It’s somewhat ironic that at a time when rugby is enjoying an unprecedented level of popularity in this country, with the national team ranked in the top two sides in the world, the game itself faces massive challenges.

Ulster Rugby confirmed yesterday that Daniel Soper will join Dan McFarland’s coaching ticket next season in the position of skills coach.

The Ireland star will remain with Ulster to take up a coaching role.

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime...

It may have cost him dearly, but Robbie Henshaw has no regrets over the try he scored against Italy last month even if it reduced him to a watching brief for the next five weeks as Ireland completed the Grand Slam.

Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh picks an Irish XV comprising of the 2009 Grand Slam team and the team that will chase that title on Saturday. 

Forget the hype surrounding this St Patrick’s Day Grand Slam showdown with England at Twickenham, Ireland boss Joe Schmidt will boil this Saturday’s Six Nations finale down to its very essence — us against them.

A needs-must situation, Joe Schmidt had said.

"Sometimes you don't have the luxury of a plethora of options."

Keith Earls was one of the first Irish backs to be landed with the dubious honour of being ‘the next Brian O’Driscoll’, so his first emotion when Garry Ringrose was slapped with the same tag was one of avuncular concern.

Hats off to Six Nations Rugby for having the foresight to schedule a down week in the 2018 Championship. It coincides with one of the most severe weather events in a generation. Simon Lewis used the pause to encapsulate the various whys, wows, wherefores, and what-nexts

Sam Arnold doesn’t need anyone telling him that he is on the brink of a first Irish cap but the Munster centre knows better than most how suddenly best-laid plans and ambitions can be toyed with by rugby’s fickle gods.

He was initially described as Lazarus for his recovery, but a scan revealed worse news.

It may have escaped many people’s notice that, as word emerged yesterday of Jamie Heaslip’s decision to retire from the game he had graced at the highest level for a decade, the Scarlets were announcing the end of another rugby career.

Fine margins, this fixture has been determined by them time and time again over the past decade and everything points to a similar scenario when Ireland and Wales lock horns once more in Dublin this afternoon.

Joe Schmidt has backed Ireland’s “great decision makers” to successfully adapt to whatever conditions or opposition gameplan they face when Wales visit Dublin for this Saturday’s crucial NatWest 6 Nations showdown.

Joe Schmidt has praised Chris Farrell’s all-round game and form in confirming the Munster centre is at the head of the queue to replace Robbie Henshaw in Ireland’s midfield to face Wales in Dublin on February 24.

Ireland face a "huge test" of their squad depth in the wake of Robbie Henshaw's 6 Nations-ending shoulder injury, according to boss Joe Schmidt.

Here's your morning news bulletin...

Ulster’s New Zealand-born Ireland and Lions star Jared Payne has given the broadest hint yet that he is on the cusp of retiring by taking up an Ulster coaching role.

Garry Ringrose’s potential return to action after six months on the sidelines may be music to the ears of the Ireland team management but in the wake of Robbie Henshaw’s shoulder injury, the Six Nations leaders have a serious experience deficit to make up before Wales visit in Dublin.

Joe Schmidt will head into his fifth Six Nations championship as Ireland head coach admitting he has not looked past Saturday’s opening showdown in Paris.

Munster prop Dave Kilcoyne looks set to miss Ireland’s opening two games of the NatWest 6 Nations but Joe Schmidt is confident Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale will return to training by the end of the week.

"You can always reflect on who you’re missing but you’ve got to focus on who you’ve got."

Joe Schmidt was true to his word that the Six Nations is no place for experimentation as he named an experienced squad for next month’s opening games of the championship, although there was one notable and welcome exception.

Ulster head coach Jono Gibbes says his players are eager to take on Pool One leaders La Rochelle in the Champions Cup at Kingspan on Saturday, spurred on by the prospect of reaching the quarter-final stages for the first time since 2014.

In the wake of Ulster’s spectacular comeback win over Munster on New Year’s Day the focus has switched quickly to Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 date with Leinster at the RDS.

Whatever the demands in Munster for a return to winning ways after a chastening home defeat to Leinster, it is up in Ulster where the need for atonement is felt much deeper ahead of this evening’s sold-out PRO14 derby clash in Belfast, writes Simon Lewis

Ulster fans arriving very early for last weekend’s Champions Cup clash with Harlequins might have chanced upon what would be good news for the side and its coaches.

Les Kiss knows only too well that Ulster face a near impossible task in replacing Christian Lealiifano when the Australian’s loan spell in Belfast comes to an end.

Fledgling international star Jacob Stockdale will be back in Ulster’s colours when the next stage of the Champions Cup gets underway for Les Kiss’s side on Sunday when they face in-form Harlequins at The Stoop.

Joe Schmidt insists this evening’s match with Argentina has nothing to do with revenge, but he does not deny that the 2015 World Cup quarter-final defeat has informed the Ireland boss’s approach to this Guinness Series finale.

Joe Schmidt has challenged his Test rookies to survive on their wits, not rely on the experience of those around them, after naming an inexperienced backline to face old foes Argentina tomorrow.

Joe Schmidt has insisted revenge will not be a motivation for Ireland when they face their World Cup conquerors Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Bundee Aki and Darren Sweetnam stand poised to complete very different but equally demanding journeys into Test rugby when they pull on an Ireland jersey in Dublin tomorrow evening.

Is there any particular autumn international I’d buy a ticket for?

Ireland’s back row for Saturday’s Guinness Series opener against South Africa appears to be cut and dried after forwards coach Simon Easterby revealed Tommy O’Donnell, Dan Leavy, and Jack Conan had all missed some training this week.

The battle for supremacy over the Springboks will extend all the way to the pre- and post-match functions at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, writes Donal Lenihan.

Simon Lewis looks at what Ireland boss Joe Schmidt will be looking to gain from three games in November

When it comes to player retention, there are some bases even the IRFU cannot cover.