Munster's catalogue of injuries was further augmented in Friday night's game against the Rest of Ireland at Thomond Park. Fullback Dominic Crotty, who retired early because of a hip injury, is rated no better than 50/50 for next Saturday's Heineken European Cup semi-final against Stade Francais in Lille.

The Garryowen player was already carrying a rib problem into the Irish game but suffered a bruised hip and the player confirmed that his early withdrawal from the action was not a precautionary measure.

Munster coach Declan Kidney was only marginally more optimistic about scrumhalf Peter Stringer being available. "I'd say he has about a 60/40 chance of being right." The Munster coach has also not ruled out international flanker David Wallace.

Kidney travelled to Paris on Saturday to watch Stade Francais' home defeat by Castres (37-33) and will be heartened by the fact that the French side suffered a couple of scares.

English flanker Richard Pool Jones is definitely out of the Munster game after dislocating his shoulder while flanker Christophe Moni picked up a second yellow card this season - in France two yellows mean a one game ban - and could miss the European Cup semi-final.

Meanwhile, new foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Northern Ireland have cast a shadow over whether the AIB Leagues can now be played to a completion.

The IRFU has confirmed that it will once again be advised by the Departments of Agriculture both north and south of the border.

Given that there are matches scheduled for tomorrow night, one of which sees St Mary's College travel to Belfast and another that has Dungannon travelling to face Buccaneers, the IRFU may call a special meeting today to decide what is to be done.

In Division Two over the weekend, leaders Old Belvedere suffered defeat away to UCC, the Cork students doing their Dublin counterparts UCD a huge favour in the process.

UCD enjoyed a superb 22-16 victory over UL Bohemian and crucially picked up a bonus point by virtue of scoring four tries through David Blaney, Dermot O'Sullivan, Philip Bredin and Gearoid Hayes.

The Students now top the table, one point clear of Carlow who beat Portadown 34-23, also earning a bonus point. Belvedere slip to third place two points behind UCD with just one round of games remaining in the league.

The top two teams earn automatic promotion to Division One for next season.