As if Tottenham’s task in trying to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League is not hard enough, Mauricio Pochettino has to contend with an injury situation that means rookie right-back Kyle Walker-Peters will be thrown in against Lionel Messi and his Barcelona team-mates in the Nou Camp tonight.

Toulouse’s new captain Julien Marchand is hoping to crown a week where he was called into the French senior squad for the first time by ousting European champions Leinster on Sunday.

“Dad, I’m cheering for England in the World Cup!”

The Ireland Under-20s' defensive deficiencies were laid bare again as Scotland ran in six converted tries in a 45-29 World Rugby U-20 Championship play-off win in Perpignan this afternoon.

Munster legend Paul O’Connell wants the province to develop a production system to develop talent from grassroots and schools level and not rely on ‘short term fixes’.

Stuart Lancaster has joined the public chorus of voices calling for Joey Carbery to stay at Leinster.

TG4 retain some rights, although eir will have exclusive rights to the Leinster-Munster derby matches.

One day you’re the breakout star of the U20 Six Nations. The next you’re fighting to keep your favourite No. 8 jersey for the World Cup.

Romain Ntamack, son of former French star Emile, led the way as France opened their Six Nations campaign with a win but only after they held off a spirited Irish recovery.

Embracing history but charting a new path is the message for Ireland’s U17s hopefuls from their manager Colin O’Brien as they begin their Euro finals odyssey against Serbia in Croatia today.

Both Munster and Ireland will have confidence soaring after success against All Black sides, writes Donal Lenihan. 

"It was a benchmark in underage rugby, you had to play well in the U20 interpros to play for Ireland. All its doing now is helping the pro game instead of the U20 game."

IF sport can be a barometer of national well-being then these are indeed golden, halcyon days. 

You’ve gotta love June: it’s always been a month to savour for those sports fiends among us equally blessed and cursed with a varied palate.

Another of the early front runners for the Leinster job has withdrawn himself from the race with Jono Gibbes committing himself to Clermont Auvergne until 2018.

Claire Lavogez of France scored this beauty in Canada last night at the women’s U20 World Cup.

U20 WORLD CUP:

If Brian O’Driscoll is expecting a teary-eyed farewell from the 80-odd thousand at the Stade de France today, then he may well get his wish.

England winger can’t believe he’s playing against boyhood hero Brian O’Driscoll.

Shane O’Neill may be getting used to the bright lights of the MLS in the United States, but it is the golden memories of summers spent in Cork that widen his grin that extra inch.

Laurie Fisher is right at home, literally, coaching rugby in Canberra.

Cork-born Shane O’Neill was on the scoresheet as the USA warmed up for next week’s U20 World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Portugal in the Algarve last night.

The Texan heat has been occupying the mind of IRFU strength and conditioning man Jason Cowman, but it has been a welcome relief to the series of injuries that beset the squad in his first Six Nations in the role.

Mike Ruddock has given his blessing to the decision to call Robbie Henshaw and Stuart Olding into the senior tour to North America next month rather than make the pair available to his U20 side at the upcoming Junior World Cup.

It’s been 32 days since Peter O’Mahony last played a game of competitive rugby and over 50 will have passed by the time he gets to bridge that gap back to the oh-so-close Heineken Cup semi-final against Clermont Auvergne.

There was a good reason for Shane O’Neill’s decision to politely decline an invitation in January to try his luck with the Republic of Ireland U21 side.

The race may be on to challenge Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O’Gara for the Ireland No 10 shirt, but versatility is the name of the game for two of the three contenders included yesterday in the Irish Wolfhounds squad for the clash with the English Saxons in Galway on Friday.

THERE was an inevitability, according to Leinster manager Guy Easterby, about how the European champions came out of the Heineken Cup pool draw this summer alongside Scarlets, whose new head coach is Simon Easterby.

Ireland’s JJ Hanrahan has been shortlisted for the IRB Junior Player of the Year Award at the U20 World Cup in South Africa.

“Six years ago we were the predators, now we are the prey,” said Portuguese paper Publico yesterday, of a match where the Danes can afford to wait to catch their opponents on the break, whereas Portugal have to score.

Ben Lyttleton on the young guns who’ll fire in Poland and the Ukraine

Tiernan O'Halloran and Michael Swift have committed their futures to Connacht, with both signing two-year contract extensions.

Connacht’s starting XV to face Harlequins in their first ever Heineken Cup Clash sees three changes from the side that were defeated by Ulster in Ravenhill last Saturday.

ARSENAL have signed highly-rated Costa Rica forward Joel Campbell from Deportivo Saprissa.

IRELAND’S U19s will step up preparations for tomorrow’s European Championship semi-final against tournament favourites Spain (kick-off 6:45pm) after yesterday’s rest-day in Bucharest.

ARSENAL continue to face a battle to hold onto captain Cesc Fabregas — with Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola vowing the Champions League holders will fight to the end to bring their former trainee back to the Nou Camp.

There is an exciting look to the young side coach Colin McEntee has selected to represent Leinster against Plymouth Albion in the opening round of the first British & Irish Cup at Brickfields Recreation Grounds on Saturday (KO: 4.30pm).

The Boys in Green can expect a tough test in tomorrow's friendly at Thomond Park, according to Australia manager Pim Verbeek.

WRECKED.

Andy Mitten meets Barcelona wonder kid Lionel Messi.