Provinces get in shape for early fixtures

RUGBY NEWS ROUND-UP:THE MAJORITY of the Ireland squad that played Test matches against New Zealand and Australia as well as a game against the New Zealand Maori are expected to return to their respective provinces for pre-season training next week.

The other players on the provincial rosters have been undergoing the joys of the conditioning work since the start of the month. Connacht have already completed three weeks under new coach Eric Elwood and tomorrow they depart for the Aran Islands and become reacquainted with a rugby ball.

They will be the first professional team to use the island base for a three-day training camp. They have arranged two pre-season fixtures welcoming English Premiership clubs, Harlequins and Saracens, to the Sportsground in August.

Ulster will play three matches in mid to late August, at home to Bath and Leeds Carnegie with a trip to the Stoop in London sandwiched in between. New Leinster coach Joe Schmidt’s first game in charge will be against London Wasps at Donnybrook before eight days later travelling to Welford Road to take on the Leicester Tigers.

Leinster have sold just under 13,000 season tickets – up on the 11,000 prior to the last campaign – and have only 500 to 600 remaining (€289 plus booking fee for non-reserved seats behind either goal) that will give patrons access to Heineken Cup, Magners League and British and Irish Cup matches. The province still have one overseas contract to finalise – it will most likely be a back five player – but there doesn’t appear to be anything imminent in that respect.

Munster have also announced a brace of fixtures prior to the beginning of the competitive fare with Leicester and Gloucester visiting Musgrave Park on consecutive weekends. Coach Tony McGahan will have to plan without the services of academy prospect and former underage international Eoghan Grace who has joined English Premiership new-boys, the Exeter Chiefs.

Grace is a hugely talented athlete having begun his career at fullback before moving to the frontrow and finally settling for life as a flanker.

The 22-year-old was part of the Ireland Under-20s Grand Slam-winning squad in 2007 and has also been capped at sevens level. Grace, 6ft 2ins tall and 15st 6lbs, is hoping to be considered as an openside flanker.

PRE-SEASON FIXTURES– Friday, August 13th: Ulster v Bath, Ravenhill (7.30); Connacht v Harlequins, Sportsground (tbc). Friday, August 20th: Munster v Leicester Tigers, Musgrave Park (7.0); Leinster v London Wasps, Donnybrook (7.0). Saturday, August 21st: Harlequins v Ulster, The Stoop (2.30); Connacht v Saracens, Sportsground (tbc). Thursday, August 26th: Ulster v Leeds Carnegie, Ravenhill (7.30). Friday, August 27th: Munster v Gloucester, Musgrave Park (7.0). Saturday, August 28th: Leicester Tigers v Leinster, Welford Road (2.30).