Success on the club front has proven relatively easy for Chelsea defender Niamh Fahey but it’s fixtures like today’s European Championship qualifier which will define whether she can add international progression to her repertoire.

Youth fills in for experience when Connacht try to halt an 11-year losing run in Wales to the Ospreys.

Ireland 0 Finland 2: Ireland’s women suffered an early Euro setback last night against Finland at Tallaght Stadium.

In a big day for Irish teams in the Guinness Pro12, Connacht’s needs are probably greater than the rest.

Rodney Ah You takes over injured Nathan White’s tighthead prop spot, having been released from the Ireland camp at Carton House, for Connacht’s Guinness Pro12 fixture with leaders Ospreys in Swansea this evening (7.35pm).

Although the pain still lingers from last month’s slender defeat to European Champions Germany, Cork girl Denise O’Sullivan has pledged to put it right by helping Ireland to victory in tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Russia at Tallaght Stadium (7.30pm).

Munster coach Rob Penney has resisted the temptation to field his strongest side in response to last week’s second half meltdown at Treviso for this evening’s Rabo Direct clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons.

The Republic of Ireland senior women’s team were beaten 4-0 by France in Guingamp in their penultimate European Championship Group 4 qualifying game on Saturday night.

Republic of Ireland women’s team boss Sue Ronan last night named her squad for the UEFA Euro 2013 Group 4 qualifier against Scotland.

Ireland’s women yesterday completed their preparations for next month’s UEFA qualifier against Scotland by lifting the Algarve Cup.

The Ireland Women’s team crashed to defeat against Algarve Cup hosts Portugal in Faro last night.

THE lead photograph on page one of Brive’s La Montagne on Saturday suggested it was “David défie Goliath”, and given the paths these two clubs have taken since the start of European rugby competition in 1995, the Amlin Challenge quarter-final was aptly billed.

MICHAEL CHEIKA’S smile said it all after his side had hammered admittedly poor opposition and recorded their biggest win on French soil.

MARTIN CORRY claims England will “draw strength from adversity” when they go into battle as huge World Cup underdogs against South Africa tonight.

Jonny Wilkinson will not be involved in England’s crunch World Cup clash against South Africa in Paris on Friday night.

ENGLAND star Jonny Wilkinson’s World Cup campaign could be over before it has even started after his injury jinx struck again to deal the defending champions a potentially shattering blow.

Frederic Michalak and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde will form the half-back partnership combination for France when they take on England in a World Cup warm-up match in Marseille tomorrow.

England boss Brian Ashton has named his 30-man World Cup squad – with Mike Tindall and Charlie Hodgson the big-name casualties.

Jason Robinson will captain an England squad containing seven uncapped players on the two-Test tour of South Africa.

ENGLAND coach Brian Ashton has ignored struggling Wales’ miserable RBS 6 Nations season and predicted possibly his team’s “toughest game of the tournament” on Saturday.

World Cup winner Josh Lewsey has been left out of the England team for Saturday’s Six Nations finalé against Wales in Cardiff.

England have suffered a triple injury blow for Sunday’s Six Nations showdown with title favourites France at Twickenham.

England boss Brian Ashton has sprung a major surprise ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Italy by calling up uncapped Harlequins flanker Nick Easter.

New England boss Brian Ashton has named a new captain and summoned Jason Robinson from international retirement for this season’s Six Nations Championship.

WALES lock Ian Gough has dubbed New Zealand “honest cheaters” just four days before the two countries clash at the Millennium Stadium.

Fly-half Andy Goode has replaced the injured Charlie Hodgson as one of four changes to the England team for Saturday's second Test against South Africa at Twickenham.

ANDY ROBINSON has predicted a “phenomenally tough” game against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday as England strive to avoid their seventh successive Test defeat.

England boss Andy Robinson has made just one change for Englands' clash against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday.

England head coach Andy Robinson has named seven uncapped players in a 30-man squad for the Twickenham clash against World Cup favourites New Zealand on November 5.

England A 18 Ireland A 33