RTÉ Sport confirmed yesterday it has secured exclusive free-to-air broadcast rights to the Republic of Ireland’s qualifying matches for the Euro 2020 finals and the 2022 World Cup.

The image is seared onto the brains of the 17 million viewers who watched it live.

It is not an uncommon scenario; the rugby man, with all his connections and influence, sending the football man, with his talents, away from the office disappointed.

“Don’t go where you’re not wanted,” reflected John Giles last night, after RTÉ confirmed his 30-year spell as a football pundit with the station would finish after the European Championships.

RTÉ, who have confirmed the sub-licensing of 22 Euro 2016 games to TV3, must continue to be “creative and intelligent” in a bid to remain competitive in the race to secure future live TV sporting rights, according to Ryle Nugent.

RTÉ looks ready to sell on the rights to some matches at Euro 2016 to another Irish broadcaster.

Last week RTÉ screened a documentary about this year’s All-Ireland football final, a peek behind the scenes in the run-up to Dublin-Kerry clash as well as a look at the main stage, when players ‘engaged’ with referee David Coldrick about his handling of the game.

TV3 have snatched Six Nations rights from 2018-21. Can Rugby Country sustain a coup of this magnitude? Here are some of the things we’ll miss.

RTÉ's head of sport Ryle Nugent has been fined €100 for speeding on Christmas morning.

At one point yesterday, it was probably harder to find messages on social media platforms that were not about Paul O’Connell, as tributes flooded in for the Ireland rugby captain who has now played his last game for his country.

Many people were agitated on Wednesday evening, but to many others there was great comfort on offer on RTE 2.

Gaelic football pundit Joe Brolly could be in more hot water after his comments about referee Pádraig Hughes on Sunday.

In the battle of the broadcasters both RTÉ and TV3 have come out swinging, announcing details of new content with sport as the centrepiece.

Clare Balding proves that female journalists don’t have to ‘glam up’, says Kay Cairns

Top sports broadcaster Clare Balding believes Irish TV, radio and media outlets should be doing much more to promote women’s sports.

John Giles has aired his disappointment at not being part of the RTÉ panel for tomorrow’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier and admits he’s unsure if there’s a future for him with the national broadcaster.

Marty Morrissey has said GAA pundit Joe Brolly “crossed the line” when he referred to him as “ugly” live on air.

RTÉ pundit Joe Brolly has admitted he is mortified by the insulting remarks he made about colleague Marty Morrissey on the Sunday Game Live at the weekend.

The longest day and RTÉ make a good start, getting the troops off the beaches and into commentary boxes all over Europe.

Captain Blackadder: It’s the same plan that we used last time and the 17 times before that.

Subscription channel Setanta Sports has trumpeted itself as "the big winners" from the distribution of Champions League and Europa League television rights in Ireland for the next three years.

The League of Ireland is facing a formidable threat to its future attendances after the English Premier League confirmed it will screen live Friday night games from 2016.

The best 40 minutes rugby we have seen in years upon years

Not a move endorsed by Julie Andrews, never mind rehearsed on the training field under the watchful eye of Joe Schmidt, but let’s start at the very end, writes Enda McEvoy. 

I haven’t written about the Sky-GAA deal yet but brace yourself now, because I really feel I have to.

TV3 has secured full broadcasting rights for all 48 matches of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Good news.

The news that RTÉ will broadcast next week’s women’s Six Nations clash against England live from Twickenham was warmly greeted yesterday.

An afternoon of light, sweetness and the return of the redhead from Limerick, with the latter occurrence contributing substantially to the former.

Big news. Distressing news. Bigger than the death of a Pope, more distressing even than Willie O’Dea announcing his retirement from politics and departure for a life of silence in a Trappist monastery. It turns out that the other Greatest Living Limerick Man, Paul O’Connell, has a chest infection and has had to cry off.

Eamon Dunphy perpetual trophy for post-match entertainment: Davy Fitz

Master Schmidt’s second day in big school and it will not prove edifying. A host of lessons await, among them ones in maths, logic and biology.

Dónal Óg Cusack and Eamonn O’Hara will join RTÉ’s GAA Championship panel for the summer.

The quips are quick, the wit, razor sharp.

One of the most sage pieces of advice offered to RTÉ head of sport Ryle Nugent was that if he survived the first 10 years without people liking or disliking his rugby commentary, he might just make it. On the eve of his 15th season behind the mic, he evidently succeeded.

With commentator Jon Champion reprimanded by ESPN today for labelling Luis Suarez a cheat, we thought it was time to list five of our favourite commentary moments.

Rugby pundit George Hook has called on Joe Schmidt to end Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll’s dominance of Leinster’s centre positions.