Paul O’Connell was lifting trophies again last night as the Ireland captain was voted the Hibernia College IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year 2015 by his fellow professionals.

Three-time European cup winner Shane Jennings has announced that he will retire at the end of the season.

Connacht coach Pat Lam has confirmed that lock Quinn Roux will remain on loan with Connacht until at least the end of the 2014/15 season.

Connacht coach Pat Lam believes there is much more to come from his young squad after celebrating the New Year with a solid victory over Munster at the Galway Sportsground.

Bayonne 27 Connacht 29

Mazda Ireland, official car partner to Connacht Rugby has launched its official ‘Mazda Rugby Roadshow’.

Almost half a century has come and gone since Europe last belonged to Glasgow, when Jock Stein’s famously home-spun Celtic Bhoys beat Inter Milan in the 1967 final.

Pool two leaders Connacht face an onerous task away to a fancied Exeter in this afternoon’s second European Challenge Cup fixture.

Guinness Pro12:

Robbie Henshaw will make his 50th appearance for Connacht when he starts for them against Glasgow Warriors on Friday night.

With European Cup qualification out of the equation, Connacht are still intent on a best-place finish to this season’s Pro12 when they entertain Cardiff Blues in their final home game of the season this evening (5pm).

Injured Munster skipper Peter O’Mahony, Leinster lock Devin Toner and Ulster winger Andrew Trimble have been nominated for the Hibernia College IRUPA Player of the Year Award.

Ulster 58 Connact 12

ULSTER 58 CONNACHT 12Ulster put themselves firmly back on track in their bid to reach the RaboDirect PRO12 play-offs with a thumping 58-12 bonus point win over fellow Irish province Connacht.

Head Coach Pat Lam has named an unchanged Connacht side for the fourth game in a row with the team traveling to take on Ulster tomorrow night at Ravenhill, kick off 7:05pm.

Scarlets 32 Connacht 30

Dragons 8 Connacht 24

Connacht 11 Edinburgh 7

Connacht claimed a precious 11-7 home win over Edinburgh as they lifted themselves off the bottom of the RaboDirect PRO12 table.

The Connacht team to face Edinburgh at the Sportsground at 5pm tomorrow has been named.

The Connacht team to face Glasgow Warriors in Sunday's round 13 RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Scotstoun Stadium (KO: 2pm) has been named.

Saracens 64 Connacht 6

Connacht 20 Zebre 3

HEINEKEN CUP POOL THREE:

HEINEKEN CUP POOL THREE:

Already battered and bruised from Sunday’s exertions in Toulouse, Connacht will be without Michael Swift for the return leg on Saturday in the Galway Sportsground.

The Connacht team to face Edinburgh in tomorrow's RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Murrayfield welcome Robbie Henshaw and Eoin McKeon back.

Pat Lam has handed Eoghan Masterson his first cap in his team to face the Scarlets tomorrow at the Sportsground (KO: 5pm).

Connacht will travel to the capital this weekend to play provincial rivals Leinster in Round 6 of the RaboDirect PRO12.

Munster captain Peter O'Mahony has been left out of Munster's squad for this weekend's Heineken Cup opener against Edinburgh.

RABO DIRECT PRO12

Connacht Head Coach Pat Lam has made a number of changes to the team for their second away trip of the season.

Connacht coach Pat Lam says his side are a work in progress.

Connacht 7 Ulster 18

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

It was an interesting night in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 last night where we saw the good, the bad and the ugly, writes Daniel Pitcher…

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Pat Lam has a hard act to follow when his Connacht team take to the field in today’s Rabodirect Pro 12 opener against Italian visitors Zebre (5pm).

In the run-up to the new rugby season, our rugby correspondent Daniel Pitcher previews the four provinces ahead of the Rabo Direct Pro 12 openers on Friday. First up is Connacht and tomorrow he will take a look at Ulster.

Cian Healy, Nick Williams and Simon Zebo are the choice of their peers in Ireland’s Rugby Players Association to form the shortlist for the Hibernia College IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year award 2013.

Veteran lock Michael Swift has recovered from injury to take his place alongside Mike McCarthy in the second row for Connacht’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Edinburgh at Murrayfield tomorrow (7.30pm).

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four personnel and two positional changes to his pack for tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Treviso.

Having seen his team win their last three league encounters, Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has kept changes to a minimum for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Munster at Musgrave Park (5.45pm).

Having endured an injury-plagued season so far, Connacht head coach Eric Elwood is pleased with the strength of his squad as they prepare for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Munster in Musgrave Park (5.45pm).