Mumps cases in Limerick have increased by almost 600% in a year. Like the Samoan measles outbreak, young people aged 15-24 are most vulnerable.

When Nelson Mandela wore a Springbok shirt and cap at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg he made one of the most powerful statements of forgiveness, unity, inclusion, and healing ever offered.

Bundee Aki will head into a disciplinary hearing in Tokyo today to decide his World Cup fate with the backing of old friends from the Samoa camp as Ireland hoped for clemency for their centre ahead of this weekend’s quarter-finals.

Ireland managed to end up on the wrong side of the penalty count in both the win over Scotland (7-6) and loss to Japan (9-6). That is atypical for a team that takes great stock in its accuracy and discipline.

Manoeuvring a 55-person touring party and more than 10 tonnes of equipment around Japan for a month-and-a-half through half a dozen transfers is not many people’s idea of time well spent but Ger Carmody would not have it any other way.

A total of 48 matches will be played at 12 venues over six weeks in this year's Rugby World Cup, with the final taking place at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama on November 2.

The IRFU have revealed their strip for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Towards the end of last season, Johnny McNicholl asked himself a rhetorical question: “Am I Welsh? It’s a tough question to answer. I don’t know.”

Is the dam on the brink of bursting? Is international rugby ready to sell its soul? The haste with which a proposed new 12-team World League is being introduced smacks of panic. There is even talk of the tournament running in 2020. Surely not?

Like many Pacific Islanders in his native Auckland, Edgar’s parents moved there in search of a better life for themselves and their families. This is the case for many players of Pacific heritage who now ply their trade in Europe. While I had played alongside Casey Laulala and Francis Saili at Munster, I was largely ignorant of “Islander” culture and what it entailed.

Former Munster and Ireland scrum-half Michael Bradley is being touted as a contender to take charge of Ulster.

England made a scruffy start to their autumn series but still ensured they will enter their group showdown against Argentina at the 2019 Wold Cup with an immaculate record against the Pumas under Eddie Jones.

Scotland survived a second-half fightback to kick off their international season with a 44-38 win over Samoa at BT Murrayfield.

Manu Tuilagi believes he has been exorcised of an injury curse caused by three evil ghouls after visiting a witch doctor in Samoa.

The easiest way to approach this morning’s column is with a simple thought-experiment.

Joe Schmidt will be hoping Steve Hansen doesn’t bear a grudge when the All Blacks head coach helps pull Ireland’s 2019 World Cup pool opponents out of the bag during today’s draw in Kyoto, Japan.

Bundee Aki may have committed his future to Connacht before Pat Lam announced his departure from the Sportsground, but the PRO12 player of the season remains coy about his international future.

New Year’s celebrations across the world ushered in 2017 with dazzling fireworks displays and crowded streets amid tightened security measures for the festivities.

2017 has arrived - on a few small islands in the Pacific, at least.

More than one in 10 teenage girls and women in Ireland have an unmet need for contraception.

Des O’Sullivan reports on an exhibition showcasing James Glen Wilson.

It’s a week that feels like a year but the ome stretch is in sight after we got over the hump of Ladies Day.

Some of the strnger stories from around the world

Here's the best of tonight's telly.

Check out our guide to what to watch on TV today.

Ayumu Goramaru survived one Japanese earthquake four weeks before his international debut ten years ago and another four days afterwards. It taught him all about seismic shifts and the Richter Scale which measured the first at 6.6, the second at 5.8.

The French will take Twickenham by storm next month for the first time since they subjected the All Blacks to the most riotous half-hour in World Cup history.

All the news you need this lunchtime: Bailey verdict could be delivered today, FF: Irish Water to delete council tenant data, Shane Long calls for fortress Aviva, earthquake in South Pacific, Donohue: Aer Lingus talks to end in next few weeks

Anthony Foley believes Paul O’Connell’s selfless nature will be the key factor in the Ireland captain’s decision on his rugby-playing future.

Isaac Boss and Mils Muliaina go back a long way, 15 years at the very least, so there are few men better qualified than the Leinster scrum-half to judge just what the All Black legend brings to his new home in Connacht.

About 120m girls worldwide have been forced to have sex, according to a United Nations report.

About 120 million girls worldwide have been forced to have sex, according to a United Nations report.

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MONKEY BUSINESS

An emaciated man whose boat washed up on a remote Pacific atoll this week claims he survived 16 months adrift, floating more than 12,500km from Mexico, a researcher said.

Rob Kearney will not be carrying any baggage from his personal Lions disappointments when he finally gets to face Australia on Saturday.

The IRFU faces an increasingly difficult task in persuading top Irish players to stay with their provinces after an amendment to a Government scheme which means they no longer need to finish their careers here to avail of attractive tax breaks.

It might not entitle you anything, but new figures show 2,200 people have secured a Certificate of Irishness — including people resident in Bhutan and American Samoa.

An airline in Samoa that has started to charge by weight rather than by seat says it could be the future of the industry.

A tiny airline is offering a new reason to lose weight before your next trip - tickets sold not by the seat, but by the kilogram.

One of the journalists who revealed the tale was a big hoax seems to think so. Oh and there has been another twist this morning…