ETIHAD Airways is spreading its net to the south and west of the country following a code-share agreement with Aer Arann to link with the airline’s flights from Dublin to Abu Dhabi and beyond.

ETIHAD Airways is spreading its net to the south and west of the country following a code-share agreement with Aer Arann to link with the airline’s flights from Dublin to Abu Dhabi and beyond.

IRELAND’S ski chalet specialist, Highlife Ski & Snowboard, has just launched its winter brochure which heavily features the French Alps, giving guests a choice of chalets in Morzine, Méribel or the world-famous Val d’Isere.

COLOMBIAN Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez has won stage nine of the Tour de France from Val d’Isere to Briancon.

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN is hoping his time-trial failings will not prevent him from winning the Tour de France at the fourth time of asking.

Alpine ski resorts were on high alert today after heavy weekend snowfalls caused avalanches that killed at least five people in the last three days.

Three snowboarders practising off-piste died in avalanches that swept through the French Alps this weekend, police said.

France have been hit by a further injury blow in the run-up to this autumn’s World Cup after centre Tony Marsh was forced to pull out of their upcoming August friendlies against Romania and England with a calf injury.

France three-quarter Xavier Garbajosa could miss the World Cup this autumn if he fails to recover fast enough from surgery on his right knee.

AS YET there is no respite for France’s beleaguered first XV and they would have found few words of comfort in yesterday morning’s press.