THE Ospreys maintained their pressure on Munster and Leinster at the top of the Magners League table with comfortable, victory over Connacht at Liberty Stadium yesterday.

The Ospreys will be without Ireland’s Tommy Bowe for their home tie against Munster at The Liberty Stadium on Friday night.

LEINSTER closed the gap on Magners League leaders Cardiff Blues with a victory over the depleted champions, the Ospreys in Swansea last night.

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.

BRIAN CARNEY gave another glimpse of his rugby union promise with a second try-scoring appearance though it was too late to save Munster’s season from freefall.

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney intends using today’s Magners League game against Ospreys to freshen up his side after their exit from the Heineken Cup last weekend.

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).

Ulster coach Mark McCall has gone for Kieran Campbell instead of Neil Doak to provide the link between his forwards and David Humphreys in the Heineken Cup Pool 6 opener at home to Cardiff Blues tomorrow night.

Munster 49 Cardiff Blues 18

APRIL 30, 2004 was a sad and ignominious day in the history of Munster rugby. That was the date when an understrength side from the province crashed 60-14 to their Cardiff hosts at the Arms Park.

Cardiff Blues have made four changes from last weekend with half-backs Dean Dewdney and Nick McLeod given the responsibility of applying some control to their back play at home to Connacht.