Harlequins’ hopes of progression in the Champions Cup were virtually extinguished as they crashed to a third-consecutive defeat in Europe, a 17-5 loss at home to Ulster.

England 45 Ireland 21: Twenty-one points was enough to win each of the two previous World Rugby U20 Championship finals and only twice has a team scored more than that and lost, but you got the impression at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday evening that no matter what Ireland scored, England would nab more.

Coach Nigel Carolan has urged his men to play the game and not the occasion when they take on England this evening (7pm) in the World Rugby U20 Championship at the AJ Bell Stadium in Greater Manchester.

Crossmaglen Rangers 0-17 St Patrick’s Cullyhanna 0-8

Record goalscorer David Healy has returned to the Northern Ireland squad for the Carling Nations Cup match against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on February 9, while there is also a first senior call-up for teenage striker Liam Boyce.