Leinster stretched their lead at the top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table to 14 points after surging past Benetton Treviso at the RDS.

Following on from their signing of James Downey, Munster will be adding former All Black Casey Laulala to their squad at the end of the current season.

A selection of Leinster's up-and-coming talents will be hoping to impress when the RaboDirect PRO12 leaders host Benetton Treviso at the RDS, with centre Colm O'Shea making his senior debut for the province.

Munster's plans for a week in northern Italy have been scuppered by the blanket of snow that covers the region and with temperatures set to drop further, the postponement of Sunday's RaboDirect PRO12 match with Aironi was inevitable.

The Leinster team to face Benetton Treviso in Thursday night's RaboDirect PRO12 clash at the RDS (kick-off 7.05pm) has been named.

The Rabodirect PRO12 makes a welcome return after a five-week break that has seen a record number of the league's teams through to the knockout stages of the European competitions.

The RaboDirect PRO12 round 14 game between Aironi and Munster, originally scheduled for this coming Sunday, has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions.

The Irish Exiles again launch their Festival Days for the Under-16 to Under-18 age range across Britain this weekend in the search for potential Irish-qualified players.

Ulster Rugby today confirmed that they will appoint a new head coach for the 2012/13 season, with Brian McLaughlin moving to a senior coaching position within the Ulster Academy on a permanent contract.

Ulster have named a 28-man provisional squad ahead of the visit of the Newport Gwent Dragons to Ravenhill on Friday night (kick-off 7.05pm).