Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is under pressure to ensure his Brexit meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson takes place in Dublin and not London amid rising tensions over the talks.

Former Taoiseach John Bruton has said he believes that a no-deal Brexit is the most likely outcome.

Louise Galvin and her Ireland Women’s Sevens team-mates get the penultimate round of this season’s HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series underway in Canada tonight with qualification for next year’s Tokyo Olympics at the forefront of everyone’s minds.

He’s the Racing 92 wing who broke Munster hearts in Bordeaux and who has the firepower to do the same to Leinster in Bilbao on Saturday, so just how do you stop Teddy Thomas?

There has been some semi-final success for a Munsterman in recent weeks and for hooker Duncan Casey his appearance for Grenoble in tomorrow’s Pro D2 final against Perpignan represents a vindication of his decision not to walk away from the game he loves.

An extreme cold snap sweeping across Europe has claimed more lives, forced the closure of airports in Switzerland and France and left hundreds of drivers stranded on snow-bound roads.

Exceptional snow and wind has forced airports to close in Switzerland and France and stranded several hundred drivers in their cars as a Siberian cold snap stretches across Europe.

Ryanair has announced extra flights on 40 different routes from Cork, Dublin, Knock and Shannon airports for summer 2018.

They give the impression of having it all — the world’s most charismatic player, match-winners all over the pitch, and an Irish skills coach better versed than anyone else in the art of conquering Europe.

It was a familiar post-match scene to any Munster supporter, Donncha O’Callaghan signing autographs, goofing for pictures, sharing the craic with red-jerseyed admirers.

Cian Heffernan is from Carrigaline, Co Cork, and is project co-ordinator for Culture Night, Cork County 2015. He also plays drums with John Blek and the Rats, whose new album is released next week. culturenightcorkcounty.ie

THE bumbling Mr Bumble in Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist declared the law to be an ‘ass’. He wasn’t, of course, reflecting on Ireland’s inheritance laws but the comment is prescient in light of the fact that wife-killer Eamonn Lillis emerges from prison today a wealthy man.

He’s a remarkable man, is Serge Blanco, a one-off, someone who has become part of the fabric of French life in his 56 years, and who today is charged with helping transform the national rugby team into credible World Cup contenders.

Back rowers Paddy Butler and Sean Dougall are leaving Munster at the end of the season, but versatile back Denis Hurley has signed on for another season.

Argentina hooker Eusebio Guinazu has signed for Munster on a four-month deal to offset Mike Sherry’s long-term shoulder injury.

This is a dish I am very proud of. It is a perfect product cooked

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 6:

When Johnny Sexton reported for autumn international duty with Ireland last month, new head coach Joe Schmidt was on tenterhooks.

Joe Schmidt stood by his main man yesterday, backing Johnny Sexton’s decision to take that fateful penalty as an historic first victory over the All Blacks beckoned.

Whisper it, but all the pieces appear to be falling into place for Paul O’Connell to be named the new Ireland captain later this week with the Munster lock expected to return to full training at Carton House today.

Joe Schmidt will have breathed a sigh of relief ahead of his first game as Ireland head coach next weekend after fly-half Johnny Sexton remained an unused substitute for Racing Metro on Saturday night.

It’s been an eventful week, to say the least. The Wednesday before last was spent at Stade de France, preparing for Saturday’s Parisian derby. It was a lovely, sunny, wintry day in Paris, kicking balls for two hours on the beautiful Stade de France turf ahead of the meeting with Stade Francais. And then we were heading to Charles de Gaulle airport for the flight home to my testimonial dinner.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt will “probably not” play Johnny Sexton against Samoa next week if his number one fly-half runs out for Racing Metro this weekend.

Word is expected today on whether Jonathan Sexton will be reeled back to France to play his 14th club game of the season this weekend or if the Irish out-half is finally afforded some desperately-needed downtime before the November internationals.

I love to travel and discovered many years ago that each journey I took was a story in itself.

AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINAL

It’s European rugby alright, just not as we know it.

Harlequins 47 Connacht 8

Connacht 12 Munster 16

Connacht pair Eoin Griffin and Michael Swift are in contention to feature in Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Munster.

Connacht are preparing for a massive Biarritz backlash when the two sides clash in Parc des Sports Aguiléra this evening.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood is hoping to boost his squad with the return of a couple of heavyweights for Friday’s crucial Heineken Cup visit to Biarritz.

Connacht lock Mike McCarthy believes his side can back up their superb victory over Biarritz by storming the Basque club again this weekend.

Juan Martin Hernandez is likely to return to the Argentina team to meet Ireland on Saturday, but according to sources within the Pumas camp, he will feature at 15 as opposed to 10.

Got an appetite for a holiday?Ahead of the Irish Examiner Food Festival, Pól Ó Conghaile has the perfect menu — a selection of 10 great gourmet breaks at home and overseas

Saracens rugby director Mark McCall is hoping his side can push on from the quarter-finals and become one of Europe’s elite clubs.

DON the thinking cap, dig out the calculators: it’s round six of the Heineken Cup.

PHIL GODMAN kicked a last-minute drop-goal for Edinburgh last night to clinch victory over Racing Metro and keep them at the top of Pool 2 in the Heineken Cup.

Ospreys 44 Treviso 17

IRISH rugby referee Peter Fitzgibbon found himself officiating a bizarre encounter on Tuesday night when the father of Biarritz and French star Imanol Harinordoquy raced onto the pitch and attempted to punch players in a stormy Basque derby.

IRISH rugby referee Peter Fitzgibbon found himself officiating a bizarre encounter on Tuesday night when the father of Biarritz and French star Imanol Harinordoquy raced onto the pitch and attempted to punch players in a stormy Basque derby.

Sebastien Chabal has been omitted from France’s provisional 32-man squad for the World Cup in September.