Irish players return to provinces

IRISH coach Eddie O’Sullivan will release nine players back to their provinces tomorrow to assist their Celtic League programmes this weekend.

O’Sullivan will trim his 31-strong squad to face New Zealand on Saturday week tomorrow, with those omitted from the 22 free to play with Munster (v Cardiff), Leinster (v Edinburgh) and Ulster (v Ospreys) in the Celtic League this weekend.

It will be something of a boost to the three Irish teams, who are all to the forefront of the league, but Munster will benefit most given the fact that their opposition comes from Wales, who take on the All Blacks at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.