Johann van Graan believes new signing Arno Botha will add strength and depth to Munster’s back-row resources when the Springbok arrives this summer on a one-year contract.

Declan Kidney could not suppress a laugh at the final question as he was unveiled as London Irish’s new technical director, a few hours after Nick Kennedy’s shock resignation as the Exiles’ director of rugby.

Jerry Flannery was a member of the Irish team which completed the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2009. An outstanding hooker who helped Munster to win the Heineken Cup in 2006 and 2008, he represented Ireland on 41 occasions. Ahead of Ireland’s bid for more Grand Slam glory on Saturday he spoke to Charlie Mulqueen

Two former coaches of Irish rugby, Declan Kidney and Les Kiss, are reportedly set to return to top-flight coaching at Aviva Premiership team London Irish

Bring back Brian McLaughlin, all has been forgiven!

Ulster are set to lose head coach Jono Gibbes at the end of the season, just over a month after director of rugby Les Kiss departed the province by 'mutual consent'.

Ulster's director of rugby Les Kiss is leaving his post by "mutual consent, effective immediately".

Ireland and Lions winger Tommy Bowe faces up to eight weeks out of the game after suffering a shoulder injury when he came on as a replacement in Ulster’s thumping 38-7 defeat by Leinster at the RDS on Saturday evening.

Amid the carnage of heavy defeat at the RDS on Saturday evening, Les Kiss was at least able to offer some good news.

Whatever the demands in Munster for a return to winning ways after a chastening home defeat to Leinster, it is up in Ulster where the need for atonement is felt much deeper ahead of this evening’s sold-out PRO14 derby clash in Belfast, writes Simon Lewis

“You always feel pressure, and that noise has been out there for a while, but there’s a weird nature in us beasts in that you almost revel in criticism and stand up and fight against it.”

Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss could hardly have been more candid in describing his team’s performance when he responded to a post-match query in Galway on Saturday night after his side capitulated to Connacht in the Guinness PRO14.

It’s a fixture which Connacht have only won four times in 29 meetings but coach Kieran Keane is hoping that Tiernan O’Halloran’s decision to remain at the Sportsground will be the start of a great festive period.

Ulster fans arriving very early for last weekend’s Champions Cup clash with Harlequins might have chanced upon what would be good news for the side and its coaches.

Les Kiss knows only too well that Ulster face a near impossible task in replacing Christian Lealiifano when the Australian’s loan spell in Belfast comes to an end.

Fledgling international star Jacob Stockdale will be back in Ulster’s colours when the next stage of the Champions Cup gets underway for Les Kiss’s side on Sunday when they face in-form Harlequins at The Stoop.

Ulster have signed Australia fly-half Christian Lealiifano on a five-month deal as cover for Paddy Jackson.

If things had worked out a little differently, John Plumtree might possibly still be Ireland’s forwards coach, and still accompanying Joe Schmidt on unscheduled detours on the way home from Ulster matches.

Leinster were denied top spot in the Guinness PRO12 after suffering their first league defeat since December at Irish rivals Ulster.

While Munster, who will have one eye on the big Saracens test the following week, are likely to be without six of their front-line players, Ulster’s director of rugby Les Kiss is more or less able to stack his side for Saturday’s must-win PRO12 clash at Thomond Park.

Artomatix is targeting the major players in the movie and video games industries with its creative artificial intelligence technology that automatically generates 3D content, writes Trish Dromey.

After singing with Hozier and becoming one of the faces of the Repeal campaign, Jess Kavanagh is now intent on making a of of her funky fourpiece, writes Eoghan O’Sullivan.

Ulster are expected to announce the signing of a southern hemisphere backs coach within a week or so following the news that they have whisked former Leinster forwards supremo Jono Gibbes away from Clermont Auvergne to take over from departing head coach Neil Doak at the end of the season.

Ulster ended their four-game losing run in all competitions in resounding style by racking up a 24-18 bonus-point victory over Edinburgh in the Guinness PRO12 at the Kingspan Stadium.

Former Ulster favourite Stephen Ferris has again rounded on his former team after they were bounced out of Europe with a dismal 31-19 defeat at the hands of Exeter on Sunday.

Exeter 31 Ulster 19: Ulster boss Les Kiss cut a frustrated figure as his side’s hopes of reaching the European Champions Cup quarter-finals ended in England’s West Country last night.

Ulster’s Director of Rugby Les Kiss is aware that it will take a monumental turnaround in form, attitude and finishing ability to put one over on Exeter in their own back yard on Sunday and proceed through to the Champions Cup play-offs.

It hasn’t been easy ride for Ulster’s Director of Rugby Les Kiss since he took over office halfway through last season.

Make or break, must win, season-defining – all terms which have been used to describe Ulster’s Champions Cup tie with French giants Clermont Auvergne in Belfast this afternoon.

“You watch Clermont as we have and you’ve just got to be impressed by what’s on offer, admiring too, and otherwise it might put the fear of God in you.” Ulster’s Director of Rugby Les Kiss was certainly not underestimating the task facing his side when the French Championship leaders come to Kingspan Stadium on Saturday for the third pool game in the Champions Cup.

Rory Best has been hailed as one of Ireland’s toughest ever Test competitors as the captain closes in on 100 caps.

Rory Best has been hailed as one of Ireland's toughest ever Test competitors as the captain closes in on 100 caps.

Just short of 10 months ago, Munster pulled off one of the most important wins of their 2015/16 season when they beat Ulster by two points (9-7) in the Guinness PRO12 at Kingspan Stadium.