Members of the Ireland rugby team visited Temple Street Children’s Hospital today, much to the delight of those in attendance.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has revealed his surprise at the appointment of Paul O’Connell as captain of the British and Irish Lions squad.

AFTER a highly entertaining and extremely impressive autumn series, Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has problems of an altogether different nature than that faced after the corresponding period last season.

SPRINGBOKS of the past, men like Bennie Osler, Hennie Muller, Johan Claassen, Francois Pienaar and Gary Teichmann, must have been squirming in their graves or their chairs on Saturday as they watched their successors at Lansdowne Road turn in one of the most feeble performances by a team representing this proud rugby nation.

The Ireland squad of 31 players taking part in a mini training camp in Dublin this week comprises the 22 players on duty against England on Saturday last, with the addition of nine others.

Coach Eddie O’Sullivan identifies three individual elements greatly helping Ireland’s cause as rivalry intensifies in the Pool qualifying stages of Rugby World Cup, Keith Wood, Brian O’Driscoll and the Irish supporters.

GLOUCESTER’S pre-season preparations have been given a lift from an unlikely source – judo champion Dave Kavanagh.