Leinster v Munster in B & I Cup semi-final

(pictured: 50 HC caps Leinster boys Heaslip and Reddan with Heineken Ireland's Pat Maher)

OK, before you start getting all territorial, both players pictured above have deep Limerick connections. Jamie Heaslip's father, former Janesboro resident Richard, starred with St Munchin's College in both Munster Schools junior and senior cups and also played with Shannon senior team in the 1960s while Eoin Reddan is a proud Limerick-born star and a former Crescent Comprehensive, Old Crescent, Young Munster and Munster scrum-half (most of you knew that anyway). Now down to the real purpose of this news item:

THE 2011-12 British & Irish Cup semi-final draw has been made.

Three of the four home nations are represented in this year's semi-final line-up, with an all Irish tie set to take place when Leinster A host Munster A.

Munster will be hoping to push through to their second British & Irish Cup final, having lost to inaugural winners Cornish Pirates in May 2010.

Standing in their way are close rivals Leinster A, who topped Pool 3 with three wins and a draw against London Welsh. A comprehensive 32-0 home win against Pontypridd confirmed the Irish club's entry to the semi-finals.

In the second semi-final, newcomers Cross Keys have made their first year in the competition known, finishing top of Pool 2 just one point ahead of Munster A.

The Principality Premiership side will welcome Cornish Pirates to Pandy Park, following a dominant win over Llanelli in the quarter-finals.

The Pirates are the only team in the line-up to have won all four of their pool matches, securing their path to the semi-finals with a win over fellow RFU Championship contenders Nottingham Rugby.

British & Irish Cup semi-finals, April 6-8

Semi-final 1: Leinster A V Munster A

Semi-final 2: Cross Keys V Cornish Pirates

British & Irish Cup Final, April 28

The winner of Semi-final 1 will host the winner of Semi-final 2, meaning that for the first time in the competition's history, an Irish team will stage the British & Irish Cup final.