Two men have been jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today for attacking a group in Temple Bar almost four years ago.

Four young Nigerian men will be sentenced later for their role in a street attack on nightclub goers and a DJ over three years ago.

Former champion Raymond van Barneveld put last year’s shock opening-round exit behind him with a superb performance tonight to thrash Michael Smith 3-0 and progress through to the second round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

ERC are “dismayed and frustrated” at the threat issued by English and French clubs that they will quit European competition unless structural changes are made.

From a Frankfurt office tower he masterminds a team that has downgraded eurozone countries’ credit ratings 36 times. Mark Jones profiles Standard & Poor’s Moritz Kraemer

ERC’S attempt to go global for yesterday’s Heineken Cup draw backfired disastrously when their website crashed.

FOUR British riot squad officers have been charged with beating up a Briton now awaiting extradition to the United States to face terrorism charges when they arrested him, prosecutors said yesterday.

NEW Ireland Under-20 boss Mike Ruddock admits that development of young talent and the creation of a winning culture are his key objectives in the new role.

Ireland and Scarlets flanker Simon Easterby has been forced to retire after failing to recover from a knee injury suffered in December.

The Scarlets welcome back Welsh internationals Ken Owens and Jonathan Davies for their Magner’s League clash with Munster at Musgrave Park on Thursday evening.

LIFEIMI MAFI relegated to make way for a centre alignment of Jean de Villiers and Keith Earls while David Wallace switches to number eight… those are the major talking points in the Munster team to play the Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park tomorrow.

FINGERS are still firmly crossed that the current cold spell will not prevent Sunday’s Magners League game between Munster and Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park from taking place.

SIMON EASTERBY has been ruled out of the remainder of the Scarlets’ Heineken Cup campaign.

SUCH was the magnitude of this performance that Leinster travelled to the Welsh valleys on Saturday with their Heineken Cup title hanging by a thread and yet they departed with their grip seemingly tighter than ever.

Scarlets 7 Leinster 32

Makhzoon reaped the rewards of a dramatic conclusion to the Betfair Training Series Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Hurdle at Leicester today.

Scarlets 16 Edinburgh 17

DAN CARTER’S disciplinary hearing has been postponed until today, at the request of the New Zealand team management. The case will be heard in London.

London Irish 25 Scarlets 27

Scarlets 20 Munster 22

Coach Nigel Davies has made three changes to The Scarlets side to play Munster in the Magner's League at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.

Scarlets 18 Leinster 16

Scarlets coach Nigel Davies will start international new recruits Sean Lamont, Richie Pugh and Rhys Thomas in this weekend's Magners League opener at home to European champions Leinster at Parc Y Scarlets on Saturday (6.30pm).

JOB done. Seven tries, just the one conceded and, most importantly, not an injury in sight.

Leinster 45 Scarlets 8

The Scarlets will bring their two British & Irish Lions Stephen Jones and Matthew Rees to head their challenge against Munster at Musgrave Park on Friday evening.

Scarlets 19 Ospreys 28

Scarlets 21 Glasgow 38

Wales need to record their biggest victory over Ireland for 26 years when they face mission improbable at the Millennium Stadium next Saturday.

Italy 15 Wales 20

ACCURACY and precision will be top of Wales’ agenda when they look to revive their RBS 6 Nations title bid in Rome on Saturday.

Scarlets 13 Edinburgh 6

Ospreys lock Alun-Wyn Jones will captain Wales for the first time in next week’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Italy.

France did Ireland a big favour as they ended Welsh dreams of back-to-back Grand Slams by coming from behind to win the first RBS 6 Nations match to ever be played on a Friday night.

WALES boss Warren Gatland has no doubt that Gavin Henson is fit and ready to make his long awaited Test rugby return in Paris on Friday night.

Warren Gatland has made one change in the starting line-up for Wales's Six Nations clash with France on Friday night.

Scarlets 17 Leinster 31

FELIPE CONTEPOMI believes a repeat of last year’s away form holds the key to Leinster’s hopes for silverware.

LEINSTER defence coach Kurt McQuilkin believes the province is ‘in a good place’ in terms of the race for Magners League and Heineken Cup honours.

Wales 23 England 15

MARTIN JOHNSON insisted sexy rugby will be the last thing on his mind as England head into today’s Valentine’s Day rendezvous with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales star Shane Williams has been ruled out of tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations clash against England at the Millennium Stadium.

WALES wing wizard Shane Williams has only a “50-50” chance of being fit to weave his magic against England tomorrow.