A day on the beach on the first day of a new year beats a green smoothie and a liver cleanse any day. Start as you mean to go on and be nice to yourself, advises Valerie O’Connor.

With Martin O’Neill’s position as Ireland manager moving closer to the brink than it’s ever been before over the last 48 hours, the question of who might succeed him — whether that’s sooner or later — has gained fresh momentum.

Martin O’Neill’s immediate future, both as manager of Ireland and prospective manager of Stoke City, hangs in the balance as the Premier League club closes in on naming a successor to Mark Hughes.

Munster’s South African lock Jean Kleyn has revealed his desire to represent Ireland at Test level.

Christchurch feels very safe and secure. And the Ireland in me had forgotten how much you savour those things. The contrast from Paris is huge. There is no anger in this world. On the RER in Paris, every nationality in the world is around you.

Munster are hoping for another new contract boost with the retention of Ireland back-three star Andrew Conway to follow extended deals announced last night for forwards Billy Holland, Stephen Archer, and Kevin O’Byrne.

While Ulster’s players and management insist that the focus is entirely on Saturday’s lunchtime clash with Pool 1 leaders La Rochelle, it’s become clearer who will be replacing Christian Leali’ifano when the Wallaby’s short-term contract ends this month.

The Football Association of Ireland could be about to lose Martin O’Neill from their grasp after the Ireland manager last night held what was understood to be a productive meeting with Stoke City about their managerial vacancy.

TV3 is to change its name as part of a major rebranding of the station later this year.

Maybe Keane’s time at both Ipswich and Sunderland hasn’t been so much tainted as forgotten, writes Kieran Shannon.

Racing’s vast resources are best illustrated by the options available to their management in the second row alone compared to Johann van Graan, writes Donal Lenihan.

Munster boss Johann van Graan has challenged his forwards to reach for new heights this weekend in order to counter a Racing 92 lineout defence he rates as second only to the All Blacks.

Jonathan Sexton has addressed the confusion over his head injury assessment (HIA) last month while again highlighting his frustration at the “stigma of concussion” that has attached itself to his career.

The recent cold snap afflicting the US has lifted just in time for the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) which begins today at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida. 

In an age when we rarely reach for a ballpoint, Kya deLongchamps scripts a little history of that old fashioned Christmas favourite — the fountain pen

Connacht hooker Tom McCartney says he is ready to leave his injury woes behind and play his part in a busy Christmas period for the westerners.

The man circling the athletics track situated below Jamie Heaslip as he spoke to the gathered media was the perfect metaphor for the conversation taking place.

Johann van Graan has called on his Munster side to reduce the penalty count when they go into the Tigers’ den at Welford Road on Sunday.

Nostalgia for Christmas past differs between the generations but that doesn’t lessen the magic for children - no matter what era they grow up in, writes Richard Hogan

The setting was the wine lands of South Africa, the sport rugby, but it could just as easily have applied to soccer in Manchester and Ireland, or to Gaelic football, especially in Ulster.