Keeping Johann van Graan at Munster is crucial to the province’s ambitions, according to Conor Murray.

There’s no doubt the absence of Maxime Machenaud has taken a major weapon out of Racing 92’s armoury ahead of Saturday’s Champions Cup final showdown with Leinster but assuming the Parisians will have no creative fulcrum without the France scrum-half is reckoning without Pat Lambie.

The win against Argentina offered us a glimpse into the future as, on this evidence, there is plenty to look forward to, writes Donal Lenihan.

‘Revenge: The action of inflicting harm on someone for an injury or harm suffered at their hands.”

The Munster squad returns to training today ahead of the Guinness PRO14 trip to Italy to face Zebre in 11 days, while the province’s medical staff have received a fresh influx of injured Ireland players.

Ireland captain Rory Best has urged debutant Bundee Aki not to sit back but rather step up and take charge against South Africa this evening.

Munster are said to be ready to appoint former Western Force head coach David Wessels as Rassie Erasmus' successor.

Rassie Erasmus has endorsed potential Munster successor Dave Wessels as “one of the good fits” to replace him as director of rugby.

Munster 34 Benetton Rugby 3: New league, new season, same old Italians.

MOST staunch New Zealand rugby people support the Black Ferns, four-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winners.

The South African government have approved a €170m guarantee to strengthen the country’s chances of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Simon Lewis looks at the key areas where Warren Gatland will have a selection headache going into the first test. 

Wales fly-half Dan Biggar will replace Farrell on the Lions' bench for Saturday's Maori clash in Rotorua.

Jack McGrath will not be a happy loser but if the means justify the ends and the Lions win their Test series against New Zealand, then he will happily take defeats to Super Rugby teams.

Johnny Sexton has one game to prove he is a starting British & Irish Lion Test fly-half on this tour to New Zealand and that opportunity comes tomorrow in Whangarei.

The Gaelic Players Association has revealed that its players will vote to reject Paraic Duffy’s ‘Super 8’ proposal at Congress, after a poll of members found 70% opposed the proposals, which would see the All-Ireland football quarter-finals replaced by a round robin format from next year.

Rassie Erasmus believes keeping Springbok centre Jaco Taute at Munster beyond his short-term contract could be a possibility.

“You watch Clermont as we have and you’ve just got to be impressed by what’s on offer, admiring too, and otherwise it might put the fear of God in you.” Ulster’s Director of Rugby Les Kiss was certainly not underestimating the task facing his side when the French Championship leaders come to Kingspan Stadium on Saturday for the third pool game in the Champions Cup.

A famous scene adorns the walls of the ACT Brumbies headquarters in Canberra, depicting the dressing room scenes after their first ever victory over the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby. At that stage the Brumbies team were full to the brim with players rejected by their big Sydney neighbours and the win not only sparked emotional scenes but also marked a changing of the guard.

The home of the famed University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana was an unlikely venue for a piece of hurling history over the weekend.

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.

The British and Irish Lions insist they will not be “drawn into silliness” tomorrow after being promised a physical welcome by opening Australia tour opponents Western Force.

Gatland on his Lions role being a mixed blessing

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll believes mistakes proved costly as his side lost 42-10 to New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.

Republican presidential candidates have one week to convince voters in Iowa that they are the one to defeat President Barack Obama next year.

The Rolling Stones star Mick Jagger will work alongside Joss Stone, Damian Marley, Eurythmics' Dave Stewart and Indian musician A.R. Rahman in the new band, thought to be called Super Heavy, and they are currently in discussions for a major record deal.

THE worst kept secret in Munster rugby is officially out; forwards coach Laurie Fisher is returning to his native Australia.

Melbourne Rebels say they have “lost confidence” in Danny Cipriani following the England international’s latest disciplinary breach.

ALL BLACK Sonny Bill Williams believes competing in a boxing match less than a month before the start of the 2011 Super 15 Rugby season will make him a better player.

Ireland cricketer Gary Wilson insists a place in the ICC World Twenty20 Super Eight is still within his country’s grasp as they look forward to a Tuesday showdown with England in Guyana.

Former Leinster loose-head Ollie Le Roux could be in line for a dramatic return to Super-14 rugby.

Financially-troubled Super Aguri appear set to compete in this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Aguri Suzuki has revealed he is “forced to consider the future” of his Formula One team after a potential investor pulled the plug on a multi-million pound deal.

Felipe Massa grabbed pole position for his home Brazilian Grand Prix – but Lewis Hamilton remains in the perfect position to take the Formula One world title.

Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher snatched a thrilling victory in the Chinese Grand Prix to take the world championship lead with just two races of the season remaining.