United Rugby Championship

Leinster have new midfield partnership in Liam Turner and Charlie Tector, who replace Jordie Barrett and Hugh Cooney

Alan Spicer in line for Leinster debut when they take on the Sharks in South Africa

The Galway man and Connacht scrumhalf never imagined his rugby career would take him to Mayo’s MacHale Park

Leinster and Ireland centre eyes Champions Cup game against Harlequins and Lions berth on Australia summer tour

From Alex Wyllie to Bundee Aki, people born abroad have made huge contributions to rugby in Ireland

Connacht’s international quartet of Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Finlay Bealham and Cian Prendergast set to be fit for match

Province look to returning Beirne, Murray and O’Mahony to lift intensity in squad following two consecutive URC defeats

Colm Tucker deputising while Connacht head coach remains on sick leave

Key players’ availability remains uncertain as province prepare for tough challenge in Durban

Twelve tries scored during gripping game in Swansea

Scott Wilson’s late try and eight points from John Cooney’s boot turned game around

David Kriel penalty hands the Bulls one-point win in Pretoria

Playing at altitude against opponents bolstered by nine Springboks a challenge province must embrace

Irish province led at half-time but Nathan McBeth’s late try gave Scottish side a bonus-point win

Welsh side have been in desperate form this season with only one win from 12 games

Welsh side enjoyed a morale-boosting win away to Glasgow the last time out

Connacht and Ulster also name their sides for the return of league action

The Counter Ruck Podcast: Will Leinster maintain their buffer at the top? Can Munster maintain their position in the top eight?

Promising centre should get a run in a much-changed side for Glasgow clash

Connacht and Ulster need strong final period to make the top eight playoffs

Irish scrumhalf is ‘bouncing around the place’ as Ian Costello hails positive energy he brings

Westerners fight back from half-time deficit in nine-try thriller

Nathan Doak provides conversion to seal victory in Belfast

Leo Cullen hands Ivan Soroka and Oliver Coffey debuts at the Aviva Stadium

Four tries in the opening half at Musgrave Park had the visitors 29-7 to the good at the break

Pete Wilkins’s team could leapfrog the Italian visitors in the race for the playoffs

Richie Murphy’s side know they have to collect more wins to avoid meltdown

Ivan Soroka will join brother Alex for Leinster against Cardiff as province fces shortage at loosehead

Southern province host Edinburgh at Musgrave Park on Friday

Outside centre may miss remaining games against France and Italy after being sidelined for head-on-head collision

Centre Alex Nankivell and loosehead Jeremy Loughman are set to return for Friday’s game against Edinburgh

Connacht will hope home advantage will make the difference having lost their last three encounters with Benetton away

Dylan Tierney Martin delivers late-winning try after westerners had lost a 19-point lead

David McCann, Nick Timoney and Stewart Moore all shown yellow cards in second half

Gavin Coombes leads the way with two tries for the province

Irish province move 15 points clear at the top of the table

The Llanelli side have not beaten Irish opposition since ousting Connacht four years ago

A victory would go long way to make up 10-point differential in the URC table between teams

Murphy makes 11 changes to starting side which lost 15-14 to Zebre

English governing body unlikely to license Exiles to compete in rival competition