Brian Carney has been named in a Munster squad for the Magner's League tie against Ulster on Friday night first time on foot of the announcement of his two-year contract last week.

WHILE Munster’s clash with Leicester Tigers dominates headlines down south, two of the provinces most famous clubs are gearing up for an intriguing AIB League tussle at Musgrave Park tomorrow (2:30pm).

A WIN is a win, even if the performance leaves a lot to be desired — that was the attitude of Cork Con manager Brian Walsh after this opening-round AIL Division 1 game at Temple Hill on Saturday.

Munster have given first-time full contracts to Welsh international Chris Wyatt, Australian Tim McGann, former Leinsterman Eoghan Hickey, Denis Fogarty, Ian Dowling, Jeremy Manning and Barry Murphy in the official announcement of their Senior Squad for the season 2006/2007.

John Kelly will captain Munster on the occasion of his 138th cap in their opening Magners League tie at the Cardiff Blues on Friday evening.

MUNSTER may be Heineken Cup champions but they won’t get anything soft in the Celtic League opener against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park tomorrow night.

The Munster squad to face Cardiff Blues in the Arms Park on Friday evening has been announced today.

Frankie Sheahan makes his return to the red of Munster for the first time since last October for the Henieken Cup champions' pre-seasoin friendly against Leicester Tigers at Musgrave Park this evening (7.0).

Munster coach Declan Kidney has opted for six Academy players in Darragh Hurley, Tim Ryan, Sean Cronin, Ross Noonan, Gerry Hurley and Tom Gleeson in the squad for Friday's friendly with Leicester Tigers.

There are four changes to the Ireland U21 team for their next IRB U21 Rugby World Championship encounter with Argentina following their defeat by the hosts, France, on Friday.

The Ireland Under-21 team to play hosts France on the opening day of the 2006 IRB U-21 World Championship has been announced.

Coach Mark McDermott will lead his Ireland U21 squad into battle at the World Cup in France next month.

The Ireland U21 team to play Scotland U21 this Friday in Dubarry Park, Athlone shows three changes to the side that lost narrowly to Wales.

The Ireland Under 21 team to play Wales Under 21 this Friday in Dubarry Park shows three personnel changes and one positional switch to the starting team that lost to France U21 in Strasbourg.

Ireland Under 21 coach Mark McDermott has named a squad of 24 players for the opening Six Nations match against Italy in Dubarry Park, Athlone on Friday, February 3 at 7.35pm.

The following 31 players have been selected for the next Ireland Under 21 squad session which will take place in Dublin on Sunday, January 15 – Tuesday, January 17 2006.

The Ireland U21 team and replacements to play in their opening game against France U21 in the IRB U21 World Championship tomorrow has been named.

The Ireland Under 21 management have named the squad that will travel to Argentina to take part in the 2005 IRB Under 21 World Cup.

The following is the Munster Development team to play Euskarians in San Sebastian on Saturday (4pm).

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

THE future of Munster’s elite rugby players has been entrusted to New Zealander Hamish Adams.

Munster 27, Connacht 27

The Ireland Under 19 team & replacements to play their opening game in the IRB Under 19 World Championship against New Zealand Under 19 on Saturday, March 27 in Durban, South Africa has been named.

The Ireland Under 19 Squad will depart for Durban on Sunday March 21 and return on Wednesday April 14.

Twenty of Ireland’s leading young sporting talents were honoured today at the 20th annual Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Stars Awards, in association with TV3.

THE Irish U19's begin their preparations for the World Cup in South Africa against Wales at Musgrave Park tonight, (7.30pm).

The Ireland U19 squad from which the team and replacements to play Wales U19 on Friday 20 at 7.30pm at Musgrave Park, Cork has been named.

The Ireland U21 and U19 teams to play Irish Schools have been named.

The trial for the Ireland School's side takes place in Blackrock College, Williamstown, on Saturday at 2pm with several of last year's Ireland XV featuring on the Paul Nash (St Mary's College)-led Probables side.

Munster Schools 9