The Otago player has Super Rugby experience with the Highlanders and just joint-second top try scorer in the premier club competition in the southern hemisphere in 2016.

The possibility of Ronan O'Gara being part of France's backroom team for the 2019 World Cup has increased with French Rugby Federation sources in Paris confirmed the Munster and Ireland legend was "under consideration."

The sports editor has an interesting habit of framing questions to me in the context of ‘marks out of 10’. So, when he texted me to ask ‘accuracy marks out of 10 for that L’Equipe story’, I gave it a three.

It’s eight years since Greg Feek plugged himself into the mainframe of Irish rugby but the Kiwi scrum coach wasn’t exactly in the mood to measure his input as he pulled up a pew ahead of Saturday’s game against Argentina.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt expects the full complement of 32 players to train tomorrow on Queensland’s Gold Coast as the Grand Slam winners begin preparations for Saturday’s opening Test against Australia.

Ronan O’Gara’s Crusaders can consolidate their place on top of the Super Rugby standings when they play the Hamilton-based Chiefs in an abbreviated 16th round, before the tournament breaks for June internationals.

Veteran Argentine international Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe is doubtful for Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Munster but the task facing Peter O’Mahony’s men was laid out in no uncertain terms in Toulon yesterday.

Like Ronan O’Gara, Welsh rugby coach Alistair Rogers understood the maxim about travel broadening the mind, says Brendan O’Brien. 

Leigh Griffiths came off the bench to score a brilliant curling free-kick and earn Celtic a 1-0 Scottish Premiership win at Ross County.

New Zealand became the first team in international rugby to cross for 2,000 Test tries as they secured a 38-18 victory over France, who produced a spirited second-half display in Paris.

Tonga rugby players must be ardently hoping that they never again encounter the conditions prevailing at Thomond Park last night.

Munster props James Cronin and Brian Scott, Connacht second-row Quinn Roux and Leinster’s Jordi Murphy make their first starts in the famous colours of the Barbarians who face Tonga at Thomond Park tonight (7.30pm).

South Africa scrum coach Matt Proudfoot continued where his boss left off by heaping praise on Ireland yesterday.

Brendan Rodgers believes flexibility will be key to his second year in charge at Celtic.

Munster 34 Benetton Rugby 3: New league, new season, same old Italians.

The dawn of a new era is upon us as the expanded, Springbok-tinged Guinness Pro14 kicks off tonight in Belfast but at the same time in Cork it is the departure of South African talent that will, alas, mark the opening weeks of the fledgling league campaign.

Brodie Retallick wants world champions New Zealand to create their own history when they face a Test series decider against the British and Irish Lions.

Sam Warburton achieved a career highlight just getting on the Lions’ bench for last week’s first Test against New Zealand.

The British and Irish Lions have drawn 31-31 with the Hurricanes in Wellington,writes Simon Lewis.

The British and Irish Lions play the final midweek game of their New Zealand tour on Tuesday when they face reigning Super Rugby champions the Hurricanes in Wellington.

The Irish management last night insisted that their Munster players are not being sidetracked by talk of Rassie Erasmus leaving the province.

Rory Best is set to captain the British & Irish Lions against the Chiefs on Tuesday after Warren Gatland named a matchday squad missing tour skipper Sam Warburton in the final game before Saturday’s first Test with the All Blacks.

Warren Gatland saw his British & Irish Lions lay down a marker ahead of the Test series with the All Blacks and described rival head coach Steve Hansen was sledging his team because he was worried.

Simon Lewis shares the key moment of the match, the main talking point and the key man.

From the English City, via the Edinburgh of the South, to the spiritual home of the Maori people, the last seven days of this 2017 British and Irish Lions tour have been a study in the shifting timeframes, cultures, and traditions of New Zealand.

There were a few mobile phones on full charge over in New Jersey last weekend, but to my mind the one who is closer than them all to Lions form is Keith Earls, writes Ronan O’Gara. 

Simon Lewis looks at the key areas where Warren Gatland will have a selection headache going into the first test. 

Warren Gatland has backed Peter O'Mahony to bring an unquantifiable Munster spirit and character when the Ireland back rower leads the British & Irish Lions out against the Maori in Rotorua on Saturday.

Peter O'Mahony has been named captain of the British & Irish Lions for Saturday's showdown with the Maori All Blacks at Rotorua International Stadium.

All the best tens are blessed with great vision so Dan Carter knows a loaded question and its likely consequences when he sees one.

The British & Irish Lions will have to smarten up at scrum time and focus on painting better pictures for referees following the frustrations in defeat to the Highlanders.

The British and Irish Lions slipped up for the second time in four matches in New Zealand, with the Highlanders stealing a 23-22 win in Dunedin.