Described simply as “a genius” by Jonny Wilkinson, Dave Alred stands among the world’s top coaches in a variety of sports, including rugby, golf, cricket and soccer. He has been involved in Rugby World Cup success with England and Ryder Cup victory with Team Europe.

New Year’s resolutions? Don’t believe in them, writes Ronan O’Gara

Munster head coach Anthony Foley was advising staff, players, and public alike in UL yesterday that it will take a concerted effort by all concerned if the team’s morale and well-being are to be restored after a bitterly disappointing run of bad results.

Chatting with Donal Lenihan at the Irish Examiner Ronan O’Gara Ruby Walsh Breakfast at the Clarion Hotel, Cork, O'Gara wondered if England kicker George Ford might prove a weakness Ireland can exploit in Sunday’s Six Nations clash.

Mike Forde knows plenty about summer transfers. Over the last 15 years, he’s recruited some of the world’s greatest footballers to the Premier League.

England’s repeated failure from 12 yards at World Cups prompted Ben Lyttleton to go in search of the perfect penalty kick.

Whisper it, but all the pieces appear to be falling into place for Paul O’Connell to be named the new Ireland captain later this week with the Munster lock expected to return to full training at Carton House today.

Pádraig Harrington showed the mental toughness struggling Rory McIlroy is lacking when overcoming tough conditions to share the clubhouse lead on the opening day of the Valero Texas Open.

Pádraig Harrington is often accused of thinking too much, but yesterday he took things a step further by monitoring his brainwaves in practice.

Pádraig Harrington is offering millions of euro worth of advertising space to the highest bidder after a family tragedy put his recent golfing struggles into perspective.

The first appearance by Tiger Woods in America this year has inevitably dominated the build-up to the AT&T National pro-am at Pebble Beach this week.

Pádraig Harrington last night admitted he is “happy to play the mistress” to world number one Luke Donald in the use of practice coach Dave Alred.

TIGER WOODS, along with the top four players in the world rankings, will contest this week’s Abu Dhabi Championship.

THE final event of the European Tour season was won by the man who has been the circuit’s biggest hitter for a stunning four of the last five years.

A number of England’s World Cup players were “more focused on money than getting the rugby right”, it was reported today in three leaked reports that lay bare the inside story behind the country's worst-ever World Cup performance in New Zealand.

Jonny Wilkinson has hit out at World Cup organisers for the inconsistent tournament balls used during the competition and branded them “horribly unprofessional”.

England international Manu Tuilagi was last night fined €3,400 by the Rugby Football Union after he was warned by Auckland police for jumping from a ferry into the harbour.

ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson last night accepted responsibility for the Rugby World Cup ‘ballgate’ scandal which has seen two of his management team suspended.

MARTIN JOHNSON has demanded England treat tomorrow’s showdown with Scotland as a winner-takes-all battle for Rugby World Cup survival.

Two members of England’s management team have been suspended by the Rugby Football Union from Saturday’s World Cup Pool B decider against Scotland.

It’s one of the GAA’s great pub debates: would he be playing if he wasn’t so good at the frees? For several counties this summer, the issue’s a live one

HE’S worked with Jonny Wilkinson and Luke Donald, and if you want to know why you can’t kick frees in Gaelic football, he can tell you. Michael Moynihan spoke to Dave Alred.

TUESDAY, and the Killiney Castle Hotel for the announcement of the Irish rugby team to play Italy in Croke Park tomorrow.

THESE are precious times for Munster supporters; what’s often overlooked is that for the players whom those supporters come to cheer, the times are even more special.

DAVE REDDIN — the fitness guru who played a key role in England’s 2003 World Cup success — has followed head coach Andy Robinson out of Twickenham.

ANDY ROBINSON resigned as England head coach yesterday afternoon – then insisted he could still have overseen a successful World Cup defence.

ANDY ROBINSON has had his last game as England coach, according to the BBC.

ANDY ROBINSON has vowed to continue as England head coach despite the world champions’ demoralising and humiliating run of seven successive defeats.

London Irish 11 Bristol 23

Andy Robinson has warned that England’s chances of defending the World Cup will be ruined unless he receives the full support of all the Guinness Premiership clubs next season.

FORMER Irish international Conor O’Shea has been promoted by the RFU in England to the position of national academy director in a backroom re-shuffle yesterday which saw Andy Robinson retain his position as England coach, but a host of his lieutenants get the chop.

ENGLAND could add a Grand Slam-winning coach to their backroom team for this summer’s tour of Australia.

Twickenham boss Francis Baron has stressed the need for England to halt their slump ahead of Saturday’s RBS Six Nations Championship appointment with Ireland.

Olly Barkley pressed his claims for a return to the England team with 19 points in Bath’s comprehensive 39-12 Heineken Cup Pool Five victory over Bourgoin.

Rugby Football Union chief Francis Baron insists Andy Robinson’s position as England head coach is “fireproof” through to the 2007 World Cup.

GAVIN HENSON yesterday insisted that life with Clive Woodward’s Lions had been “a really good experience.”

Gavin Henson tonight insisted that life with Clive Woodward’s Lions had been “a really good experience”.

WALES fly-half Stephen Jones joined the Lions squad in New Zealand last night determined to make up for lost time and reassert his favouritism for a Test spot.

JONNY WILKINSON’S waiting game ended last night when he was added to the Lions squad for this summer’s tour to New Zealand.

Jonny Wilkinson’s waiting game ended tonight when he was added to the Lions squad for this summer’s tour to New Zealand.