Connacht’s biggest signing of former All Black Mils Muliaina is one step — albeit a big one — in Connacht’s development, insists coach Pat Lam.

Connacht have announced the signing of powerful 28-year-old front-row Tom McCartney from The Super Rugby side the Blues.

Connacht’ have been dealt a major blow with hooker Sean Henry ruled out for the season.

Connacht 11 Edinburgh 7

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 3:

Munster coach Rob Penney has a number of selection headaches ahead of Friday night’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Connacht at Thomond Park (7.15pm).

HEINEKEN CUP POOL THREE:

There will be three changes to the starting team facing Toulouse on the return leg for Connacht.

The Connacht team to face Edinburgh in tomorrow's RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Murrayfield welcome Robbie Henshaw and Eoin McKeon back.

Connacht will travel to the capital this weekend to play provincial rivals Leinster in Round 6 of the RaboDirect PRO12.

Zebre 6 Connacht 33

Zebre v Connacht

It does not get any easier for Connacht as the Ospreys, one of only two unbeaten teams this season, are the visitors to the Galway Sportsground for this evening’s Pro 12 fixture.

Connacht coach Pat Lam has made four changes to his side to face Ospreys tomorrow at the Sportsground, kick-off 5pm.

Munster have announced that current squad captain Doug Howlett will retire from professional rugby at the end of this season.

Mike Sherry will captain Munster for the first time in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Scarlets in Llanelli (6.30pm).

Injury to 23-year-old scrum-half Cathal Sheridan could leave Munster head coach Rob Penney with a selection dilemma for Saturday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Edinburgh at Musgrave Park (7.45pm).

Rob Penney and his coaching staff received a boost with Munster duo Ian Keatley and Stephen Archer agreeing new two-year contract extensions with the province.

Munster hooker Sean Henry will be returning to his native Connacht after the current season after signing a two-year contract with the province.

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has shuffled his backline for his side’s final Heineken Cup Pool 4 match against Castres Olympique at the Stade Pierre Antoine on Saturday (1.35pm) with Ruan Pienaar favoured over Paddy Jackson at flyhalf.

It’s ironic for Munster. Playing Heineken Cup games on Sunday at 12.45pm is seen as the graveyard shift.

British and Irish Cup

Rob Penney and his management are sweating on the fitness of Conor Murray, Stephen Archer and Mike Sherry ahead of Sunday’s Heineken Cup Round 5 meeting with Edinburgh at Murrayfield (12.45pm).

On a weekend when the provinces showed their class in the Heineken Cup, Munster, Ulster and Leinster also had big wins in the British and Irish Cup.

The Munster medical team will be keeping an eye on the progress of back rowers Tommy O’Donnell, James Coughlan and Niall Ronan ahead of Sunday’s RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting with the Scarlets in Musgrave Park.

Leinster ‘A’ 12 Munster ‘A’ 18

Clontarf 35 UL Bohemian 10, Castle Avenue

Munster A coach Ian Costello has the luxury of being able to name what is arguably his strongest team for today’s British and Irish Cup clash with Aberavon in Tralee (1pm).

UL Bohemians 23 Cork Constitution 15

Ulster Ravens 17 Munster A 19

Dolphin 16 Highfield 9

Pre-season can be tough.

Munster 10 London Irish 34

Doug Howlett could be set for his first outing in a Munster jersey in more than eight months having been named in a 32-man squad for the province’s opening pre-season friendly.

In the second of ourinterviews with the four Academy Player of the Year nominees ahead of this weekend’s Munster Rugby Awards inassociation with the IrishExaminer, Alan Good talks to Cathal Sheridan

Nothing grates on Munster rugby players more than being told that they are in any way inferior to their Leinster counterparts.

In a stunning run of results, the top three teams in Division 1B all suffered defeats today with Belfast Harlequins’ lead now standing at four points with just three rounds remaining.

A combination of international commitment and injuries has resulted in a relatively inexperienced 28-man squad for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO 12 fixture in Thomond Park against Cardiff on Friday (7.05pm).

Felix Jones, Mike Sherry and Tommy O'Donnell have all been included in the 28-strong Munster squad that will travel to Italy in the morning for the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso on Saturday.

MUNSTER will be anxiously awaiting news of Paddy Butler’s fitness after the backrower injured his shoulder in Shannon’s Ulster Bank League loss to Blackrock on Saturday.

Ballynahinch are the new leaders of Ulster Bank League Division 1B having come from behind to grab a share of the spoils with UCD this afternoon.

Munster have named a 31-strong squad for the trip to Belfast and the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Ulster on Friday evening.

JOHN HAYES will play his finalmatch for Munster in Monday’s RaboDirect Pro12 game against Connacht at Thomond Park on St Stephen’s Day.

BRITISH and Irish Cup rugby heads to the Kingdom today with Tralee RFC hosting Munster’s clash with Ayr (2pm).