Belfast Harlequins are now three points clear at the top of Ulster Bank League Division 1B after defeating UCC at Deramore Park this afternoon.

CONNACHT’S Eric Elwood signalled his intent ahead of Monday’s Rabo Direct 12 clash with Munster by making just one enforced change from the side that lost to Gloucester in last week’s Heineken Cup tie at Kingsholm.

Following Connacht's narrow defeat away to Gloucester in the Heineken Cup last weekend, Head Coach Eric Elwood has chosen not to tinker with the side too much for the trip to Thomond Park to face Munster in the RaboDirect PRO12 on St. Stephen’s Day (7.45pm), making just one enforced change.

Eric Elwood has made two changes to the matchday 23 for Gloucester’s visit to the Sportsground on Saturday (1.30pm), with just one change in the starting lineup.

The Connacht side that will face Benetton Treviso on Friday night at the Sportsground (kick off: 7.30pm) shows seven changes from the team that lost 6-17 to the Ospreys last weekend.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has made three changes for the team to face the Ospreys in tomorrows RaboDirect Pro12 clash at the Sportsground (k.o. 6.30pm).

CONNACHT out-half Niall O’Connor is looking forward to playing in Ravenhill again tomorrow night when he hopes to pull one over on his former Ulster colleagues in the RaboDirect PRO12.

Connacht Rugby have announced a 27-man squad ahead of this Saturday's inter-Provincial clash with Ulster.

Leinster 30 Connacht 20

After a mounting injury list during the week sparked suggestions of calling up U20 players to the Connacht team to face Leinster in the RDS this Saturday (5pm) Eric Elwood will be relieved he’s only had to make three changes to his starting team.

Taking on Heineken Cup champions Leinster at the RDS was always going to be a serious test for Eric Elwood’s Connacht side, but their mounting injury list has rendered the task even harder.

Danny Barnes returns to the Munster side for the RaboDirect PRO12 game against Cardiff Blues at the Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow night (7.05pm).

Connacht 13 Scarlets 11

Gavin Duffy will lead Connacht for the first time against Treviso on Saturday, having been unveiled as the club’s new captain earlier this week.

Captain John Muldoon is one of three players Connacht coach Eric Elwood has brought in as his side prepare to take on an Ireland XV at Donnybrook this evening.

Ulster have a number of key players absent from their preliminary 31-man squad as the province prepare for Friday’s Magners League semi-final match with Leinster at the RDS, kick-off 7.05pm.

Connacht rugby are poised to land arguably their biggest signing since the advent of the professional game in the form of All Black centre Benson Stanley.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has named a 35-man squad ahead of Friday’s Magners League clash with the Scarlets at Ravenhill, kick-off 7.05pm.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has brought back his Irish internationals ahead of Friday’s Magners League match away to Glasgow (kick-of 8.05pm).

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has named a 32-man squad for Saturday’s crucial Heineken Cup match with Aironi at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, kick-off 2.30pm.

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood has received some timely good news ahead of the province’s Amlin Challenge Cup tie with Bayonne on Saturday with tighthead prop Jamie Hagan signing a new two year contract to stay at the Sportsground.

Connacht Rugby have today announced the signings of Ulster duo Niall O’Connor and Mark McCrea along with the re-signing of former Connacht favourite George Naoupu from Japan for next season.

Ireland U20 centre Luke Marshall is one of a number of fringe players included the Ulster squad take on League leaders Munster at Ravenhill on Friday night.

Stephen Ferris will line out for Ulster against Edinburgh in the Magner's League at Murrayfiled on Friday night.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has named an enlarged squad for Friday's Magners League meeting with Edinburgh at Murrayfield (kick-off 7.05pm).

Ireland internationals Paddy Wallace and Tom Court will be part of Ulster's squad to play The Ospreys at Ravenhill in the Magner's League this Friday night (ko 7.05pm).

Ulster 14 Bath 26

New signing Johann Muller will captain Ulster in tomorrow's pre-season friendly against Bath at Ravenhill (kick-off 7.30pm).

South African recruits Johann Muller and Pedrie Wannenburg will make their debuts for Ulster in a pre-season match against Bath at Ravenhill on Friday night.

ISAAC BOSS returns to a 29-man Ulster squad for Saturday’s Magners League return clash with Cardiff Blues at Ravenhill.

Stephen Ferris is back in the Ulster squad for their Magner’s League tie away to Cardiff Blues on Friday night.

Munster A 34 Heriot’s 7

Ulster Ravens coach Neil Doak has named a 27-man squad for the province's British & Irish Cup Pool C clash with London Welsh at Ravenhill on Friday (kick-off 7.30pm).

South African Robbie Diack returns from a long lay-off to take his place in the Ulster Ravens 28-man squad for the British and Irish Cup clash against the Welsh side Llanelli, at Parc y Scarlets on Friday night.

Scottish internatoinal wing Simon Daniellie returns from injury to take his place in the Ulster extended squad to prepare for their first Heineken Cup Pool match against Bath Rugby at Ravenhill on Friday.

Stephen Ferris returns to the Ulster side to play The Scarlets in the Magner's League at Ravenhill tomorrow night.

Lock Ryan Caldwell returns to the initial 26-man Ulster squad after recovering from an ankle injury ahead of their Magner's League title with the Scarlets at Ravenhill on Friday evening.

Coach Brian McLaughlin will rotate his starting 15, making 13 changes to his Ulster side against Italian Super 10 side Viadana at Ravenhill on Wednesday.

Ulster's Operations Director David Humphreys commended Ulster's young players when they fell to a 17-10 defeat to a Bayonne selection in front of a 10,000 crowd in France on Saturday.

Hooker Nigel Brady will lead Ulster into their final Magner's League match of the season against The Scarlets on Saturday.

Matt Williams' has called Ballynahinch hooker Neil Hanna into his 25-man squad for Ulster's last Magner's League match of the season against Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.

THE war of words between Munster and London Irish will end today when the two clubs will resolve their differences on the Paul Warwick affair.

Ulster coach Matt Williams has included Niall O'Connor and Mark McCrea in an extended 24-man squad for Friday's Magners League match against Ospreys at Ravenhill.

Grand Slam winners Tom Court, Rory Best and Paddy Wallace have all been named in the 25-man Ulster squad to play Leinster at The RDS on Sunday (5.30pm).