Travelling fans have been left flat-footed after Japan top Pool A at Ireland's expense

Joe Schmidt doesn’t forget.

“New Zealand are not the standout like years gone by. South Africa are now; I think we all had that feeling, it was coming, at the right time. Just because I know (Michael) Cheika, Australia will get their act together but there is only so much they can do and they have a lot of issues.

Former Ireland internationals, head coaches, a World Cup-winning captain will be among RTÉ's stable of pundits for the Rugby World Cup.

Gordon D’Arcy remembers when angst was the daily diet in Dublin.

Even though he’s between coaching jobs after parting ways with the Dragons, Bernard Jackman is still a man in demand at home and abroad, writes Kieran Shannon

Veterans of the 15 previous clashes which Connacht have hosted against Munster will breathe a sigh of relief that the weather forecast for this evening in Galway is relatively good.

Bernard Jackman has been sacked as head coach by the Dragons.

Simon Lewis Dragons coach Bernard Jackman is under no illusions about the size of the task his side face when they welcome Guinness PRO14 champions Leinster to Rodney Parade this evening.

It’s a case of friends reunited for Paul O’Connell, after the 38 year-old Munster and Ireland legend confirmed yesterday he is to move to Paris and take up as role as forwards coach with Stade Francais.

"To one’s enemies, I hate myself more than you ever could." — Alain de Botton

Former Ireland rugby international Bernard Jackman believes the sport has woken up to the dangers of head injuries, amid warnings that litigation arising out of serious cases could lead to more effective player welfare.

Allen Clarke believes leaving Irish rugby can help take him to the next level as a coach.

Sean Cronin has shipped a few blows lately.

Dragons 32 Ulster 32: Australian international Christian Lealifano salvaged a 32-32 draw for Ulster with a last minute try against the Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Veteran wing Tommy Bowe will be the centre of attention as Ulster seek to consolidate their Guinness PRO14 position when they travel to the compact and atmospheric Rodney Parade to face Bernard Jackman’s Dragons this evening.

Munster gave Rassie Erasmus the perfect send-off in Cork last night as the director of rugby was treated to a seven-try bonus-point victory to bring down the curtain on his tenure.

South African flanker Chris Cloete makes his debut in Munster's Pro 14 meeting with Bernard Jackman's Dragons tonight.

Rassie Erasmus admits that he will experience mixed emotions at Musgrave Park tonight when Munster take on the Dragons in what may be his last game as the team’s head coach.

Duncan Williams is just one of many Munster players adamant the change of head coach over the next few weeks will have little or no effect on the teams’ performances.

Bernard Jackman believes Johann van Graan is the perfect man to succeed Rassie Erasmus as Munster boss.

It’s just over three years since 29-year-old tight-head prop Wiehahn Herbst packed his bags and headed from Durban in the hope of starting a new sporting life in Belfast.

Connacht paid the price for a shocking first-half display as they were beaten 21-8 by the Dragons in Newport.

Devin Toner will likely earn his 200th Leinster cap this Friday evening when Cardiff come to the RDS and the memory of his first appearance in January of 2006 hasn’t been compromised by the passing years and the litany of events since.

It took a while in coming, but this was a more than decent start to the new Guinness Pro14 season for Leo Cullen’s Leinster as they emerged deserved winners over the Dragons.

Leo Cullen is expecting a Dragons side revitalised under new ownership and the guidance of former team-mate Bernard Jackman when Leinster open their Guinness Pro14 campaign at Rodney Parade in Newport this afternoon (3:15pm).

Leinster rugby have revealed their new alternate jersey this morning ahead of the Pro14 championship.

Bernard Jackman could give you any number of reasons as to why he accepted the offer to coach the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Bernard Jackman is a self-confessed rugby junkie and that’s why nobody was happier than he was when the pre-season began at his new club, the Dragons, earlier this month.

Clemont and Leinster have served up some cracking spectacles when their paths have crossed in Europe.

Bernard Jackman said he will leave Grenoble with great memories and experiences after his five-year coaching stint with the French club came to an end yesterday.

It is believed that an escape clause which required Pat Lam to give six months notice was the primary reason why the Connacht coach made the announcement yesterday that he was departing the Sportsground at the end of the season.

Grenoble 33 Connacht 32: Heartbreaking, but scintillating. Connacht and Grenoble produced an epic European Challenge Cup quarter-final that upped the profile of this second tier European competition and dazzled the 14,876 fans present on Saturday night.