The homes of gladiators and country music are among the landmarks joining the global celebrations for St Patrick’s Day this year.

A €25 million restoration of the Colosseum financed by the founder of luxury leather good maker Tod’s will begin in December.

Thousands of mourners, from Italy’s president to ordinary citizens, streamed past the caskets of 19 Italians killed in Iraq, paying their respects today to the victims of Italy’s worst military disaster since the Second World War.

Will Greenwood downed a single glass of champagne to celebrate his sublime hat-trick after England’s thrilling opening Six Nations triumph over Wales and then spent the rest of the night worried sick that he might not be selected for Saturday’s match against Italy.