The Evening Echo claimed yesterday that a new 6,500 capacity stand is proposed for Musgrave Park replacing the one currently in place. The paper put the cost of the development at 6.5m and has claimed that there are long term plans for another stand on the other side of the pitch.

In case you haven’t noticed, the news has been a bit thin on the ground in recent weeks. Some sites are reporting pure speculation and basically making news out of tiny stories. We here at Irish Rugby Now! have decided that we’re going to recharge the batteries for a while, because we know a good thing when we see it and we know that it’s going to get crazy here in no time with new news coming thick and fast.

Leinster have signed Irish international Guy Easterby in a one year deal. The scrum half’s deal is subject to a medical, but in the likelyhood that he passes the medical the deal will give Leinster depth and talent at scrum half.

Ulster Rugby today announced that Bath centre and Irish international Kevin Maggs will be joining them on a two year deal. The 30 year old, who has 64 caps for Ireland had spent the last 6 years playing for Bath.

Around this time last year Munster fans were jumping up and down with delight when it was announced that former All Black Christian Cullen would be signing a three year contract. This year however Munster coach hasn’t had quite as high a profile signing.