The British and Irish Lions squad announcement followed the usual pattern — a majority of predictable selections, a few left field picks, some surprise omissions along with the customary bolter. Warren Gatland was always good for a few of those and in Ross Moriarty, Ben Te’o and Ireland’s Jared Payne, he didn’t disappoint.

Warren Gatland has put Conor Murray on notice that he will need to play before the end of the season if he wants to take his seat on the British & Irish Lions plane leaving for New Zealand in less than five weeks.

Former Ireland team medic Eanna Falvey is to be the British & Irish Lions lead doctor for this summer’s tour to New Zealand.

Former England internationals Andy Farrell and Steve Borthwick look set to be among the assistant coaches announced today for next summer’s British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

Joe Schmidt’s hopes of coaching the British and Irish Lions against New Zealand in 2017 may have received a setback after tour manager John Spencer revealed that only a head coach able to take a year-long sabbatical will be considered to lead the 2017 tour to New Zealand.

Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft is closing fast on an unexpectedly spotted Pluto, the most distant planetary body ever explored.

THIS week Taoiseach Enda Kenny and some senior ministers twice presented themselves as hand-tied supplicants dependent on the kindness of strangers who might do the right thing — hopefully before an election is called.

Oh Josh, come back to us. We miss you.

A gouda idea. Feta than last year.

Sometimes, you’d think that Roman Abramovich bought Coventry that time and not Chelsea.

A Co Tipperary man has claimed he and 131 other investors in a property fund marketed by the former Anglo Irish Bank Private Bankers are being used as “a human shield” to protect the bank’s own interests.

Jimmy White has joined Ronnie O’Sullivan in calling for snooker chiefs to mark the anniversaries of Alex Higgins’ two world title triumphs.

DECLAN KIDNEY, Warren Gatland and Andy Robinson will all effectively be on trial during the forthcoming Six Nations to be head coach of the 2013 British and Irish Lions.

Snooker legend Alex ’Hurricane’ Higgins struggled to cope with the fame and fortune thrust upon him at a young age, a memorial service heard today.

Friends, family and sports stars are expected to attend a thanksgiving service today for snooker star Alex Higgins.

Tributes flooded in from the snooker world for Alex "Hurricane" Higgins, the troubled genius of the table who died after a battle with cancer.

Caverns of liquid salty water which could provide a home for extra-terrestrial life may lie beneath the icy surface of one of Saturn’s moons, scientists believe.

John Higgins has set his sights on winning another two world titles after joining the small band of players to have triumphed three times.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is poised to join a select band if he completes his demolition of outsider Ali Carter during today’s conclusion of the 888.com World Championship final at the Crucible theatre.

Odds-on favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan is on course to lift a third 888.com World Championship title after taking an iron grip on his final clash with Ali Carter at the Crucible theatre.

England’s World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson is set for his first official role since retiring after being elected to the newly-formed Professional Game Board (PGB).

New Saga Insurance Masters champion Mark Selby believes winning his first major title will earn him deserved respect from his rivals.

Mark Selby re-wrote the record books when he became the first debutant for 19 years to win the SAGA Insurance Masters.

Rob Andrew has urged England to deliver a "massive performance" when the struggling world champions tackle South Africa on Saturday.

ANDY ROBINSON faces a two-week trial by a jury of his Twickenham bosses and 82,000 England supporters as he fights to extend a troubled coaching reign beyond the end of the month.

Besieged England boss Andy Robinson is set to remain in charge of the ailing world champions for their remaining autumn Tests against South Africa.

US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton readied a New York state-wide victory tour today after romping to re-election – a political milestone that bolstered her status as the Democratic front-runner for the 2008 presidential nomination.

A Republican candidate hoping to challenge Senator Hillary Clinton this autumn is running a television advertisement that links her to al-Qaida terror boss Osama bin Laden.

John Spencer, the actor who played a tough, dedicated politician who survived a coronary illness to run for vice president in TV drama The West Wing, has died of a heart attack.

British & Irish Lions 25 Argentina 25

JACKIE MCNAMARA has re-ignited the debate for Celtic to be allowed to join the English league.

Snooker legend Ray Reardon is tipping Ronnie O’Sullivan to win 10 world titles and believes he should change his nickname from ‘The Rocket’ to ‘The Magician’.

Two players have been cited for alleged foul play following the latest round of Heineken Cup pool games.

Ronnie O’Sullivan had 169,000 reasons to be cheerful in Sheffield last night but the ‘Rocket’ was not exactly over the moon.

MOSTLY overlooked for eight seasons, a resurgent Friends walked away with its first comedy series Emmy Award, while voters heaped more Emmy gold on The West Wing.

Actor Albert Finney today beat off competition from two fellow Brits to scoop a top honour in the US Emmy awards.

Rob Lowe is to leave White House drama the West Wing in a row over pay, it was reported today.

Bosses of television programme The West Wing have offered to end a strike by four of its stars by doubling their pay, it was reported today.

Billy Davies will not rush into the transfer market in a bid to strengthen his Motherwell squad before the end of the season.

England captain Martin Johnson will have an appeal against his 35-day ban for foul play heard by a three-man panel on Thursday.