Neil McManus knows it’s high time Cushendall’s litany of hard luck stories ended on All-Ireland semi-final day.

The European transfer window is not so European any more, with Chinese clubs outspending even the continent’s richest clubs in January to prove that the country is now a genuine power in attracting the world’s best players.

Every day I take the same route.

There’s show-stopping suspense ahead with a major find in the offing for the Antiques Roadshow. Kya deLongchamps is mesmerised by this and other tales from the long-running BBC programme. 

Is it time for the IRFU to step outside their local power zone and make a few bold business decisions for the welfare and future of the professional players under their control?

Noel Meade has taken Road To Riches for a racecourse gallop at Fairyhouse as he builds up his work ahead of the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 6.

Liverpool’s players had “strong words” with each other in the dressing room to prevent their dreams of a Wembley final going up in smoke, according to forward Adam Lallana.

Greig Laidlaw has insisted Scotland “can’t go looking” to wind up Dylan Hartley - but refused to rule out benefiting from the new England captain’s clouded disciplinary history.