John O'Sullivan talks to a player from each of the provinces about their busy festive period.

While many look forward to the break over Christmas, Ireland's professional rugby players won't be afforded the same luxury, as there are two rounds of Celtic League matches over the festive period.

The provinces square up against each other twice over that period with the first round of games due to take place next Monday when Leinster host Ulster at Donnybrook and Munster travel to the Sportsground to play Connacht.

Conor McPhillips, Kieran Campbell, Leo Cullen and Alan Quinlan offer an insight below into what the Christmas period has in store for them.

A second round of Celtic League games, where Leinster travel to Musgrave Park to take on Munster and Ulster host Connacht at Ravenhill, are down for decision on New Year's Day.

In terms of team news for next Monday's matches, all four provinces are expected to announce teams over the next 24 hours.

Connacht await medical reports on Darren Yapp and Matt Lacey but will definitely be without Dan McFarland and Conor O'Loughlin. The latter could miss the rest of the season following an operation on a dislocated shoulder.

Munster will once again be without David Wallace (neck) and John Kelly (bruised foot) but they may come into contention for the Leinster game.

Coach Alan Gaffney rested Anthony Horgan, John Hayes, Paul O'Connell and Anthony Foley for the Ospreys match and that squad rotation could continue with halfbacks Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara among others missing the Ulster game.

Arising out of the latest Munster-Ospreys clash, the Welsh club has decided, after reviewing the match video, not to cite Stringer for an incident during that match.

Leinster are expected to name Brian O'Driscoll in their team for the Ulster match after being rested the last day. Shane Horgan and Denis Hickie, who also missed the Cardiff win through injury, should be available for selection as is David Holwell.

Leinster captain Reggie Corrigan, who missed the trip to Wales for personal reasons, should also be back while Shane Byrne and Malcolm O'Kelly could be given a rest.

Ulster look certain to be without Andy Ward, who looks set to return against Connacht following a knee ligament injury. Paul Shields is an injury concern but Jonathan Bell (broken nose) and Neil Best (suspended) could return after missing out on the narrow victory over Edinburgh.

Conor McPhillips (Connacht)

"I have just come off a four day break where I had Saturday, Sunday, Monday and yesterday off. Today it was back into training with two sessions having driven up from Dublin last night.

I suppose you could say that I’ve had my Christmas break but it was a welcome one as we had enjoyed a full fixture schedule for the couple of months prior to that.

"We’ll have two sessions again tomorrow and then myself and James Downey will head back to Dublin that night. We’ve Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. I never do much on December 24th, just spend some time with my girlfriend, friends and family. On Stephen’s morning we’ll head back to Galway for a captain’s run that afternoon.

"The guys based in England and who have families further afield won’t be able to go home given the fixture schedule. They can’t take any chances in terms of weather preventing them from getting back so they have to spend their time in Connacht. They have been adopted by several of the local players and I suppose would come under the heading extended family for the Christmas period.

"It’s a very important period not just for us but for all the Irish provinces. Christmas has been cancelled until the end of January when we’ll have a couple of weeks off. These games can provide teams with a positive momentum to take into European games and also help in building or sustaining a Celtic League challenge. I’ll enjoy the traditional dinner first though."

Kieran Campbell (Ulster)

"Mark McCall will manage to squeeze four training sessions out of the squad this week as we prepared for a couple of very important games. On Friday morning I have been given permission to fly home to London to spend Christmas with my family, returning on the redeye flight on December 26th.

"We don’t travel down to Dublin until the morning of the game against Leinster.

"Being the model professional that I am, there will be no carousing in London. I won’t get a chance to see any of the guys at London Irish. In truth we have a family tradition whereby we go to midnight mass so I’ll probably see a few friends on Friday during the day. In the seven years playing rugby full-time you get used to taking things easy over the festive period.

"When I was playing with London Irish in the Premiership we played a couple of games on December 26th so this year’s fixture schedule is no real hardship. As far as the traditional trimmings of a Christmas dinner, we scrumhalves, have no problem eating in moderation. It’s a far greater challenge I’m sure for some of those big forwards.

"Christmas, while an enjoyable holiday doesn’t have the same appeal as it did when you’re younger. It’s probably the fact that I don’t get as many presents these days and the Christmas cards no longer contain any money. Seriously though, it’ll be nice to get home but I’ll enjoy playing and wouldn’t like to miss out on that."

Alan Quinlan (Munster)

"Last week was pretty hectic in preparing for the Ospreys game. Three days of rugby with Friday off and then the game on Saturday night. There was very little time to do anything like Christmas shopping. This week won't be much different.

"We had Monday off, trained yesterday, will have two sessions today, another tomorrow and then get Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. We convene early on St Stephen’s Day to make the reasonably short journey up to Galway for the match against Connacht on the Monday. I’ll go home to Tipperary on Christmas Eve and meet up with friends.

"There’ll be no drink though. It’s funny, when I worked in the garage before becoming a professional rugby player, you’d look forward to the week or so off and going on the lash for most of that time. It’s amazing how quickly you get used to being sensible. We’re aware of what we can and can’t eat, although on that day it’s probably everything in moderation.

"It’s not very exciting and to be honest it’s just another working week in some respects. Having said that there is the chance to relax and go and see friends.  Players want to play and I don’t think anyone would swap making a few small sacrifices as opposed to being injured and able to enjoy a few beers.

"I’ll head back up to Limerick on Christmas night to get ready for travelling to Galway the following day. We haven’t really had a Christmas party. We’ll do something in the New Year."

Leo Cullen (Leinster)

"I had my Christmas last week when I was given a few days off. The squad met last Sunday to go paint-balling so that was probably the Christmas party.

Dec (Declan Kidney) has been very good in rotating the squad to give players time and keep them as fresh as you can be. I’ve certainly benefited from the time off as my body was starting to feel the aches after a sustained period of playing.

"This week we have weights today, two pitch sessions tomorrow, a training session at 9.0am on Christmas Eve and then a captain’s run on St Stephen’s Day. As a professional rugby player you’re well aware of your responsibilities and in fairness it’s not a great hardship. Most players don’t mind playing.

"After training on Friday I’ll head down to the parents in Wicklow. Dave Holwell, his wife and daughter are coming down for Christmas dinner. There is an annual thing in Stradbrook on Christmas morning for homeless or less fortunate people and I’ll stick my head in there for a few hours.

"Obviously when friends are off work they’re keen to head out and enjoy the festive season to the full but mine know that we’ve got a couple of games.

"One of the things I will miss is the chance to go racing at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day.

"After the Ulster game at Donnybrook, it’ll depend on who’s required for the match against Munster. We’re travelling down as a squad on New Year’s Eve, although I think ringing in the New Year might be left to others."