Familiarity won’t be an issue in tonight’s must-win B&I Cup clash for Munster A at Nottingham’s Ladybay (7.45pm).

Chris Farrell did not need his arm twisted when the chance to move back from France to Ireland was presented to him in the form of a contract offer from Munster.

The morale-boosting result for Peter Malone's injury-ravaged squad will see them compete for ninth place in Sunday's final round.

The New Zealand Under-20s avenged last year's World Rugby U-20 Championship defeat to Ireland in emphatic style by romping to an eleven-try 69-3 victory in sweltering Kutaisi.

Italy 22 Ireland 21: Munster’s Calvin Nash ran in a couple of tries, but Ireland’s hopes of reaching successive World Rugby U20 Championship finals took a nosedive as Italy pipped them at the death in Georgia.

Ahead of Ireland’s opening game in the World Rugby U20 Championship against Italy tomorrow at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi, Jack Kelly revealed that being released from his original role of team captain has taken some pressure off his shoulders.

Ireland U20 head coach Peter Malone is looking forward to having another crack at New Zealand as he prepares to bring his side into battle for this summer’s World Rugby U20 Championships in Georgia, writes Daire Walsh.

Munster A 26 Ulster A 3: It was rugged, it was tough, but Munster A secured a well-deserved B&I Cup quarter-final victory over Ulster at Musgrave Park yesterday and earned themselves a home date with Ealing Trailfinders, who had a huge 84-7 win over Llanelli Scarlets.

Bill Johnston made an eagerly anticipated return to rugby last Friday when he featured for Garryowen against Young Munster but the gifted out-half is to be eased back into the provincial and international arenas.

Paul O’Connell’s low key but significant advisory role with the academy and the general improvement of the provincial squad are two of the principle reasons Munster A’s participation in the B&I Cup is worthwhile and capable of benefiting the squad in different ways, head coach Peter Malone believes.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

It won’t be easy, but Munster A head coach Peter Malone believes his side have a fighting chance of getting through to the knock-out stages of the B&I Cup.

Victory in today’s B&I Cup clash at Clifton Lane is essential if Munster A are to have a chance of qualifying for the quarter finals.

Munster A couldn’t have faced a stiffer challenge than the champions in today’s B&I Cup opener with London Welsh at Towns Park, Midleton (2.30p.m.), but coach Peter Malone believes his young side will be up to the task.

Ali Hewson has revealed she uses any spare opportunity with husband Bono to try and persuade him to listen to certain matters of concern before he meets world leaders: “We have the odd bit of pillow talk. We have a board meeting occasionally over breakfast.”

Munster A coach Mick O’Driscoll insists that there is huge potential in the province’s academy system.

More misery for Munster with the selection of just four of their players on Nigel Carolan’s expanded Ireland squad of 30 for the U20 Six Nations.

Revenge will be in the air when Munster A take on Leinster A in tonight’s B&I cup quarter-final clash at Donnybrook, (7pm) a repeat of last season’s final four encounter where Leinster came out on top.

B&I CUP:

Munster A coach Peter Malone predicts a difficult assignment against Scottish outfit, Stirling County, in this evening’s British and Irish Cup opener under floodlights at Bandon RFC (5pm).

Munster’s British and Irish Cup coach Peter Malone has backed the national system of identification and development of players, despite recent headlines highlighting young talent now plying their trade in England and France.

Munster A 20 Connacht Eagles 12

A solicitor representing a man charged with a double murder yesterday asked for a psychiatric report to be provided in respect of his client.

A 26-year-old man has been remanded in custody after he was charged last night with the double killing of a Lithuanian woman and her daughter in Co Kerry.

A 26-year-old man was last night charged with the double killing of a mother, originally from Lithuania, and her young daughter, at their home in Killorglin, Co Kerry, two weeks ago.

Munster Academy manager Peter Malone is delighted to see his players getting a chance to impress at British and Irish Cup level and he has been impressed with how they have responded to the challenge.

Munster Rugby expressed their delight last night after signing Cork hurler Darren Sweetnam on a full-time Academy contract.

As befitted his long association with laughter, the funeral Mass of the late Hal Roach was coloured with humour.

FIGURES released yesterday show up to 84% of graduates from the University of Limerick (UL) are either employed or pursuing further study.

WHAT was meant to be another milestone in the Bruff rugby odyssey came unstuck last evening when Peter Malone’s out-of-sorts side slumped to a third defeat in a row.

GARRYOWEN gained vengeance for last year’s final defeat as they beat Bruff 19-9 in a keenly contested ODM Financial Munster Senior Cup decider at Thomond Park last night.