THERE was a time not so very long ago when post-Christmas games between the sides and played west of the Shannon Connacht and Munster were decided by a single penalty goal.

THE inaugural IRB Junior World Championship, to be held in Wales in June, will be uppermost in the minds of respective Irish and Welsh U20 team coaches Eric Elwood and Patrick Horgan at Dubarry Park, Athlone, tonight (7.30pm).

Ireland Coach Eric Elwood has made two changes to the starting Ireland U-20 team that faces Scotland at Dubarry Park, Athlone, at 7.35pm on Friday evening.

THERE are three changes and one positional switch from the Ireland Under-20 side that lost to France for tomorrow night’s meeting with Scotland (Dubarry Park, Athlone, 7.30pm).

EXPECT a rush by several of Leinster’s established senior clubs to acquire the services of Seapoint full-back Felix Jones after this performance.

THERE is one personnel change and one positional switch to the Irish U20 team to play England U20 in Dubarry Park, Athlone, tomorrow night from the side that beat France a fortnight ago.

The Ireland U20 team to play England U20 in the Six Nations U20 Championship on Friday at 7.30pm in Dubarry Park, Athlone, is as follows:

IRFU chiefs last night emphatically rejected fresh claims that Lansdowne Road is trying to put Connacht rugby out of existence.

THERE may be good news for Munster ahead of their Heineken Cup double header against Gloucester later this month.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley will wait on fitness reports on a number of injured players before naming the side to face Munster in the Celtic League at Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Friday evening.