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.

As Munster players plan their holidays and how to pass the time during the off-season, Niall Ronan is working out what life will be like as a former professional rugby player.

Niall Ronan is to focus on the exact reason he had to retire from professional rugby to embellish the next stage of his working life — injury.

Munster's Niall Ronan has announced he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season due to injury.

The scars of Munster’s last meeting with Toulon remain with Damien Varley but the hooker is determined the time is right for the province’s new breed of stars to make their mark in Marseille on Sunday.

Keith Earls became the latest frontline Ireland player to sign a new IRFU contract, but will face an anxious wait to see whether he will play any part in the upcoming RBS 6 Nations.

Simon Zebo looks set to further boost Munster’s Heineken Cup hopes by following Conor Murray into action on Saturday for the must-win Pool 6 clash at Gloucester.

Munster coach Rob Penney has a number of selection headaches ahead of Friday night’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Connacht at Thomond Park (7.15pm).

Leicester, Wasps and Munster.

Tommy O’Donnell has moved a step closer to his Munster comeback this weekend at Perpignan after being nominated by the province as an additional player to its Heineken Cup squad.

Maybe that agonising defeat to New Zealand has a legacy after all. At least in determining a starting point for what proved an extraordinary weekend for the Irish provinces in Europe, the All Blacks surely played their part.

Munster captain Peter O’Mahony and No8 James Coughlan were both cleared to face Perpignan on Sunday but the province will have to do without injured hooker Mike Sherry.

Felix Jones has been ruled out of Munster’s Rabodirect Pro12 top of the table clash against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday night.

It was long past his normal bedtime when Sean Dougall got to sleep in the early hours of Saturday morning. However, the disruption didn’t prevent him from producing an outstanding performance that led to him being hailed as the unsung hero of Munster’s Heineken Cup victory over Gloucester.

HEINEKEN CUP POOL SIX:

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

RABODIRECT PRO 12:

Simon Zebo, Peter O'Mahony and Keith Earls will start their first game of the season against Treviso tomorrow night at Stadio di Monigo, kick-off 8.30pm (7.30pm Irish Time).

Munster have named their side for their game against Zebre in Italy tomorrow night at 6.30pm (Irish time).

It is now more than a decade since the famous Miracle Match of 2003, but memories of that never-to-be-forgotten occasion will be revived when three survivors participate in today’s Seat Series clash of Munster and Gloucester at Thomond Park (kick-off 5pm).

The vast reservoir of talent available in Leinster has prompted several of their brightest young stars to broaden their horizons in the quest for first team rugby.

Munster centre believes he can get his team on the front foot against Clermont

Munster head coach Rob Penneyn has made twelve changes to the starting XV that took on Leinster, for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Dragons at Rodney Parade (7pm)

Cornish Pirates 9 Munster A 10

Rob Penney’s men aren’t the only Munster outfit in search of glory across the Irish Sea tomorrow.

Having been sidelined since October with a back problem, Munster second row Paul O’Connell returns to the starting team for the RaboDirect PRO12 interprovincial showdown against Connacht at Musgrave Park on Saturday (5.45pm).

Having made a remarkably quick recovery from a major operation on a bulging disc in his lower back, Paul O’Connell is not only confident about being part of the Munster team to play Harlequins in the quarter-final of the Heineken Cup on April 7 but also hopeful he can also be part of the British and Irish Lions team to tour Australia in June.

Having defied medical opinion and returned to match fitness a month earlier than expected, Paul O’Connell sets out this afternoon on a path that could see him feature for Munster in next month’s Heineken Cup quarter-final with Harlequins.

Shannon 45 Cork Constitution 26

Shannon 45 Cork Con 26

Medical examination has shown that Donnacha Ryan suffered nothing worse than bruising to his shoulder in the course of Ireland’s RBS Six Nations defeat to Scotland on Sunday.

Shannon’s resurgence continued as they dispatched Old Belvedere 28-17 on Saturday, their third win in five games helping them in their quest to preserve their Division 1A status.

Ulster Bank League Div 1A: Shannon 28 Old Belvedere 17

Paul O’Connell took an active part in yesterday’s Munster squad session at the UL and looks well on course to make his targeted return to active service by early to mid-April after surgery on his back on January 31.

Having come through Saturday’s 30-3 victory over Edinburgh unscathed, internationals Simon Zebo and Donnacha Ryan represent Munster head coach Rob Penney’s biggest injury concerns.

Munster backline duo Doug Howlett and Felix Jones have been ruled out of action for February after both underwent minor knee scopes last week.

Jerry Flannery has urged Ian Keatley not to settle for second best should he be required to fill in for Munster icon Ronan O’Gara in Sunday’s must-win Heineken Cup clash with Racing Metro at Thomond Park.

The Munster medical team have reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of the province’s crucial Heineken Cup Pool 1 showdown against Racing Metro at Thomond Park on Sunday (12.45pm).

Munster’s Heineken Cup back-row assault against Edinburgh is almost certain to be led by Peter O’Mahony, James Coughlan and Tommy O’Donnell.

Leinster could be set for the perfect new year tonic after head coach Joe Schmidt revealed Brian O’Driscoll, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald could all return to action on January 4.

The Munster medical team have reported no fresh injury concerns ahead on Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 interprovincial clash with Connacht at the Sportsground (5.15pm).

Head coach Rob Penney is intent on ensuring the 20 infringements for which Munster were pinged in the first of their back-to-back Heineken Cup games against Saracens will not be repeated when the sides meet again in Watford on Sunday next.

Munster fans can heave a sigh of relief as the pernickety French referee from Saturday’s win over Saracens will not take charge of this weekend’s return game in Vicarage Road.