ULSTER BANK LEAGUE:

There are plenty of rugby traditions to baffle the uninitiated — New Zealand’s haka, the French smuggling cockerels into stadiums, clubs touring to the other side of the world for no practical reason whatsoever — and university rugby is no different.

SCOTLAND are understood to be ready to join Ireland in withdrawing their Under-20 sides from future Junior World Championships, it emerged yesterday.

IRELAND U20’s head coach Mike Ruddock saluted an improved defensive display as his side secured their first win in this year’s IRB Junior World Championship with a 30-13 defeat of Scotland in Rovigo onSaturday night.

IRELAND U20s coach Mike Ruddock is calling for an 80-minute performance from his players in their final IRB Junior World Championship Pool C fixture, against Scotland in Rovigo tonight (7.10pm, Irish).

IRELAND U20s captain Niall Annett insists victory over South Africa tonight (7.10pm Irish time) will erase the pain of their agonising 33-25 defeat to England in their IRB Junior World Championship opener on Friday.

IRELAND U20s suffered heartbreak in their opening IRB Junior World Championship clash against England in a thrilling Pool C clash last night.

IRELAND U20s head coach Mike Ruddock is hoping the return of some key players will enable his side spring a surprise in their IRB Junior World Championship opener against England in Treviso tonight.

IRELAND U20 rugby team coach, Mike Ruddock, says his team are ready to cut England down to size at the IRB Junior World Championships in Italy.

THERE are eight survivors from last year’s Ireland squad for the Junior Rugby World Cup in Italy next month.

IRELAND U20 coach Mike Ruddock described yesterday’s World Cup warm-up game at Musgrave Park as “a very useful exercise” as he finalises his preparations for next month’s tournament in Italy.

THREE first-choice players from the Irish team that defeated Italy in Parma last week are out of contention for the second RBS 6 Nations U20 clash against France at Dubarry Park, Athlone, tonight (7.45pm).

NEW Ireland U20 coach Mike Ruddock got off to a winning start, as his new-look side saw off Italy in a friendly at Donnybrook yesterday.

A FEAST of running rugby in the Aviva Stadium – unfortunately for anyone hoping for a competitive opening encounter in the O2 Challenge, all of it came from one side.

MARTIN MURPHY never doubted that this day would come. While the Aviva Stadium had its detractors, once planning permission was granted, the stadium director could visualise the gates opening at 1pm as they do today for the O2 Challenge between a Connacht/Munster selection and a team representing Leinster/Ulster (2.30pm).

IRELAND U19’s produced a performance of high intensity and immense quality on their way to a comprehensive defeat of Australia Schools in an absorbing international at Cork IT last night.

LACK of game time may be a concern for Ireland U19 coach Allen Clarke but the former Irish international still looks forward to a quality performance from his side in tonight’s clash with the Australian Schools U19s at Cork Institute of Technology’s ground (7.30pm).

Jordi Murphy’s Leinster Schools caned their Ulster counterparts for four tries in the Schools (Under-18) Inter-provincial Championship at Donnybrook today.