MUNSTER took another giant step on the road to Heineken Cup glory at Thomond Park yesterday, but, after being on the ropes a few times, will remember this scrap for a long time.

Munster 22 Llanelli 13

Anthony Foley will make a dramatic return to the Munster side for Saturday's round three Heineken Cup clash with Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park

Llanelli Scarlets 32 Ulster 8

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons improved their lowly position in the Magners League with a scrambled 14-13 victory over the Blues at Rodney Parade.

Newport Gwent Dragons 14 Cardiff Blues 13

Connacht’s hopes of some play-off action ended six weeks ago, but they sent Montpellier packing with a four-try 26-13 win in a wet European Challenge Cup encounter tonight.

HARD taskmaster or rugby idealist? On Saturday, shorn of several of their frontline players, Leinster still managed a bonus-point win at Donnybrook, leaping to second place in the Magners League (overnight at least), yet manager Michael Cheika was far from happy.

Newport-Gwent Dragons 32 Glasgow Warriors 18

Llanelli Scarlets 36 Newport-Gwent Dragons 17

Newport Gwent Dragons 23 Munster 17

Newport-Gwent Dragons 23 Munster 17

The Gwent Dragons will ask Welsh internationals Gareth Wyatt, Ian Gough and Michael Owen and the fit-again Luke Charteris to provide the experience necessary to deal with Munster at Rodney Parade this evening.

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney has applied for three new player licences for his Celtic League squad ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park (5.15pm).

Cardiff Blues 41 Newport Gwent Dragons 23

Newport Gwent Dragons 8 Munster 24

Neath-Swansea Ospreys 30 Newport Gwent Dragons 0

Neath-Swansea Ospreys 30 Newport Gwent Dragons 0

BATH have been left to pick through the pieces of a botched Italian job which has effectively left their Heineken Cup hopes in tatters.

Munster 25 Gwent Dragons 16

Dragons 30 Ulster 7

New Wales coach Mike Ruddock today named three uncapped players in his squad for next month's tour to Argentina and South Africa.

Connacht 14 Gwent Dragons 32

Newport-Gwent 48 Cardiff 25

Wales caretaker coach Mike Ruddock believes his young side’s victory over Romania will put pressure on the senior players to perform against Scotland this weekend.

WORLD CUP warm-up matches were made for players like Rhys Oakley – and the Wales flanker intends grasping his chance against Ireland at Lansdowne Road today.

Rival coaches Eddie O’Sullivan and Steve Hansen will put the emphasis on performance rather than result when World Cup warm-up opponents Ireland and Wales clash in Dublin tomorrow.

IRELAND out-half Paul Burke (Harlequins) sustained a hamstring injury in training yesterday and has withdrawn from the 22-man Ireland squad for next Saturday’s permanent tsb international at Lansdowne Road against Wales.

Steve Hansen believes that Wales’ August schedule of warm-up Tests could make or break some players’ World Cup prospects.

FOUR of Ireland’s front-line players - Keith Wood, Brian O’Driscoll, Anthony Foley and Shane Horgan - are to make a return to the international arena against Wales on Saturday next at Lansdowne Road.

Wales coach Steve Hansen tonight told his players that World Cup places are up for grabs after selecting the side to face warm-up opponents Ireland in Dublin tomorrow week.

Wales have named two uncapped players in their side to take on Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week.

England were consigned to a play-off for seventh and eighth place today after being beaten by Wales in the IRB Under-21 World Cup.

Connacht added Newport to their growing collection of Celtic League

Shane Howarth inspired Newport to overturn a half-time deficit and beat Edinburgh in a pulsating encounter.