Former Leicester Tigers hooker Gavin Hickie has returned to St Mary's College ahead of their season opener at home to Dublin rivals Clontarf at Templeville Road.

Irish scrum-half Eoin Reddan and tight-head prop Peter Bracken will start for London Wasps against Leicester in Sunday's Heineken Cup final at Twickenham.

The Barbarians will field a team selected from seven countries, including Ireland's David Humphreys and Bob Casey, when they tackle an England XV in Sunday’s Gartmore Challenge match at Twickenham.

CONNACHT last night named their side for Friday’s Celtic League game with Llanelli at Dubarry Park Athlone (7:30pm).

Teams for this weekend's All-Ireland League action.

The team's for this weekend's AIL games have been announced.

Number eight John Muldoon, props Ray Hogan and Stephen Knoop, second-row Christian Short, out-half Paul Warwick and centre James Downey make up a party of six players that will make their European débuts for Connacht at Narbonne in the first round of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup on Saturday (6.30pm Irish time).

All Ireland League teams:

Halfbacks Eric Elwood and Conor O'Loughlin will make their first starts of the season as Connacht welcome The Borders to The Sportsground on Saturday.

INTERNATIONAL wing Tyrone Howe returns to the Ulster squad for Saturday’s clash with Celtic League table-toppers Neath-Swansea Ospreys at Ravenhill.

CONNACHT will welcome back hooker Bernard Jackman for Saturday’s Celtic League clash with Ulster at the Galway Sportsground at 2.30pm.

Coach Michael Bradley has selected Ireland squad member Bernard Jackman and Mick Carroll as the two alterations to the Connacht side for their clash with Ulster at The Sportsground on Saturday (2.30pm).

Clontarf's Niall O'Brien will replace his clubmate James Downey in the only change in the Connacht side to face Munster in the Celtic League at Musgrave Park on Saturday evening.

Former Australian Sevens captain Paul Warwick will make his competitive debut for Connacht tomorrow at the Sportsground, as coach Michael Bradley has named four of his seven summer signings as starters against Glasgow.

Connacht have made six changes from the side that went down to Newcastle for tonight's friendly at home to London Irish.

WASPS coach Warren Gatland is keeping a close eye on the build-up to the Connacht-Harlequins Parker Pen Cup semi-final in Galway on Sunday.

NEC Harlequins made four changes to their pack to face Connacht in the second leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup Semi Final in Galway on Sunday afternoon.

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

Galwegians 16, Clontarf 34

WORLD Cup recognition will be on the minds of all the players when Ireland and England clash in the A international at Donnybrook this evening, kick-off scheduled for 7pm.

Galwgians 39 Dungannon 18

FALLEN idol Yannick Bru and Christophe Dominic will attempt to persuade French coach Bernard Laporte of their worth in tonight’s A international against Ireland at Ravenhill.

FRANCE prodigy Dimitri Yachvili may have enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence but the scrum-half is not about to rest on his laurels.

The Ireland A team to play France A in Belfast on Friday night shows three changes from the team which beat Italy A 10 days ago.

IRELAND has made three changes in its side for the A international against Italy in Rovigo on Friday night.

Ireland squad of 22 for the RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Italy in Rome on Saturday (starting 15 and replacements to be announced on Wednesday).

The Connacht team to play Pontypridd in the second leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final clash at Sardis Road on Saturday (5.30pm) shows one change from that which started the first leg last week.

The Connacht team to take on Pontypridd in the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final at Ericsson Park, Athlone on Saturday (5.30pm) shows three changes from that which started against Narbonne in the last round.

Connacht 3 Leinster 25

The Connacht team to play Narbonne in Sunday’s Parker Pen Challenge Cup second round, second leg tie shows three changes from that which went down 42-27 in France on Saturday evening.

The Ireland Development XV face a tough assignment this evening in Donnybrook when they take on a strong Argentine side (kick-off 7pm).

Galwegians 29 UL Bohemians 22

Shannon will welcome back Munster stars Mick Galwey and Mossie Lawlor when the AIB League champions face GalwegIans at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Connacht fulfilled expectations of advancing to the next round of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup when finishing ahead of Mont de Marsan by an aggregate 32 points at Crowley Park.

Mont de Marsan 12 Connacht 26

IN a way, a new season starts for Leinster tonight.

Ireland internationals Gavin Duffy and Johnny O'Connor return from injury for Connacht's game against Mont de Marsan in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup this weekend.

MUNSTER captain Jim Williams is to return for the crunch Celtic League game against Neath in Wales on Saturday.

MICK GALWEY leads Munster into Celtic League action against Ulster at Ravenhill this evening as Jim Williams is ruled out due to injury.

REIGNING Celtic League champions Leinster haven’t given up on their title just yet, although coach Matt Williams says they have to win all three remaining games to stand any chance of making the top four in Pool B.

Tonight's Celtic League teams

STEPH NEL likes the odd smoke of the pipe and at half-time at Donnybrook last Friday he was sorely tempted to light up.