WITH all eyes on World Cup auditions, it was too easy to overlook Connacht’s part last night — as it has been this past 15 years — but the province gave notice of a determination to change that at the Aviva Stadium yesterday afternoon.

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood last night hailed the establishment of a Professional Game Board (PGB) by the IRFU as a bright day in the history of the game in the west of Ireland.

The Irish Rugby Football Union and Connacht Rugby today jointly announced a new structure for the professional game in Connacht with the specific aim of elevating the levels of performance for the province both on and off the pitch.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL is in a race against time to be fit for Leinster’s Heineken Cup clash against Clermont Auvergne at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, December 18.

Galwegians coach Kevin Dineen is to resign at the end of this season, due to personal reasons.