It was called Route 6’6”. With the stocks of tall second rows at a critically low ebb, Leinster launched the search for alternatives around about this time five years ago.

Today

Former Liverpool and Scotland star Graeme Souness will join TV3’s Champions League analysis team.

Anthony Foley believes Paul O’Connell’s selfless nature will be the key factor in the Ireland captain’s decision on his rugby-playing future.

A derby without BOD.

WHEN Malcolm O’Kelly, 40, retired from international rugby in 2010, he had no clear career plans in place.

It’s the fifth year of a charity cycle that makes getting to Laois a fun ride that beats the traffic. Richard Fitzpatrick reports

Leinster look set to welcome back a host of Irish internationals for Saturday night’s trip to Thomond Park to face Munster in the RaboDirect PRO12 (7.30pm).

Paul O’Connell admitted yesterday that Ireland have struggled in the absence of Brian O’Driscoll in years past but believes the current vintage possess the maturity and confidence to cope without their talisman.

TWO seasons ago, Leinster travelled to France as reigning Heineken Cup champions for a semi-final against Toulouse, a club that considers itself that bit more regal than every other one with pretensions of royal status in Europe.

MANY elements combine to produce the unique chemistry of a Leinster-Munster fixture and one of the more fascinating in recent years has been the head-to-head rivalry between the province’s out-halves.

When Mal O’Kelly joined Leinster they didn’t have dressing rooms but when he left the only thing they didn’t have was a ladyboys’ tag

FORMER Ireland and Lions star Mike Gibson has become the fifth Irishman to be inducted into the International Rugby Board’s Hall of Fame.

ISA NACEWA capped a glittering night for Leinster as he became the first overseas player to be named Bord Gáis Energy Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association (IRUPA) Players’ Player of the Year.

THE IRFU will wait another two years before deciding whether or not to send an Irish sevens team to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

LEO CULLEN was wandering through Leinster’s administrative offices this week when his eyes were drawn to one of the many game-day pictures that adorn the walls.

Devin Toner is planning to mark his Test debut by fixing Ireland’s malfunctioning line-out.

FACING a heavy workload in the next 72 hours, Devin Toner will have little time to fret about his International debut against Samoa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

PADRAIG Harrington last night insisted that the best was yet to come where his golfing career was concerned.

Declan Kidney is facing up to the prospect of touring New Zealand and Australia without Shane Horgan, Fergus McFadden and Jerry Flannery, after a bruising 29-23 defeat to the Barbarians added to Ireland’s injury headaches.

Ireland 23 Barbarians 29

IF rugby matches were played on paper, few would give the Irish team much of a chance against the Barbarians in tonight’s game at Thomond Park.

ENTHUSED by being honoured with the captaincy of an Irish team for the second time in his illustrious career, Ronan O’Gara is avidly looking forward to tomorrow might’s clash with the Barbarians at Thomond Park, not least because his great friend Alan Quinlan will be in the opposing line-up!

Ireland internationals Alan Quinlan and Malcolm O’Kelly will face their countrymen as part of the Barbarians line-up for Friday’s non-cap international at Thomond Park in Limerick.

MALCOLM O’KELLY will be afforded the opportunity to round off his long professional career on a high when he lines out for the Barbarians against Ireland at Thomond Park on Friday night (7.45 p.m).

IT’S BEEN quite a week for the RDS, with a pair of soccer internationals and a Magners League final over a five-day period.

IT was billed as the dream send-off for Leinster coach Michael Cheika but the inspired Ospreys danced all over the script in this inaugural Magners League Grand final at the RDS on Saturday.

Leinster 12 Ospreys 17

ROB KEARNEY admits sentiment is playing a big role in Leinster’s preparations for Saturday’s Magners League decider against the Ospreys at the RDS.

LEO CULLEN’S shoulder injury has given Leinster’s senior statesman, Malcolm O’Kelly, a golden opportunity to wrap up his illustrious career on a high in the Magners League final at the RDS (6.30pm) on Saturday.

GOODBYE Munster, hello Leinster.

Leinster V Munster

JONATHAN SEXTON was yesterday cleared to play for Leinster, and so the extra spice that has become a feature of their games against Munster over the past few is guaranteed once again at the RDS tonight when they go head-to-head again in the semi-final of the Magners League.

WITH words of praise ringing in his ears from Leinster’s coaching and playing staff, Malcolm O’Kelly yesterday officially announced his retirement for the end of the season after a long and distinguished career, 15 of them as a professional player.

Leinster and Ireland lock Malcolm O’Kelly has announced his retirement from professional rugby.

Captain Leo Cullen has been ruled out of the extended Leinster squad to play Munster in the Magner’s League semi-final at The RDS on Saturday.

PAUL O’CONNELL will today undergo an operation in Cork to sort out the niggling groin problem that has sidelined the Munster captain since Ireland’s defeat to Scotland in the Six Nations championship on March 20.

BYRON KELLEHER is 33, Malcolm O’Kelly 35, and, such is the talent available to their respective coaches ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final between Toulouse and Leinster, there is every chance neither will start.

CONNACHT’S injury-ravaged side won’t lack for incentive in this evening’s re-fixed Magners League game at the Galway Sportsground.

A PAIR of iconic figures may be absent but tonight’s Magners League clash of the tournament’s top two teams, Leinster and Munster, still promises to be a titanic affair in front of a 26,500 full house at Thomond Park.

THE popularity of rugby in Ireland is such that a fixture between Leinster and Connacht in Dublin today (RDS, 4.30pm) has a guaranteed attendance of almost 14,000.

THE BIG guns will return to Leinster next week and they’ll be patting their teammates in the extended squad on the back after they completed their third win during the Six Nations.