The retired Ireland and Leinster player proposed while on a romantic trip to Adare Manor.

Rugby players in an Irish Open Pro-Am are not an unusual sight. Along with GAA stars and jockeys, they are a staple of the pre-tournament entertainment at this annual stop on the European Tour.

Taking and giving a five or 10-metre pass is a fundamental part of the game yet the skills required to deliver under pressure are often overlooked, writes Donal Lenihan.

Lansdowne continue to look the team to beat in Ulster Bank League Division 1A after winning at Tom Clifford Park for the first time since 2011, while defending champions Cork Constitution have leapfrogged Terenure College in pursuit of the second home semi-final berth.

The celebrations of Ireland’s Grand Slam will continue a little while longer but even in the immediate aftermath of victory at Twickenham, thoughts were turning to what happens next.

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

Malcolm O’Kelly knows a good player when he sees one, and that’s why the 92-times capped Ireland second row is unafraid to compare James Ryan to Paul O’Connell.

Rob Kearney is ready for his latest fight for Ireland's full-back shirt, with fast-rising young gun Jordan Larmour.

Listening this week to the former rugby international Luke Fitzgerald talking about his retirement from the game was a reminder that there is only one certainty in every sporting career: it will end, writes Paul Rouse.

WITH his professional rugby career behind him due to serious injury, Luke Fitzgerald is now free to enjoy more of the simple pleasures of life, including the occasional drink.

Barry Daly insists he's not out to prove anyone wrong after finally hitting the big time with Leinster.

Jonathan Sexton wasn’t in the mood to give much away.

Here's your lunchtime bulletin.

Glenstal Abbey 21  Ardscoil Rís 20 Munster Schools Senior Cup, Thomond Park: Amid tremendous excitement and high drama at Thomond Park yesterday, Glenstal Abbey bridged a 47-year gap when they just survived a magnificent rally by Ardscoil Rís to qualify to meet PBC in the final of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup on St Patrick’s Day.

GLENSTAL Abbey will take on Presentation Brothers, Cork in the Munster Schools Senior Cup final after a nail-biting win over Ardscoil Ris at Thomond Park.

Glenstal Abbey 18 Rockwell College 0: A powerful display by Glenstal up front and out wide sent Rockwell packing yesterday and put the Co Limerick school into the penultimate stage.

Glenstal 27 St Clement’s 10: Glenstal are quietly fancied to make their presence felt in this season’s Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup and they got their campaign off to a solid start on the 4G UL pitch yesterday by beating St Clement’s 27-10.

The Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Cup campaign gets under way today with five fixtures running up until Thursday.

New Zealand were punished for showing “a lack of respect” to Ireland when they lost in Chicago and could be in for another shock in Saturday’s rematch at the Aviva Stadium, according to former Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald.

Luke Fitzgerald has taken a vocal stance against the IRFU’s policy of recruiting ‘special project’ players to the detriment of native Irish players’ international chances.

Luke Fitzgerald doesn’t believe his injury-plagued career was the result of his early exposure to the professional game.

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”.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

LUKE FITZGERALD, the wonderful Leinster, Ireland, and British and Irish Lions rugby player, has been forced to retire prematurely from professional sport at the relatively early age of 28.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

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

The immediate response on the final whistle at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was one of acute disappointment given Ireland finished this gruelling series camped on the South African line after a 19-phase onslaught in search of what could have been a winning score and a series clincher. It was that tight.

Craig Gilroy took a while to win Joe Schmidt over to the view he was a viable wing option for Ireland. Now he has to prove it in today’s second Test against South Africa but is hopeful Ellis Park can provide the perfect conditions to do so.

You just wonder what was going through Joe Schmidt’s mind as he boarded Ireland’s flight from Heathrow to Cape Town last Sunday night. 

Ireland’s new generation of Test players have been put on notice that this month’s Test series against the Springboks could determine their pathway to the 2019 World Cup.

Craig Gilroy may have been a late addition to Ireland’s passenger list for South Africa but the Ulster wing is determined to ensure there is no hint of a wasted journey over the next three weeks.

Ireland have been challenged to make a statement during their three-Test series in South Africa and lay down a marker for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Johnny Holland’s fine form for Munster has not gone unnoticed by Ireland coach Joe Schmidt who wants to see the out-half put himself into international contention next season.

It’s hard to escape the sense that the time must be now for Ulster.

Leinster defence coach Kurt McQuilkin insists Ulster are the “screaming-hot favourites” coming into Friday’s sell-out Guinness Pro12 semi-final at the RDS.

Beat Treviso, score four tries and book a home Guinness PRO12 semi-final.