The Ireland Women's worst Six Nations finish since 2006 was confirmed by a poor 24-5 defeat to a young Wales side who were clinical with their scoring opportunities as they concluded the Championship on a real high at Cardiff Arms Park.

Richard Cockerill found out a long time ago that when one door opened another was always liable to smash him in the face.

Tonight will tell Stuart Lancaster a lot.

Champions Leinster will begin the new Guinness PRO14 season by tackling Cardiff Blues in the Welsh capital.

It took a back-to-basics approach for Munster to rebound from their Cardiff Blues no-show to get the show on the road again last weekend and Jean Kleyn believes the squad will be similarly focused ahead of tomorrow’s tricky league trip to Edinburgh.

His career as a water carrier brought to an ignominious end by the arrival of defence coach JP Ferreira, Tyler Bleyendaal must content himself with a return to the day job, delighted to be free of the neck injury which had left him such a frustrated figure on the Munster sidelines.

Munster’s planning for a Zebo-less future has solidified with new contracts for Andrew Conway and Stephen Fitzgerald confirmed and a first start of the season for the latter in this evening’s Guinness PRO14 trip to Cardiff Blues.

Plastic pitches, 3G surfaces, artificial turf.

France and Wales put their unbeaten records on the line when they clash in the second round of the European Championship at Cardiff Arms Park tonight.

Many Irish travelled to Cardiff in hope rather than expectation this weekend — while some wondered if they would see the game in person at all.

When Irish players lined up for a World Cup debut in 1987 — chests puffed out, ready to make history — they were played into battle by... ‘The Rose of Tralee’. Peter Jackson reports

Maybe there will have to be a law against Toulon, one denouncing them as bad for business because they are too good for everyone else.

It is almost exactly 40 years since the legend that is Willie John McBride played his last game for Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park in March 1975. 

In a tense, edgy week for the Munster squad, Paul O’Connell found one aspect of relief ahead of tomorrow’s Champions Cup showdown with Saracens — it wouldn’t be him having to deal too often with the unpredictable bounce of the Londoners’ artificial surface, writes Simon Lewis.

Cardiff Blues were denied what would have been their second Guinness PRO12 win of the season by a late try as Munster claimed a 28-24 win at Cardiff Arms Park.

Anthony Foley has made 11 changes to the starting fifteen that

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Cardiff Blues 9 Ulster 26

The Welsh might have endured more damaging weekends for their national sport but nobody at Twickenham, or anywhere else for that matter, could remember one.

Big news. Distressing news. Bigger than the death of a Pope, more distressing even than Willie O’Dea announcing his retirement from politics and departure for a life of silence in a Trappist monastery. It turns out that the other Greatest Living Limerick Man, Paul O’Connell, has a chest infection and has had to cry off.

While the meetings to try to save the Heineken Cup will continue in Dublin this afternoon, it will probably go unnoticed that 18 years ago, on January 7, 1996, the first final was staged at the National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park.

Cardiff Blues 10 Munster 31

Munster have received a potential double boost to their Heineken Cup double-header preparations with Perpignan next month with the possible return of Ireland duo Donnacha Ryan and Keith Earls after injury.

Former Wales and British and Irish Lions fly-half Cliff Morgan has died at the age of 83, the Welsh Rugby Union has announced.

It is 12 years since Connacht came away from Cardiff Arms Park with a win, and coach Eric Elwood says that needs to change when the sides meet this evening in the RaboDirect Pro12 (7.30pm).

Cardiff Blues 11 Leinster 26

With so many players wrapped up in international duty, Leo Cullen will skipper a new-look Leinster team as they take on Cardiff Blues in tomorrow night's RaboDirect PRO12 clash in Cardiff Arms Park (7.30pm).

Gareth Edwards etched his name into rugby folklore with that try 40 years ago

For those still drying out from their last visit to Musgrave Park, Rob Penney’s assertion that the Cork stadium is not a happy hunting ground for Munster will be understandable.

Signed by an outgoing coach, Munster new boy Sean Dougall had more than most to prove to incoming boss Rob Penney when the New Zealanader succeeded Tony McGahan this summer.

Cardiff Blues 6 Scarlets 9

Bernard Laporte watched his Toulon side humiliate Sale Sharks 62-0 — but admitted he was equally blown away by Clermont Auvergne’s showing in Dublin.

The return to home comforts at Cardiff Arms Park tonight is no guarantee to help the Blues end a dismal run of defeats by Munster, but director of rugby Phil Davies remains hopeful the visitors might find it hard to grind out a result there.

IT was difficult leaving Cork last Saturday afternoon given the magnificent autumnal sunshine and the twin attractions of a good old fashioned dogfight between Cork Con and Young Munster in the AIL followed by the seasonal offering of jazz. At least the alternative had its attractions.

Tommy Bowe will make his eagerly awaited return to Ulster colours when he lines out on the right wing against Cardiff in Friday evening’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Cardiff Arms Park (7.05pm).

A candle flickered and a green and gold Kerry flag billowed gently in the breeze as people came to pay their respects at Con Houlihan’s monument in his native Castleisland.

Ulster head coach Brian McLaughlin believes Cardiff’s clinical finishing was the difference between the sides in Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Cardiff Arms Park when the Welsh outfit secured a 21-14 win over the Ulstermen.

Brian McLaughlin has made four personnel and three positional changes for Ulster’s important RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Cardiff on Friday (7.05pm).

High hopes of Connacht repeating their famous victory of 10 years ago in Cardiff Arms Park were dashed last night when the Blues claimed victory on home soil.

Despite an injury crisis, Eric Elwood’s starting XV to face the Cardiff Blues this Friday at Cardiff Arms Park (7.30pm) shows just one change from the side that beat Harlequins in the Heineken Cup.