European Cup Team News

Leinster

Brian O'Driscoll is Leinster's main injury concern ahead of Friday night's European Cup clash against Toulouse at Donnybrook. The Ireland centre suffered some deep-seated bruising to a leg on Saturday at Murrayfield and is having daily treatment for the problem. It should not prevent him from taking part on Friday.

Leinster coach Matt Williams will name the team at lunch-time today.

Emmet Farrell and Paul Wallace, who are recovering from long-term injuries, are expected to play for Blackrock in their All Ireland League Division One tie against Clontarf at Stradbrook on Saturday.

Leinster manager Ken Ging spoke about the triviality in one sense of a rugby match in comparison to the explosion at the chemical factory in Toulouse that took so many lives and necessitated the switch from Toulouse to Dublin of the fixture.

"You have to look at the broad picture. There is a lack of awareness here (in Ireland) about the extent of the disaster. There are 29 dead, 30 critically injured, of whom only a handful may survive, and over 500 injured. Shop windows were blown in, a cloud of chemical smoke hung over the city briefly and no one was sure whether it was toxic at the time. The roof of the stadium was blown off and their ground was currently under repair anyway.

"All we have done is swapped a fixture to give them a hand. I'm sure they would have done the same. It gives us three home matches in-a-row, but by the time we play Newport away we could have six points. You're supposed to win your home matches. We just have to win ours in a shorter space of time."

Munster

Coach Declan Kidney awaits definitive medical opinion on Ireland tighthead prop John Hayes and international flanker Alan Quinlan. Hayes had 22 stitches inserted following an accidental collision of heads at Murrayfield and must be considered a serious doubt for Saturday's Cup game against Castres at Thomond Park.

Quinlan damaged a knee against Caerphilly but should be fit enough to play. The team will be revealed after this afternoon's training session.

Ulster

Ulster have Jonathan Bell available for selection after missing the last two games in the Celtic League with an Achilles tendon problem. Coach Alan Solomons calls up two new faces, Australian hooker Mark Crick and Argentinian prop Leopoldo de Chazal, for their trip to Italy, where they will face Benetton Treviso. The team will be named today.

Connacht

Flankers Michael Swift and Colm Rigney will not be available to coach Steph Nel for Friday night's European Shield game against Narbonne at Ericsson Park, Athlone. The team will be announced later today.

Swift is suffering from a stress fracture of the foot while Rigney has an arm injury.

A new two-year sponsorship deal for the Shield was unveiled yesterday, worth a six-figure sum, with the tournament now being called the Parker Pen European Shield. There are 32 teams in the competition, divided into eight groups of four. The group winners will go forward to the quarter-finals.