Brive are set to play in the second tier next season following relegation from the Top 14.

Should these two men, found not guilty by a jury, be consigned to the fringes of society, unable to get work for the rest of their lives asks Alison O’Connor

Sale last night announced they will not be signing Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.

Ulster could be tempted to play Ireland scrum-half John Cooney at fly-half on Saturday evening when they take on Conference A top dogs Glasgow in the extremely faint hopes of a Guinness PRO14 play-off spot.

For some, the very fact that Irish professional players may need dedicated programmes on respectful relationships, the meaning of consent, etc, will be seen to reflect badly on Irish sport, writes Jack Anderson

Sacked by Ulster Rugby and the IRFU, the two rugby stars acquitted of rape this month look likely to end up playing in France.

Aggravated or straightforward, they’re variations on the same malfeasance. One isn’t benign. Both are bad, writes Terry Prone

Reporting restrictions surrounding the rape trial of two Ireland rugby internationals have been lifted.

They said the "vast majority of members" support this and further warn that "many" members have made it clear that failure to do so "will strongly influence their decision on season ticket renewal or their future Kingspan attendance".

Labour senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has apologised for a tweet about the Ulster rape trial.

As someone who teaches sports law and criminal law in Melbourne, but who lived and lectured in Belfast for 15 years, I followed the trial and acquittal of Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison with deep and obvious interest, writes Jack Anderson.

Ulster and Ireland rugby player Paddy Jackson’s plans to sue Labour senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has spurred a public backlash, with hundreds of people tweeting under the hashtag #suemepaddy.

The case cast light on a culture of contempt and entitlement in sport, but rugby in particular, and it would be fascinating to examine where the sympathies of Jackson’s and Olding’s team-mates lay, writes Paul Rouse

Paddy Jackson’s solicitor yesterday stated the rugby player’s priority in the wake of his acquittal on rape charges was to return to work but the Ireland fly-half will not make an immediate comeback on the field of play.

The IRFU and Ulster Rugby will undertake an internal review following the acquittals of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.

Catch up on the headlines this lunchtime...

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime...

A woman who claims she was raped by Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding told police she had tried hard to pretend she was not being attacked.

Ireland captain Rory Best has declined the opportunity to explain his decision to attend the rape trial of his Ulster and international team-mates Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.

Irish rugby boss Joe Schmidt has said the presence of captain Rory Best and fellow international Ian Henderson at the rape trial of their team-mates Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding will not affect preparations for tomorrow’s Six Nations opener against France.

A start date for the rape trial of two Ireland and Ulster rugby stars has been moved.

Two Ireland and Ulster rugby stars are due to go on trial accused of rape.

The alleged rape victim of two Ireland and Ulster rugby stars may be questioned during a pre-trial hearing, a lawyer has said.

Evidence from three witnesses is to be challenged during the rape case against Ireland and Ulster rugby star Paddy Jackson, his lawyer said.

The rape case against two Ireland and Ulster rugby players will be back in court later.

Two Ulster and Ireland rugby stars are due in court later to face rape charges.

Ulster and Ireland players Paddy Jackson, 25, and Stuart Olding, 24, strenuously deny the offence, which was alleged to have happened in Belfast last June.

Ulster have the luxury of rolling out some serious power for the Guinness Pro12 visit of Treviso this evening (kick-off 7.35pm).

Ireland international winger Andrew Trimble has been summoned to make his first start of the season when Ulster travel to take on Bordeaux-Begles in their own backyard this Sunday.

There’s a huge onus on Ireland’s new boys to hold the defensive line, writes Donal Lenihan.

Tadhg Furlong has plenty to celebrate in his own right after being a first start for Ireland but he is also backing Test debutant Quinn Roux to shine in tomorrow’s second Test against South Africa.

Ospreys 26 Ulster 46: Ulster secured their place in the Guinness Pro12 play-offs after an entertaining 10-try match at the Liberty Stadium as Ospreys failed to qualify for next season’s European Champions Cup.

A 46-26 defeat saw Ospreys fail to qualify for the European Champions Cup next season, while victorious Ulster secured their place in the Guinness Pro12 play-offs in an entertaining 10-try match at the Liberty Stadium.

Glasgow Warriors 27 Ulster 17: Title holders Glasgow Warriors extended their winning run in the Guinness PRO12 to five matches with a hard-fought 27-17 victory over Ulster at Scotstoun.

Stuart Olding returns to the outside centre position as Ulster’s Director of Rugby Les Kiss makes four changes to his side for this evening’s home date with Zebre.

Former Munster lock, Ian Nagle will look to deliver on some of his untapped potential in the unfamiliar surroundings of the RDS next season, having committed himself to Leinster.

Ulster 17 Dragons 15: A Paddy Jackson penalty two minutes from the end of the game catapulted Ulster to the top of the Guinness PRO12.