Andy Friend’s Connacht can knock down another barrier in Gloucester tomorrow and in the process take a big step towards a new milestone as they continue to grow impressively under the Australian.

Ruan Pienaar only heard about Alby Mathewson’s departure from Munster on Tuesday.

Connacht coach Andy Friend has warned his side can’t afford to get into an “arm wrestle” against Montpellier in their return to the Heineken Champions Cup this weekend.

Sorting out Cork people for ages...

The importance of Munster getting a good start to their Champions Cup campaign was underlined by the release of the pool fixtures this morning.

Britain has seen a new record temperature has been set for 2019, with the mercury expected to keep rising.

A record temperature was recorded in France yesterday when, in Carpentras, in the south-eastern Vaucluse département, the mercury hit 44.3C, breaking the previous record of 44.1C set in Montpellier and Nîmes in August 2003.

Munster received a tough draw against reigning champions Saracens in next season's Champions Cup pool stages.

Australia came from two goals down to stun Brazil 3-2 in their Women's World Cup clash in Montpellier.

Having planned for life beyond rugby for some time now, it is fitting Duncan Casey bade adieu to the sport with three games still to play in his final campaign in professional rugby.

World Cup winner Dan Carter would not be out of place in the All Blacks squad at the global showpiece in Japan later this year if selectors sent him an SOS to fill the gap left by the injured Damian McKenzie, former coach Graham Henry has said.

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

Ross Byrne can complete an interesting treble for Leinster should he make his Ireland debut off the bench against Australia at Allianz Stadium this morning.

An extreme cold snap sweeping across Europe has claimed more lives, forced the closure of airports in Switzerland and France and left hundreds of drivers stranded on snow-bound roads.

Exceptional snow and wind has forced airports to close in Switzerland and France and stranded several hundred drivers in their cars as a Siberian cold snap stretches across Europe.

For the first time in 15 years Leinster have won all six pool games in the European Champions Cup.

The party line from Leinster is that any and all compliments being delivered their way lately are being blocked abruptly at the door and Tadhg Furlong is adopting the same approach when it comes to garlands foisted upon him.

Fergus McFadden believes Leinster’s current strength-in-depth is such that it trumps even the 2009-2012 era, when the province dominated the European club scene and claimed three Heineken Cups in just four seasons.

Leinster will have to do without in-form Ireland prop Cian Healy for the Christmas and new year interprovincial derbies after he was suspended for three weeks last night.

Leinster 22 Exeter Chiefs 17: There are any number of arbitrary ways to measure a team’s progress, but it seemed the obvious thing to think back to Leinster’s semi-final loss to Clermont Auvergne last April as they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Saturday evening.

Exeter’s Champions Cup engagement with Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday is unlikely to be the time to stop and smell the roses.

Now I get it. After my maiden visit to Sandy Park, nestled in the picturesque city of Exeter, I understand why Donncha O’Callaghan has described the reigning Aviva Premiership champions as everyone’s second favourite team in England, says Donal Lenihan.

As statements go this was as big as they get.

The Government should more than double its flood-prevention funding to €1bn in a bid to prevent further havoc being caused to at-risk regions, the minister responsible for the area has said.

Ronan O’Gara doesn’t believe Peter O’Mahony will leave Munster, but warns if the sums don’t stack up at home, maybe the UK is a better option for him.

Irish riders netted three-star Grand Prix victories on both sides of the Atlantic at the weekend, with Paul O’Shea scoring in Tryon, North Carolina, and Darragh Kenny coming out on top at Montpellier in France.

One of the key Castres players hoping to plot a shock win over Munster on Sunday in the opening round of the Champions Cup grew up in South Africa with Rassie Erasmus as one of his childhood heroes.

Tomás O’Leary yesterday announced his retirement from professional rugby “happy and content that it is time to move on”.

There’s not much riding on Eden Park tomorrow only immortality for a group of lads from Britain and Ireland, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Former Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar has joined French Top 14 side Montpellier on a three-year deal. 

Ronan O’Gara breaks down that Racing 92 match you fortunately missed...

Three suspects in a thwarted attack last week in the southern French city of Montpellier have been handed preliminary terrorism charges, Paris prosecutors said.

It’s three years since Northampton and Leinster last crossed paths twice in the space of a week and both clubs will be drawing on lessons learned the hard way as they approach the first of their latest engagements, at Franklin’s Gardens.

Police are carrying out a major search for a man armed with a shotgun and a knife who stabbed an elderly woman to death at a retirement home for Catholic missionaries in southern France.

Police have launched a major search for a man armed with a shotgun and a knife who stabbed an elderly woman to death at a retirement home for Catholic missionaries in southern France.