Ireland's rugby captain Rory Best has spoken of his "immense pride" after being awarded an OBE at Buckingham Palace.

ALTHOUGH Sean Cavanagh tried his hands and feet at various football codes, including soccer and rugby, before becoming a Gaelic football star with Tyrone, his first Ulster medal was actually won at basketball.

STUART McCloskey and Rob Herring have been temporarily released from Ireland duty and are free to play for Ulster in Saturday's PRO14 game with Treviso in Italy.

JUST over 18 months after being on the losing side for junior outfit Enniskillen in the Towns' Cup final against Ballynahinch II, Robert Balacoune made a happier return to Kingspan Stadium on a much bigger stage on Friday night when he made an impressive debut in Ulster's 36-18 PRO14 win over the Dragons.

Dave Rennie has told Glasgow to replicate their sparkling Scotstoun showings against Munster when they head to Limerick on Saturday.

Wales are hopeful that head coach Warren Gatland will return from New Zealand ahead of the autumn Test series opener against Scotland on November 3.

JOHN Cooney has been ruled out of the Ulster side to face Dragons in tonight's PRO14 encounter at Kingspan Stadium after failing to recover from a shoulder injury.

A SENSATIONAL second-half display lifted spirits on an otherwise miserable Saturday night at Kingspan Stadium and earned Ulster the winning start they so desperately needed as they opened their European Champions Cup account with a 24-10 victory over Leicester Tigers.

MARCELL Coetzee says Ulster must get their basics right if they are to have a chance of getting their European Champions Cup campaign off the the winning start they need when they take on in-form Leicester Tigers tomorrow night at Kingspan Stadium.

Back in the day: 20 years ago today..a look at some of the sports stories making the headlines on this day..

MARTY Moore just had to smile when he learned that Ulster would be playing his former club Wasps in a pre-season friendly at the Ricoh Arena where he spent two seasons after moving from his native Leinster.

1) Up and at it – what is your morning routine? I get up reasonably early – the alarm goes off at 6am – as I need to be on the road at 6.

O’Neills Irish International Sports Company Limited opens its newest and largest store in Derry.