The accession of the Italians to the top table has allowed RBS to sponsor the competition for the "rst time, with the bank also putting up a brand spanking new trophy for the winners.

Ireland haven't played an international of any description since the World Cup in September, where they "nished in a creditable eighth place, and they'll be hoping to improve upon both their 2005 and 2006 campaigns, where they managed just one win from "ve outings on each occasion.

The opening game takes place at Taffs Well RFC on the outskirts of Cardiff the day before the men kick off their campaign so if you're in town for the main event, it might be an idea to pop along for the afternoon.

A HEFTY FEE FOR A FEW MAGNERS The redevelopment of Thomond Park is due to get underway in early March, it's hoped, but the Munster Branch might be advised to take a look at the state of European rugby before going ahead with the Euro30 million revamp project. If the Heineken Cup doesn't go ahead next year, as is a strong possibility at this moment in time, then you'd have to be a little bit skeptical about whether the competition will ever take place again in its current format.

That might well be the most pessimistic way of looking at the current situation but it's a possibility, and the Munster Branch would do well to consider all options before they tie themselves to some pretty hefty debt. Their 10-year ticket scheme, for example, could land them in all sorts of trouble. The Euro5,500 price buys you a prime seat in the East Stand for three Heineken Cup matches and four Magners League games every season from 2008 until 2018. But what would happen to those tickets if, "rstly, the Heineken Cup didn't exist and, secondly, if the current political wranglings kick-off again in, say, 2013 and the French withdraw from the competition?

To the untrained legal eye (and we're open to advice here), there doesn't appear to be any terms and conditions of the scheme directly related to the potential non-existence of the Heineken Cup, and anybody who's shelled out for the 10-year seat could be quite angry if all they're watching is Magners League rugby in their nicely placed seats.

GREAT MOMENTS IN IRISH RUGBY NUMBER 18 - The Irish pack comes of age It's difficult to believe it now but in the early part of the 20th century the Irish pack were seen as a bunch of softies, an eight who were rarely up for the fight and often ran out of what little steam they possessed well before the final whistle. That attitude, however, began to change following Ireland's 6-6 draw against England at Twickenham in 1925. Before that particular encounter, England had won every game they'd played against Ireland since as far back as 1911 but, on the afternoon in question, a George Beamishinspired Irish pack fought for their lives and kept going right until the end.

"The game was marked by the happy and strange phenomenon, " it was noted in one newspaper report afterwards, "of an Irish pack of forwards sticking it out to the last and finishing with something in reserve." The dogged Irish pack was thus born and it was a trait that has endured through the generations.

THE LAW LIBRARY Leinster blamed themselves, pretty much, for their defeat to Gloucester last weekend but they wouldn't have been too wide of the mark if they'd had a go at referee Nigel Owens. The Welsh official had a decent overall game at Kingsholm but his actions weren't all that smart when it came to Mark Foster's 74th-minute try, the game-clinching score. As the Gloucester player skidded over the line, he had the ball in his possession but, if you watch the replay closely, Foster didn't actually ground the ball until a few seconds later, when he almost made a complete hash of it.

The problem with the whole incident was that Owens appeared to blow his whistle as Foster crossed the line, and not after he touched the ball down. Therefore, the TV referee should only have been able to adjudicate on events before Owens blew his whistle, which could have resulted in no try being awarded. But as the official in the stands didn't realise that Owens had actually blown his whistle, the try was awarded.

RUGBY BY NUMBERS: 6 The combined number of away quarter-"nals Munster and Leinster have played in the Heineken Cup to date. Three have been won by the pair, two by Munster.

RUGBY POSER ? How many Irish caps has Trevor Brennan?

MOUTHING OFF. . .

After we'd lost to Ireland for a couple of seasons in a row, I tried ignoring him completely in the week before we played them but that didn't work either. I don't know what I'll do this time.

Wales captain Stephen Jones on how he plans to treat Llanelli teammate Simon Easterby (right) this week.

We want to play 'no bullshit' rugby.

Brian Ashton, albeit indirectly, tells us what he thinks of Andy Robinson's reign as England coach.