The first New Year celebrations have occurred!

It was Samoa who provided the opposition for Joe Schmidt’s introduction to Test rugby as Ireland’s head coach, way back when in November 2013.

As key stakeholders in rugby convene in Dublin tomorrow about a ‘world’ league that seems more concerned with concentrating and increasing the wealth for its bluebloods than spreading the word to the unconverted and the cash to the marginalised, it has probably escaped rather than focused their minds that the deciding game in Europe’s biggest international competition is once again between one nation with a population of just 6.6 million and another with just 3.1 million.

World Rugby has made a strong defence of its plans to launch a global Nations Championship.

Ben Te’o has reflected on Manu Tuilagi’s possible move from Leicester to Racing 92 by declaring “it’s a business”.

Is the dam on the brink of bursting? Is international rugby ready to sell its soul? The haste with which a proposed new 12-team World League is being introduced smacks of panic. There is even talk of the tournament running in 2020. Surely not?

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont has called a meeting to discuss the future of the international game amidst controversy over plans for a World League.

The IRFU has reiterated its commitment to player welfare in the wake of reports that World Rugby is on the verge of introducing a World League format that has prompted a wave of protest from player reps.

The gradual progression of climate change and delayed effects of emissions can give a sense of unreality; denial is a great psychological defence, write Liam Quaide and Róisín Cuddihy.

World Rugby has announced a post-2019 World Cup global calendar that will include a July Test match window.

Des O’Sullivan reports on an exhibition showcasing James Glen Wilson.

Combine aquatic eyes, rosy cheeks, and Hawaiian hair waves to capture the catwalk beauty trends of SS16, says Katie Wright.

He’s been forced to call time on his rugby career at 28, but Leinster back Luke Fitzgerald is glad of one thing - to be retiring as a “one-club man”.

There are growing fears Luke Fitzgerald is about to announce his retirement from rugby due to injury.

Two cases of the zika virus have been confirmed in Ireland and are under investigation by the HSE.

Young musicians will be hoping to sail through the first auditions of their kind in Ireland today in the hope that their cruise ship comes in.

Jamie Heaslip has always stood as the most useful, and accurate, of barometers on those all-too-frequent occasions in the past when Luke Fitzgerald’s staccato Ireland career has been a topic of interest.

Ireland’s first autumn Test series clean sweep for eight years is not sure to be a precursor to success at Rugby World Cup 2015, according to captain Paul O’Connell.

When South Africa captain Jean de Villiers lines up against Ireland today, he will have almost 100 caps and 12 years of experience on his direct opponents.

Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris has been forced to retire after the ankle problem that sidelined him for 16 months struck again.

All Black coach Steve Hansen has accused players who have left New Zealand to play in Ireland and other European countries as lacking “mental fortitude” while the country’s main newspaper has claimed future Irish teams will not be Irish.

Roy Keane has expressed regret about his pre-World Cup walkout in Saipan 11 years ago — revealing his exit from the Ireland camp caused particular disappointment for his family.

Guy Easterby believes Luke Fitzgerald is a front-runner to take over the fabled number 13 jersey for club and country when Brian O’Driscoll finally calls time on his playing days next May.

FILIPINOS are used to a seemingly never-ending pattern of storms, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions, but typhoon Haiyan is now officially one of the deadliest disasters to strike the country.

Rural communities hit by the super typhoon in the Philippines are refusing to eat fish for fear it may contain human remains, while their livelihoods were also destroyed during the coastal destruction.

Surviving a super typhoon is one thing, going into labour aboard a military plane during an emergency evacuation is quite another.

Counting the dead in the Philippines is a grisly and haunting experience for those courageous enough to carry out the work.

Ireland’s replacements bench heavy artillery will be useless unless the starting line-out subdue potent Samoa, warns assistant coach Les Kiss.

Former British and Irish Lion Austin Healey believes Australia will jump on the loss of Paul O’Connell as a means of overturning the first Test loss and take the series to an all-or-nothing third meeting in Sydney.

Brian O’Driscoll has missed just 28 of the 143 Tests Ireland have played since making his debut against Australia at Ballymore in June 1999 and only 11 other men have worn the No 13 jersey in that time.

Nkosi sikalel’ iAfrika, which we heard in Dublin six days ago, is basically two songs mingled to make up South Africa’s beautiful national anthem and its status as a unifying number for the Rainbow Nation is confirmed by the five languages used in its delivery.

A 7.6-magnitude quake struck off the eastern coast of the Philippines today, killing at least one person in a house collapse, knocking out power in several towns and generating negligible tsunami surges.

Rob Penney has been able to name Ireland internationals Donncha O’Callaghan and Mike Sherry in his first competitive squad for Munster’s RaboDirect Pro12 opener at Edinburgh tomorrow night.

Heineken, which has its Irish headquarters in Cork, said full-year profit will be stagnant as demand in western Europe stumbles, highlighting the Dutch brewer’s need to win the battle for full control of Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd (APB).

Julia Roberts wants to move to Hawaii.

The Pacific islands may have been beautiful but were never peaceful, less so when western slavers arrived. Tim Severin on empire and destruction

Dan Lydiate has highlighted the threat of Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien to Wales’ World Cup semi-final ambitions.

THE new edition of the Times Comprehensive Atlas Of The World has turned an area of Greenland the size of Britain and Ireland “green”, as it charts the retreat of once-permanent ice cover.

WE return to Ireland to find the weather as sunny as that which we enjoyed on the Mediterranean during our recent visit.

New Zealand is in mourning after the Christchurch earthquake, but it continues to welcome visitors. Pól Ó Conghaile celebrates one of the world’s greatest destinations

MIDWAY ATOLL is a ring-shaped barrier reef with two small islands between Hawaii and Japan.

Japan has been hit by at least 19 aftershocks, most of them of more than magnitude 6.0, after a huge earthquake ripped across the country today bringing devastation to a wide area and prompting fears of a massive death toll.

A huge earthquake has ripped across Japan today bringing devastation to a wide area and prompting fears of a massive death toll.

FIFA’s ethics committee will today announce their decision on two executive members accused of asking for money in exchange for World Cup votes.

IT IS somewhat unfortunate that the ongoing saga about the IRFU ticketing policy has overshadowed the return of international rugby to its traditional home in Lansdowne Road.