THEIRS is a name synonymous with French rugby. Formed as a sporting club of many different disciplines for the Parisian elite in 1882, Racing Club de France, alongside Stade Francais, dominated the early years of the French Championship before disappearing — like Stade — for the bones of a century until the emergence of the bow-tie wearing and champagne guzzling side of Franck Mesnel, Eric Blanc and Jean-Baptiste Lafond in the late ’80s.

MUNSTER rugby chiefs will today accept defeat in their bid to retain the services of head coach Tony McGahan beyond the end of the season.

An attempt is to be made this evening at the annual convention of the Mayo GAA to ban alcohol sponsorship logos from the Mayo inter-county jersey.

WHATEVER about the final score against New Zealand a few weeks ago, the 2011 World Cup will go down as a personal disappointment for Montpellier’s Fulgence Ouedraogo.