Brian O’Driscoll looks set to end his British and Irish Lions career by captaining the tourists in a Test series decider.

Hollywood star Liam Neeson arrived back in Ballymena to a jubilant welcome as he accepted the freedom of his home town.

Actor Liam Neeson arrived back in Ballymena today to a jubilant welcome as he accepted the freedom of his home town.

COLM TUCKER played his rugby the way he lived his life. He was earnest, committed, determined and like all successful sportsmen, certainly didn’t like to lose!

FORMER Ireland and Lions star Mike Gibson has become the fifth Irishman to be inducted into the International Rugby Board’s Hall of Fame.

IT is hugely disappointing to hear people belittle Ireland’s potential to win the Triple Crown for the fifth time in seven years at Croke Park on Saturday.

IRELAND and South Africa meet for the 19th time this afternoon and it promises to be a belter of a contest. How could it be otherwise given South Africa’s status as world and Tri-Nations champions against the host nation who captured the Six Nations Grand Slam for the first time in 61 years.

THREE Irish Lions were induced into the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame last night.

Few understand what makes the British and Irish Lions tick more than Ian McGeechan. He told Charlie Mulqueen why chemistry and character must come before talent to help one of world sport’s greatest brands to continue to thrive.

WILLIE JOHN McBride has been voted the greatest ever Lion by best-selling magazine Rugby World – though there is no place in the Top 50 for 2009 captain, Paul O’Connell.

Johnson and Dallaglio said the Lions Test series win was the pinnacle of their careers. So Paul O’Connell recognises how much is riding on today’s clash against South Africa in Pretoria. He discussed this and more with Edward Newman

Tomorrow’s Croke Park stand-off is an indicator of Irish rugby’s rude good health. But it didn’t happen by accident – it’s vindication of the IRFU’s policy of keeping their players at home when rugby went pro. MICHAEL MOYNIHAN reports.

Charlie Mulqueen talks to rugby legend Gerald Davies about the principles of rugby, touring and being next year’s Lions manager.

THE IRB world rankings will for the first time be used to seed teams at the 2011 rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

The IRB World Rankings will for the first time be used to seed teams at the 2011 rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

ARGENTINA will not be admitted into the Six Nations after being told by the International Rugby Board their future lies in the southern hemisphere.

It is difficult to disagree with outgoing International Rugby Board chairman Dr Syd Millar that France 2007 was “the best ever World Cup”.

World Cup organisers will launch an investigation into an alarming security breach that occurred just prior to the presentation of the Webb Ellis Trophy to tournament winners South Africa last night.

IT WOULD be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we have achieved all we could have hoped for by reaching the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup.

ARGENTINA’S director of rugby Les Cusworth is convinced the best is yet to come from Juan Martin Hernandez, the Pumas fly-half dubbed rugby’s Maradona.

Leinster's Felipe Contepomi has been short-listed for the International Rugby Board World Player of the Year.

WORLD rugby’s senior administrator has called for Argentina to join an expanded Tri-Nations tournament, saying the Pumas couldn’t be “neglected” any longer.

World Cup surprise package Argentina should be included in an expanded southern hemisphere Tri-Nations tournament, International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Dr Syd Millar said today.

ENGLISH and French clubs will play in next season’s European Cup and Challenge Cup, tournament organisers ERC confirmed yesterday following a meeting at Twickenham between all stakeholders.

INTERNATIONAL Rugby Board chief Dr Syd Millar has delivered an upbeat verdict on the Heineken Cup’s future.

THE qualifying structure for future Rugby World Cups is to be changed to better reflect the modern game and increase the profile of one of the world’s largest sporting events, with the number of automatic qualifiers increasing to 12.

England will qualify automatically for the 2011 World Cup – even if they finish third in their pool at this year’s tournament.

Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive Roger Lewis believes “common sense” will have prevailed if – as expected – the Anglo-French boycott of the Heineken Cup is lifted today.

The IRFU has welcomed a possible breakthrough in negotiations to reinstate next season’s Heineken Cup with “cautious optimism”.

The Irish Rugby Football Union has welcomed a possible breakthrough in negotiations to reinstate next season’s Heineken Cup with "cautious optimism".

IRISH rugby chiefs firmly believe that the future of the Heineken Cup is safe.

Serge Blanco has rejected the withering attack launched against him this week by International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Dr Syd Millar, insisting his primary motive is not personal glory but safeguarding the future of the club game.

Welsh rugby chief Roger Lewis believes “the door remains open” for top English and French clubs to play in next season’s Heineken Cup.

The European Rugby Cup Ltd directors and shareholders begin a series of meetings in Dublin today which could prove vital to the immediate future of the Heineken Cup.

International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Dr Syd Millar has urged Guinness Premiership clubs to back out of their European boycott and return to the negotiating table.

INTERNATIONAL Rugby Board (IRB) chairman, Dr Syd Millar, has described the planned withdrawal of French and English clubs from the Heineken Cup as “absolutely disgraceful and selfish”.

NEW rules on scrummaging came into play yesterday in rugby union designed to improve player safety.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) is to introduce a new tough but more rational policy to deal with illegal and foul-play offenders.

THE International Rugby Board have taken steps to increase safety in the scrum by passing a new law covering the engagement sequence.

The 2011 World Cup will be held in September and October as part of the International Rugby Board's plans for a fully integrated global season.

SPRINGBOK coach Jake White is gambling on a rookie back three for Saturday’s test with Ireland at Lansdowne Road (5pm).

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced that a photograph by Morgan Treacy of the Inpho agency in Dublin has won the inaugural IRB/Emirates Airline Rugby Photograph of the Year Award.

AND so it ends. Planning permitting, the wrecking balls will demolish Lansdowne Road this year, paving the way for an historic Six Nations championship at Croke Park next year.

FRIDAY sees one of the most formidable collection of legends in one room since Homer sat down to write the Odyssey.