Wales wing Morgan Stoddart has picked up a thigh strain in training which will rule him out of next week’s pre-Rugby World Cup training camp in Spala.

ONCE upon a time, cryotherapy was all the rage in Irish rugby. Former national coach Eddie O’Sullivan certainly subscribed to it.

THE IRFU has appointed Eanna Falvey as the new doctor to the Ireland team.

IRISH team manager, Patsy McGonagle, is hoping Robert Heffernan can provide another inspirational performance in the 20k walk at the World Championships in Berlin today.

THOMAS CHAMNEY is named on the Irish team in both the 800m and 1,500m for the world athletics championships in Berlin, ruling out arch rival David Campbell, who had been hoping for the 800m berth.

AN ALL TOO familiar pattern re-emerged last weekend with northern hemisphere hopefuls Ireland, Scotland and Wales losing the opening test of their summer tour.

WARREN GATLAND is taking his Grand Slam-winning Wales squad on a week long camp to Ireland as part of the principality’s preparations for their two-Test tour of South Africa in June.

LONDON IRISH will spend a seven- day training camp in Co Wexford as they bid for domestic and European rugby honours.

Dominic Crotty writes about the main tasks facing the Irish XV that take on Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

IRELAND will return to their Polish training camp on Saturday as they step up preparations for the nation’s most eagerly-awaited World Cup campaign.

Ireland will return to their Polish training camp on Saturday as they step up preparations for the nation’s most eagerly-awaited World Cup campaign.

AFTER THE heroics of Cardiff, the reality check for European champions Munster has come hard and fast.

Narbonne 35 Connacht 29

Gordon D’Arcy’s chances of playing any further part in Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign receded today when coach Eddie O’Sullivan revealed his growing concern over the Leinster centre’s hamstring injury.

Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll today revealed the presence of a steely determination to face England inspired his comeback from injury.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL, Gordon D’Arcy and Johnny O’Connor all trained with the Irish rugby squad in Dublin yesterday ahead of Sunday’s crunch Six Nations clash with England at Lansdowne Road.

Injured Irish centres Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy have both returned to the Irish training camp, following their rehabilitation treatment in Spala, Poland last week.

IRISH captain Brian O’Driscoll and fellow centre Gordon D’Arcy have flown to Spala in Poland to continue their rehabilitation from their hamstring injuries.

NOTHING is left to chance in the modern professional era.

Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll and fellow centre Gordon D’Arcy have flown to Spala in Poland to continue their rehabilitation from their hamstring injuries.

Edinburgh back Chris Paterson travels to Poland today to join the Scotland training camp in Spala.

The Scottish Rugby Union has appointed Marty Hulme as full-time fitness coach to the national side. It is hoped he will assist former Leinster boss Matt Williams in transforming the team's fortunes.

The Connacht squad announced today (Tuesday, August 6, 2002) for the upcoming Celtic League and Parker Pen Shield contains 24 players who have represented Ireland at underage or schools levels.

IRISH coach Eddie O'Sullivan has announced a squad of 51 players to travel to Spala in Poland today to take part in a two-week training camp which will last until Sunday August 4.