A roundup of today's other rugby stories:
Williams puts his internationals into Ulster mix
THE ULSTER coach, Matt Williams, has called upon four returning Ireland internationals for Saturday's game against Munster at Musgrave Park, reports John O'Sullivan
Hooker Rory Best returns and captains a team that will be named tomorrow but should include Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace.
The Australian's plans will be further bolstered by the recovery from injury, sustained in the Six Nations win over Scotland, of his Italian international secondrow Carlo Del Fava and centre Rob Dewey, who has been out for several weeks with a knee problem.
The only major absentee is the Scotland wing Simon Danielli, who damaged an ankle in the game against Italy and is being assessed by the Ulster medical team.
One of the main selection issues facing Williams is whether Wallace or Niall O'Connor will start at 10.
ULSTER SQUAD: I Boss, R Dewey, M McCrea, P Marshall, N O'Connor, M Bartholomeusz, P Wallace, A Trimble, T Bowe, B Cunningham, J Fitzpatrick, R Best (capt), T Court, R Caldwell, C Del Fava, N Best, D Pollock, S Ferris, N Brady, B Young, J Harrison, M McCullough.
Retiring Mostyn clings to European Cup dream
THE AUSTRALIAN-BORN former Ireland international Matt Mostyn has confirmed he will retire from representative rugby at the end of the season, writes John O'Sullivan.
The 33-year-old with over 100 caps for Connacht is in his second spell with the province and has set a target of Heineken Cup qualification before he ends his 12-year career.
"To get into the Heineken Cup has always been on the agenda while I've been with Connacht and if I could help them achieve that in my last few games I'd be absolutely delighted," he said. "Although I'm still enjoying my rugby I just feel that my body is telling me I've had enough and it's time to move onto the next stage of my life."
Mostyn's early rugby was played at New South Wales Waratahs before Warren Gatland took him to Connacht from the French side Begles Bordeaux in 1999. His finest moment came when he scored three tries for Ireland against Argentina.
Connacht face Edinburgh at Murrayfield tomorrow night, and the Scottish side have been boosted by the return of the national team captain, scrumhalf Mike Blair, Simon Webster and the backrow Allister Hogg among others.
CONNACHT SQUAD: L Bibo, A Browne, M Deane, T Donnelly, G Duffy, A Dunne, A Farley, A Flavin, J Fogarty, D Gannon, R Loughney, J Lyne, K Matthews, M McCarthy, C McPhillips, J Merrigan, R Morris, M Mostyn, J Muldoon, J O'Connor, C O'Loughlin, T Nathan, C Rigney, B Wilkinson, A Wynne.
EDINBURGH: H Southwell; S Webster, B Cairns, N De Luca, J Houston; P Godman, M Blair; G Kerr, A Kelly, C Smith; C Hamilton, B Gissing; A Hogg (capt), R Rennie, D Callam. Replacements: A Allori, S Lawrie, S Cross, M Mustchin, B Meyer, C MacRae, A Turnbull.
Ireland Under-19 selectors spring several surprises
THERE ARE several surprising names in the Ireland under-19 team to play Italy in Malahide on Saturday, reports Gavin Cummiskey.
A group drawn largely from the Munster, Ulster and Leinster schools competitions and captained by Pres Cork's Peter O'Mahoney has notable exceptions in the Swansea lock Ciarán Ruddock - son of the former Wales coach Mike - and the England-based openside flanker Sean Dougall.
There is a fairly even spread over the three provinces, but CBC Monkstown have three in the match 22: number eight Michael Noone, centre Gary Foley and lock-cum-flanker Shane Grannell.
The winning Ulster and Leinster schools captains, Tom Sexton (Belvedere) and Adam Macklin (Methody), despite excelling in their recent cup campaigns, are only named in the replacements.
"All have . . . made strong cases to be picked," said manager John McKibbin. "Unfortunately coaches Charlie McAleese and Bobby Byrne can only pick 15 on a team."
IRELAND (under-19s v Italy):D McIlwaine (QUB/Ulster); J Shiels (Coleraine AI/Ulster), Gary Foley (CBC Monkstown/Leinster), S Gahan (Lansdowne/Leinster), K Kirkpatrick (Ards/Ulster); A Burke (Crescent College/Munster), C Murray (Young Munster/Munster); G Duffy (UCC/Munster), D McGregor (Ballynahinch/Ulster), A Whitten (Instonians/Ulster); C Ruddock (Swansea), M Flanagan (UCD/Leinster); P O'Mahoney (PBC Cork/Munster, capt), S Dougall (St Bernards/Irish Exiles), M Noone (CBC Monkstown/Leinster). Replacements: J McGrath (St Mary's/Leinster), A Macklin (Methody/Ulster), T Sexton (Belvedere/Leinster), S Grannell (CBC Monkstown/Leinster), M Healy (Lansdowne/Leinster), I McKinley (St Columbas/Leinster), D Funston (Derry/Ulster).
