Almost one million Irish passports were issued in 2019 — a record number and a 7% increase on 2018.

A week which started with a recall to the Irish squad is set to end in further celebration for Quinn Roux when he makes his 100th appearance for Connacht on Saturday against Munster.

Munster may be without out-half Joey Carbery for the opening two rounds of the Champions Cup against Ospreys and Racing 92. Defence coach JP Ferreira said the priority was to get him and all the Irish internationals right for the season on their return from the World Cup.

Size isn't everything. Even for the Springboks.

Maybe it says everything about the way the All Blacks are that the day after they learned their final pool game against Italy had been cancelled, they woke up super early and battered themselves senseless in a training game.

Well, well, well. There was a buzz around the Springbok camp with the news that Japan had beaten Ireland 19-12 just before South Africa were due to kick-off against Namibia.

Brendan O’Brien The news that a foreign coach had been co-opted onto the Springboks ticket before leaving for Japan stirred fond memories for Bryan Habana.

Peter O’Mahony is acutely aware of the threat Gloucester pose to Munster’s European quarter-final qualification hopes and the Ireland back-row star is rolling up his sleeves for a tough battle up front at Kingsholm, not least with their Springbok forward Franco Mostert.

Perpignan has been plunged into grief after former star player Barend Britz was assaulted and killed outside his bar in the city centre last night.

A second win over the All Blacks in the last three meetings is a significant enough achievement for Ireland but what is even more satisfying is the team which got the job done this time around.

It mightn’t be the Six Nations but in a World Cup year, the autumn series of Tests is what GAA fans feel at the start of the national leagues every spring, writes Ronan O'Gara

Watching New Zealand and South Africa there was that very rare feeling - it lasted only a few minutes, like viewing the aurora borealis, where you are mouthing quietly to yourself: this is unbelievable, writes Ronan O’Gara.

The ACT Brumbies have defied Australia coach Michael Cheika by naming David Pocock, Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa in their team for tomorrow’s Super Rugby match against the Sunwolves.

New Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has admitted he faces a "huge task" reviving fallen giants South Africa.

Johann van Graan welcomed his family off the plane from South Africa on Thursday and then sat down to pick his first team in 15 years as he settled into a new life as a professional head coach at Munster.

A pre-game pep talk from Joe Schmidt has primed CJ Stander for take off after a slow start to the campaign and the Lions back rower is raring to go for both the Ireland boss and Munster’s incoming head coach, Johann van Graan.

Zimbabwe has blocked flights by South Africa's government-owned airline amid tensions over allegations that Zimbabwe's first lady assaulted a young model.

Update 7.09pm: Lawyers for the young model who claims Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe assaulted her in a Johannesburg hotel have said that her family has been approached with an offer of money to drop the allegation.

The South African government have approved a €170m guarantee to strengthen the country’s chances of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

A rhino breeder in South Africa is planning an online auction of rhino horn, capitalising on a court ruling that opened the way to domestic trade despite an international ban imposed to curb widespread poaching

South Africa’s revival in 2017 has been built on their intensity in defence and vigour at the breakdown, which was on display again in the dominant 35-12 victory over France at Ellis Park on Saturday that saw them sweep the home series 3-0.

South Africa's president has responded to the political crisis that erupted after he fired the finance minister, acknowledging that public disputes at the top of the government are a "serious weakness".

Less than 10 years ago, South Africa looked on the cusp of a glorious period. Instead it is in danger of throwing it all away through misstep after misstep, writess Kyran Fitzgerald.

Here's your morning bulletin.

CJ Stander says Anthony Foley is continuing to inspire Munster and the province’s players have vowed to do something special in Foley’s memory this season.

Oscar Pistorius has been moved at his request to a prison that is better able to accommodate disabled offenders, the South African government has said.

Thousands of South Africans have called for the resignation of president Jacob Zuma in a series of demonstrations.

Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Olympian described by a judge as a “fallen hero,” has been sentenced to six years in prison for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a ruling viewed by some as too lenient.

After the sobering sight of four World Cup semi-finalists coming from the southern hemisphere, last weekend offered a glimmer of hope for European rugby. The question now is, was it an aberration or a line in the sand?

The father of Reeva Steenkamp has told a South African court that her fatal shooting by boyfriend Oscar Pistorius has "devastated" his family, and that he thinks about her constantly.

Oscar Pistorius is back in court in South Africa for sentencing after the double-amputee Olympian was convicted of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Conor Murray believes any intimidation targeted towards team-mate CJ Stander during Ireland’s Test series with South Africa this month will merely serve to motivate the Munster back row.

South Africa's former Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has appeared in court in Pretoria where a judge scheduled five days in June to sentence him for the murder of his girlfriend.

As Joe Schmidt named a 44-man squad to take part in a 24-hour training camp this weekend, Conor O’Shea was backing Ireland to cause an upset and beat the Springboks in South Africa this summer.