Malcolm O’Kelly has told Devin Toner not to switch off after he was sensationally left out of Joe Schmidt’s 31 man Rugby World Cup squad.

Ireland’s deep backline resources for the forthcoming World Cup campaign have been underlined by the quality of the players Joe Schmidt has decided to leave at home.

Joe Schmidt praised Rory Best’s work ethic and ability to bounce back from is personal Twickenham disappointments as he confirmed the veteran hooker as Ireland’s captain to lead his team into the World Cup in Japan.

Joe Schmidt described the difficulty of narrowing his Ireland 2019 World Cup squad down from 45 over the course of the summer before making his final cut to bring the number to 31 on Monday.

The IRFU named the group that will travel to Japan today, six days earlier than planned, after the shock demotion was leaked.

In another unexpected move, head coach Schmidt preferred Luke McGrath as his back-up scrum-half over Conor Murray’s long-standing number two Kieran Marmion.

Devin Toner is expected to be a shock omission from Ireland’s 31-man World Cup squad.

Paul McGinley is confident the scheduling issues around next year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open can be resolved by European and PGA Tour bosses in the coming weeks but admitted it will be a difficult and challenging task and the outcome may be less than perfect.

At last, at last. Equality is back on the agenda.

A shock to go in the annals of hurling alongside Antrim beating Offaly in '89 and Kerry defeating Waterford in '93, the victory sparked a joyous pitch invasion at O'Moore Park.

As the World Cup has vividly show, women's football is growing in popularity and status with increasing participation, professionalism and media attention across the world.

Irish soccer referee Michelle O’Neill, who lined out as an assistant referee in the women’s world cup in France on Sunday has told of how she closed all her social media accounts in the run up to the final.

“The historic nature of this Test match will not be lost on anyone, however, the players will not be overawed by the occasion," said Andrew White, Chair of National Selectors

The Asia Pacific Strategy - which will be revealed later - includes a new communications strategy to increase Ireland's visibility.

A key test, passed with flying colours. For a golden generation of young athletes, Saturday’s National Junior and U-23 Championships proved a low-key but high-intensity examination of their fitness as they prepare to take their talents to a bigger stage.

The consensus is Pádraig Harrington would need to be out of his mind to take on the role of host at the Irish Open Championship next July, given that he is set to captain the European Ryder Cup team at Whistling Straits less than three months later.

Shane Lowry is on a different wavelength to Pádraig Harrington regarding the date for next year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

It’s always nice to be recognised. Almost.

Kieran Read precariously sat upon his team-mates’ shoulders holding the Super Rugby trophy aloft on Saturday, satisfied he had ended his career with the Canterbury Crusaders with one final title.

Later this month, an Irish team, all living with diabetes, will travel to Ukraine to represent Ireland at the 2019 Diabetes Euro Futsal Championship. David Sneyd reports.