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Thursday 30 March 2023 Dublin: 11°C

# provinces

Last year
2022
# Nine
Patterson making home away from home after switch from Leinster to Munster
The 23-year-old scrum-half initially joined on a short-term loan but now has a full senior deal.
# Transfer
Ulster confirm the signing of 22-year-old Jake Flannery from Munster
The Tipperary man has opted to remain in Ireland after attracting interest from England and France.
# exemptions
EPCR hoping Champions Cup games can proceed as planned this month
Work is underway to ensure travel exemptions will apply for participating clubs.
All time
# Day Jobs
Ireland challenge players to be 'leaders' for provinces ahead of Six Nations
The United Rugby Championship returns this weekend, with the Champions Cup on the horizon.
# No Go
Pro14 confirm that the South African teams are out of the Rainbow Cup
Tournament organisers insist this will not affect the long-term partnership with SA Rugby.
# PULL THE PLUG
IRFU cancel All-Ireland leagues for 2020-21 season due to Covid-19
The women’s interprovincial series has also been cancelled.
# memory lane
'Gaillimh and I just bear-hugged, laughed, then went out and killed each other'
Having first played with his native Munster, Liam Toland went on to captain Leinster.
# The42 Rugby Weekly
'The opportunity is going to be lost for some guys who have been late developers'
The latest episode of The42 Rugby Weekly included a discussion on the pandemic’s impact on Irish rugby’s talent pipeline.
# Testing
Green light! Irish rugby gets the all-clear to return this weekend
The latest round of Covid-19 testing in the provinces returned zero positive tests.
# Young Guns
Provincial academies to compete with Ireland 7s in new IRFU tournaments
The provinces’ A teams will also compete in a series of fixtures starting in September.
# Rolling On
'We need to get back to that momentum' - Leinster aim to pick up where they left off
Felipe Contepomi says the province’s players returned to pre-season in excellent condition.
# pecking order
Munster and Ulster out to close gap on Leinster as Connacht look for more depth
The Irish provinces are starting to gear up for rugby’s return in August.
# Prop
Hawaiian tighthead Salanoa set for switch from Leinster to Munster
The 22-year-old prop played for Leo Cullen’s side three times this season.
# Train From Home
IRFU bins plans to bring Irish provinces back into training next week
The Irish union will update players again next month, subject to government directives.
# Measures
Training set to be suspended for Leinster, Ulster, Connacht, and Munster
The provinces have no certainty around when they will next play.
# provinces
Dublin still in hunt for Walsh Cup semi-final place and Roscommon make winning start
There was also pre-season action in the Dr McKenna Cup and McGrath Cup today.
# Fixture List
Cullen's Leinster to open Pro14 title defence with a trip to Italy
Competiton organisers have confirmed dates and kick-off times all the way up to round 20.
# injury table
Roux likely to miss Connacht's season-defining Cardiff clash
The Ireland international is suffering from a virus ahead of Saturday’s game.
# Team news
Sexton out for Leinster's Champions Cup quarter-final clash with Ulster
Ross Byrne lines out at number 10, while Jordan Larmour also gets the nod at fullback ahead of Rob Kearney.
# All in
Clean sweep for the provinces tees up riveting European quarter-finals
Irish rugby’s good health has been underlined in the Heineken Cup and Challenge Cup.
Provinces' A teams will travel to the US for new development fixtures next year
The IRFU has partnered with the Boston-based New England Free Jacks.
# Shake It Up
'To me, the provinces are gone, they’re dead' - a call for an open hurling championship draw
Michael Fennelly on the changes he would like to see made to the hurling landscape.
# road to edinburgh
Toulouse go to Munster, Leinster welcome Wasps as Champions Cup 1/4 finals are set
Connacht miss out on the last eight, but Munster could have home advantage through to the semi-finals.
# Finances
IRFU CEO Browne confirms cash injection for struggling Irish provinces
Munster have required particular attention after a poor financial season.
# Big Plans
Nucifora addresses foreign signings as World Cup disappointment lingers
The IRFU’s performance director says he has no doubt the provinces can remain competitive in Europe.
# Pro12
'I think in Ireland it's been deemed to be too easy as a competition'
The Guinness Pro12′s new managing director, Martin Anayi, has plenty of work to do.
# Released
'Some of the players who play with their province are likely to be in the 31'
Joe Schmidt says players who have returned to Ulster and Leinster are very much in the World Cup mix.
# vital games
4 reasons to watch the Irish provinces in Pro12 action this weekend
Connacht’s Champions Cup charge, Leinster’s XV, Munster man returns and Ulster’s next prospect.
# Showtime
5 reasons to watch Leinster, Munster and Ulster in Pro12 action
Ben Te’o at 13, Munster’s back row composition, Luke McGrath’s chance, an Ulster lift and the returning faces.
# My Goodness
Guinness confirmed as new Pro12 title sponsor
The Irish brewery takes over sponsorship of the league from RaboDirect.
# Friendlies
All four Irish provinces have confirmed their pre-season schedules
Here’s the fixture list for the warm-up games in preparation for the 2014/15 campaign.
# legacy
Rob Penney: We've a long way to go to be as respected as Leinster are
The Kiwi head coach has underlined the pride he has in his group of players.
# Live
UPC's red button hiccup for Leinster clash unlikely to be repeated
The Irish province’s Heineken Cup game in Castres was unavailable live, even to viewers with Sky Sports add-on packages.
# Good Times
Kingpins – Here are the 24 clubs who enjoyed GAA provincial glory in 2013
There’s plenty to celebrate to several clubs after the 2013 AIB provincial club championships.
# back to reality
SLIDESHOW: Leinster welcome Ireland internationals back
The likes of Gordon D’Arcy and Ian Madigan were back with their province for squad training today.
# tradition
Paraic Duffy: 'People who say get rid of provincial championships don’t get it'
The GAA Director-General believes recent results prove the provincial championships should be etained.
# Fixtures
Here’s what the GAA schedule looks like this week
The dates, times and venues are in for this week’s games.
# bonus point
Heineken Cup Explainer: What Leinster and Munster need to do to reach 1/4 finals
Six clubs, including the two Irish provinces, are competing for two runners-up slots.
# Heineken Cup
Opinion: 3 Heineken Cup wins from 4 but foreboding sense remains
Munster may yet rue their tentative approach in Scotland while Leinster rediscover the joy of tries.
# Bosses
Let's meet the new men in charge
A dozen Gaelic Football managers will be at the helm of their new counties for the first time in a competitive game tomorrow. Here’s your guide to them.