Connacht have received a boost today, as their citing of Harlequins hooker Tani Fuga was successful, and results in him missing the semi-final on Sunday. The hooker has received a seven-week suspension ruling him out of most of the rest of Harlequins season.
Munster today announced that they have agreed terms to bring Paul Burke to Munster under a two year deal. Burke has spend the last four seasons playing at out-half for Harelquins making over 90 appearances for the team.
Leinster may have had all their Triple Crown heros at their disposal for this game, but that didn’t stop Llanelli Scarlets from comfortably beating them to stay in joint first position in the Celtic League, and close the points difference gap with Ulster.
A bonus point win was what was required to keep Ulster at the top of the Celtic League, and they delivered. With Michael Bradley resting a number of his players ahead of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final second leg next Sunday some had believed that Ulster would have an easy ride, but a determined Connacht put pay to that idea.
Edinburgh got their very first Celtic League victory since February at the expense of Munster tonight at Musgrave Park.
Michael Bradley has named his team to play Celtic League leaders, Ulster at Ravenhill tomorrow night. The Connacht team includes a number of changes from the side that took part in the first leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final at the weekend.
Alan Gaffney has decided to rest most of the team that beat Stade Francais at the weekend to take Munster into the Heineken cup semi-final.
Irish internationals Gordon D’Arcy, Brian O’Driscoll, Reggie Corrigan, Shane Byrne and Victor Costello will all make their return to the Leinster team, for their Celtic League tie away to Llanelli on Friday evening.
Wasps and England Captain Lawrence Dallaglio is a doubt for his side’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster on Sunday week.
Ulster coach Alan Solomons has made sweeping changes to his side to face Connacht at Ravenhill on Friday night.