The Ireland Under-20s were runners-up in a tough pool and despite losing to hosts France last night, Mike Ruddock's charges could still finish the IRB Junior World Championship on a high by beating Australia in Sunday's 7th-8th place play-off.

The waiting is almost over as the British & Irish Lions prepare to get the Test series against Australia underway in Brisbane on Saturday. The Lions team for the first Test will be announced in the early hours of Thursday morning (3am Irish time/12pm local time).

A single point separated the sides as a hard-fought 5th-8th place play-off finished in France's favour at Stade Henri Desgrange on Tuesday night. Check out some photos from Ireland's fourth IRB Junior World Championsip match.

The Ireland Under-20s were runners-up in a tough pool and despite losing to hosts France last night, Mike Ruddock's charges could still finish the IRB Junior World Championship on a high by beating Australia in Sunday's 7th-8th place play-off.

The waiting is almost over as the British & Irish Lions prepare to get the Test series against Australia underway in Brisbane on Saturday. The Lions team for the first Test will be announced in the early hours of Thursday morning (3am Irish time/12pm local time).

A single point separated the sides as a hard-fought 5th-8th place play-off finished in France's favour at Stade Henri Desgrange on Tuesday night. Check out some photos from Ireland's fourth IRB Junior World Championsip match.

Connacht Rugby and BLK Sport have announced a comprehensive four-year official kit supplier agreement for BLK to supply the full range of technical performance apparel for all of Connacht's representative teams and support staff.

Ulster second row Lewis Stevenson will undergo surgery on Thursday to repair a hernia injury that he sustained during Emerging Ireland's IRB Tbilisi Cup campaign.

The Connacht Academy has been finalised for the 2013/14 season, with Ireland Under-19 captain Sean O'Brien and David Panter, who is currently away with the Ireland Under-20 squad at the IRB Junior World Championship, joining the ranks.