Irish wing Alan McMahon, hopes today’s big World Cup qualifying game against Russia at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray (5pm), will provide him with further opportunity to develop his new-found career in Rugby League.

Two All-Ireland winners patrol the sidelines fortomorrow’s Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL Division Fourfinal at O’Connor Park,Tullamore.

IT seemed like a routine assignment at first. Arrangements had been made, the editor explained, to meet the renowned strength and conditioning coach Mike McGurn at Dublin Airport at 9am the next day.