Munster’s squad depth ahead of the new campaign was given a stern test by English heavyweights Exeter Chiefs as Johann van Graan’s team was well beaten in Cork last night.

Good news for Munster and Ulster’s qualification prospects...

As statements go this was as big as they get.

Exeter Chiefs were a run-of-the-mill second-tier English side when Gareth Steenson arrived in 2008 and the Irish fly-half believes Leinster’s visit to Sandy Park will be the ultimate barometer of just how far the club has come since.

Exeter 31 Ulster 19: Ulster boss Les Kiss cut a frustrated figure as his side’s hopes of reaching the European Champions Cup quarter-finals ended in England’s West Country last night.

A dramatic last couple of minutes saw Paddy Jackson and Gareth Steenson trade drop-goals.

Ospreys 25 Exeter 13: Exeter became the first English club to lose in this season’s European Champions Cup after Wales star Dan Biggar led the Ospreys’ Liberty Stadium victory march.

Exeter Chiefs 33 Connacht 13

Ulster 21 Exeter Chiefs 22

Glasgow 20 Exeter 16

Exeter 20 Leinster 29

Clermont Auvergne 46 Exeter 3

Exeter 30 Scarlets 20

The fiasco involving letters that the Taoiseach sent to his justice minister is a sad and sorry indictment of Irish politics at the highest level, writes Michael Clifford

For the second year in-a-row, Leinster opened the defence of their crown against a side making their Heineken Cup debut.

Leinster 9 Exeter Chiefs 6

Pope Benedict XVI named a married former Episcopal bishop to head the first US organisational structure for disaffected Anglicans and Episcopalians who want to join the Catholic Church.

FORMER Ulster and Ireland underage out-half Gareth Steenson has revealed he has been sounded out about the possibility of playing for England.

Ballymena 29 Dungannon 21

Lansdowne 34 Dungannon 32

Dungannon 18 UL Bohemians 42

Ireland 30 Scotland 13, Donnybrook

RELATIVES of people who died in the Stardust inferno have stalled an attempt to open a pub on the site of the doomed nightclub.

St Mary's College 31 Dungannon 10

Dungannon 17 Belfast Harlequins 6

Garryowen 24 Dungannon 23

Blackrock College 23 Dungannon 36

Dungannon 6 Clontarf 3

Dungannon 26 Buccaneers 18

Ireland U21 34 Samoa U21 17

South Africa 42 Ireland 25

Not even a last-gasp Jamie McGrugan try could help Ballymena from going down to Ulster rivals Dungannon tonight - as their slim hopes of an AIB league Division One play-off spot blew up in smoke.

Dungannon 22 Dublin University 22

Ireland U-21 13 France U-21 20

Italy Under-21s 21 Ireland Under-21s 33

Tries in either half from Ajay Subherwal and Paul Magee saw Dungannon claim the scalp of Blackrock, 17-10, for their fourth win of the AIB League Division One season at Stevenson Park.

UCD did just enough to take the spoils from a competitive AIB League encounter against Galwegians at Crowley Park yesterday on a 13-19 scoreline.

Dungannon moved up to seventh in the AIB League Division One table, defeating Cork Con 21-14 despite losing lock to a red card at Stevenson park.

Dungannon 13 Lansdowne 11

Clontarf 32 Dungannon 19

Dungannon 17 UCD 30

Belfast Harlequins 12 Dungannon 13