During the week I wrote a blog for the paper on the fate of Kevin Ware, the American basketball player who suffered a horrific injury last weekend.

Conor Murray has warned Welsh giants Alex Cuthbert and George North that Ireland’s less imposing wings will withstand the brutish assault they can expect in Cardiff.

Tomás O’Leary was a contender for the Lions tour to Australia before he suffered a season-ending back injury, according to his boss at London Irish, Brian Smith.

If the past three and a half years have taught Darren Cave anything it’s the virtue of patience.

Warren Gatland limped into London’s historic Ironmonger’s Hall yesterday morning, a wounded Lions head coach but one which the team’s chairman Gerald Davies insisted was “fit for purpose” for next summer’s trip down under.

The thing about Brian is ...

Wales coach Warren Gatland has received an offer to lead the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia next year, it is understood.

Ireland hardman Stephen Ferris today opened hostilities ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash at Twickenham by branding England “bad losers”.

Andrew Trimble insists the art of captaincy remains crucial as Ireland prepare for their longest spell under the leadership of Paul O’Connell.

THE CONTRAST between the games at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday and Thomond Park in Limerick on Sunday was so great, they could have been playing different sports.

Scotland forward Nathan Hines announced today that he is retiring from international rugby after 11 years in the Test arena.

AFTER years of frustration, under-achievement, near misses and calamitous failure at the World Cup, Saturday’s quarter-final offered the perfect opportunity to rewrite history and set the record straight.

GORDON D’ARCY is expecting Wales to target Ronan O’Gara again in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final but the centre believes Ireland can deal with the tactic, just as they did when winning the Grand Slam in 2009.

THE World Cup has been turned on its head and Ireland are the talk of New Zealand.

STEPHEN FERRIS reflected on Ireland’s stunning upset of Australia by promising it is only the beginning of their World Cup campaign.

Stephen Ferris reflected on Ireland’s stunning upset of Australia by promising it is only the beginning of their World Cup campaign.

Veteran Munster flanker Alan Quinlan will announce his retirement in the coming weeks, it was confirmed today.

Brian O'Driscoll insists the Millennium Stadium has lost its fear factor after becoming a happy hunting ground for Irish rugby.

DESPITE the victory, it was impossible not to feel a sense of disappointment leaving the Aviva Stadium yesterday.

Former Ireland back row Alan Quinlan has revealed how he sank into depression following the eye-gouge that forced him to miss the 2009 Lions tour.

MUNSTER rugby star and former international Alan Quinlan was yesterday named as the 2010 Tipperary Person of the Year.

Few understand what makes the British and Irish Lions tick more than Ian McGeechan. He told Charlie Mulqueen why chemistry and character must come before talent to help one of world sport’s greatest brands to continue to thrive.

Richie McCaw would have no concerns about laying a fistful of dollars on South Africa to beat the Lions next summer having led New Zealand on a Grand Slam tour of the British Isles.

Rob Howley’s coaching career will continue to flourish with the Lions next year, and the former scrum-half admits he is still pinching himself at his rapid rise.

The identity of the coach for next year’s British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa will be revealed on May 14.

Shaun Edwards has pledged his international coaching future to Wales by signing a three-year contract.

Details of the British and Irish Lions’ 10-match South Africa tour next year have been confirmed.

Former British and Irish Lions captain Gavin Hastings believes a London Wasps triumvirate of Ian McGeechan, Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards should lead the 2009 tour to South Africa.

SITTING in the bowels of the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, Gareth Thomas’ voice cracked with raw emotion as he surveyed the smouldering wreckage of Wales’ World Cup campaign.

Legendary Wales fly-half Neil Jenkins is convinced James Hook will use this World Cup as the launch-pad to become the best number 10 on the planet.