Ulster powered their way to a second bonus point victory over the Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium, strengthening their claim on a Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final berth with three wins from four, and two rounds to come next month.

The Munster team has been announced for Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup round 4 trip to reigning French champions Castres Olympique at Stade Pierre-Fabre (kick-off 6.30pm local time/5.30pm Irish time).

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has added Adam Byrne, Rory O'Loughlin and Jack Conan to the starting XV for Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup round 4 match against Bath at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 5.30pm).

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland has confirmed an unchanged matchday 23 for Friday night's Heineken Champions Cup round 4 encounter with the Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).

Connacht head coach Andy Friend has named Academy players Conor Fitzgerald and Kieran Joyce in his starting line-up and Matthew Burke on the bench for the trip to Perpignan in the European Challenge Cup on Friday (kick-off 8pm local time/7pm Irish time).

2018 World Rugby Player of the Year and Ireland vice-captain Jonathan Sexton has signed an IRFU contract extension which will see him play his rugby in Ireland up to the end of the 2020/21 season.

Munster left it too late to push for a bonus point but JJ Hanrahan's 20-point haul steered them to a well-earned 30-5 Heineken Champions Cup win over Castres Olympique at Thomond Park.

First quarter tries from Darragh Leader and Bundee Aki set the tone for a workmanlike display from Connacht as they overcame pool rivals Perpignan 22-10 in very testing weather conditions in Galway.

Rhys Ruddock predicted 'a massive challenge' from Bath and that is exactly what Leinster encountered at a wet and windy Recreation Ground where Jordan Larmour's 48th-minute intercept try proved vital for the visitors.

Ulster's Heineken Champions Cup campaign exploded into life tonight at Parc y Scarlets as Dan McFarland's side landed a fully-deserved 25-24 bonus point victory to pile the pressure on Pool 4 rivals Racing 92 and Leicester Tigers.

Munster head coach Johann van Graan has made two changes to the team for Sunday's Heineken Champions Cup round 3 match against Castres Olympique at Thomond Park (kick-off 1pm). Joey Carbery and CJ Stander both return to the starting XV.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has changed his full team from last Saturday's win away to the Dragons, bringing a raft of Ireland internationals back in to face Bath in round 3 of the Heineken Champions Cup at the Recreation Ground on Saturday (kick-off 3.15pm).

Connacht are boosted by the return of Ireland internationals Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Quinn Roux for Saturday's European Challenge Cup round 3 encounter with Perpignan at the Sportsground (kick-off 3pm).

Ireland internationals Iain Henderson and Will Addison are back in the Ulster team for Friday night's crucial Heineken Champions Cup round 3 clash with Scarlets in Llanelli (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Munster squad have stepped up their preparations ahead of Sunday's return to Heineken Champions Cup action against reigning French champions Castres Olympique at Thomond Park (kick-off 1pm).

Munster Rugby and the IRFU have confirmed twelve player contract extensions for the province. Nine of the players involved are products of Munster's underage or Academy pathway.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen will be without the services of prop Jack McGrath for four to six weeks following his procedure to address a hip injury last week.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has issued an injury update ahead of Friday night's GUINNESS PRO14 meeting with the Ospreys at the RDS (kick-off 7.35pm).

The referee appointments for the vital back-to-back fixtures in rounds 3 and 4 of the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup have been made by a selection committee chaired by Joel Jutge, EPCR's Head of Match Officials.

Following a short break, the Leinster squad reported back for training yesterday at their UCD base ahead of their next GUINNESS PRO14 game against the Ospreys at the RDS on Friday week (November 23).