In a season that keeps on giving for Irish rugby, a series win against a major southern hemisphere superpower for the first time since 1979 would offer the perfect ending.

Once again, the professional model that pertains in Ireland is being hailed as the best in class. That’s what comes with success. Everyone looks at what you’re doing in an attempt to close the gap, writes Donal Lenihan.

Ross Moriarty has revealed the full extent of a horror injury that ended his British and Irish Lions tour and left him unable to climb stairs.

Worcester wing Josh Adams will make his Wales debut in Saturday's NatWest 6 Nations opener against Scotland.

Wales star Sam Warburton is set to miss the rest of this season after undergoing a second operation in three months.

The Lions have drawn with New Zealand in a dramatic deciding test.

Simon Lewis shares the key moment of the match, the main talking point and the key man.

The British and Irish Lions slipped up for the second time in four matches in New Zealand, with the Highlanders stealing a 23-22 win in Dunedin.

GOOD DAY

Warren Gatland insisted there were plenty of positives for the tourists to take forward in tougher games after struggling to a narrow opening-game victory against the Provincial Barbarians today.

Warren Gatland has thrown down a challenge to his Lions to get the tourists off to a winning start this Saturday after last night naming a strong team to face the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians.

Jamie Heaslip believes all five Leinster players could feature in next month’s Lions Tests against New Zealand — but fears the Munster and Ulster contingent face a tougher battle to earn starting spots.

Gloucester 17 Stade Francais 25: Gloucester let an early 10-point lead slip to go down to Stade Francais at BT Murrayfield as they failed to impose themselves in the European Challenge Cup final.

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.

Jonathan Joseph was included in the Lions squad for New Zealand after Warren Gatland decided a player who has caused Wales so much torment on his watch could not be overlooked.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

Joe Schmidt will have to try and park the “what ifs” of a miserable night in Cardiff as the prospect of a visit to Dublin from Grand Slam-chasing England looms on Saturday.

Donal Lenihan examines the areas that will illuminate Ireland v Wales under Cardiff’s Friday night lights.

Wales boss Rob Howley offered his players a chance for redemption after naming an unchanged team to face Ireland tomorrow.

Wales forward Ross Moriarty has described his barnstorming performance against England as “the best game I have played.”

George North will return to Wales' starting line-up for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Shaun Edwards has delivered a detailed analysis of the Wales "mistake" that potentially cost them victory over England.

In the six days leading to Cardiff on Saturday night, Eddie Jones trotted out the usual Welsh stereotypes about daffodils, goats, and Tom Jones — all harmless, knockabout stuff even if some over-sensitive natives mistook it for a national insult.

England extended their winning run to 16 Tests as wing Elliot Daly's late try clinched a dramatic RBS 6 Nations victory over Wales in Cardiff.

Wales have beaten Italy 33-7 in the sides' 2017 RBS 6 Nations opener in Rome.

Regan King is used to leaving defenders not knowing where to look, but Leinster could tonight be forgiven for thinking they were suffering double vision.

Warren Gatland has urged the pundits to keep writing Wales off as his players prepare for battle with fellow World Cup heavyweights England and Australia.

Wales boss Warren Gatland believes that group rivals England are faced with a number of questions that need answering as they head into a World Cup on home soil.

Three of Welsh rugby’s biggest names — James Hook, Mike Phillips and Richard Hibbard — face uncertain international futures after seeing their World Cup hopes extinguished.

Wales want to put down an immediate marker in terms of their discipline when they face opening World Cup warm-up opponents Ireland tomorrow.

Warren Gatland rarely fails to take an opportunity to rile Ireland and even before a so-called warm-up game — and the mischievous side in him could still play a trick or two on Wales’ rivals.

Wales have announced the team to face Ireland in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up Test at the Millennium Stadium.

George North’s return to rugby has been delayed by a further three weeks.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has named nine uncapped players in a 47-man training squad for the Rugby World Cup.

Gloucester 40 Connacht 32 (AET): It had all the hallmarks of past heartbreaks. Connacht, punching above their weight, looked set to close in on the ultimate prize, only to be denied at the bitter end, whether by their own hand, or by questionable refereeing decisions.

Eoin Reddan has warned his Leinster team-mates that the consequences of their final two Guinness Pro12 games could haunt them for all of next season.

Edinburgh 13  Gloucester 19

Ireland U19 15 England U19 16

U20 Six Nations: Ireland 16 England 15