Jonathan Sexton couldn’t resist. Confined to the stands for the afternoon last Saturday with a bad hammy, he was joined for a 10-minute spell by Luke McGrath after the scrum-half had illegally dragged down a maul and got himself sent to the bold step.

Team Sky’s riders and management have staunchly defended the performance of Nicolas Roche following Sunday’s near miss at a stage win on the ninth day of the Tour de France.

France Under-20s 23 Ireland Under-20s 13

U20 SIX NATIONS:

A young homeless man, who claimed he heard voices in his head, killed a 90-year-old villager in southern France and then ate his tongue and heart, officials said.

Novak Djokovic does not care that Britain has not had a men’s singles champion at Wimbledon for 77 years and today said he was ready to deny Andy Murray the trophy he desires above all others.

Ex-Munster hooker Denis Fogarty has been named in the French Pro D2 team of the season after an excellent first year with Aurillac.

BARLOWORLD have been swift to distance themselves from the positive EPO test returned by their Spanish rider, Moises Duenas Nevado.

Spanish cyclist Moises Duenas Nevado has tested positive for a banned drug during the Tour de France, a top French anti-doping official said today.

POPE John Paul II, looking healthier than during his weekend pilgrimage to Lourdes and speaking with a clear voice, thanked God yesterday for giving him the strength to visit the French shrine.

The pope’s visit to the shrine at Lourdes last weekend has left the local Roman Catholic Church deep in debt

Newcastle Falcons have confirmed England's Jonny Wilkinson will make his long-awaited comeback from injury tomorrow.

Ryanair Holdings PLC, the Dublin-based low cost airline, said it will carry 100,000 passengers in the first full year on its new Pau, France to London route.