Five signatures a further endorsement of Leinster academy

Leinster have secured the services of five homegrown stars in deals ranging from two to three years.

It's difficult to find a negative around Leinster Rugby at the minute as the eastern province romps toward the Heineken Cup knockout stages with a free-running offloading style. Knowing that this group of players, who will form a core part of the squad after this autumn's World Cup, are committed to a long term future at the RDS is a further boost.

Man of the moment Sean O'Brien is amongst the quintet and the Carlow man has put his name to a new three year deal. Fellow experienced first XV man Shane Jennings is also rewarded with an offer to remain with the province until 2014.

Heaslip to miss Saracens clash as Fitzgerald is benched

Jamie Heaslip will miss out on Leinster's Heineken Cup clash with Saracens on Saturday after the big back row failed to recover from an ankle injury sustained in the 15-10 win over Ospreys last Friday.

It is the same ankle he injured against Clermont Auvergne early in the season but it is expected he will be fit to fill the number eight jersey for next weekend's trip to Paris to face Racing Metro. Coach, Joe Schmidt elaborated on the details of his star forwards disability:

"What he did was the ankle joint. He's given that a wrench," explained Schmidt.

Unpaid Bohs players named

The dominant message on www.bohemians.ie

It has emerged this morning that the two Bohemians players at centre of legal proceedings to have the club wound up are Steven Gray and Brian Shelley.

The defensive duo had previously been unnamed as the case was taken against the Phibsboro outfit. However, this morning the Irish Independent has named Gray and Shelley as the men involved after their petition was lodged on Thursday.

Hawk-Eye has its wings clipped

Hopes that the GAA was set to introduce goal-line technology have been put on ice this morning. The association has unequivocally dismissed the idea that the 'Hawk-eye' system would be trialled at this year's All Ireland club finals.

Rumours emerged yesterday that the virtual replay system, invented by Paul Hawkins, would be rolled out at Croke Park on St Patricks day. However Cumann Luthchleas Gael was quick to issue a statement indicating that they had no plans to test on competitive games.

"The GAA can confirm that at the December 11th meeting of Coiste Bainistí (Management Committee) a full feasibility study on the possible use of score detection technology was sanctioned," said the statement, "and this is expected to be completed before May."

Ireland's options at fullback stretched to limit

Declan Kidney may be forced into playing Luke Fitzgerald at fullback throughout the Six Nations as Geordan Murphy and Rob Kearney, two of his frontliners for the number 15 jersey, are fighting against injury.

Murphy was stretchered off in the final minutes of Leicester Tigers' 27-16 win over Northampton on Friday night. The Kildare native appeared to grab his right knee after desperately defending his try-line. But Tigers coach Richard Cockerill post match confirmed that the injury was to his captain's ankle:

"He's gone over on his ankle -We are hoping for the best but it's too early to say the extent of his injury" Said Cockerill.

Rob Kearney meanwhile, is continuing his rehabilitation and hopes to be fit for the after suffering a knee injury against New Zealand. But Leinster coach Joe Schmidt remained cautious about issuing a return date for Kearney, telling the Sun:

"I am not sure if he will make the Six Nations, we'll have to wait and see, but I can tell you he's making really good progress,"

Leinster labour to 15 -10 win over Ospreys

An apocalyptic deluge, that began over three hours before kick-off and reluctantly abated midway through the opening half, spoiled hopes of those expecting Leinster, with close to their first choice backs, to open up and play summer rugby.

Instead the writing was on the wall; the standard pre0-match passing drill was cut to a minimum as Jonathan Sexton and Luke Fitzgerald both, with the intention of testing journeyman fullback Barry Davies, practiced bombing Garryowens up against the torrent.

14 points from Dan Biggar proved the difference in the reverse fixture this season. And the young Welsh half put his side into the lead with little over 60 seconds on the clock. However as tends to happen in the Magners League, the visiting team immediately provided a reprieve, Ryan Jones going offside to allow Sexton level the scores.

If this match was to be a battle of the young fly-halves, then they started going the right way about it.

Keane nearing Spurs exit door

Republic Of Ireland captain Robbie Keane, is expected to undergo a medical this week ahead of his £7 Million transfer to midlands strugglers Birmingham City.

Despite being recalled to the North London club by Harry Redknapp after his nightmare spell with Liverpool in 2008, Keane has fallen out of favour and has now been shown the door at White Hart Lane.

Following Spurs' defeat to Everton on Wednesday night, Redknapp revealed that the ball is now in the Dubliner's court as the club have accepted a sizeable bid from Birmingham.

"I think Birmingham have made an offer for Robbie - I'm not sure, around about £7million (€8.2) or whatever for him - and it's up to Robbie really," Said Redknapp, before insisting that the player must leave on a permanent deal rather than a loan, as he had done with Celtic in the second half of last season.

"If it's a move he fancies, we wouldn't stand in his way. Robbie either, stays with us and plays for his place or he moves on permanently but he's certainly not up for a loan again. It's up to Robbie at the end of the day what he does."

Flannery to miss start of Six Nations as scan reveals calf tear

Jerry Flannery is likely to miss an additional six weeks of action after scans taken yesterday confirmed his fears.

The scan showed up a torn calf muscle, meaning the Munster hooker will miss the Provinces remaining pool games in the Heineken Cup along with the opening rounds of Ireland's Six Nations campaign.

Flannery has missed the majority of the season with a troublesome left calf injury which he aggravated in Heineken Cup action against Toulon in October. Like teammate, Paul O'Connell, Flannery lasted only a matter of minutes in his return from injury against Ulster on New Year's Day.

In the dying moments of that game the Shannon forward was forced to hobble off obvious pain. Munster coach Tony McGahan, was quick to point out that day that the injury is not the same muscle which has proved troublesome thus far, but the right leg this time round.

Hoping Giggs and Scholes sidestep Neville's embarrassing pitfall

Taunting Liverpool: How fans will want to remember loyal servant

In 2008, as Manchester United held on for their second leg 1-0 win over AS Roma, a roar went up around Old Trafford to break the tension as the hosts tried to stagnate the final minutes of the Champions League quarter-final.

It was the number two, the captain, Gary Neville – with a face that only a mother or a United fan could love – coming down the steps ready to make a return from a year-long injury layoff. He sat in central midfield, one of three anchors, collecting and returning passes from his back four to the sound of a raucous and exaggerated "ole" from the stands.