Sam Warburton achieved a career highlight just getting on the Lions’ bench for last week’s first Test against New Zealand.

Former British and Lions coach Ian McGeechan says the 2017 tourists “need all six games” in the build-up to the first Test in New Zealand.

Donnacha Ryan is, as is often the case, in jovial form as he parks his considerable frame into what looks like the smallest of chairs at Carton House. Just named in Ireland’s second row for today’s Six Nations battle with France, the conversation is cheery and wide-ranging.

South Africa 20 Ireland 26: The air may be thinner up here on the Highveld but it tasted oh so sweet for Ireland as they touched down in Johannesburg yesterday after their Cape Town heroics.

If your rugby knowledge isn’t up to scratch, Conor Neville has you covered to make sure you impress everyone down the pub.

The late Nevin Spence’s family said that they were humbly honoured to have a state-of-the-art educational centre named after him at the revamped Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

On a week when Paul O’Connell worked wonders for the reputation of grizzled second-row forwards, another great presence in Munster rugby passed away peacefully after a long period of illness.

It is almost exactly 40 years since the legend that is Willie John McBride played his last game for Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park in March 1975. 

Ever since they first turned out for a rumble on the left bank of the Taff, Ireland have usually made a point of picking something up in Cardiff. 

Irish rugby legends have paid tribute to the one considered the greatest of them all as they joined friends and family of the late Jack Kyle at a special thanksgiving service.

Keith Wood believes Joe Schmidt’s decision to overlook some “flair players” proved pivotal in Ireland’s Six Nations success.

The Welsh might have endured more damaging weekends for their national sport but nobody at Twickenham, or anywhere else for that matter, could remember one.

Brian O’Driscoll is the greatest Irish sportsman of all time, according to team-mate Fergus McFadden.

The survivors of the ‘battle of Christchurch’ gathered in Dublin on Saturday night to swap old war stories.

The survivors of the ‘battle of Christchurch’ gathered in Dublin on Saturday night to swap old war stories.

Paul O’Connell has become the latest Irish star to admit he felt dropping Brian O’Driscoll for the final Lions Test was the wrong decision.

Ollie Campbell described Warren Gatland’s axing of Brian O’Driscoll as “arguably the biggest and most controversial decision in the long history of the Lions.”

Bruised and battered he may be but talismanic centre Brian O’Driscoll still has at least another year of top-level rugby to offer to Ireland, team-mate Rob Kearney believes.

Gareth Edwards etched his name into rugby folklore with that try 40 years ago

Brian O’Driscoll looks to be in line for a fourth British & Irish Lions tour after catching the eye of manager Andy Irvine in New Zealand.

IRISH rugby chiefs are considering reducing the number of national contracts they offer.

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

A BIG funeral for a giant of a man.

UNCLE Moss is dead.

I OFTEN wondered what those people working in the high-rise office block behind the Shelbourne Hotel thought of it all.

I DON’T usually do this, but that was one strange week, and I wanted to tell you about it.

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.

WE own the fastest and most spectacular ball game in the world in the code of hurling.

South Africa 9 British and Irish Lions 28

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.

GET SET for a rare treat in modern international rugby — a three-test series. The question on everyone’s lips, however, is how competitive will it be and for how long?

THE great Willie John McBride might just have dropped one of his successors as captain of the Lions into a bit of trouble in South Africa.

PAUL O’CONNELL has revealed his burning desire for the 2009 British and Irish Lions to become legends.

IRELAND’S Grand Slam-winning skipper Brian O’Driscoll has admitted his disappointment at being overlooked for the Lions captaincy.

AT lunchtime today, if the weekend reports are correct, Paul O’Connell of Young Munster, Munster and Ireland will be named captain of the British and Irish Lions to tour South Africa this summer.

IAN McGEECHAN let the cat out of the bag the other week when he expressed a preference for a forward to captain the Lions in the forthcoming tour of South Africa.

TUESDAY is very important day in Irish camp. It is the day of the team announcement. Fifteen players will happily step onto the bus, knowing they will play in Saturday’s international.