JEREMY Manning, Munster’s highly promising New Zealander, is handed an opportunity of establishing himself as a regular in the side with his selection at full-back for tonight’s (7.10pm) eagerly awaited Celtic League clash with Ulster at Musgrave Park.

GORDON D’ARCY will partner Shane Horgan in the centre for Leinster’s critical trip to Galway to play Connacht in the Celtic League tomorrow.

GARY LONGWELL, who reached the landmark 50th Heineken Cup cap earlier this season, will win his 150th Ulster cap in Friday night’s Celtic League clash with Cardiff.

RUGBY legend Jonathan Davies has backed claims by Wales coach Mike Ruddock that England are better off without Jonny Wilkinson.

ULSTER introduce Gavin Pfister for tomorrow night’s Celtic League clash with Edinburgh at Ravenhill.

ULSTER introduce Gavin Pfister for tomorrow night’s Celtic League clash with Edinburgh at Ravenhill.

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MUNSTER last night refuted allegations that prop Marcus Horan racially abused a Neath/Swansea Ospreys player at the Gnoll last weekend.

MUNSTER will unveil latest signing Tom Bowman in tonight’s Celtic League clash with Connacht at Musgrave Park (8pm).

JOHN KELLY and Jason Holland are back in action for Munster against Connacht at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.

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DECLAN Kidney is now considered "a primary target" to replace Dean Richards as director of rugby at Leicester.

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ARGENTINEAN international Felipe Contepomi will make his debut for Leinster in their Celtic League tie against Neath/Swansea at the Gnoll on Saturday (5.30pm).

CONNACHT coach Michael Bradley has been forced to name a 25-strong squad for Saturday’s Celtic Cup semi-final against Edinburgh at the Sportsground in Galway (2pm).

NEW signings, Paul Steinmetz will make his first full start for Ulster in Friday’s Celtic Cup semi-final against Glasgow at Hughenden.

MUNSTER’S preparations for tomorrow’s Celtic League clash with Edinburgh have taken an unusual twist with the exclusion of Jeremy Staunton from the squad.

THE selection of the Munster team is no longer a straight forward matter. With players in World Cup action and others injured, coach Alan Gaffney said this week his job was never so difficult, and one of his star young players, Denis Leamy, endorsed that view.

GORDON D’Arcy is back in the Leinster fold after injury to help the former Celtic League champions against the Borders this weekend.

A SEASIDE walk on Tuesday ended in disaster for Leinster’s James Norton, when he fell and cracked his hip in Dun Laoire.

ULSTER will be understrength for the Celtic League visit of Glasgow to Ravenhill this evening (7.35) which will be shown live on TG4.

George McAlpin extended his Ford of Ireland Ford Zetec Championship lead courtesy of a win on the eighth round in Kirkistown.