IRFU provincial and national age grade coaches - Under-18s, Under-19s and Under-20s - and IRFU elite player development staff from the four provinces gathered recently to review their experiences, discuss challenges and align closer to ensure the development of more effective elite players across the IRFU Elite Player Pathway.

Ulster Include Injury Concern Payne

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has named an extended panel of 26 players for the province's final Heineken Cup pool match against Castres Olympique on Saturday afternoon.

Ulster have already secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the competition, but next Saturday's game in France, combined with results in other pools, will determine if they will have a home or away match in the last-eight.

It was confirmed yesterday that number 8 Nick Williams sustained a knee injury in the win over Glasgow last Friday night and will be on the sidelines for up to eight weeks.

Full-back Jared Payne has an ongoing groin complaint and his fitness will be monitored throughout the week.

The province has never won a Heineken Cup game in France, but did record a victory on French soil in a pre-season friendly in August with a 20-15 defeat of Bayonne.

Mark Anscombe's team will face a formidable challenge in Castres Olympique who have won three of their last four home matches in the competition.

The Ulstermen beat Castres 41-17 in their opening Heineken Cup Pool 4 game at Ravenhill in October.

ULSTER Squad (v Castres Olympique) - Backs (12): Paddy Wallace, Niall O'Connor, Ruan Pienaar, Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson, Chris Cochrane, Paul Marshall, Andrew Trimble, Michael Heaney, Jared Payne, Darren Cave, Michael Allen.

Forwards (14): Rory Best, Callum Black, John Afoa, Nigel Brady, Mike McComish, Lewis Stevenson, Declan Fitzpatrick, Roger Wilson, Neil McComb, Iain Henderson, Tom Court, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack, Rob Herring.

Speaking about Connacht's 'Grassroots to Green Shirts' initiative, the province's CEO Tom Sears said: "We like to think we're innovative in our approach, that we're looking at things slightly differently. We've shown that the production line is working with the young players coming through. The system is working, we just need a bit more investment to make sure we can get more players through."

Connacht's head of commercial and marketing Alex Saul talks about some exciting developments off the pitch for the province, including their 'Grassroots to Green Shirts' crowd-funding initiative which gives fans the chance to play their part in growing and developing the future stars of Connacht and Irish rugby.

Speaking to Rob Murphy after Connacht's 17-0 defeat at Biarritz, head coach Eric Elwood said: "We ideally wanted to come here and build on last week's performance and play rugby. But when you have conditions like that, they become a great leveller and we had to go toe-to-toe with a heavyweight in their big pack. The effort and courage of the guys was magnificent though."

Speaking after Connacht's memorable 22-14 defeat of Biarritz Olympique, head coach Eric Elwood said: "We've shown a lot of faith in the young guys - if you play well, you'll stay in the team. Mick Kearney, Jason Harris-Wright, Dave McSharry and Robbie Henshaw...they were magnificent. They looked comfortable in that environment. That's what we're about, bringing those young, indigenous players through."

Speaking after Leinster retained the Heineken Cup in the all-Irish final against Ulster, out-half Jonathan Sexton said: "I think the scoreline definitely flattered us. It was a really tough game, the Ulster boys and all of us were saying we've never been so tired. It was a good advert for Irish rugby and a great occasion for the support."