At 29 and closer to the end of his Dublin football career than the beginning, Dean Rock appears to have finally won over the doubters.

Three Leinster players are in the running for the European player of the year award.

Jack Carty stands alone among Irish goalkickers this season with not even Johnny Sexton able to keep him

Ireland dominate a list of five nominees in contention to be named The Rugby Union Writers’ Club personality of the year for 2018.

Mathieu Bastareaud has always stood out in a crowd, never more so than when surrounded by some of the most famous players in the world.

Ian Keatley sees the visit of Toulon to Thomond Park not only for the huge challenge it is for Munster but also as a massive opportunity for a young side eager to stake its own place in the province’s rich European heritage.

Of all the drop goals in all the world, Johnny Sexton’s is destined to keep flying ever higher on its steep climb towards the heavens.

“If your answer is to work harder than before, then that’s probably not enough. Everyone works hard these days”. — Paul O’Connell, January 2018

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland should take note — All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett is on a different planet right now and might be even better than three-times World Player of the Year Dan Carter, New Zealand rugby pundits have said.

They sat side by side on the same subs bench on a summer’s evening long ago, father and son far from the madding crowd in the English countryside.

Munster’s courageous recapture of Glasgow en route towards reinstating Limerick as Europe’s rugby capital raises a strange question this morning: What ever happened to the drop goal?

They’re not happy being stuck on three All-Irelands. In Tyrone, they crave more and, going by what we observed last Saturday, the county looks geared towards achieving that.

England swept aside Fiji 58-15 to extend their triumphant run to 12 Tests, but the defensive frailties evident at Twickenham will have concerned head coach Eddie Jones.

As smash hit double acts go, European professional club rugby never saw anything quite like Anthony Foley and Munster.

Described simply as “a genius” by Jonny Wilkinson, Dave Alred stands among the world’s top coaches in a variety of sports, including rugby, golf, cricket and soccer. He has been involved in Rugby World Cup success with England and Ryder Cup victory with Team Europe.

Dean Rock spent much of his teenage years kicking goals for Catholic University School’s Junior and Senior Cup rugby teams but no-one had to look very far even then for evidence of his GAA background or signs as to his future sporting path.

Gary Brennan seldom gets the chance to showcase his outstanding football talents for a national audience. But the Clare captain has won an army of admirers, including International Rules boss Joe Kernan, as the Banner’s footballers begin to rise again.

Saracens 21 Racing 92 9: Welcome to the new world. Just a month before the British decide whether or not to stay in the EU, along come Saracens and rise to the top of European rugby. 

Saracens became the first English club to conquer Europe for nine years as Owen Farrell kicked them to Champions Cup glory.

Beat Treviso, score four tries and book a home Guinness PRO12 semi-final.

Brett Connon is used to the sound of Callum Chick’s voice. Clubmates at Newcastle Falcons, the pair are housemates as well.

With renewed focus on concussion, there are contrasting cultures in the northern and southern hemispheres in that the approach here is to seek ‘collisions’ while the emphasis down there is to avoid ‘contact’, writes Brendan O’Brien

Dan Carter has made his much-anticipated arrival at Racing 92, vowing to emulate Jonny Wilkinson and enjoy a barbecue with Ronan O’Gara.

IT HAS been some week for rugby. In a period overshadowed by the terrorist attacks that has put all in France and beyond on high alert, the postponement of Munster’s Champions Cup game in Paris was absolutely necessary.

Jonny Wilkinson may not have known what he was unleashing when he mused aloud near the end of last year that Matt Giteau was such an “exceptional” player, that he didn’t quite know how Australian rugby could have ever let one of the most gifted playmakers in Wallaby annals disappear to work his wonders in Europe.

All the latest sports book news, including a profile of Patrick McCarry’s book The New Breed – Irish Rugby’s Professional Era

By Brendan O’Brien

THE French are fascinated by Jonathan Sexton. They don’t quite know what to make of him, this driven fly-half with the same burning intensity as Jonny Wilkinson.

The pressures on England at this World Cup can hardly be over-egged. Their status as hosts, as founding fathers of the game, and as the country with both the greatest playing resources and finances, guaranteed a level of scrutiny and sense of expectation that was only heightened by their placement in Pool A alongside Wales and Australia.

France resume their Pool D campaign at the Olympic Stadium against Romania tonight with Johnny Sexton declaring Philippe Saint-Andre’s side “the best they’ve looked in years”.