Tyler Bleyendaal is confident the dark days of injury are behind him.

Mauricio Pochettino's men edged one step closer to ending the club's 10-year wait for a trophy.

The Ospreys ended their PRO14 drought with victory over the Dragons at Rodney Parade as the last rugby match of 2017 in the UK dribbled to a lacklustre conclusion

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.

Back-row Jarrad Butler is keen to correct the course of Connacht’s season this weekend following two losses from three games.

Connacht return to their happiest hunting ground in the league this evening, bidding for their seventh win in 16 visits to Rodney Parade when they take on Dragons.

Leo Cullen is expecting a Dragons side revitalised under new ownership and the guidance of former team-mate Bernard Jackman when Leinster open their Guinness Pro14 campaign at Rodney Parade in Newport this afternoon (3:15pm).

Leinster rugby have revealed their new alternate jersey this morning ahead of the Pro14 championship.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says Scott Fardy’s experience will play a crucial role in the development of the academy players at the province. The 32-year-old versatile Brumbies lock will join Leinster after the Super Rugby season ends.

Connacht will bid to make it eight wins from eight against Dragons in the Pro12 at Rodney Parade this evening and bounce back from their Leinster nightmare (kick-off 7.15pm).

Munster recorded their second Guinness PRO12 victory of the season on Welsh soil after edging out Newport Gwent Dragons 20-16 in a fierce contest at Rodney Parade.

Defeat is painful and Munster have been hurting all week as they prepare to right the wrongs of last weekend’s home stumble to Cardiff Blues in their Guinness Pro12 trip to Newport Gwent Dragons today (5:15pm).

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Munster players have spent all summer adapting to life under new director of rugby Rassie Erasmus but with the season now underway there is still room for the odd surprise, not least in the parties’ opposing reactions to the weekend home defeat.

Munster Rugby has confirmed this afternoon that Duncan Casey has signed a two-year contract extension and Ulster Rugby's Sam Arnold will join the province on a two-year deal.

With most of the province’s established stars in the Ireland camp preparing for the Six Nations, a number of younger players are being given a chance to shine in tomorrow’s PRO12 game.

Long before Munster headed home from Bristol on Sunday, players and management knew that unless this is a tough week of soul-searching and preparation then their Champions Cup campaign will be unhinged over the next two weekends by in-form Leicester Tigers.

Anthony Foley has laid it on the line for his players ahead of tomorrow’s Guinness PRO12 clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Ireland flanker Chris Henry cannot wait to get involved with the Ulster side now that Director of Rugby Les Kiss has finally arrived at the Kingspan Stadium.

Munster head coach Anthony Foley insisted every last man standing in his squad would come into consideration for Saturday’s pivotal Guinness Pro12 final league game at home to Newport Gwent Dragons.

With their European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon just eight days away, Leinster coach Matt O’Connor has opted to wrap his star players in cotton wool for the province’s Guinness Pro12 encounter with Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade tomorrow.

Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations title-chasing squad returned to their Co Kildare training base last night under no illusions about the size of the task facing them in Wales next weekend.

Newport Gwent Dragons 26, Ulster 22: Ulster suffered a blow in their charge for the Guinness Pro12 play-offs after strugglers Newport Gwent Dragons claimed a 26-22 victory at Rodney Parade yesterday.

Gwent Dragons v Ulster

Rory Best will start for Ulster against Munster in tomorrow's match at Thomond Park while Munster coach Anthony Foley has named a strong squad bolstered by a number of returning internationals.

Dragons 12 Munster 38

GUINNESS PRO12:

At a time when Conor Murray is establishing himself as one of the world’s leading scrum-halves, it must be a little frustrating for the likes of Duncan Williams and Cathal Sheridan, his understudies at Munster, to see exactly what the future might hold.

French newspaper reports Paul O’Connell will end his career with French 2nd division club Pau after the 2015 Rugby World Cup came as a bombshell yesterday to his team-mates and Ireland and Munster fans.

Police in Belfast are investigating a punishment-style shooting last night.

Dragons 8 Connacht 24

Dragons 8 Connacht 24

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Munster head coach Rob Penney wants his players to hit the ground running this week as they prepare for the return of Heineken Cup action to Thomond Park on Sunday.

James Coughlan returns to the Munster starting line-up tonight a relieved man following the exploits of his back row comrades in his absence during the November Test window.

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell makes his return to Munster colours ahead of schedule tonight having been cleared by the IRFU to face Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.