Training games on all fronts

The four provinces kick-off simultaneously on the rugby front this afternoon for the first of 10 consecutive weeks' action - beginning with the Interprovincial Championship.

After their chastening if exhibition-type 62-28 defeat by Sale last week, Leinster are expecting more of the real thing for their final preparatory game against Moseley in Birmingham today.

They give provincial debuts to four players, Gareth Gannon, Reggie Corrigan, Declan O'Brien and David O'Sullivan, while giving precautionary rests to Richard Governey, Alan McGowan, Kurt McQuilkin and Emmet Byrne. All are expected to be fit next week.

John Philpott deputises at outhalf and, ironically, Daragh O'Mahony appears against his current club.

Peter Clohessy starts his first game for Munster in three seasons in the game against Caledonia in Kirkcaldy. At home, Ulster take on Richmond while Connacht entertain the Scottish Borders.

Leinster: C Clarke (Terenure); D Hickie (St Mary's), M Ridge (Old Belvedere), G Gannon (St Mary's), Daragh O'Mahony (Moseley); J Philpott (Old Belvedere), David O'Mahony (Lansdowne); R Corrigan (Greystones), S Byrne (Blackrock), A McKeen (Lansdowne), D O'Brien (DLSP), A Freeman (Lansdowne), S Rooney (Lansdowne), V Costello (St Mary's), D O'Sullivan (Skerries).

Connacht: P Duignan (Galwegians); N Barry (Clontarf), S Allnutt Corinthians), M Mur- phy Galwegians), N Carolan Galwegians); E Elwood (Galwegians), C McGuinness (St Mary's); J Maher (Bective), B Mulcahy (Skerries), M Finlay (Blackrock), M McConnell (unattached), G Heaslip (Cork Constitution), J Charlie (unattached), B Gavin (Galwegians), R Rogers (Blackrock).

Munster: D Crotty (Garryowen); A Horgan (Cork Constitution), S McCahill (Old Crescent), A McGrath (Shannon), A Thompson (Shannon); C Mahony (Dolphin), B O'Meara (Cork Constitution); I Murray (Cork Constitution), M McDermott (Shannon), P Clohessy (Young Munster), M Galwey (Shannon, capt), S Leahy (Garryowen), A Quinlan (Shannon), A Foley (Shannon), D Wallace (Garryowen).