Jerry Flannery enjoyed an outstanding career as a hooker with UCC, Shannon, Galwegians, Connacht, Munster, and Ireland, and completed his Masters in Sports Performance when he received a welcome call from an old friend and team mate.

Eddie Jones is yet to name his first England captain but insists he will pick his “best player” for the role.

Long before Munster headed home from Bristol on Sunday, players and management knew that unless this is a tough week of soul-searching and preparation then their Champions Cup campaign will be unhinged over the next two weekends by in-form Leicester Tigers.

From shortly before 8pm tonight the streets from Camden to Carmarthen will be deserted.

England forwards coach Graham Rowntree has been in regular contact with Dylan Hartley to ensure he would be ready if needed during the World Cup.

England won’t lack for confidence when they arrive in the Aviva Stadium tomorrow, says Donal Lenihan.

England have named Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter on the bench for Friday night’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.

Leicester 40 Scarlets 23

Rugby: Bath boss Mike Ford has refused to be drawn on speculation that Wales international fly-half Rhys Priestland is to join the Aviva Premiership title contenders.

Leicester put indifferent domestic form behind them as they made a strong start to their European Rugby Champions Cup Group Three campaign by sinking Ulster at Welford Road.

Nice to see that what happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch.

Dylan Hartley is perhaps the first person to have found redemption in the form of a moustache.

The Irish hordes will descend on Twickenham on February 22 in the hope of seeing their heroes claim the Triple Crown and take a giant leap closer towards the Grand Slam.

Leicester 19 Ulster 22

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 5:

Agony or ecstasy, there really is nothing in between. So said Warren Gatland an hour after Saturday night’s captivating third Test in Sydney, and how right he is.

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has sprung one of the great surprises in the tourists’ history by dropping Brian O’Driscoll for Saturday’s series decider against Australia.

Australia 16 British and Irish Lions 15

As the British & Irish Lions prepare to fill a Paul O’Connell-shaped hole in their pack for Saturday’s second Test at the Etihad Stadium, Australia prop Ben Alexander is focusing on another likely change, to the tourists’ front row.

Australia 21 Lions 23

Where the key battles will be fought.

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland revealed that Alex Corbisiero’s superior scrummaging resulted in his selection ahead of Mako Vunipola for Saturday’s opening Test against Australia.

Warren Gatland today put an emphasis on rest and recovery for players like Brian O’Driscoll and George North ahead of next week’s first Test against Australia.

After two false dawns in terms of competitive opposition, the Lions tourists should finally get a taste of what Australian rugby has to offer at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane this morning.

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TOUR:

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TOUR:

Lions head coach Warren Gatland admitted that the strength of opponents in the build-up to the first Test against Australia is a cause for concern after crushing Western Force 69-17.

Rory Best has gone from desolation to elation in just under four weeks.

Warren Gatland has backed Rory Best to make a big impact on the British and Irish Lions tour after the Ulster hooker received a late-call up.

Ireland hooker Rory Best was last night called into the Lions squad for the tour of Hong Kong and Australia.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has expressed surprise at Rory Best’s exclusion from the British & Irish Lions squad travelling Down Under next month.

Warren Gatland has offered no guarantees that Ireland’s former Lions captains Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll will make his starting 15 for the opening Test against Australia on June 22.

Head coach Warren Gatland has named nine Irish players in the British and Irish Lions squad for this summer’s tour of Hong Kong and Australia.

I am finding it increasingly difficult to get my head around the player welfare programme and the current state of the provinces.

Wales 30 England 3

England 23 France 13

Courtney Lawes is ready to strike fear into the French ‘bully boys’ when he is unleashed from the England back row for the first time.

Danny Care supports Liverpool but he sounded more like a Millwall fan as he described how England thrive on being cast as hate figures in their bristling rivalry with Scotland.

Toby Flood will be named in England's RBS 6 Nations squad today after a citing for an alleged tip tackle was dismissed at a Rugby Football Union hearing.

England forward Dylan Hartley has been cited for alleged foul play during Northampton’s Heineken Cup defeat against Ulster on Friday night.

England 38 New Zealand 21