No I haven’t walked the 200 feet of tunnel that reputedly leads from renowned London wine merchants Berry Brothers and Rudd to Buckingham Palace, but I am assured such a route exists, writes Ronan O’Gara.

It will take just over an hour by air for the Racing 92 players to fly to Toulouse for Sunday’s important Top 14 game at the Stade Ernest Wallon, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Racing’s vast resources are best illustrated by the options available to their management in the second row alone compared to Johann van Graan, writes Donal Lenihan.

By New Year’s Eve, we had disconnected the television at the house in Paris, so I had to slip next door to a pub-restaurant I knew prided itself on multi-screen sports. Montpellier-Brive was on one channel and off in the corner, with a few quiet seats underneath it was coverage of Racing 92’s trip down to Oyonnax.

Racing 92 owner and president Jacky Lorenzetti tried four times to persuade Ronan O’Gara to pass on a move to Super Rugby champions, the Crusaders, without success, the Munster and Ireland legend revealed last night.

New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders are targeting Ronan O’Gara for a sensational move to Super Rugby next season.

New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders are targeting Ronan O’Gara for a sensational move to Super Rugby next season.

Given how precious and frail dressing-room confidence can be, you’ll take all the positive bounces you can get, even if they are not of your making.

If you drive up from Spain the first three towns you hit in France along the A9 are three big rugby strongholds … Perpignan, Narbonne and Beziers.

Ronan O’Gara breaks down that Racing 92 match you fortunately missed...

Racing 92 and Stade Francais have announced that their proposed merger is off.

French giants Stade Francais and Racing 92 will merge next season, forming an “absolute monster” Top 14 Paris super club.

Munster return to Paris this weekend for the first time since the unexpected death of their beloved head coach, Anthony Foley, who passed away on Sunday, October 16, sparking an outpouring of grief across the country. 

From where Munster was 18 months ago, things looked and felt a whole lot more positive from where I was sitting Tuesday night, writes Ronan O’Gara

Ronan O’Gara explains why he is staying in Paris for three more years

They give the impression of having it all — the world’s most charismatic player, match-winners all over the pitch, and an Irish skills coach better versed than anyone else in the art of conquering Europe.

Johnny Sexton’s two-year Parisian adventure could end abruptly tonight if he cannot steer his Racing Metro colleagues past city rivals Stade Francais in the French Top 14 play-offs.

Maybe there will have to be a law against Toulon, one denouncing them as bad for business because they are too good for everyone else.

With Leinster the sole province flying the Irish flag in this weekend’s Champions Cup quarter-finals, it’s natural the thoughts of supporters of other teams are already turning to next season.

MY boss has a dream and all available evidence thus far indicates he is going to make it happen, writes Ronan O'Gara.

All Black great Dan Carter said the sheer quality of the players in France’s Top 14 was a key reason in him joining Racing Metro — but money was undoubtedly a factor too.

New Zealand legend Dan Carter is set to be unveiled as Jonathan Sexton’s replacement at Racing Metro this morning.

All’s well that ends well, then.

Jonathan Sexton has all but made his mind up as to where he will play his club rugby in 12 months’ time, but the Racing Metro out-half stopped short of revealing whether home will be Dublin or Paris.

Jonathan Sexton hopes to have his contract situation sorted out in the next few weeks amid growing speculation he may remain with Racing Metro 92 in France for at least a third season.

Ronan O’Gara has confirmed he is ready to sign a contract extension to 2016 with Racing Metro — ruling out any short-term return to Munster.

When Marcel Michelin created a rugby club for his hometown in 1911, he could never have imagined it would become what it is today – the team everyone wants to avoid.

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 6:

If the ERC need to remind its constituent partners of what it is that makes the Heineken Cup a riveting tournament, just replay at their next board meeting the last five minutes of action at Perpignan’s Stade Aime Giral and the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Racing Metro 8 Harlequins 32

Ronan O’Gara has poured cold water on the prospect of Munster, Ireland and Lions scrum-half Conor Murray joining him at Racing Metro.

Racing Metro are said to be in line for a shock swoop of Munster star Conor Murray, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

LEINSTER V CASTRES

Jonathan Sexton has got an early taste of the idiosyncrasies of Racing Metro president Jacky Lorenzetti with the Paris club moving their first home match of the season 500km away to the seaside — because most of their supporters will be on holiday.

Rugby legend Ronan O’Gara kicks off a new career in new surroundings today as he begins life as a coach with French Top 14 side Racing Metro.

Life in Paris, and his new career with Racing Metro 92, became that bit more real this week for Ronan O’Gara, who spent two days in the French capital where he met with the club’s new coaches, Laurent Travers and Laurent Labit.

Clermont coach Vern Cotter has claimed his club were Jonny Sexton’s preferred choice in France, but were priced out of a deal by the financial might of Jacky Lorenzetti at Racing Métro.