France may have had Jim Telfer spluttering on his neeps and tatties yesterday but at least Scotland’s grand old Lion got through it without an opponent taking the food out of his mouth.

Jackie 4/5

Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman star in the amazing true tale of an Indian boy adopted to Australia, who used Google Earth to find the family he had lost at the age of five, writes Helen Barlow

Musgrave Park has hosted some of the greatest days in the history of Munster rugby. 

If ever an animal could be said not to have died in vain, it was poor old Cecil the Lion. His sad death, at the hands of a wealthy hunter, has focused attention on the plight of endangered wildlife.

USA: The University of Illinois stakes claim to 23 Nobel Prize winners and tech prowess that contributed to the creation of YouTube, Netscape, Java, and Yelp.

As a 3D version is released to celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, Ed Power looks at the ‘curses’ surrounding the iconic film

Jazz album:Marius Neset/Trondheim Jazz Orchestra

The epiphany happens during a backstage tour at the Apollo Theatre in London.

Brian O’Driscoll admits he resented Warren Gatland’s decision to drop him from the final British and Irish Lions Test — and that it spoiled the series win for him.

The death has occurred of Sean McNamara, one of the most respected prop forwards in Munster rugby for more than a decade immediately after World War II and who then went on to coach Thomond during the most successful years of the Limerick club.

Jay Z has dropped the hyphen from his name.

An incredible day of tactical racing has set the tone for the weekend

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.

Ulster back row Stephen Ferris could be on his way to Japan.

The Lion King has been seen by 65m people in 16 years. It opens in Dublin in April, says Jo Kerrigan

With a Grand Slam and two Heineken Cup successes on his resumé, Paul O’Connell is pretty much in the “been there, done that”, category of rugby players.

Rapper Snoop Dogg says he was "born again" during a recent visit to Jamaica, and is changing his name to 'Snoop Lion'.

Lion Na Bearnai provided trainer Tom Gibney and jockey Andrew Thornton with the biggest success of their careers in the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

While the overriding feeling among the Irish camp after Sunday’s 17-17 draw was frustration, injured captain Brian O’Driscoll has praised the resilience of his teammates in stopping France from winning the game.

Ireland’s hopes of securing an historic first victory over the All Blacks suffered yet another blow today when Keith Earls withdrew from the tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Keith Earls is the latest player to withdraw from Ireland’s summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

Paul O’Connell is causing the most concern in the Munster camp ahead of Saturday’s season-defining Heineken Cup quarter-final in Thomond Park.

WHEN most were floundering in the face of unbelievable Leinster physicality, one Munster man held his nerve at the RDS last Saturday night.

Leinster 9 London Irish 12

RIVAL coaches Michael Cheika and Tony McGahan were left with a number of unpalatable decisions to make when finalising their sides for this evening’s Magners League clash between Leinster and Munster at the RDS.

ONE might have thought that facing down the hugely physical and intimidating Springboks was enough of a challenge for any British and Irish Lion, but, for a group of brave tourists, they dared getting up close and personal with their real-life brethren.

1.WHY aren’t there more Irish rugby players with tattoos? Every second Welsh player last weekend had some kind of ink curling out from underneath a sleeve, leaving the boys in green looking a little... pasty in comparison.

Tom Shanklin has launched a staunch defence of under-fire Wales centre partner and World Cup skipper Gareth Thomas.

WHILE France remain the bookies favourites to regain the championship they last won in 2004, Ireland’s sole Six Nations focus should be on beating England in Twickenham, thus securing the Triple Crown for only the eighth time in our long rugby history.

Lion Malcolm O'Kelly will return for Leinster, most likely from the bench, as Cardiff Blues come to the RDS on Saturday.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry today hit back at the Lions’ propaganda war that has raged since their humiliating first Test defeat in Christchurch.

Unlucky Lion Simon Taylor has backed his touring team-mates to pull off a surprise result in the opening Test.

NEW ZEALAND's record try-scorer has warned his compatriots the British and Irish Lions have yet to realise their potential, but it's doubtful if his countrymen heard him - after all, his comments were made in Cork.

THE British and Irish Lions are once again learning that southern hemisphere rugby is a lot different to their own brand of play.

IT has been difficult to escape the name Jonny Wilkinson in these parts since the Lions arrived in New Zealand a week ago; even less so when you happen to be another fly-half in the camp.

The influence of Munster rugby on the Heineken Cup has been given further exposure by the selection of Munster captain Anthony Foley as the Heineken Cup Player of the Century.

Lion Mark Cueto plans to repay the club for the backing they have given him through the hard times when he lines up for them against Pau in the European Challenge Cup final at Oxford on Saturday.

Munster 27 Llanelli Scarlets 16

RONAN O’GARA had just the kind of day he must have hoped for. With the imminent Lions tour in mind, he was understandably desperate to prove his fitness after a six week lay-off.

A new scheme to urge young people to get involved in their local communities was launched today to reverse the decline in volunteerism.

Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll has urged his players to respond to their Grand Slam failure by claiming the next largest prize in European rugby – the RBS 6 Nations title.