After the arm-wrestle, grind and brutality of last year’s 10-9 defeat in Paris, Ireland know the only way to avenge that loss to France is to roll up their sleeves and prepare for another intensely physical game of inches in Dublin this evening.

France have called up Stade Français back-row Raphael Lakafia to replace Damien Chouly ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Ireland.

For a small town, Enniskillen has given birth to more than its share of international sportsmen, amongst them Olympic gold medal sprinter Robert Kerr, champion heavyweight boxer Gordon Ferris and ex-Celtic goalkeeper Michael McGovern.

If Guy Noves has a grand plan to restore France to former glories, than the former Toulouse supremo is implementing one step and one game at a time.

Rory Best admitted Ireland blew a "massive opportunity" for victory in France that could well end their hopes of a third consecutive RBS 6 Nations title.

Donal Lenihan looks ahead to Ireland's clash with France.

France head coach Guy Noves will seek considerable improvements from his new team’s opening RBS 6 Nations win over Italy as he prepares for this Saturday’s visit of defending champions Ireland.

Uini Atonio has a great story and he tells it well.

A couple of days into the Rugby World Cup schedule in England and the French are already moaning, according to stories hitting the newspapers, one of them in the Guardian and embellished elsewhere.

France’s World Cup preparations hit an unlikely speed bump in the shape of a Croydon wedding party.

Anthony Watson scored two tries and Jonny May also crossed as England opened preparations for the World Cup with an edgy 19-14 victory over France at Twickenham.

Saturday’s Champions Cup final proved a far better game than anticipated in advance. 

After only two rounds of action, this year’s Six Nations championship has already taken on the appearance of a two-horse race — notwithstanding Wales’ right to dispute that.

Racing Metro coach Laurent Labit fears Johnny Sexton could suffer more concussions because of his tackling style.

RBS Six Nations

What happened in the tunnel?

Mike Ross has warned Ireland to be wary of the scrum carnage "monster" France prop Uini Atonio could cause in Dublin on Saturday.

Mike Ross has warned Ireland to be wary of the scrum carnage “monster” France prop Uini Atonio could cause in Dublin on Saturday.

La Rochelle 20 Connacht 30: European Chellenge Cup Pool 2: A "bit of X-factor" combined with a huge team effort is what vLam credits for Connacht’s dramatic four-try bonus win over La Rochelle, which sealed their quarter-final place as last seeds in this season’s European Challenge Cup.

A tough day at the office for Munster’s youngsters, who fell heavily to French second division outfit Stade Rochelais at the Stade Marcel Deflandre in searing heat last night.