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.

MUNSTER have signed Scottish international prop Gordon McIlwham. The 33-year-old former Glasgow and Begles Bordeaux prop will join Alan Gaffney’s squad at the conclusion of Scotland’s World Cup campaign, until the end of the current season.

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

JONNY BELL is the latest Ulster casualty prior to Friday’s Celtic League game against Llanelli at Ravenhill.