Rugby: Leinster captain Reggie Corrigan is expected to receive medical clearance to resume full contact training on Thursday, thereby placing himself back in the frame for the province's Heineken European Cup semi-final against Perpignan at Lansdowne Road on Sunday week.
Corrigan has been sidelined since breaking his forearm while playing for Ireland in the Six Nations Championship match against Italy in the Stadio Flaminio. He subsequently underwent surgery to have a plate put in and while he lost his rehabilitation race to be fit for the quarter-final win over Biarritz last Saturday is determined to be ready for the semi-final.
Corrigan admitted to finding the Biarritz game "excruciating" to watch, confirming the assertion that players feel at their most uncomfortable in the stand and maintained that he would definitely be fit to lead the province against Perpignan.
Peter Coyle, who deputised for Corrigan with Emmet Byrne switching across to loosehead, is expected to recover quickly from the Achilles injury that forced him to retire in the 39th minute.
The prognosis on Leinster's other longterm casualty Shane Horgan is also reasonably good with the Lansdowne centre tentatively pencilled in to return to training on Thursday. The Leinster players return to training today and will have a double session on Thursday.
Munster picked up several bumps and bruises during their victory over Leicester at Welford Road and the full extent of the aches and pains won't be apparent until they return to training tomorrow. Paul O'Connell looks set to recover from a bang on the head - received at a ruck - for Saturday week's semi-final against Toulouse in the south of France.
The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) are to meet later this month to discuss what action they should take if they are forced to play all their 2003 World Cup group matches in the space of a fortnight.
Last week the Italians threatened to boycott this autumn's tournament in Australia unless their schedule was changed.
Italy have been drawn in Pool B for the competition which starts on October 10th.
The FIR, who are to meet in Bologna on April 24th, has already raised the matter in a letter to World Cup organisers.
Welsh rugby chiefs yesterday appointed the five head coaches who will take charge of the country's new regional professional teams next season.
Gareth Jenkins, Mike Ruddock, David Young, Lynn Howells and Lyn Jones have all predictably landed the top jobs following a selection process that involved current Wales coach Steve Hansen.
Two second-half tries from centre Bobby Geraghty and left wing Ronan Carroll ensured Lansdowne qualified for the Metropolitan Cup final with a 21-9 win over Bective Rangers at Anglesea Road yesterday.
Bective were the better side in the first half and wing Dave Lane hit three penalties to give them a 9-6 lead at the interval.
Outhalf Andy Tallon kicked both Lansdowne penalties and a third after Geraghty and Carroll gave them the edge with tries in the 65th and 72nd minutes.
