Ireland’s U20 Grand Slam dream died at Adams Park in High Wycombe last night after they failed to fully recover from a strong opening by England.

Second-half drop goals from half-backs Luke McGrath and Paddy Jackson against Wales set the Ireland U20s on a Grand Slam journey back in February but the duo are not underestimating the final road block.

COLIN McENTEE’S Leinster A couldn’t add the scalp of London Welsh to those of Esher, Melrose and Llanelli at Donnybrook yesterday but a draw was enough to secure a home quarter-final in the British & Irish Cup.

HORESWOOD upset the formbook by defeating champions Castletown in yesterday’s thrilling Wexford SFC final at Wexford Park.

THE sight of new signing BJ Botha hobbling off with a calf muscle injury after 27 minutes and then limp from the ground with the aid of crutches was as much a disappointment and a worry to the Munster as this defeat at Musgrave Park last night

DROPPED by Ireland, Peter Stringer could be one of the key figures in Munster’s quest for victory over one of their greatest Heineken Cup rivals, London Wasps, in a pre-season friendly at Musgrave Park tomorrow night (7pm).

THAT’LL do. Leinster last night recorded a perfunctory win to keep their Magners League play-off hopes firmly on message while Jonathan Sexton came through a useful 80 minutes unscathed.

JONATHAN SEXTON returns to the number 10 jersey at the RDS tonight for Leinster’s Magners League clash against fellow play-off contenders the Scarlets (7.35pm).

Leinster 30 Treviso 5

LEINSTER coach Joe Schmidt has admitted that the next fortnight will be crucial to his team’s hopes of reaching the Magners League play-offs.

LEO CULLEN will become only the fifth player in Leinster’s history to reach the 150 cap mark when he leads the side out for tonight’s Magners League clash away to third-placed Cardiff Blues at the Cardiff Park Stadium (kick-off 6.30pm).

LIKE Ireland in Rome last Saturday, Leinster found out last night that it is one thing being expected to beat Italian opposition but quite another to actually do it.

Meelin (Cork) 2-15 Fullen Gaels (Lancashire) 0-8

ALL known logic was almost defied as the Ireland Schools came within eight minutes of trumping all-powerful England in an adrenaline-fuelled FIRA U18 European Championship qualifier at Donnybrook yesterday.

THE selection of Donnacha Ryan in Munster’s British and Irish Cup squad confirms Paul O’Connell’s involvement in the Heineken Cup clash with the Ospreys at Thomond Park on Sunday.

HOT favourites Skryne were made battle all the way by well-organised Castletown in a highly competitive Leinster club senior football quarter-final clash at Navan’s Páirc Tailteann.

The teams for this weekend's All-Ireland League fixtures have been announced.

The teams for this weekend's round of AIL rugby fixtures have been announced today.

Blackrock College will be able to call on the strike power of their Ireland U20s Andrew Conway and Brendan Macken in Division 1A against a Dolphin disrupted without their regular number eight James Coughlan, who has been called up by Munster.

The teams for this weekend's round of All-Ireland League rugby matches have been announced.

A MISSED drop goal on full time by Leinster out-half Isa Nacewa helped give Glasgow victory in a match dominated by the Irish province, but conceded to a home side that grew in confidence after the break.

LEINSTER shipped five tries in a friendly defeat by English champions Leicester at Welford Road last night. There was little in it at half-time after Ian McKinley’s try had helped keep the visitors within six points at 20-14.

MUNSTER will crank up their preparations for the new season with the introduction of several senior players for the friendly with Gloucester at Musgrave Park tomorrow (7pm).

FAR from a bright beginning for new Leinster coach Joe Schmidt as his side were given a lesson in organisation, intensity and clinical finishing by Shaun Edwards’ London-based boys in a friendly at Donnybrook last night.

LEINSTER have included three internationals in the ‘A’ side to face the Exeter Chiefs in today’s British & Irish Cup clash in Sandy Park (3pm).

IRELAND internationals Girvan Dempsey, Trevor Hogan, Bernard Jackman, Malcolm O’Kelly and Mike Ross have been named in the extended Leinster squad for Saturday’s British & Irish Cup clash against Exeter at Sandy Park on Saturday (3pm).

MUNSTER bid for their fourth successive victory in the A Interprovincial championship when they face Connacht this evening at Thomond Park (6.30pm).

Cork Constitution bring back Munster-capped tight-head Stephen Archer into their front row for the clash with Garryowen in Division One of the AIB League at Dooradoyle on Saturday.

Leaders St Mary’s College bring hooker Richard Sweeney, prop Kevin Carroll and lock Stephen Bradshaw in for a shot at Garryowen in Division 1A of the AIB League at Templeville Road.

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika has ordered Isa Nacewa to wrap himself up in cotton wool to ensure his availability for Heineken Cup action against Llanelli Scarlets on Saturday week.

Blackrock College co-coaches Barry Gibney and Emmett Farrell bring in prop Sean Byrne to tight-head as their only change to the leaders' side to play Clontarf at Castle Avenue.

Leaders Blackrock College will be looking to their Leinster Academy backs, like Niall Morris, Brendan Macken, Kyle Tonetti, Andrew Conway and Dave Moore, to open up Cork Constitution at Stradbrook.

Munster A 21 Leinster A 15

LEINSTER forwards coach Johno Gibbes is adamant that there can be life after Rocky Elsom for the province.

MICHAEL CHEIKA admitted ill discipline cost Leinster dearly after the reigning Heineken Cup champions slumped to a shock opening day defeat to the Scarlets in the Magners League.

LEINSTER may have ended a run of near-misses and underachievement in glorious fashion by winning the Heineken Cup, but that will not stop Michael Cheika from imposing a change of playing style this season.

MUNSTER are hopeful Paul Warwick will be available to take his place at out-half when they begin their defence of the Magners League against Glasgow at Firhill on Friday night, (8pm Setanta Sport).

Teams for today's All-Ireland League ties.

ON the day Nick Williams is set to be introduced from the bench for his first representative fixture with Munster, Stephen Keogh has been chosen to lead Leinster against his former side in today’s A clash at Donnybrook (2.30pm).

AIB League teams

HEINEKEN Cup winner Anthony Horgan and hooker Denis Fogarty struck for two tries apiece in the Munster reserve side’s resounding win over their Leinster equivalents at Donnybrook yesterday.