Biarritz 49 Newport Gwent Dragons 13

Wales internationals Dan Lydiate and Luke Charteris return to The Dragons side to play Leinster in the Magner's League at Rodney Parade on Sunday.

British and Irish Lions prop Gethin Jenkins will captain Cardiff Blues against Sale Sharks tonight when he makes first appearance of the season.

Dylan Hartley insists Northampton will step into the unknown without any fear at Perpignan tomorrow night, after their momentous victory over two-time European champions Munster.

Tullamore man Peter Bracken has signed a four-month, contract with Newport-Gwent Dragons.

Galwegians 15 Dungannon 13

FORMER Ireland A prop Peter Bracken is hopeful that his career can be relaunched by a mid-season move from Bristol to Harlequins.

IF versatility was one of the buzzwords used by coaches this week in the context of picking a 30-man squad for the World Cup, then Gavin Duffy’s ability to play at 10, centre, wing or full back marks him out as shoo-in for next month’s tournament in France.

WITH Ireland’s finest safely tucked away in readiness for the World Cup, the auxiliary forces finally called a halt to an exhausting season at the Estadio De Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN has remained true to his Argentine pre-tour philosophy that he’d endeavour to give as many members of his 30-man squad game-time by making 11 changes and one positional to the side that started last weekend.

Ulster prop Simon Best has described his appointment as Ireland captain as “a dream come true” ahead of the opening Test against Argentina in Santa Fe.

Eddie O’Sullivan insists his side’s two-match tour of Argentina will not be an anti-climax, despite leaving a clutch of first-choice players at home.

Leicester 9 Wasps 25

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.

TWELVE months ago this week, the whole of Munster was engulfed in a state of rugby hysteria never before witnessed in the province.

IF Serge Blanco wanted ammunition for his assertion that there’s too much international rugby at present, the announcement of the respective touring squads from Ireland, Wales and England over the past two days plays right into his hand.

IRELAND coach Eddie O’Sullivan is confident Brian Carney is ready to make his Test debut after naming the former rugby league star in his squad for the summer tour to Argentina.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has named seven uncapped players in a 30 man squad for the Ireland summer tour to Argentina and in doing so has rested the majority of his senior players.

LEICESTER boss Pat Howard has dismissed the Tigers’ Guinness Premiership demolition of Wasps as an irrelevance when it comes to their European showdown at Twickenham next month.

THE SEASON may not be officially over, but, from the moment the final whistle blew on Munster and Leinster’s Heineken Cup ambitions, both provinces were in post-mortem mode and plotting next season’s campaigns.

MUNSTER prop Tony Buckley has signed a one-year contract with an English Premiership club for next season.

Bristol have signed Irish props Peter Bracken and Ray Hogan.

DANIEL LEO makes no qualms about it. He would prefer to be in Dublin as a member of the Samoan national team but the Pacific Islanders concept is, he admits, the next best thing.

MICK O’DRISCOLL has paid the price for a lack of game time with Munster by being omitted from Eddie O’Sullivan’s 32-man Ireland squad for the forthcoming internationals against South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

JOHNNY O’CONNOR hopes London Wasps’ Heineken Cup campaign can help him reclaim his Test place in Ireland’s back row and bring his cursed run of bad luck to an end.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has named a slightly extended 34-man squad for the mini camp in Dublin from September 17-20.

Ireland have called up uncapped Wasps prop Peter Bracken for their summer tour to New Zealand and Australia following Simon Best’s withdrawal through injury.

NEVER before has a clash between age-old rivals Munster and Leinster attracted so much hype and anticipation. With a place in the Heineken Cup final the prize, the potential reward has never been greater.

Ireland 43 Romania 12

English champions Wasps are lurching towards an early European exit for a second successive season after dropping priceless home points against Pool Six favourites Toulouse.

LEICESTER boss Pat Howard has predicted a “formidable” challenge from Stade Francais when the Parisians play for their Heineken Cup lives today.

Connacht have completed the signing of versatile Natal Sharks front rower Frik Venter ahead of the new season.

IRFU chiefs have appointed Steve Anderson as its first High Performance Manager in an effort to smooth the process of discovering the next generation of internationals.

Wasps have added to their growing Irish contingent by signing prop Peter Bracken from Connacht on a two-year deal.

CONNACHT began the week with a drubbing by Sale Sharks but will end it cheering them on, as they could strengthen their squad for next season if the Sharks relegate Harlequins tomorrow.

Sale Sharks have identified veteran Irish international Eric Elwood as a potential threat to their European Challenge Cup ambitions.

Flanker Matt Lacey has been ruled out of Connacht's semi-final return-leg with Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park on Sunday.

Connacht will wait with bated breath for the outcome of a long list of medical reports on players that will have a big impact on the game plan of Michael Bradley in the second leg of their European Challenge Cup semi final with Sale at Edgeley Park (1pm) on Sunday.

Loose forward John Muldoon will miss the rest of the season with a thumb injury and Connacht have named a 24-man squad for the trip to Gwent Dragons on Saturday.

Blackrock College 13 Galwegians 14

RUGBY: AIB ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE: FULL-TIMES:

Connacht prop Peter Bracken will make the move to NEC Harlequins after four years with the province.

Connacht and former Ireland A prop Peter Bracken has signed a two-year deal with NEC Harlequins.

Number eight John O'Sullivan and tight-head prop Peter Bracken have been included as the only changes in Connacht's starting line-up for Saturday's European Challenge Cup semi-final 1st leg tie with Sale Sharks at the Galway Sportsground (1pm).