Leinster name team for Saracens visit.

Leinster have named their team to face Saracens in Saturday's sell out Heineken Cup clash at the RDS, kick-off 1:30pm.
Leo Cullen will captain the province for the round five encounter.

The Newtownmountkennedy man partners Nathan Hines at second row, with Dominic Ryan joining Shane Jennings and Sean O'Brien in the back row.

With Eoin Reddan partnering Jonathan Sexton at half-back, there's a familiar look to the remainder of the backline as Gordon D'Arcy joins Brian O'Driscoll at centre.
Fergus McFadden joins Leinster's most capped player in Heineken Cup history, Shane Horgan and Isa Nacewa in the back three.
Ireland internationals Isaac Boss, Luke Fitzgerald, Kevin McLaughlin and Devin Toner are named amongst the replacements.
Leinster team to play Saracens in the Heineken Cup on Saturday at the RDS, kick-off 1:30pm:

Isa Nacewa, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Fergus McFadden, Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan
Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen, Nathan Hines, Dominic Ryan, Shane Jennings, Sean O'Brien
Replacements: Jason Harris-Wright, Heinke van der Merwe, Clint Newland, Devin Toner, Kevin McLaughlin, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan
Luke Fitzgerald.

O'Connell returns for Munster.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made three changes to the side that started against the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup for Sunday's clash with Toulon, kick-off 3pm.

Two of those changes are in the pack with the return of Paul O'Connell relegating Mick O'Driscoll to the replacements bench and Tony Buckley makes way for John Hayes.
 Peter Stringer come in from the start ahead of Tomas O'Leary.

Munster team to play in the Heineken Cup on Sunday, kick-off 3pm: P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, S Tuitupou, J Murphy; R O'Gara, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Varley, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; J Coughlan, D Wallace, D Leamy.

Replacements: M Sherry, D Hurley, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, N Ronan, T O'Leary, L Mafi.

Ulster make two changes for crunch clash.

Ulster have made two changes to their starting line-up for Saturday's crucial Heineken Cup meeting with Biarritz at Ravenhill, kick-off 3:30pm.
 Dan Tuohy starts in the second row with Tim Barker moving to the bench while Stephen Ferris, who made a successful return from injury, coming off the bench last week, starts on the blind-side flank with Chris Henry providing cover.

Connacht make several changes.

Connacht have made a number of changes to their team for the match with Bayonne in the Amlin Challenge Cup on Saturday.
There are two changes in the pack with Bernie Upton replacing Michael Swift and Mike McComish returning to reclaim the number eight jersey.
 

Eoin Griffin is the only player to remain in a new backline that sees former Blackrock College winger Shane Monahan come in on the right wing, with Brian Touhy in on the left.
 

Frank Murphy and Ian Keatley return at half-back and Niva Ta'auso returns to the centre, this time at 12, which allows Fionn Carr to line out at full-back.

Murphy may miss remainder of season.

Local media in Leicester are reporting that Leicester and Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

It was initially reported that Murphy had suffered a dislocated ankle playing for Leicester against Northampton last weekend; however, both BBC Radio Leicester and the Leicester Mercury newspaper are now saying that he has suffered two broken bones in his foot as well as ligament damage.

The news will come as a blow to Ireland head coach Declan Kidney, with first choice full-back Rob Kearney already ruled out for the early stages of the RBS 6 Nations.

It is reported that he will undergo surgery in the next seven days, the extent of the injury is expected to be confirmed once Leicester receive the specialists' report.

Tigers coach Richard Cockerill said: 'It's really disappointing for Geordan; he was coming in to some good form.'

Luke Fitzgerald, who has played at full-back for Leinster in recent weeks, could also replace Kearney and Murphy in the national side. Gavin Duffy and Johne Murphy could also come into the frame while Jamie Smith and Denis Hurley are other Irish qualified players who have filled the 15 jersey for provincial teams in recent months.

Johnson: Atwood ban cost him England place

Banned England lock Dave Attwood was issued with a stark warning after being axed from Martin Johnson's 33-man senior squad.

Attwood was replaced by Louis Deacon yesterday after Johnson decided he could not carry a player who would miss the first two games of the RBS 6 Nations through suspension.

The hard-edged Gloucester lock is serving a nine-week ban for stamping. The suspension expires the Monday before England play France so he will probably miss that Test too.

With Courtney Lawes potentially sidelined for three months with a knee injury, Attwood had a strong chance to press his claims for a starting England jersey.

Instead, Johnson has relegated the 23-year-old to the England Saxons.
'He (Attwood) is a bright lad and it is pretty obvious he has damaged his opportunity,' Johnson said. 'You take yourself out of the running for nine weeks it can be tough. There would have been an opportunity for him to be involved.

O'Connell named in Munster squad.

Paul O'Connell has been brought straight back into the Munster squad for their Heineken Cup clash against Toulon, after serving a four week suspension.

O'Connell was handed the ban for striking' Wales number eight Jonathan Thomas in a Heineken Cup match between Munster and the Ospreys, but is now set for a return to action with his province.

Head coach Tony McGahan has also opted against naming a third hooker in the squad, despite the absence of Jerry Flannery, who is sidelined with a calf injury.

The Heineken Cup team will be announced at midday on Friday.

Munster squad to play Toulon in the Heineken Cup on Sunday 16 January:
Wian Du Preez, Darragh Hurley, Tony Buckley, John Hayes, Mike Sherry, Damien Varley, Billy Holland, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Paul O'Connell, Mick O'Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Niall Ronan, James Coughlan, Tommy O'Donnell, David Wallace Denis Leamy, Tomas O'Leary, Peter Stringer, Scott Deasy, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Denis Hurley, Doug Howlett.

Trimble signs new IRFU contract.

Andrew Trimble has commited his future to playing in Ireland by signing a two-year extension to his current deal with the IRFU.

The versatile Trimble, who plays on both the wing and the centre, has put pen to paper on a new deal that will see him remain with Ulster a further two years until the end of the 2012-13 season.
Ulster Director of Rugby David Humphreys welcomed the news and said: 'We're delighted that Andrew has chosen to continue and further his rugby career in Ireland.

'He's enjoying a rich vein of form, and as one of the senior members of the Ulster Squad he's played an integral part in the improvements we've made this season.

'As we saw from his performance last weekend against Teviso, he's certainly back to his best.'
Trimble, meanwhile, is only focused on playing rugby. 'We have some big games coming up, so I am really happy that I was able to agree my new contract before we went into the busy period,' he insisted.

'As well as the challenges we have in the Heineken Cup and Magners League coming up, I was conscious that I also wanted to concentrate on playing as well as possible here with Ulster so I can challenge for a place with Ireland ahead of the Six Nations and the World Cup this year.
'Our game this weekend against Biarritz is my first priority and everybody in Ulster Rugby is firmly focused on that,' he added.

Trevor Hogan calls time on career.

Leinster Rugby can confirm that second-row forward Trevor Hogan has retired from the game with immediate effect due to a knee injury.

Hogan, 31 was capped four times by Ireland over a professional career spanning seven years. He represented Munster on 57 occasions before moving to Leinster in the summer of 2006 and was an influential performer in the province's Magners League and Heineken Cup successes.

In all he made 59 Leinster appearances, scoring three tries, though injury curtailed his involvement this season to one game against the Dragons in November, which proved to be his final professional outing.

Ulster squad for Biarritz.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has named a 29-man squad ahead of their Heineken Cup match against Biarritz on Saturday.

Ulster, aiming to reach the quarter-final stage of the competition for the first time in 11 years, take on the French side lying second to them in Pool Four, three points in arrears.
The starting XV and replacements will be named on Friday.

Ulster squad for the Heineken Cup tie with Biarritz at Ravenhill on Saturday at 3.30pm:

Forwards: Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick, Jerry Cronin, Bryan Young, BJ Botha, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyriacou, Tim Barker, Neil McComb, Dan Tuohy, Johann Muller, TJ Anderson, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg, Stephen Ferris.

Backs: Adam D'Arcy, David McIlwaine, Jamie Smith, Mark McCrea, Andrew Trimble, Simon Danielli, Paddy Wallace, Nevin Spence, Ian Whitten, Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar.

Jamie Hagan extends Connacht stay

Connacht prop Jamie Hagan has signed a new two-year contract with the province.

The 23-year-old from Balbriggan joined Connacht in 2009 from the Leinster academy and has appeared in 27 Magners League games and 11 Amlin Challenge Cup games for the Westerners since then.

Hagan was capped for Ireland Youths and scored a try against England U18 in 2005 and was part of the Ireland U20 team, coached by Eric Elwood and Dan McFarland, which won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2007

.

The 6' 3", 120kg tight-head prop has been a cornerstone of the Connacht scrum for the past season and a half.

Kidney resigned to losing Murphy.

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has admitted that he expects to be without Tigers full-back Geordan Murphy for the start of the 2011 Six Nations.

The veteran and club captain was injured during last Saturday's bruising Aviva Premiership fixture at Welford Road, which Leicester won 27-16.

Kidney revealed that medical updates were expected on Tuesday but judging from the early signs, he is not holding out much hope.

"I haven't had the chance to talk to him," said Kidney, speaking to the Belfast Telegraph.

"He's scheduled to see the specialist today and we'll see how it goes but it wouldn't look good for Italy.

"That's the way it is in Irish rugby, you try and build a squad so you can carry the injuries then all of a sudden you lose two or three, Felix Jones is out since the start of the season, Gavin Duffy has been out for the last three weeks but I think he's hoping to get back in the next fortnight.

"But it means there are openings for guys, we'll see how the next two weeks go."

IRFU unveil initiative to assist clubs.

The Irish Rugby Football Union and Ulster Bank have announced a new partnership that will see Ulster Bank become the Official Community Rugby Partner to the IRFU.

The new deal will see Ulster Bank assume title sponsorship of the All Ireland League and the Irish club nternational team until 2014.

A new club volunteer initiative - Ulster Bank RugbyForce - where selected clubs will receive funding to renovate their facilities has also been announced.

This new partnership further cements the relationship between rugby in Ireland and Ulster Bank which will be supporting the Ireland Club International team, which allows non professional club players to play for Ireland against similar amateur selections.

Dislocated ankle fear for Geordan Murphy.

Ireland rugby coach Declan Kidney could be without Geordan Murphy for the early stages of the RBS 6 Nations championship.

The Leicester captain was stretchered off after 71 minutes of Saturday's English Premiership match against Northampton and it is now believed that he has suffered a dislocated ankle.

'He's gone over on his ankle and we'll assess it over the next couple of days,' said Leicester boss Richard Cockerill in the wake of his side's victory over Northampton, but the prognosis does not appear to be promising.

Rob Kearney has already been ruled out of the opening games of the Six Nations with a knee injury, leaving Kidney without his two first choice full backs and opening the door for Luke Fitzgerald.

Tuohy signs new Ulster Contract

Ulster received a boost ahead of this weekend's crucial Heineken Cup clash against Biarritz with the news that lock Dan Tuohy has signed a new two year deal with the club.

Tuohy, who won his first international caps for Ireland during last summer's tour of Australia and New Zealand, moved from Premiership side Exeter Chiefs, on a two year contract with Ulster ahead of the 2009-10 season.

Meanwhile, prop Paddy McAllister and centre Nevin Spence have upgraded from development to full contracts.

McAllister and Spence are both products of the Phoenix Ulster Rugby Academy.

Leinster Squad Update.

Sean O’Brien, who was rested for the 15-10 victory over the Ospreys, rejoined the panel and will be available for selection while the injuries sustained by Cian Healy (hamstring), Jamie Heaslip (ankle) and Jonathan Sexton (calf) from Friday night’s victory will be monitored this week, though it is hoped that all three will be available for selection.

Out-half Jonathan Sexton, who scored 25 points in a man of the match display in the reverse fixture in Wembley Stadium in October, has accrued 42 points to date in this year’s competition.

Brian O’Driscoll, meanwhile, is currently in third place in the overall top try scorers list in the Heineken Cup (28 tries), three behind Toulouse’s Vincent Clerc and just one ahead of his provincial colleague Shane Horgan who now lies in sixth place in the competition’s all time appearance list with 82.

The Leinster team will be announced at midday on Friday.

It's all or nothing for Munster.

Munster face a must-win Heineken Cup clash away against Toulon on Sunday, a challenge which lock Donncha O'Callaghan is relishing.

Munster are flying high atop of the Magners League but they have yet to find their best form in Europe this season and presently lie second behind Toulon in Pool Three.

The showdown on Sunday at Stade Felix Mayol therefore presents a huge game for both sides in their bid to top the pool and in the process book a quarter-final place. Added pressure for Munster is that they have not missed out on a Heineken Cup quarter-final on their last 12 attempts.

"We're playing for our lives," O'Callaghan told the Irish Independent.

"It's a massive week, cup-final rugby.

"This is where you test yourself, this is where you want to be. People say we're not playing well, but tables reflect what we're doing. There's a huge standard expected with this team."

Irish players pressured to play injured.

40 per cent of Ireland's professional rugby players have felt pressurised into playing while injured according to a survey commissioned by the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA).

In the independently conducted survey - in which 75 per cent of the 150 or so IRUPA members on international, provincial or development contracts responded -an alarmingly high number said they had been put under pressure to play while injured or concussed by coaching and medical staff.

The survey is sure to make waves in Ireland as it comes on the heals of revelations about playing while injured by former Leinster hookers John Fogarty and Bernard Jackman, who were both forced into retirement.

Nearly a quarter of the players expressed unhappiness with a surgeon or specialist they had been referred to, with the added feeling that the leading players were given preferential treatment. Although a degree of dissatisfaction was to be expected, some of the responses alarmed the IRUPA chief executive Niall Woods.