After a worrying Six Nations losing streak on the road, with only one championship success in the last five away fixtures — and that against Italy in Rome last season — Joe Schmidt cut a mightily relieved man to have got this opening win in Paris under his belt.

Pep Guardiola disagrees with rival manager Jose Mourinho that the Premier League title race is as good as over.

Romain Ntamack, son of former French star Emile, led the way as France opened their Six Nations campaign with a win but only after they held off a spirited Irish recovery.

New Ireland women’s head coach Adam Griggs believes a daunting test in France tonight will be the making of his team.

For all the unpredictably that comes with a Six Nations trip to Paris, there will be certain lessons learned over the past two championships that should put Ireland in control of their destiny when they face a France side under new management.

Arsene Wenger has called on Mesut Ozil to be the leader of his new Arsenal generation.

Fiona Carton is on the Irish roller derby team competing at the World Cup this weekend. Known as ‘Malibruise Stacy’ on track, Carton took up the sport seven years ago after seeing it in a movie, writes Stephen Barry.

Ireland carry three key advantages into today’s opening round of the Six Nations at Stade de France, writes Donal Lenihan

Tomorrow evening, Joe Molloy will take the next step in a lauded but relatively low-key career when he debuts as anchor of TV3’s Six Nations coverage. Even his dad has told him this one is huge so he is nervous, anxious not to ‘make a balls of it’, but also determined to trust the instincts that have made him a three-time radio sports broadcaster of the year.

Devastation is a strong word to use in a mere sporting context, but it is one Cian Healy opted for yesterday as he contemplated the three-week ban handed to him in December for an ugly incident in Leinster’s Dublin defeat of Exeter Chiefs.

The psychology of sport is based on preparing better, believing you are better, and being better than the opposition. And at the elite level, possessing a ruthless, clinical instinct to drive home that superiority.

The January transfer window is often a let-down. 

Ireland captain Ciara Griffin will lead her team into the 2018 Women’s Six Nations determined that her team will shed the baggage of last year’s disappointing World Cup campaign and face firmly into the future.

The 2018 GAA season has begun in earnest. One of the key talking points is whether Galway will retain their All-Ireland hurling title, writes Jack Anderson.

Sergio Aguero has undergone minor knee surgery, the Manchester City striker has announced.

The first Irish international event of the year gets underway this weekend at Ballindenisk in Co Cork. Organiser Peter Fell told the Irish Examiner yesterday he was confident the recent adverse weather would not affect the staging of the event.

Australia full-back Israel Folau has avoided sanction by Rugby Australia for his controversial comments on homosexuality.

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has travelled to South Africa to receive specialist treatment in his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury.