Coach Brian Walsh has named a strong AIB Club International XV to take on an England Counties XV this Friday night in Donnybrook (kick off 5pm).

Ireland have named a 36-man preliminary squad for the AIB Club International against England on Friday, February 27.

GLENFINN Captain, successful on his seasonal debut at the track, continued on an upward curve with a smooth victory in the Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel yesterday.

THE HSE’S blanket recruitment freeze is “morally wrong” and means there is no incentive for individual hospitals and health services to perform within budget if they’re to be given the same punishment as those that don’t.

Cork Constitution 28 Lansdowne 20

Cork Constitution 28 Lansdowne 20

Cork Constitution reclaimed top spot in Division One as they ran four tries past Dolphin in a 27-18 derby win at Musgrave Park today.

St. Mary’s College 13 Cork Constitution 24

Cork Constitution 25 Belfast Harlequins 3

Michael Gambon and Stephen Rea will be joined by Colin Firth, Jim Broadbent, Penelope Wilton, Sophie Okonedo and James Bolam in a special film of Harold Pinter's play Celebration for Brit TV channel, More4. The production airs in December.

PHILIP HOBBS is leaning towards running Monkerhostin in the William Hill – Tingle Creek Trophy Chase at Sandown Park on Saturday.

Locksmith was in action on the gallops today ahead of his run in the William Hill - Tingle Creek Trophy Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Spot The Difference is a standing dish over the cross-country course at Cheltenham and he raised the roof on the first day of the Open meeting with victory in the Sporting Index Steeple Chase.

The Ireland U21 team and replacements to play against Wales U21 in Neath, on Friday March 18 at 7pm is as follows:

The Ireland U21 squad of 23 players to play against Wales U21 at The Gnoll, Neath RFC on Friday, 18th March at 19.00hrs is as follows:

Ireland U-21 13 France U-21 20

Full back Ross McCarron has been forced to pull out of the Ireland Under 21 team to play France in Thomond Park, Limerick at 7.30pm tonight due to injury.

The Ireland Under 21 team to play against France at Thomond Park in Limerick tomorrow has been named.

The Ireland Under 21 squad to play against France at Thomond Park on Friday at 7.30pm has been named.

The Irish under-21s will have their first competitive outings this season when they take on two French regional selections in Paris.

The Munster Development Selection to play a touring New Zealand Under 21 Selection in Thomond Park on Sunday next, November 20 has been announced.

Ireland's Under-21s will take part in two friendlies against French Regional selections in Templeville Road, at 12 noon and 1.45pm, on Saturday next.

THOSE people who feared that there may be a shortage of emerging talent in Munster can rest easy, as the province’s young guns completed the Grand Slam in the U21 championship at the weekend.

Following UCC's success in finishing fourth in the AIB League Division Two the students now take on their Cork neighbours Dolphin in the semi-final stages of the League play-off.

Made for the change in his pocket - well, actually, under €1m - this is a home-made triumph for first-time director Quinn.

The Irish Under 19s will play their Welsh counterparts in Stradey Park tonight at 7pm.