Paul O’Connell’s glorious Munster career will end in the next eight days — and he will play his final Thomond Park game tomorrow, sources have revealed to the Irish Examiner.

Conor O’Shea is not interested in succeeding Matt O’Connor as Leinster’s head coach, according to sources close to Harlequins’ Director of Rugby.

Thomond Park is set to be graced by two more world-renowned stars when the Barbarians face an Ireland XV in Limerick later this month after Wales and Lions duo Adam Jones and Alex Cuthbert were added to Robbie Deans’s invitational squad.

She’s been in the news with her famous boyfriend, but Cork actress Sarah Greene deserves her profile very much for her own achievements, writes Ed Power

Wales prop Adam Jones has said "I feel like I’m more than just injury cover" after announcing his retirement from international rugby.

Warren Gatland revealed a glowing recommendation from one of world rugby’s outstanding coaches played its part in New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe making an unlikely journey from Super Rugby to potential Wales Test star.

Warren Gatland has revealed that a glowing recommendation from one of world rugby’s outstanding coaches played its part in New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe making an unlikely journey from Super Rugby to potential Wales Test star.

Newport Gwent Dragons 9 Cardiff Blues 11

It was a mixed weekend for the four Irish provinces in the weekend's Guinness PRO12 games.

Cardiff Blues were denied what would have been their second Guinness PRO12 win of the season by a late try as Munster claimed a 28-24 win at Cardiff Arms Park.

The new rugby season could hardly have begun in a more contrasting fashion for Anthony Foley and Steve Tandy, the respective head coaches of Munster and Ospreys who renew their rivalry in the Guinness Pro 12 at Thomond Park this evening, kick-off 6.30pm.

Leinster 37 Cardiff Blues 23

Gordon D'Arcy returns to Leinster’s starting 15 as they welcome Cardiff to the RDS on Friday night.

Baseball umpire Hunter Wendeldstedt took a rather dramatic tumble in Toronto last Saturday.

Manu Tuilagi has been warned to expect an aerial bombardment as New Zealand seek to expose the England wing’s inexperience in his new position.

With Brian O’Driscoll last game for Ireland coming up on Saturday, some of the Six Nations biggest players have gathered in appreciation of the world’s most capped rugby international.

Ospreys 11 Munster 25

How the two teams square off

Wales are braced for an Irish backlash over Brian O’Driscoll’s Lions snub.

Rhys Priestland says there is “a buzz about the place” as reigning champions Wales prepare to meet title pretenders Ireland in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown at the Aviva Stadium.

Wales 23, Italy 15

Irish Examiner rugby columnist, Donal Lenihan, throws his eyes over the key areas in this afternoon's Six Nations clash with Scotland.

Welsh rugby has had more peaks and troughs than a roller-coaster ride in recent years. The only saving grace being that the peaks have been pretty constant and extremely rewarding.

Wales’ long wait to claim the major southern hemisphere scalp they crave continues – but only after an heroic display in a ferocious Test match of brutal intensity at the Millennium Stadium.

Newport Gwent Dragons 19 Leinster 23

Newport Gwent Dragons 19 Leinster 23

When Jonny Wilkinson won the World Cup for England 10 years ago, Gareth Davies was trying to find his way out of the darker recesses of the Welsh League at Ystrad Mynach.

Northampton 27 Ospreys 16

Dan Biggar snatched a draw for the Ospreys in Dublin as reigning RaboDirect PRO12 champions Leinster let a 10-point first-half advantage slip away.

Few rugby players are more vociferous in their support of the RaboDirect PRO12 than Leinster’s Eoin Reddan.

Agony or ecstasy, there really is nothing in between. So said Warren Gatland an hour after Saturday night’s captivating third Test in Sydney, and how right he is.

Three key areas

Australia 16 British & Irish Lions 15

One of the downsides of all these evening kick-offs is that it’s well past midnight before you shut down the laptop.

As the British & Irish Lions prepare to fill a Paul O’Connell-shaped hole in their pack for Saturday’s second Test at the Etihad Stadium, Australia prop Ben Alexander is focusing on another likely change, to the tourists’ front row.

James O’Connor wants to continue at fly-half when Australia attempt to haul themselves back into their series against the British and Irish Lions at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

It was difficult not to have a degree of sympathy for the Australians on Saturday night.

Where the key battles will be fought.

The British and Irish Lions eased concerns over the fitness of Tom Croft and Jonathan Davies after they missed the final training session before tomorrow’s first Test against Australia.

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland revealed that Alex Corbisiero’s superior scrummaging resulted in his selection ahead of Mako Vunipola for Saturday’s opening Test against Australia.

Warren Gatland today put an emphasis on rest and recovery for players like Brian O’Driscoll and George North ahead of next week’s first Test against Australia.

Four games in and despite the fact that three of the Lions’ ‘contests’ had nothing like the competitiveness Warren Gatland is craving, his test side is beginning to take shape in Australia.

This morning’s game against the Western Force in Perth will offer the British and Irish Lions management a far greater barometer of what to expect over the next few weeks than the testing but ultimately one-sided game against the Barbarians in Hong Kong last Saturday.

Gordon Ramsay will teach Bradley Cooper how to cook for his upcoming film.