Bundee Aki and Darren Sweetnam stand poised to complete very different but equally demanding journeys into Test rugby when they pull on an Ireland jersey in Dublin tomorrow evening.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

A legend, a leader, a braveheart, a kind, loving and spiritual man were among the accolades used to describe Willie Duggan at his funeral Mass, when more than 1,000 people gathered to say farewell to a giant of Irish and international rugby.

When Irish players lined up for a World Cup debut in 1987 — chests puffed out, ready to make history — they were played into battle by... ‘The Rose of Tralee’. Peter Jackson reports

Wales 23, Ireland 16:

Jonathan Sexton’s kicking talents are matched by his incredible mental strength.

A word to the wise: The final say on sport in 2014

And everyone starts joining in and dancing. It's great.

On Sunday night, after an Erasure gig at the Forum in Kentish Town, a group of fans waiting on a Tube platform for the train home gave a spontaneous performance of the band’s signature song,

Good news.

More health insurance hikes; Neil Francis to review ballet; Shatter slammed and Coppers: The Musical, in the Lunchtime Report.

Neil Francis is set to review a world-renowned performance of Swan Lake, days after saying he had no interest in ballet - much like the majority of gay people had no interest in sport.

Good morning. Here’s a look at the top stories you need to know, in the Irish Examiner’s Morning Report.

Rugby pundit Neil Francis has apologised unreservedly for negative comments he made in relation to gay people and sport after his remarks on Sunday attracted widespread criticism, including from gay sportsmen.

FULL equality for gay, lesbian, and transgender people has been described as the last civil and human rights campaign. I support that proposition.

International referee Nigel Owens has said that rugby pundit and former Irish international Neil Francis is “living in the dark ages.”

Good morning. Here’s a look at the top stories you need to know, in the Irish Examiner’s Morning Report.

Rugby pundit Neil Francis has denied he was stereotyping or generalising when he claimed that up to 90% of gay men had no interest or involvement in sport.

IRELAND or Australia.

EVERYONE seems to be worried about Jonathan Sexton’s confidence these days, as if it is something as fragile as Ronan O’Gara’s latest Man of the Match crystal glass.

WARREN GATLAND lit the fuse on the eve of today’s Six Nations showdown with Ireland by firing a blast back at his ‘personal and low’ critics.

DESPITE my absence of just over two months from the journalistic front-line, so much has happened since the conclusion of the Lions test series in July that has brought nothing but shame, ridicule and much negative comment to a sport loved by many all over the world.

The key complicating factor in the ticket equation is the group to which I belong: the Munster exile living in Dublin. We’re taking many of the tickets allocated to Leinster fans for the simple reason that this is where it’s easier for us to get our hands on them. There are nowhere near as many Leinster-born people living in Munster to take the Munster tickets

MICHAEL BRADLEY was last night enjoying the euphoria of his side’s deserved 12-6 Magners League win over Heineken Cup champions Munster.

SETANTA Sports has unveiled plans to cover all 48 games live at the Rugby World Cup in France this autumn.

IT was a match against Greystones six or seven years ago.

WITH all the focus in recent times on our provinces, be it the successes of Munster and Leinster, or the financial plight of Connacht, the focus has moved away from the international side.