Generation Next

ALL eyes may be on Thomond Park and the Aviva Stadium this weekend, but the more discerning Munster and Leinster supporters will also be keeping tabs on proceedings at the RDS this evening.

The province’s A teams will go head to head in a British and Irish Cup semi-final (6pm) that means little to the average follower but provides another barometer for the health of each province’s academy.

The majority of players on show will be homegrown — or at least home-bred — and this is their shop window.