New Ulster signing Henry Speight hopes to leave the province ‘a better player than when I arrive.’

Ulster 35 Ospreys 17: So after a season where more headlines were made off the pitch rather than on it, Ulster, the 1999 Heineken Cup kingpins and forerunners of Ireland’s glorious history in the competition, will still have a place at the top table of European rugby next season.

The loss of inspirational skipper Rory Best for tomorrow afternoon’s PRO14 shoot-out against the Ospreys at the Kingspan Stadium (kick-off, 3.05pm) will hit Ulster hard, particularly with Ireland lock Iain Henderson also sidelined.

Munster 19 Scarlets 7: Tommy O’Donnell and Rory Scannell were the latest Munster players to check into the province’s treatment room as head coach Johann van Graan admitted both Simon Zebo and Andrew Conway have only 50/50 chances of facing Toulon next Saturday.

Simon Zebo has warned that Munster must lay down a marker from the outset and make home advantage pay against Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park this evening (7pm kick-off).

Peter Jackson discusses ’What’s Hot and What’s Not’ in this weekend’s review. 

Leo Cullen couldn’t help but cast his mind back to this week two years ago.

Dragons 32 Ulster 32: Australian international Christian Lealifano salvaged a 32-32 draw for Ulster with a last minute try against the Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Newport Gwent Dragons and Ulster fought out an dramatic Pro14 League draw at Rodney Parade with visiting fly-half Christian Lealiifano both hero and villain.

Since its rebranding as the Champions Cup, the big beasts have thundered down an all too predictable road, relentless in their crushing of lighter opposition, writes Peter Jackson.

Jarrod Evans nailed the match-winning conversion in windy conditions as Cardiff Blues edged out Connacht 17-15 for their first win at the Sportsground since May 2014.

Connacht have turned to new out-half Andrew Deegan as they seek a crucial home win against Cardiff Blues.

Scarlets reached their first ever Guinness PRO12 final after defeating much-fancied Leinster 27-15 at the RDS despite having Steff Evans sent off before half-time.

Guinness PRO12

Munster have a home Champions Cup quarter-final to look forward to in the spring after completing the double over Racing 92 with a 22-10 win at Thomond Park.

A controversial penalty try helped Scarlets to a narrow 16-13 Guinness PRO12 victory over Ulster at a rain-drenched Parc y Scarlets.

Ireland centre Luke Marshall is determined to right recent wrongs this evening when a struggling Ulster side travel to Llanelli to face the Guinness PRO12’s in-form side unbeaten in eight games at Parc y Scarlets (7.35pm).

Ospreys 26 Ulster 46: Ulster secured their place in the Guinness Pro12 play-offs after an entertaining 10-try match at the Liberty Stadium as Ospreys failed to qualify for next season’s European Champions Cup.

A 46-26 defeat saw Ospreys fail to qualify for the European Champions Cup next season, while victorious Ulster secured their place in the Guinness Pro12 play-offs in an entertaining 10-try match at the Liberty Stadium.

Tipperary’s John Lacey will referee next month’s European Challenge Cup final between Harlequins and Montpellier.

Munster 26 Newport Gwent Dragons 5: Two salient points emerged from Saturday night’s Guinness Pro 12 game at Thomond Park.

Munster and the Newport Gwent Dragons both received good news yesterday as they prepare for their Guinness Pro12 clash at Thomond Park tonight.

Ulster 56 Oyannax 3: Eight tries, all converted, and a clinically attacking Ulster got the bonus point win over Oyannax on Saturday at the Kingspan Stadium needed to prolong – for 24 hours at least – hopes of a Champions Cup quarter-final spot.

Ospreys 25 Exeter 13: Exeter became the first English club to lose in this season’s European Champions Cup after Wales star Dan Biggar led the Ospreys’ Liberty Stadium victory march.

Tonight: Thomond Park, 6pm

Emerging Ireland 33 Uruguay 7: Rhys Ruddock’s hopes of taking part in the World Cup rest upon the results of an x-ray after damaging his right arm just two months after surgery.

Glasgow Warriors’ clinical finishing proved too much for Connacht as the Guinness PRO12 leaders ran out 31-13 bonus point winners at the Sportsground.

The French will take Twickenham by storm next month for the first time since they subjected the All Blacks to the most riotous half-hour in World Cup history.

Dragons 25 Leinster 22: Leinster’s reign as Guinness Pro12 champions appears all but over after Matt O’Connor’s side surrendered a 22-8 lead at Rodney Parade.

Guinness Pro12

Simon Zebo and Andrew Conway both crossed twice as Munster dominated their Champions Cup dead rubber against a young Sale outfit at Thomond Park.

Leinster’s Champions Cup planning has been thrown into some disarray after Jack McGrath was suspended for the final two pool games.

Although matches against Ulster in recent seasons evoke positive memories for Leinster, defeat this weekend could deepen the sense of crisis ahead of a significant month that will also decide the province’s fate in the Champions Cup.

Leinster 18 Ospreys 12

Emerging Ireland 51 Uruguay 3

Another Munster campaign reaches its conclusion without silverware or even a final appearance to show for all the sweat, toil and trouble, leaving incoming head coach Anthony Foley and his squad with plenty to ponder over the summer months.