Leinster will wait on the fitness of Brian O'Driscoll, Girvan Dempsey and Stephen Knoop for their Heineken Cup tie with Edinburgh on Friday.

STEPHEN KNOOP has failed to make the Leinster squad for tomorrow’s crucial Heineken Cup Pool 6 clash in the Stade Ernest Wallon (ko 8pm).

Ulster 16 Leinster 16

THE blows just keep on coming for Irish rugby.

Michael Cheika has included new signings Juan Francisco Gomez, Chris Keane and Stephen Knoop in the Leinster squad to play Edinburgh in the opening game of the Magners League season in the RDS on Saturday.

Leinster have announced the signings of Argentina prop Juan Francisco Gomez, South African international front-row forward Ollie Le-Roux and Connacht's Irish-qualified tight-head prop Stephen Knoop in their squad for next season.

IN a game that could have gone either way, Connacht were forced to accept a draw against a side touting title hopes.

ALLY HOGG came through 80 minutes unscathed ahead of next weekend’s RBS 6 Nations opener with England as Edinburgh came out on top against Connacht, with Duncan Hodge making up for an early error with a fine kicking performance.

Connacht have announced a 24-man squad for their New Years Eve Magners League clash with Munster (KO 4pm).

RONAN O’GARA will captain Munster when the European champions clash with Connacht in the Magners League at Thomond Park tomorrow (5pm).

There will be five changes to the Connacht side to face Munster at Thomond Park on Sunday.

CHRISTIAN CULLEN is included in a 27-man Munster panel for Sunday’s Magners League clash with Connacht at Thomond Park.

Narbonne 35 Connacht 29

European Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals teamsheets

The bizarre mystery surrounding the true identity of a writer claiming to be a 25-year-old former male prostitute and drug addict may have been solved.

Prop Stephen Knoop has picked up an ankle injury to make him a doubt for Connacht's European Challenge Cup Pool Five clash with Montpellier at the Sportsground on Saturday.

IT’S an indicator of how fast Robert Kearney’s career is progressing that the Leinster back was disappointed not to be involved in Ireland’s Autumn internationals last month.

Ospreys 18 Connacht 17

Ulster 36 Connacht 10

Borders 9 Connacht 18

Wing Conor McPhillips, tight head Stephen Knoop and number eight John O'Sullivan are the three men promoted for Connacht's Celtic League clash with Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground on Saturday (kick-off 2pm).

Connacht: McHugh, Mostyn, Yapp, Downey, McPhillips, Warwick, Keane, Hogan, Jackman, Knoop, Farley, Short, Swift, Lacey, Muldoon.