It will be a proud day for the Scannell/O’Sullivan families when Munster take the field against Zebre in the Guinness Pro14 in Milan tomorrow night.

Niall will lead a team that includes his younger brother Rory and their cousin, Jack O'Sullivan.

Further evidence of the influence of West Cork rugby in the Munster team has come with the inclusion of Rosscarbery flanker John Hodnett for his first Guinness Pro 14 start — against South African side Southern Kings — at Musgrave Park this evening, kick-off 7. 35.

A screaming gale wind and slashing, sideways rain brought the footballers of Waterford and Wexford face to face not just with the absolute reality of life in Division 4, but with the most pressing questions of existence, starting with ‘do I really want to be here?’

Many more people in Europe are likely to contract novel coronavirus that causes serious lung disease, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has warned.

Two goals from Dara McGuinness – his first goals for Ireland – along with finishes from Thomas Lonergan and Jamie Mullins gave Paul Osam’s side a comprehensive win.

Nash has been named to start on the wing as Keith Earls misses out due to a minor knee injury in one of two changes to Johann van Graan's side.

Andy Farrell believes he will be leading Ireland into a new era with a squad for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations he believes has got the lot.

There are three key metrics that Munster can use to measure progress, writes Owen Harrison.

The Munster head coach was able to select JJ Hanahan as his starting fly-half to face Racing 92 in Sunday’s crucial Heineken Champions Cup pool clash at La Défense Arena.

It would be going too far to say Borris-Ileigh’s success made Christmas bearable for Paddy Stapleton and his family.

Joey Carbery makes his first start of the season at out-half.

Joey Carbery looks set to come to Munster’s rescue in Belfast on Friday night with the fit-again Ireland fly-half covering the possible absence of JJ Hanrahan with a hamstring injury.

Johann van Graan was left counting the casualties as he turned his focus towards this Friday’s visit to Ulster having lost more players to injury in the 13-6 home defeat to Leinster on Saturday.

Munster have been counting the cost of their losses, with four Ireland internationals among those injured at Allianz Park.

There's no room for Rob Kearney, Seán Cronin, Jordi Murphy, Jack Carty, John Ryan or Kieran Marmion – with newly eligible Jamison Gibson-Park jumping ahead of the Connacht man at scrum-half.

With the Six Nations kicking off in less than two months, it is the first squad meet-up since the national team returned from Japan.

The match point total will tell you all you need to know about the result. 4-0 Saracens. 5-4 across the head-to-head.

Johann van Graan backed his players to make the right on-pitch decisions after Munster missed a chance to rescue a losing bonus point in a 15-6 defeat at Saracens today.

With Munster holding a slender 6-3 lead on 50 minutes, the mass brawl that led to a Munster penalty handed the visitors a chance to widen their advantage.

Saracens have named an almost totally different side to face Munster at Allianz Park tomorrow, while the Reds make one change from their 10-3 home win.

The four Irish provinces have named their teams for this weekend's Champions Cup clashes.

It took hot favourites Templenoe a while to get to grips with St Breckan’s in the Munster club IFC final at Mallow but they survived the test, making a strong push for the finish line.

Hot favourites Templenoe turned in a strong second-half performance to see off St Breckan’s in the Munster club IFC final at Mallow today.

Borris-Ileigh and Tipperary hurler Dan McCormack has hailed the incredible bond that has seen the club claim a surprise county and provincial double.

There are three changes to the team that defeated Ospreys.

Keith Earls will make his first Munster appearance of the season in tomorrow's Champions Cup opener against the Ospreys.

Head Coaches Johann van Graan and Dan McFarland has named his side for Satuday's Guinness PRO14 Interpro derby this Saturday at Thomand Park.

St James’ secured their place in the Cork JAFC final for the first time with this deserved win against St Michael’s in Ovens.

There may be an ill wind blowing his way this weekend but as far as Andrew Porter is concerned the only storm that matters is the one Ireland can produce against Samoa.

This was a game that Ireland could not afford to labour in, but labour they did all the same.

Patience has been paramount for John Ryan with Ireland.

Johnny Sexton will return to the Ireland starting line-up on Thursday as Joe Schmidt’s team bids to reignite their World Cup Pool A campaign against Russia with a much-changed XV.

Ireland will take a fully fit squad to Japan for the World Cup.

In another unexpected move, head coach Schmidt preferred Luke McGrath as his back-up scrum-half over Conor Murray’s long-standing number two Kieran Marmion.

Ireland supporters will have breathed a little easier on Saturday night following this victory at the Principality Stadium.

Jack Carty got the official prize, but who was your man-of-the-match?

Jacob Stockdale’s interception of a wayward Aaron Shingler offload on 28 minutes was expertly finished by the Ireland wing to notch his second try of the first-half and establish a 12-point cushion that allowed the Irish to release the pressure valve that had been tightening for the past week.

Ireland supporters will be hoping their heroes in green have been channelling that showtune this week as they attempt to pick themselves off the floor following their Twickenham horror show and get World Cup preparations back on track today in Cardiff.

Simon Lewis looks at how Wales and Ireland shape up ahead of their World Cup warm-up.

Joe Schmidt has urged his players not to go into their shells when Ireland get their chance to atone for their Twickenham nightmare against Wales tomorrow.

The 2018 Grand Slam champions suffered a humiliating 57-15 defeat to England in London less than two weeks ago

How do you stand out by fitting in? This is the quandary that faces players across all sports when they are looking to make a name for themselves.

Tadhg Furlong was a rookie prop at the last World Cup, not only a blossoming tighthead but also covering the loosehead side of the front row.