Where the World Cup draw giveth, the World Cup schedule taketh away.

The traditional lethargy of the losing provincial finalist was on full display on Saturday evening.

A week in the life of women and sport, eh?

“When you lose out on an Olympics, you tend to cry quite often.”

Ireland is joint second-last in the Furusiyya Nations Cup Series, but it was news to Cian O’Connor yesterday.

The phoney war may well be starting in Cardiff on Saturday as Ireland plays the first of its four World Cup warm-up Tests but however much experimentation will be seen when Joe Schmidt today unveils his team to face Wales, the camp are insisting there will be no cheap caps.

New Munster signing Mark Chisholm will arrive in the province today to undergo a medical with supporters hoping this is the start of a beautiful relationship.

AS the 142nd Dublin Horse Show got under way, not even yesterday’s wintry weather could deter droves of brave enthusiasts from flocking to this annual celebration of Ireland’s multi-million euro equine industry. 

Radio host and former RTÉ rugby pundit George Hook was being interviewed on TV3’s Late Review last night, when he took serious issue with a line of questioning.

Class may be permanent but if you’re looking for a place in Ireland’s World Cup squad this September, you better be backing it up with some good form.

They don’t look great odds for a player with World Cup ambitions. You’re one of eight wingers in the Ireland squad, the only one not to have played a Test for the current coach.

GAA Director General Paraic Duffy has issued a passionate defence of the under fire football Championship, flatly rejecting Jim McGuinness’ claim that last weekend was a ‘watershed moment’ necessitating urgent overhaul.

Stuart Lancaster insists Owen Farrell must excel during the World Cup warm-up matches if he is displace George Ford as England’s fly-half.

Warren Gatland rarely fails to take an opportunity to rile Ireland and even before a so-called warm-up game — and the mischievous side in him could still play a trick or two on Wales’ rivals.

Pep Guardiola has cast doubts over Bastian Schweinsteiger’s fitness by revealing the Manchester United midfielder has not been problem-free for three years. 

Twelve months on from Ireland’s historic win over New Zealand, what has changed for Irish women’s sport, asks Mary White.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane hopes to build on his impressive campaign last term in the forthcoming Premier League season.

Former Scotland football captain Colin Hendry has admitted harassing hisex-girlfriend over a two-month period.

George North’s return to rugby has been delayed by a further three weeks.

Irish team captain Tony Goode has backed late call-ups Robin Dawson and Rowan Lester to make the most of the opportunities handed to them by the withdrawals of Paul Dunne and Gary Hurley from next week’s Home International defence at Royal Portrush.