AFTER overnighting in a chilled-out Irish-owned château, we began our journey in Port Cassafières near Béziers, on the “Flamingo Cruise”.

Jonathan Sexton has got an early taste of the idiosyncrasies of Racing Metro president Jacky Lorenzetti with the Paris club moving their first home match of the season 500km away to the seaside — because most of their supporters will be on holiday.

Munster centre believes he can get his team on the front foot against Clermont

As manager to the Munster rugby team, he oversaw the seat-of-the-pants transition from amateurism to the pro era — with all its attendant scrapes and dramas. It was the age of innocence, smiles Jerry Holland, but there were as many guilty as innocent!

Jamie Cudmore. The Clermont enforcer. The mountainous Canadian. Red-carded for throwing a box into Paul O’Connell.

THEIRS is a name synonymous with French rugby. Formed as a sporting club of many different disciplines for the Parisian elite in 1882, Racing Club de France, alongside Stade Francais, dominated the early years of the French Championship before disappearing — like Stade — for the bones of a century until the emergence of the bow-tie wearing and champagne guzzling side of Franck Mesnel, Eric Blanc and Jean-Baptiste Lafond in the late ’80s.

CASTRES rugby bosses have appealed to their fans to support them in Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with Munster in Toulouse after it was revealed only 10,000 tickets have been sold for the encounter.

A FRENCH maths teacher who doused herself in petrol and set herself on fire in front of terrified pupils died of her injuries yesterday.

A secondary school maths teacher sprayed herself with a flammable liquid and set herself alight in a playground in southern France at break time, France’s education minister said.

As the Heineken Cup great eight set their sights on the Millennium Stadium, one of Europe’s rugby elite must focus on a lesser prize. But ex-hooker John Fogarty warns Munster there’s nothing shabby about the Amlin Challenge Cup. Brendan O’Brien listened in

SUCCESS breeds success. Last season Ireland finally delivered an overdue Grand Slam, the foundation of which can be traced back to the prosperity of the provinces in Europe.

A DEFIANT Ryanair is adding 40 new routes this winter — saying turbulent times for the industry will not halt its expansion plans.

Richard Collins explores the idyllic vineyards of the Languedoc.

ANTHONY FOLEY last night scorned suggestions that he and the other Irish internationals in the Munster team would suffer reaction to the three autumn tests, when they take on Castres at Stade Pierre Antoine tonight.

L’IRLANDE envahit Castres. Or, for those of you who, like myself, never progressed beyond pass French for the Inter: ‘The Irish invade Castres’.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has warned his side to expect a “very tough” match as they step up their bid to secure a place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals for the seventh-successive season against Castres tomorrow night.

Simon Danielli is backing Bath to wipe out a five-point deficit and remain on course for a domestic and European double when they take on Beziers tomorrow.

Lance Armstrong is within touching distance of a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title this evening after a drama-filled time-trial won by Britain’s David Millar.

MUNSTER fly-half Ronan O’Gara is happy to take on Toulouse at their own game of running rugby tomorrow.

Munster fly-half Ronan O’Gara is happy to take on Toulouse this weekend at their own game of running rugby.

Last weekend Frédéric Michalak was playing for France Under-21. This week he has been included in the France A team to play Ireland A.

Munster look to catch up on group two leaders Gloucester with their visit to Viadana this weekend, who have lost their opening three matches, conceding 190 points.

Munster have been hit by injuries ahead of tomorrow’s Heineken Cup final against English champions Leicester at the Millennium Stadium.

Munster will have to wait ‘‘right up to the wire’’ before the fitness of four key players is decided for their showdown with Leicester on May 25.

Gregor Townsend looks to have played his last big game for Castres following the French club’s Heineken Cup semi-final demise against Munster in Beziers.

Munster are through to the Heineken Cup final for the second time in three years after disposing of Castres at Beziers.

Peter Clohessy and Paul O’Connell have both been named in the Munster team to play Castres in the Heineken European Cup semi-final in Beziers today.

Irish international Peter Clohessy has made an amazing recovery from burns to take his place in the Munster line up for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup semi-final against French club Castres in Beziers.

Heineken Cup semi-finalists Munster suffered a double injury scare tonight following a bruising 6-6 draw with Irish rivals Leinster in Cork.

Ireland prop Peter Clohessy said today he is lucky to be alive after being burned in an explosion at his home on Monday evening.

European Rugby Cup, the body which oversees the Heineken Cup competition, has decided on a venue for the semi-final clash between Munster and Castres on April 27.