Last-16 format leaves potential for all four Irish sides to qualify for the first time ever

Montpellier boss Saint-André laments Covid woes that left him with ‘academy backline’

Irish province notches 13 tries in impressive display in first fixture in over a month

Connacht hope to make history, Leinster seek vengeance, Ulster hit hard by injuries

A talisman on the pitch, Connacht’s first Lion in 39 years is adored by the young fans

Cullen’s side will be highly motivated by controversial walkover which still rankles

A tricky assignment against such familiar and gritty opponents awaits Munster

Jack Crowley to make full European debut as province make five changes to starting XV

Backrow has enjoyed an outstanding season so far with ball in hand

The two are close friends since Munster coach’s time as assistant with the Boks

John Cooney ruled out of Champions Cup match against Northampton Saints

RG Snyman has signed a two-year deal that will see him remain until at least June 2024

Cullen’s men will bring sense of grievance over conceded walkover into RDS clash

Coach scotches any notion he would quit the province before the end of his contract in June

Béibhinn Parsons wins women’s award for the second year in a row

Leinster’s game away to Montpellier not affected and remains a 28-0 win for French side

Exciting winger suffers calf injury in training but could return against Stade Francais

Centre unlikely to feature in Champions Cup clash against Castres

Leo Cullen’s Leinster side have not played since early December

European brand has been damaged over the last two seasons – and not just by Covid

Ireland international back will remain at the province until the summer of 2024 at least

Andy Friend’s side are continually on the upgrade as stodgy Munster fail to inspire

Memorable victory over New Zealand was one of the best-ever Ireland displays

Munster player felt a huge buzz watching young team beat Wasps in Champions Cup

Toulon had a similar situation last April with match in Dublin cancelled after travelling

Leinster v Lions and Connacht v Stormers will now take place on a Six Nations weekend

Postponement of some matches and cancellation of others leave teams frustrated

Johann van Graan happy with nine-point haul from opening two games in Europe

Full squad will get together at training on Tuesday for the first time in over two months

Jack O’Donoghue notched his first European try in a scrappy performance at Thomond

Johann van Graan’s departure will leave province in need of a new coaching ticket

Ben Healy named at outhalf following injury to Joey Carbery

Stuart McCloskey and Iain Henderson both forced off with injury for home side

A maximum crowd of 5,000 will now be allowed at Thomond Park

Ulster, Munster and Connacht’s second round Champions Cup ties will still go ahead

Announcement follows letter sent to Government by 62 current and former players

Andy Friend welcomes back six internationals for Sunday’s trip to Welford Road

A new-look bench named for Thomond clash but visit of French side remains in doubt

Atmosphere buoyant in camp after last weekend’s heroics against Wasps

Cullen’s squad looks to be skeletal after positive tests with opponents in same boat

Incoming Bath head coach doesn’t deny reports of rifts or tensions behind the scenes

South African had signed a new two-year deal in July but will now head for Bath

South African coach to depart Thomond Park with Bath his reported destination

Emboldened O’Mahony drives unlikely success as Champions Cup starts with a bang

Province have no time to rest on their laurels after remarkable victory over Wasps

Union rejects claims made in letter which expresses a loss of faith in the organisation

Temporary boss Ian Costello says the last fortnight will live long in players’ memory

Young stars such as Okeke and Buckley shine in frenetic bonus point win away in Coventry

Province’s young and old combine in style to secure a famous opening bonus point win

Leo Cullen’s side look good enough for bonus-point opener against struggling visitors

Munster will give their all but a victory looks beyond a team with five debutants

Leinster’s trip to Montpellier next weekend will be very revealing

Munster and Cardiff sides will start on the back foot due to Covid issues

The Top 14 sides go into the opening rounds of the Champions Cup having played a dozen game

Toulouse scrumhalf enjoyed a brilliant run with club and country

Vastly inexperienced side will head to Coventry after Covid-19 outbreak in the squad

Cullen: ‘Symptoms are very, very mild, generally speaking, which is good’

Captain knows he also has to concentrate on his own game also ahead of Wasps clash

So far ticket sales are projecting an attendance of only about 30,000 at the Aviva

Johann van Graan says a number of players will make their Munster debuts in Coventry

‘There’s guys just out of school but to see some of the talent that’s come on is incredible’

South African number eight working his way back to match fitness after Covid diagnosis

Billy Holland receives Tom Rooney Award in recognition of his contribution to Irish rugby

Ireland backrow has been very impressed with how younger players have taken to task in hand

Johann van Graan hails ‘beauty of Munster Rugby’ in face of adversity

South Africa have the most representatives with five in the lineup and three All Blacks

The 26-year-old will remain with Leinster until at least the end of the 2024/25 season

La Rochelle boss says Glasgow have nothing to lose as they travel to last year’s finalists

Form says that changes the Leinster backrow made are working after impressive autumn

Three academy players among new crop as province boosts ranks ahead of trip to Wasps

Champions Cup opens with visit of Bath before attention turns to festive derbies

Leinster the outstanding URC contenders but French and English sides look well prepared

Ireland’s first-choice scrumhalf in November is back in full training after a thigh injury

Jack McGrath set for return after over a year out while Craig Gilroy could win 200th cap

Leo Cullen’s side get back on track with bonus-point win at the RDS

Academy fullback Jonathan Wren also returns to training after a leg injury

Leo Cullen making 10 changes to all-international XV and making intentions clear

Province likely to seek reinforcements from within despite having option to recruit in players

All clubs will can supplement squads with an unlimited number of previously unregistered players

Ireland will play games in Dublin, Cork and Belfast in next year’s championship

Leo Cullen turns to his Ireland internationals to get province back on the winning trail against Connacht

After surviving RTÉ’s Ultimate Hell Week the duo will present Zurich Irish Rugby Awards

Most of the province’s travelling party returned from South Africa on Wednesday

Centre suffered a knee injury in Ireland’s win over New Zealand

South African number eight is isolating after his arrival in Belfast

Province remain stranded in Cape Town and waiting for green light to return to Ireland

Measures include flexibility in number of players, game duration, pitch size and ball size

Chaos for URC while if and when Munster face Wasps it will be far from a level playing field

Dan Leavy also likely to miss Friday’s match against Connacht after HIA last week

As yet it is unknown whether squad will be allowed to train while in 10-day quarantine

Cullen says province will need to have more edge when they meet Connacht on Friday

With South Africa on a travelling red list, it’s difficult to see how the URC can proceed

First victory over Leinster in Dublin since 2013 proves a timely boost ahead of hectic schedule

Late try from James Hume sealed the deal for the visitors on a freezing night in the RDS

Ireland’s most decorated player will play final game of his career, lining up as Barbarian

The likes of Piutau could feature at the next World Cup with nations of their heritage

Johann van Graan returns to childhood stomping ground against formidable Bulls

Eight of province’s Ireland cohort will miss Saturday’s Bulls clash at Loftus Versfeld

Ireland coach has created an environment where players will go that extra bit further