Skipper Rory Best hailed Ulster’s second-half display as they dug in for a vital 24-10 win over Leicester Tigers to kick-start their Heineken Champions Cup campaign.

Ulster 15 Scarlets 13

Ulster 35 Ospreys 17: So after a season where more headlines were made off the pitch rather than on it, Ulster, the 1999 Heineken Cup kingpins and forerunners of Ireland’s glorious history in the competition, will still have a place at the top table of European rugby next season.

Wasps 26 - Ulster 7: Wasps ended their European Champions Cup group campaign on a winning note with a convincing 26-7 victory over Ulster at the Ricoh Arena.

Harlequins’ hopes of progression in the Champions Cup were virtually extinguished as they crashed to a third-consecutive defeat in Europe, a 17-5 loss at home to Ulster.

Dragons 32 Ulster 32: Australian international Christian Lealifano salvaged a 32-32 draw for Ulster with a last minute try against the Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Guinness PRO14: Southern Kings 36 - Ulster 43: Ulster staged a superb second-half fightback to record a 43-36 Guinness PRO14 win over Southern Kings after trailing 22-10 at the break in Port Elizabeth.

It was not as if Leinster put Ulster to the sword in a lively, if disjointed Guinness PRO14 derby at the weekend, they simply sliced and diced them!

Benetton Treviso 14 - Ulster 21: Andrew Trimble scored two first-half tries as Ulster held on to beat Benetton Treviso 21-14 at the Stadio Monigo for their second straight Guinness PRO14 win.

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said jet lag and humidity has made preparations for the opening test against Japan on Saturday quite difficult.

Joe Schmidt has thrown the gauntlet down to Ireland’s World Cup 2019 hopefuls to cope with Japan’s unique rugby conditions and also challenged a string of second-row forwards to fill the remaining vacancy on next month’s tour.

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 controversial penalty try helped Scarlets to a narrow 16-13 Guinness PRO12 victory over Ulster at a rain-drenched Parc y Scarlets.

Ulster 39 Clermont 32: Ulster has enjoyed some spectacular victories in Europe but, surely, none can have matched this lunchtime encounter for excitement, unpredictability and high-class rugby.

Ulster 9 Ospreys 7: Ulster’s Director of Rugby Les Kiss praised his side’s resilience and character as they clipped the Ospreys wings at the death of an extremely, absorbing Guinness PRO12 top-of-the-table contest at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday evening.

IT’S different if you’re a Drifter, says Michael WiIliams. When the singer was invited to join the American vocal group several years go, it was made clear he had a tough road ahead. He would have to serve as understudy for several tours — even then, his place in the line-up was conditional on becoming intimately acquainted with the R&B ensemble’s history, from its inception in Philadelphia in 1953.

BLACKFISH, a documentary-style murder mystery, opens in cinemas this month.

Carrickboy made just about every yard to land the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.

Fame And Glory may head to Royal Ascot for further riches after providing Aidan O’Brien with his fourth Investec Coronation Cup.

Kieren Fallon confirmed he remains king of Epsom when recording a 90-1 double on the Downs with two typically power-packed rides on Investec Oaks day.

Grand National-winning jockey Liam Treadwell returned to the big time with his most high-profile success since Aintree as The Last Derby caused a 33-1 upset in Ascot's United House Gold Cup.

The BBC has apologised to Grand National winner Liam Treadwell after presenter Clare Balding made fun of his teeth.

The 100/1 outsider Mon Mome, trained by Venetia Williams and ridden by Liam Treadwell, has won today's Grand National at Aintree by several lengths.

Jennifer Aniston and Leonardo diCaprio are both looking to play roles based on real life characters in their upcoming film projects.