Players left to make major career choice as insurance firms draw a line in sand

Canadian lock Jamie Cudmore is taking legal action against former club Clermont Auvergne

Liam Kearns’s men must find stride quickly with westerners unlikely to be complacent

County’s former trainer Cian O’Neill believes the perennial nearly men now have a cutting edge to them

Mayo’s experience gives them the edge but confident Munster men will put it up to them

Westmeath’s massed defence could pose some problems for Stephen Rochford’s side

Leinster and Ulster both face two French sides in pool stages

Prop’s decision puts focus on physical damage being endured by modern-day players

Cathal Barrett, Conor Loftus and Evan Regan to start on Sunday

IRFU says Robbie Henshaw suffered no ill-effects after playing for Connacht

Ireland flanker ignored his concussion symptoms until that was no longer possible

Kind of teams being punished for indiscipline much more likely to be down pecking order

Irish international forwards in line to play against Dragons at RDS on Saturday

Concern over stand-in Leinster captain’s increasing susceptibility to concussion

Province’s interim captain raring to go having overcome his injury nightmare

Appointment as head coach of 37-year-old student of the game should not surprise

Tighthead prop still expected to be available for Ireland’s warm-up game against Wales

Dublin well placed to extend Mayo’s cycle of hurt but pain of losing is a powerful driver

Seán Moran, Malachy Clerkin and Gavin Cummiskey with the weekend’s main talking points

Winger faces second surgery of the season on right thumb injured in defeat to Toulon

Ticket for Pro12 final selling well – but first up for Leinster is small matter of Toulon

Leinster flanker needs another operation on injury he suffered in December

Tommy Walsh makes first appearance since return from Australia but picks up an injury

Leinster backrow named in extended 46-man Ireland and Wolfhounds squad

Decision on Jamie Heaslip for Castres game due later in the week after captain returned to full training

The province are considering appealing the three match ban handed to Jack McGrath

Rob Kearney, Reddan, Ryan and Jennings all come through training session

Jack Conan wins man-of-the-match after barrelling Ulster defenders from his path

Ireland captain has contract with IRFU until 2016

Player’s progression has put himself in the shop window for clubs across Europe

Flanker will be out for three months to recover from shoulder injury sustained against Connacht

Leinster change six for St Stephen’s Day game that will see Richardt Strauss make his 100th appearance

Richardt Strauss and Shane Jennings available to face Munster on St Stephen’s Day

Leinster forwards’ coach Leo Cullen not sure of who will be in the line-up at Thomond Park

Victory for Connacht at the RDS would yield the province’s first league double over Leinster

‘Leinster come to this match with a huge amount of positivity’

Lock Aly Muldowney the only Connacht player to remain from Bayonne win

Manchester City give Southampton a rude awakening, Soldado finally scores, Leinster’s injury crisis deepens and Slaughtneil win their first title

Leinster play against Harlequins on Sunday week in the Champions Cup

Leinster have injury worries ahead of visit of Pro 12 leaders Ospreys