Pope Francis will visit Ireland in 2018. Whether he will venture into the North isn’t yet known but, later in the year, Belfast will welcome another distinguished visitor.

ENGLAND: The Natural History Museum’s famous cast of a Diplodocus skeleton — affectionately known as Dippy — is to be sent on a tour of Britain.

Dippy the Diplodocus has become a monster trending hit on Twitter as supporters rally to stop him being put out to pasture by the Natural History Museum — and being replaced by a blue whale from Wexford Harbour.

Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien could miss the entire RBS 6 Nations championship after Leinster warned he faces a long lay-off with a dislocated shoulder.