Call it coincidence, but there was a prescient air of doom and gloom — amongst media and supporters at any rate — among the Pro12 sides heading into Round 2 of the Champions Cup. With good reason, as it transpired.

Romania were once a force to be reckoned with in rugby but it will be very difficult for them to spring a surprise against Ireland today, writes Donal Lenihan

If you needed any more confirmation that the rugby landscape has changed immeasurably with the advent of professionalism, then look at the demands placed on our provincial squads over the festive period.

Warren Gatland has absorbed much advice over the last 12 months in relation to what he should and shouldn’t do on the 2013 Lions tour to Australia.

RBS Six Nations: ENGLAND V SCOTLAND

THE statistician who compiles player data for Easter Sunday’s match programme at Thomond Park won’t have any quirky job specs to attach to the players.

For Shannon, his job was to make life as uncomfortable as possible for me in the lineout by attacking my back, while Ginger McLoughlin was invariably placed in front of me to form a two-pronged assault.

US OPEN champion Rory McIlroy was last night named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for 2011.

EVERYTHING they’ve done has been building towards this.

The first Rugby World Cup was also in New Zealand (and Australia) and our own Donal Lenihan was Ireland captain. We asked him to rummage through the attic for memories and mementoes from a bygone era. This is what he found.

France 34 Scotland 21

Scotland went in search of a first RBS 6 Nations win over reigning Grand Slam champions France in Paris with Alastair Kellock restored as captain.

Scotland go in search of a first RBS 6 Nations win over France in Paris tonight with head coach Andy Robinson unfazed by history and focused on nothing other than victory.

HEAD COACH Andy Robinson is unfazed by Scotland’s history in France and his side’s recent try-scoring record ahead of the RBS 6 Nations opener at the Stade de France today.

Scotland go in search of a first RBS 6 Nations win in Paris on Saturday with captain Alastair Kellock joined by Glasgow team-mate Richie Gray in the second row and Nathan Hines starting at flanker.

I OFTEN wondered what those people working in the high-rise office block behind the Shelbourne Hotel thought of it all.

Chris Paterson today revealed he was targeting far more than 100 caps as he prepared to make yet another bit of history in a Scotland jersey.

THE number of sheep shorn in Ireland will continue to decline rapidly unless serious action is taken urgently by the Government to allocate funds to the sector, it was claimed yesterday.

AMIDST talk of crisis and gloom in the Ireland camp and speculation surrounding the future of Eddie O’Sullivan, Ronan O’Gara’s side is on the cusp of equalling a record set by Irish teams in the ‘70s, who defeated England for five successive seasons in the then Five Nations Championship.

Ireland went into the Rugby World Cup with high hopes of at least qualifying for the semi-finals, following a strong showing in the Five Nations Championship earlier in the year, but it all ground to a disappointing end yesterday in Paris.

LEGENDARY rugby player and missionary doctor Jack Kyle was last night presented with a lifetime achievement award at this year’s Doctor Awards, known as the Irish “Medical Oscars.”

Lions and Wales number eight Scott Quinnell has finally had to admit defeat in his battle to play rugby competitively again.

Mourners today heard how Irish rugby legend Mick Doyle was a great giant of a man and a loveable character who touched every one he met.

NEWS of Mick Doyle’s death was received with a deep sense of shock in his native Kerry yesterday.

Former Irish international rugby coach Mick Doyle was driving to a business meeting when he was killed in a road crash, it emerged tonight.

Former Irish international rugby coach Mick Doyle was killed in a road accident today.

Scotland’s beleaguered squad have rallied round disgraced flanker Martin Leslie and vowed "We'll beat France for you".

Budge Pountney will go down in history as the ‘Roy Keane’ of Scottish rugby.

Scotland’s outstanding lock-forward Scott Murray has earned The Famous Grouse Scotland Player of the Season award for this season.

Warren Gatland factfile

Martin Johnson has sent a chilling message to England’s Six Nations Championship rivals, by declaring: "‘This team can definitely improve".