England have selected Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph as their centre pairing for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up game against Ireland at Twickenham.

Anthony Foley has wasted no time in recalling Ireland’s Six Nations heroes as the province continue to seek the victories required to help them to a top two Guinness Pro12 finish.

Ireland threw down the gaunlet to England on the final day of the RBS 6 Nations by routing Scotland at Murrayfield and setting their title rivals a tough target in their tournament closing game down at Twickenham.

To avoid the desperation of chasing a score, Ireland need to focus on three key goals at Murrayfield today, says Donal Lenihan.

Winger Dougie Fife believes Scotland have what it takes to overcome Ireland on Saturday as they are too good a team to go without a win in the Six Nations.

It’s the country’s most internationally renowned celebration, and everybody knows it. All across the world, people with itchy feet are making bucket lists — Brazil for Carnivale, India for Holi, and Ireland for St Patrick’s Day.

 

France 15 Scotland 8: They put a brave face on it but it was evident from the shrugs and pouts that a hard-fought tryless 15-8 victory over a feisty Scotland in Paris was not quite enough for the French. 

Scotland coach Vern Cotter has defended his decision to call up New Zealand-born flanker Hugh Blake for his RBS 6 Nations squad.

Guinness Pro12

Connacht 13 Edinburgh 16

Munster 13 Edinburgh 14

Munster 13 Edinburgh 14

A Scottish football team are to be sponsored by a famous crime writer from next season.

RABO DIRECT PRO 12:

RABODIRECT PRO12:

Edinburgh 11 Leinster 6

Edinburgh 43 Connacht 10

Ulster 41 Edinburgh 17

Saracens 40 Edinburgh 7

Edinburgh 17 Munster 26

Edinburgh 3 Racing Metro 15

Edinburgh 22 Treviso 27

Edinburgh 14 Ospreys 15

Hibernian's search for a new manager will start in earnest today after chairman Rod Petrie told shareholders at the club's AGM last night that he had received 40 applications for the post vacated by Colin Calderwood.

England 32 Scotland 5

THE week long Six Nations Under-18 rugby tournament, which gets underway in Cork tomorrow, is estimated to be worth in excess of €500,000 to the economy of the city.

DERRY CITY last night confirmed former Livingston boss John Robertson as the new manager at the Brandywell.

Dunfermline manager Stephen Kenny faced up to the pain of relegation tonight but claimed his improving side could have been a real force in the top-flight next season.

It may have been short, but Roy Keane’s Celtic career still added to his bulging silverware collection.

There was little sign of anything untoward in the small Fife coastal village where the dead swan with H5 bird flu was found.

Celtic 3 Dunfermline 0

Celtic 0 Dunfermline 1

Celtic 0 Dunfermline 1

Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston today invited potential player-coaches of “reasonable stature” to come forward if they want to assist new manager Jim Leishman next season.

Dundee manager Jim Duffy admits the departure of Davie Hay from Dunfermline throws up even more uncertainty in the battle to avoid relegation from the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Bell’s Third Division East Fife have been handed a massive incentive to defeat Dunfermline in a replay after being paired with Celtic in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup fourth round.

CELTIC’S teenage goalkeeper David Marshall wants to see Henrik Larsson in tears again, on Saturday – but just as long as the Hoops have won the Tennent’s Scottish Cup.

Celtic 1 Dunfermline 2

Celtic struck four times in a second-half blitz against Dunfermline to move eight points clear at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League table.

Celtic striker Chris Sutton today apologised for his controversial comments on an emotionally-charged last day of the Bank of Scotland Premier League season.

A six-foot anti-tank rifle was the latest deadly weapon to be surrendered to police today as part of a UK-wide gun amnesty.