Osaka to host Irish in first Test

Ireland will play the first Test in their two-match international series against Japan in Osaka and not Tokyo as first suggested. The original schedule had the Irish playing both Test matches in the Japanese capital but the first game will now take place in Osaka on Sunday, June 12th, with the second Test seven days later in Tokyo.

Irish forwards' coach Niall O'Donovan will lead the national squad to Japan this summer in the absence of head coach Eddie O'Sullivan, who will be fulfilling his British and Irish Lions remit in New Zealand. O'Donovan has just returned from Asia to determine where Ireland will be based and the facilities available.

The priority though for the national squad this week was training in preparation for the Six Nations Championship. The Ulster players travelled home yesterday ahead of Friday night's Celtic League game against table toppers, the Neath/Swansea Ospreys.

David Humphreys took part in yesterday's session, albeit in a limited capacity but it was confirmed that his cheekbone is bruised and not fractured. He won't play for his province at the weekend.

The national squad will return to City West on Saturday night and will train on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after which the 22-man squad for the opening Six Nations Championship match against Italy in Rome will be announced.

Meanwhile, Connacht will be at home in the first leg of their European Challenge Cup semi-final against Sale Sharks despite the fact that it was the English club who were drawn out of the hat first.

The draw to determine the order of the home and away legs took place in the ERC office in Dublin yesterday and was overseen by Mark Egan, IRB Head of Tournaments. Sale Sharks were drawn to have home advantage in the first leg but due to the non-availability of their stadium for the fixture, and following consultation with Connacht, the fixtures were reversed.

The Connacht match against the 2002 champions Sale will be screened by Sky Sports. The winner of the European Challenge Cup gains automatic entry to next season's Heineken European Cup tournament.

Belfast Harlequins coach Andre Bester is to leave the club at the end of the season for English Division One outfit the Rotherham Titans, where he will take over as Director of Rugby.

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINALS

First leg: Saturday April 2nd: Connacht v Sale Sharks, Sportsground (1.0, live Sky Sports); Sunday, April 3rd: Pau v Brive, Stade Municial du Hameau (1.0, Irish time).

Second leg: Saturday April 23rd: Brive v Pau, Stade Municipal des Sports (6.15, Irish time); Sunday, April 24th: Sale Sharks v Connacht, Edgeley Park (1.0, live on Sky Sports).