On a day that signalled the exit of Tomás O’Leary at the end of the season, Munster director of coaching Tony McGahan gave hope that captain Paul O’Connell would be fit to face Ulster in next month’s Heineken Cup quarter-final.

London Irish 15 Cardiff Blues 22

London Irish 19 Racing Metro 25

London Irish head coach Toby Booth has thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant England job after admitting that he is hugely ambitious.

Clive Woodward has claimed the RFU has reduced England to a “laughing stock” and is doomed to make the same mistakes again as they seek to replace Martin Johnson.

CARDIFF BLUES forwards coach Justin Burnell has warned his side they will have to “go up another gear” when wounded London Irish visit the Cardiff City Stadium for tonight’s Heineken Cup Pool Two clash.

ENGLAND centre Shontayne Hape has received a four-week ban after admitting making a dangerous tackle during the Heineken Cup clash between London Irish and Edinburgh.

Northampton boss Jim Mallinder believes Munster will be “under pressure” to deliver a result in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash between the teams at Thomond Park.

LONDON IRISH are considering playing a match overseas in the next few years, with Boston mentioned as a potential venue.

MUNSTER have named a team mixed with youth and experience for their pre-season clash with London Irish at Thomond Park Stadium tonight (7pm).

London Irish today announced five of their young players have signed new two-year contracts.

THERE was much to reflect on for both coaches after Munster had overcome London Irish with both Tony McGahan and Toby Booth left to plan for a second half of the season without Heineken Cup rugby to look forward to.

Munster gave themselves a fighting chance of qualifying for the Amlin Challenge Cup with a 28-14 victory over London Irish in their final Heineken Cup Pool Three clash, but coach Tony McGahan was just pleased to see his side restore some pride with the bonus-point success.

Munster 28 London Irish 14

ENGLAND international Delon Armitage will miss virtually the entire RBS 6 Nations after receiving an eight-week ban for conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game.

ENGLAND international Delon Armitage has been charged by the Rugby Football Union after he allegedly pushed a doping control officer.

London Irish have announced the departure of their star centre Seilala Mapusua.

SARACENS kept the pressure on the Aviva Premiership leaders yesterday, inflicting another defeat on struggling London Irish.

LONDON IRISH boss Toby Booth struggled to mask his frustration after Bath’s late show at the Madejski Stadium consigned the Exiles to a ninth successive defeat.

IRISH fly-half Jeremy Staunton was Leicester’s inspiration as they compounded a miserable week for Sale with a stunning 54-21 Aviva Premiership victory at Welford Road yesterday.

London Irish have secured the futures of rising stars Alex Corbisiero and Tom Homer after the pair agreed to new contracts at Madejski Stadium.

THE SNOW may still be thick on the ground but the fog is at last beginning to clear as far as the Heineken Cup Pool Three qualification picture is concerned.

London Irish 13 Toulon 19

London Irish intend to send Jonny Wilkinson and company packing tomorrow in the same fashion as Munster made their Madejski Stadium exit two months ago.

Only two points separate all four teams in Pool Three ahead of tomorrow’s games between London Irish and Toulon at the Madejski Stadium and Munster’s Thomond Park appointment with the Ospreys.

London Irish have announced new long-term contracts for wing Sailosi Tagicakibau and back-row forward Chris Hala’ufia.

ONE OF the more bizarre yet intriguing aspects of the Heineken Cup over the years has been the ambivalent relationship between the tournament and the French sides.

Shane Williams admitted he felt “pretty good” after scoring a wonder try that underpinned the Ospreys’ 27-16 Heineken Cup victory over London Irish tonight.

Ospreys 27 London Irish 16

AS the London Irish players embarked on a celebratory lap of honour at the magnificent Madejski stadium on Saturday, my mind drifted to a similar moment of exuberance exactly 12 months earlier.

DENIS LEAMY insisted next weekend’s visit of Toulon to Thomond Park would see Munster return to their strengths in a now crucial Heineken Cup Pool Three encounter.

TOO much rugby.

LONDON IRISH head coach Toby Booth is not afraid to go outside his sport to make comparisons.

One thing you can predict with safety – more wailing and gnashing of teeth if the Heineken Cup turns sour for the English Premiership once again. Julian Bennetts reports.

Swashbuckling captain Joe Van Niekerk tells Ian Moriarty that the French side are determined to put their best foot forward for the Heineken Cup.

BACK in November 1967 The Beatles released yet another hit album, the Magical Mystery Tour, which summed up precisely where they were at, at that point in time.

LONDON IRISH head coach Toby Booth will be dealing with a virtually full deck when he selects his matchday squad to face Munster on Saturday in their Heineken Cup opener in Reading.

Toby Booth has distanced London Irish from any realistic prospect of recruiting unsettled Wales star Gavin Henson.

Clarke Dermody has been appointed London Irish captain for the new season.

SUPPORTERS of double Heineken Cup winners Munster won’t have to worry about Limerick’s dreaded Friday night traffic for the opening two home rounds of next season’s tournament.

THE close links between Munster and London Irish will be tested in this year’s Heineken Cup as both have landed in a “Pool of Death” featuring Magners League champions Ospreys and Amlin Cup finalists, Toulon.

LONDON IRISH: Head coach Toby Booth has signed a new three-year contract at the Guinness Premiership club London Irish.