Depending on the injuries to D’Arcy there are no changes to the Ireland team for the match against Scotland to the one that started against Wales.

Not going to bother rehashing that one, but at the moment I reckon that Ireland’s World Cup ambitions are 3 injuries away from disaster. There are six to eight stand-in players who need at least six starts to find their international feet and there aren’t going to be enough games between now and the World Cup to slot them in smoothly into the existing team without wholesale disruption or meaningless ‘second string’ matches over the summer.   More ... (351 words, 1 image)

You can view Week 27 results here.

Two spectacular full houses last week from Rocky and Michael Canavan sees them both scoop a fantastic 12 points for last weeks efforts.

It’s the last week of the RBS Six Nations this weekend with all the Internationals on Saturday and there’s three rearranged Magners League fixtures which start on Wednesday so make sure you get your predictions in by Wednesday if you want all the matches included. (Don’t panic if you forget, just enter what you can and I’ll adjust any late entries.)

One point for each match where you correctly predict the winner, five points if you correctly predict a draw and we’ll give out a bonus point for each group of three matches that you get correct.   More ... (263 words, 1 image)

I had been predicting on Friday night that Wales would give Ireland a bit of trouble in this match but Ireland swatted a disjointed Wales aside with comparative ease to win comfortably.

Thomas O’Leary had one of his best games for Ireland, breaking well and bagging a try and Keith Earls looked much more comfortable with his forced move to the centre adding a brace. Sexton blew hot and cold with the boot but managed to add three penalties and a conversion.

Ireland won this game up front, where my own personal man of the match, Rory Best, had an absolute stormer of a game appearing to be at the involved in every breakdown, turning over the ball or slowing down Welsh possession. Easily the Ulsterman’s most impressive performance in an Ireland shirt.   More ... (356 words, 1 image)

We had asked for a comprehensive victory in this game and that is certainly what we got as Ulster Ravens romped to a 62 – 0 victory against Aberavon scoring a phenomenal ten tries in the process.

I’m afraid I was a bit tipsy throughout, and spent most of the match chatting rather than watching but you can read John Dickson’s full report here on  Ulster Rugby.

Young Tommy Seymour led the way with a brace of tries and the rest of the scores were well spread out amongst the team with Bryn Cunningham, Declan Fitzpatrick, Ian Humphreys, Cillian Willis, Ian Whitten, Mark McCrea, Robbie Diack and the impressive Mike Allen all getting on the score sheet. Niall O’Connor added six conversions.   More ... (684 words, 1 image)

The URSC Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 21^st April 2010 at Newforge Country Club, 18b Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5NW. Newforge Lane is off the Malone Road, directly opposite the Balmoral Avenue Junction.

The closing date for nomination of candidates for the committee election and for proposals to amend the Club Constitution is Wednesday 31^st March 2010. (For further details on nomination please refer to the extract from the club rules below.)

The Club postal address is URSC, Ravenhill Rugby Grounds, 85 Ravenhill Park, Belfast BT6 0DG.

Nomination forms are available from the Secretary at ulsterrugbysupportersclub@hotmail.com   More ... (309 words, 1 image)

Ulster Ravens Head Coach Neil Doak has named his starting XV, plus replacements, ahead of Ulster Ravens final British and Irish Cup pool stage match, against Aberavon, this Friday 12th March, at Ravenhill, kick off 7.30pm.

A win over Aberavon will secure a semi final place for Ulster Ravens, in the British and Irish Cup.

Ulster Ravens manager Gary Longwell understands how important playing at Ravenhill is and the encouragement that the legendary Ulster supporters contribute on match night:

“We all know the Ulster fans are brilliant, and that playing at Ravenhill always gives Ulster sides’ a great advantage. We need to get the Ulster supporters talking about how good these Ravens games are, how strong the Ulster side is.   More ... (570 words, 1 image)