who have returned from international duty - in his side to play Caerphilly in the Celtic League on Saturday at Virginia Park.

MUNSTER captain Jim Williams is to return for the crunch Celtic League game against Neath in Wales on Saturday.

REIGNING Celtic League champions Leinster haven’t given up on their title just yet, although coach Matt Williams says they have to win all three remaining games to stand any chance of making the top four in Pool B.

Tonight's Celtic League teams

Alan Solomons has been forced to make a number of changes to his side to play Neath tonight at Ravenhill due to Jonathan Bell's niggling ankle injury and a bout of the flu which has affected both Bell and Robbie Kempson.

SWANSEA coach John Connolly comes to Cork this evening seeking a double over Irish provincial opposition.

Adam Larkin who wore the number 10 jersey for Ulster's two pre-season friendlies will assume the position again, in the absence of David Humphreys and Paddy Wallace against Neath this Friday.

Coach Alan Solomons has made five changes to the Ulster side to meet Swansea in the Celtic League at St Helen's on Saturday afternoon.

The Ulster second row is coach Alan Solomon's main area of concern before the visit of Edinburgh to Ravenhill on Friday night.

MUNSTER’S three new signings will all play their club rugby in Limerick this year with Eddie Halvey returning to play his club rugby with Shannon, Dominic Malone teaming up with UL Bohemians and Australian prop Simon Kerr joining Garryowen.

Leinster, Ulster and Munster have announced their squads for their upcoming fixtures.

LIONS lock Jeremy Davidson is itching to win back his international jersey.

TWO former internationals are preparing for a battle to get back into the international scene.

Scrum-half Peter Stringer has been dropped from Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield. His place is taken by Guy Easterby, who plays his rugby in Wales with Llanelli.

Teams for Queensland President’s XV v the Lions, in Townsville, tomorrow, kick-off 10.30am (Irish time).

Teams for Western Australia v Lions, the WACA, Perth, Friday, 11.30am (Irish time).

Ireland captain Keith Wood will lead the Lions in Friday’s tour opener against Western Australia at the WACA.

The Lions squad for the summer tour to Australia has been announced.

Ireland’s senior squad session next week, which was originally arranged for Belfast, has been switched to the University of Limerick because of the foot-and-mouth scare and will be held from Monday to Wednesday next week.

British and Irish Lions chiefs have drawn up a provisional list of 67 players who have been asked to confirm their availability for this summer’s tour to Australia.

The Irish rugby squad for the Six Nations Championship game against France has been announced.

Paddy Johns has been left out of the Irish training squad which will meet next week ahead of the Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on February 3.