A winning start for all 3 Irish provinces in first round of the Heineken European Cup. Ulster [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/irish/6073066.stm]beat 3 times winners Toulouse[/url], Leinster [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6073746.stm]beat Guinness Premiership side Gloucester[/url] and the holders Munster [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/leicester/6058294.stm]beat twice winners Leicester.[/url]
Munster out-half Ronan O’Gara caused some controversy during the week when he was reported to say that the English Guinness Premiership and players were [url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/rugbyunion/comment/0,,1924002,00.html]over-hyped and over-rated[/url]. With 7 out of 8 Magners Celtic League teams winning and 5 out of 6 Guinness Premiership teams losing, he has yet to be proved wrong.
In the second tier European Challenge Cup, Connacht [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/connacht/6071936.stm]lost to Harlequins.[/url]