“This decision, while totally appropriate, will impact on sport and our athletes in different ways, there will be mixed emotions.”

Canada and Australia have already pulled out of this summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo but their Irish counterparts, while all but accepting that a postponement is inevitable, have refrained from the nuclear option for now.

Australia and Taiwan have joined the growing number of governments offering financial aid to airlines, while authorities in Europe rushed to agree steps to rescue carriers which have had to park planes and cut jobs as the coronavirus pandemic puts the brake on travel.

They say a picture paints a thousand words. That certainly rang true when studying the crestfallen appearance of new Ireland coach Andy Farrell, writes Donal Lenihan.

Panic buying in Australia, the United States and Britain saw leaders appeal for calm over the virus that has infected over 138,000 people globally and killed more than 5,000.

The Irish women’s team were narrowly beaten by Australia in the first round of the four- kilometre Team Pursuit at the World Track Championships in Berlin. Despite the loss the team will take heart from the ride which saw them break a new national record.

The country is now confronting its dependence on exports to China and the destructive power of global warming, but all Western nations will shortly have to reckon with both, says Carl Bildt

Donal Lenihan gives his personal reflections on Munster’s first CEO and his friend, Garrett Fitzgerald.

Garrett Fitzgerald was an exceptional man and somebody that we all looked up to in Munster Rugby. He was a man of honesty and integrity with a huge passion for the game. He embodied everything that is good in Munster Rugby, and for us, he was Mr Munster Rugby, writes Philip Quinn.

Tributes have been paid to Garrett Fitzgerald, the Munster Rugby CEO who oversaw the province's greatest days. He died on Friday, aged 65.

What’s motivating Eddie Jones?

Two tries on a spring afternoon, nearly 40 years ago, put Moss Finn in the Irish sports pantheon, but recently he’s been in the news for a different reason. After over 140 years in business, the family sports shop on Finn’s Corner closed down last week. He spoke to Michael Moynihan about the modern game, the older game, and everything in between

With teenage sensations Idah, Connolly and Parrott on everyone’s lips, Liam Mackey reports from behind the scenes in Abbotstown as the newest generation of Irish internationals continue with their higher education.

The link between climate change and Australia’s fires has been overstated. The neglect of traditional forest management practices is more to blame, says Ramesh Thakur.

Mickey Harte learned last week that it is impossible to change the mind of a young Irish person who has decided to leave Ireland.

These are the most breathtaking pictures of the year.

Australia continues to battle “catastrophic” fires as the severe heatwave and bushfire crisis continues.

Australia continues to battle “catastrophic” fires as the severe heatwave and bushfire crisis continues.

After an "embarrassing" loss to the same opponents last week, Ireland produced a dramatic win.

There are plenty roads leading to the RDS, the home of Leinster rugby, but few will have taken the route chosen by Sam Matavesi.

One man’s setback appears to be an opportunity for a couple of his team-mates as Johnny Sexton’s likely absence from the start of the Six Nations seems to have opened the door for a pair of Munster stars to take centre-stage with Ireland in the coming weeks.

A Cork student is preparing to pack down alongside a former Australia captain and South African international in the biggest match of his life.

Ireland men’s sevens star Terry Kennedy insists experience as an invitational side will stand them in good stead for their World Series bow as ‘a core’ nation in Dubai tomorrow.

The Ireland men’s sevens team will make history in Dubai on Thursday

The World Cup may be long over, but the ripple effect is set to spill into the upcoming bout of festive PRO14 fixtures with a larger-than-usual

Stuart Lancaster believes the disappointment felt by Ireland’s World Cup contingent can spur the four provinces to memorable heights in Europe, just as it did their English counterparts four years ago.

The second part of an exclusive interview with retired Munster CEO Garrett Fitzgerald on two decades in the province's hotseat.

The second part of an exclusive interview with retired Munster CEO Garrett Fitzgerald on two decades in the province's hotseat.

The first series will be played in Ireland in November 2020 with a return two-test series to be played in Australia in 2022.

Frequent warnings by health experts about the dangers of too much red meat are likely to fall upon deaf ears where Irish exports are concerned.

Simon Lewis Rory Scannell embarks on his fifth European campaign this weekend confident that the value new attack guru Stephen Larkham can add to Munster’s arsenal could be the missing ingredient to

Munster supporters took more interest than most when the news broke that Saracens were being docked 35 Premiership points and hit with a £5.3million fine because of financial irregularities.

When the baseball-capped Nelson Mandela danced his famous jig in the No.6 Springbok jersey, Siya Kolisi would not have paid a blind bit of notice.

Tonga confirmed their arrival as a force in rugby league with a stunning 16-12 win over world champions Australia.

Donal Lenihan outlines where the game will be won and lost.

The best pair of teams at the World Cup met in the first semi-final last Saturday. The number one priority for Eddie Jones and England is getting to that pitch again for tomorrow’s final.

A look back on the eight previous Rugby World Cup finals.

Eddie Jones and Rassie Erasmus were both celebrating at full time when England and South Africa last contested a World Cup final, at the Stade de France 12 years ago.