If Andy Farrell proves to be nothing more than a lucky general, then Ireland supporters are in for one hell of a ride in the coming years.

Richie Gray made the decision to opt out of World Cup selection with Scotland, according to assistant coach Danny Wilson.

Glasgow will have the benefit of home advantage at Celtic Park after romping past Ulster 50-20 to claim a place in the Guinness PRO14 Grand Final.

Celtic are mourning the loss of a second Lisbon Lion inside a week following the death of Stevie Chalmers, the man who scored their 1967 European Cup winner.

Eddie Jones has cautioned against expecting too much from Manu Tuilagi after limiting England’s marauding centre to a bench role against South Africa.

Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh picks an Irish XV comprising of the 2009 Grand Slam team and the team that will chase that title on Saturday. 

Iain Henderson says Ulster players have to “fix” the problems of “being a bit lazy and not working hard enough” if they are to beat La Rochelle in Belfast this afternoon in the Champions Cup.

As statements go this was as big as they get.

Ireland’s back row for Saturday’s Guinness Series opener against South Africa appears to be cut and dried after forwards coach Simon Easterby revealed Tommy O’Donnell, Dan Leavy, and Jack Conan had all missed some training this week.

There are tributes and then there is the Donncha O’Callaghan variety, as hundreds of mourners learned yesterday at the funeral Mass for the late Munster Rugby media manager Pat Geraghty, 62, in Celbridge, Co Kildare.

Rugby pundit George Hook has said he does not think rugby is a good sport for women to play.

The Lion's tour has finally come to an end in what was a nail-biting finale against New Zealand.

All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino has insisted he had no intention going out to injure Conor Murray during last Saturday's first Test against the British and Irish Lions.

New Zealand's Sonny Bill Williams was praised on social media for scoring a try after fasting 10 hours for Ramadan.

The British and Irish Lions must head to New Zealand without one of the most destructive forwards in world rugby after England number eight Billy Vunipola withdrew from the squad through injury.

Ospreys boss Steve Tandy is not disguising the impact Alun Wyn Jones’s likely return from injury will have on his team as they prepare to upset the odds in Saturday’s Guinness PRO12 semi-final at Thomond Park.

The new Peugeot 3008, which we featured here at Examiner Motoring recently, has been named the 2017 Car of the Year in what was a surprisingly close contest.

The new Peugeot 3008, which we featured here at Examiner Motoring last week, has been named the 2017 Car of the Year in what was a surprisingly close contest.

Zebre 17 Ulster 47: Ireland wing, Tommy Bowe, made a try-scoring return, as Ulster boosted their hopes of a Guinness PRO12 play-off place, with a 47-17 victory over Zebre.

Irish-Swiss baked foods business Aryzta is using the €400m or so it will get from the near halving of its stake in Dublin-based agri-services business, Origin Enterprises to acquire a 49% stake in French speciality premium food business Picard.

Pascal Pape will be formally charged today over an incident which threatens to bring his Six Nations’ campaign to an abrupt end.

New Zealand 28 England 27

Toulon enjoyed the ideal preparation for their Heineken Cup semi-final with Munster with a 46-31 win over Perpignan in the Top 14.

Tommy Bowe will start at outside-centre for Ulster against Connacht at Ravenhill tomorrow evening, (kick off 19:05).

Wales are braced for an Irish backlash over Brian O’Driscoll’s Lions snub.

Warren Gatland wants his Welsh team to take a leaf out of the Northampton Saints play-book when they arrive at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Stuart Barnes (Former Lion and Sky Sports analyst)

Ollie Campbell described Warren Gatland’s axing of Brian O’Driscoll as “arguably the biggest and most controversial decision in the long history of the Lions.”

Crocked British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has backed his players to rise to the challenge of overcoming Australia this weekend and claim a first series victory for the tourists in 16 years.

But there are concerns over centre Jamie Roberts as tourists beat NSW Waratahs 47-17

Ireland acting head coach Les Kiss and captain Peter O’Mahony today welcomed Rory Best’s call-up by the British and Irish Lions, but claimed he should have been in the original squad.

Ireland legend Keith Wood expects Wales to backbone the British and Irish Lions tour party to Australia.

A Lion Air jet carrying more than 100 passengers and crew crashed into the ocean while attempting to land today on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, injuring up to 45 people, officials said.

Warren Gatland has put the brakes on the Paul O’Connell Lions bandwagon but will be in Limerick this evening for the Munster and Leinster derby to run the rule over Ireland’s hopefuls for his squad.

Leinster manager Guy Easterby has launched a staunch defence of Jamie Heaslip’s form as well as the player’s performance as Ireland captain in the wake of Sunday’s debacle in Murrayfield.

Back in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was commonplace for Europe’s colonial powers to negotiate treaties with put-upon states while undertaking blatant and simultaneous demonstrations of their military power.

Willie Mullins’ Tempo Du Camp looks the most interesting horse on show in the Racecourse Annual Membership Maiden Hurdle at Limerick this afternoon.

Gavin Henson’s rugby career could be over after he was sacked by the Cardiff Blues following his drunken behaviour on a flight back from Glasgow on Saturday morning.

Lingerie chain La Senza collapsed into administration today triggering 1,300 redundancies and the closure of more than 100 outlets in the UK and Ireland.

Wales dual-code international Gareth Thomas has announced his retirement from all forms of rugby with immediate effect.

Noodle chain Wagamama is to step up its restaurant opening programme after being snapped up by a private equity firm in a £215m (€244m) deal today.

Saracens 23 Leinster 25

Japanese-style noodle chain Wagamama is being put up for sale by its private equity owners, it was reported today.

GAVIN HENSON’S return to rugby was thrown into doubt after his no-show at pre-season training with the Ospreys.

AN OSPREYS team containing seven Lions, two All Blacks and 15 internationals travels to Thomond Park this evening with two objectives.

Domestos detergent to Dove soap consumer goods giant Unilever is ready to fire the starting gun on the sale of its Italian frozen food arm, it was reported today.

CLARE senior hurling team Smith O’Brien’s have pulled off a major coup by enlisting the services of local hero and former Ireland rugby captain Keith Wood as conditioning trainer for a six-week spell.

The maker of upmarket Kettle Chips has been sold to a US snack firm after an auction valuing the business at more than £400m (€448m).

Wales have suffered a second major injury blow ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against England.