AT last, Munster secured a victory at the third time of asking in this pre-season programme — a timely boost in advance of Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 league opener at Musgrave Park against Newport Gwent Dragons.

TOMÁS O’Leary has been included in Munster’s squad for Friday’s Thomond Park Stadium clash with London Irish (7pm).

MUNSTER A coach Anthony Foley hopes an early season home defeat to Llanelli doesn’t come back to haunt his side as they seek to wrap up a place in the semi-finals of the British and Irish Cup against Bristol at the Memorial Ground tonight (7.45pm).

LEINSTER will battle to retain the services of prop forward Mike Ross next season with increased speculation the Cork native is set for a return to his Munster roots following the departure of Tony Buckley to Sale Sharks.

MUNSTER’S comfortable position at the top of the Magners League will be under threat tomorrow when they meet Benetton Treviso in the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has named a youthful side ahead of Sunday’s Magners League match away to Treviso, kick-off 2pm.

MUNSTER’S Denis Hurley, Johne Murphy, Mick O’Driscoll and Donncha Ryan will rejoin the province after spending the week on international duty for a first ever Magners League assignment in Italy on Sunday.

Munster A 64 Esher 9

MUNSTER A coach Anthony Foley has entrusted the same forwards that battled past Nottingham last week to do a repeat job on Esher in tonight’s British and Irish Cup clash at Garryowen’s Dooradoyle (7.30pm).

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made nine changes from to the side that started against Ulster last weekend for Saturday's Magners League clash with Glasgow Warriors at Musgrave Park (kick-off 7.30pm).

MUNSTER’S battered and bruised squad has received a tonic with the return of Jerry Flannery for tomorrow’s Magners League clash with Ulster at Thomond Park (7.30pm).

Former Munster player Keith Matthews will captain Connacht for their St Stephen’s Day Magners League meeting with league leaders Munster at the Sportsground in Galway. (kick-off 6.10pm)

MUNSTER skipper Paul O’Connell received bad news yesterday, as a European Rugby Cup (ERC) appeals committee decided a four-week ban was just reward for the red card he sustained in the Heineken Cup win over the Ospreys earlier this month.

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.

MUNSTER failed to extend their lead at the top of the Magners League table after falling to a disappointing defeat to the Dragons at a snowy Rodney Parade last night.

Johne Murphy, who was released from the Irish international squad this week, has been withdrawn from the Munster team for tonight’s Magners League game with the Dragons at Rodney Parade. (kick-off 7.05pm)

Tomás O'Leary and Lifeimi Mafi return to Munster action for the first time in almost two months for Friday night’s Magners League game with the Dragons at Rodney Parade. (kick-off 7.05pm)

PAUL O’CONNELL will play his first competitive rugby since March tomorrow night when he lines out for Young Munster against Shannon at Thomond Park, Munster manager Sean Payne confirmed yesterday.

Tomás O’Leary and Lifeimi Mafi are included in the Munster squad, for the first time in almost two months, for Friday’s Magners League away trip to the Dragons at Rodney Parade in Newport. (kick-off 7.05pm)

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made two changes to the side that defeated Australia during the week ahead of Sunday’s Magners League clash with the Scarlets at Musgrave Park (kick-off 5.35pm).

MUNSTER manager Shaun Payne revealed last night that Paul O’Connell could lead the province “in one of the two Heineken Cup matches against the Ospreys” next month.