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.

The Federation Française de Rugby (FFR) has withdrawn its application to host the 2014 Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup finals, due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding the availability of the Stade de France.

Ulster have been given the task of toppling familiar foes Leicester Tigers and Benetton Treviso, as well as new opponents Montpellier, as they bid to reach the Heineken Cup quarter-finals for the fourth year running.

New challenges as well as familiar opponents await Connacht when they embark on their third Heineken Cup campaign in October.

The four Irish provinces have learned today who they will be facing into the pool stages of next season's Heineken Cup. Former Ireland international Shane Horgan hosted the 2013/14 tournament draw which took place at the Aviva Stadium.

Munster have confirmed that they will play Gloucester and London Irish on successive weekends in August as part of their preparations for the 2013/14 season.

Ulster's All Black prop John Afoa has undergone surgery today in Auckland to repair a torn tricep tendon in his left arm.

Friends of Johnny O'Connor are putting on a special retirement celebration for the former Connacht and Ireland flanker in Galway on Friday, June 7, with money raised from a raffle on the night going to the IRFU Charitable Trust.