Declan Kidney has promised Tomás O’Leary that a move to France will not preclude him from playing for Ireland again.

It says everything about the fractured nature of this season’s Six Nations championship that Wales could well be celebrating a Triple Crown success before France take to the field in Murrayfield for their second game of the tournament.

The Oscars are heavily influenced by nostalgia this year.

Former Cork footballer Diarmuid Duggan, the player out of pocket by almost €7,000 due to medical costs, warned young GAA stars about the potential burnout problems they face by playing for too many teams whileeligible for the minor and U21 ranks.

James McClean last night expressed his delight after he was added to Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic of Ireland squad for the friendly against the Czech Republic game tomorrow week.

IF it was a surprise that GiovanniTrapattoni left James McClean outof his latest squad in the first place, then it’s perhaps an even bigger one that the manager has now suddenly decided to call up the in-form Sunderland winger for the friendly game against the Czech Republic on February 29.

A decision on a successor to Richard Hills as retained jockey to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum is expected to be made soon.

A diagnosis of ASD is a start to dealing with the challenges that lie ahead, says Bernie Cahill

At the end of the week when Rangers and Portsmouth went into administration, is it sensible to question the prudent housekeeping of Arsene Wenger?

Whether it is what they should be judged on is open to argument but Liverpool continued their fine cup form by securing a place in the FA Cup quarter finals against Stoke with a routine victory over Brighton, partly thanks to three own goals by the Championship side.

Richard Hills has announced he will retire from race-riding next month after a career spanning 33 years.

Willie Mullins saddled a one-two in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle at Navan yesterday as Mourad, ridden by Paul Townend, turned over the Ruby Walsh-ridden 4/11 favourite Mikael D’Haguenet.

AT just 24 years of age, Cian Healy is still something of a beginner when it comes to the art of propping but the Clontarf man has nonetheless matured since his return from World Cup duties in New Zealand.

PAUL O’CONNELL’S decision to commit to Munster until the end of the 2013/14 season is about the only bit of good news to come the province’s way over the last few weeks.

A DOCUMENTARY on the only Irishman to manage Manchester United has been shortlisted for Best Sports Programme at this year’s Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs).

CONTROVERSIAL World Cup official Alain Rolland will receive no special treatment when he returns to Wales to referee the Scarlets’ crunch Heineken Cup encounter with Northampton Saints.

MARIO BALOTELLI has thrown his future at Manchester City into fresh doubt by revealing that he has no friends in England and would move back to Italy if he had to switch clubs.

DECLAN KIDNEY, Warren Gatland and Andy Robinson will all effectively be on trial during the forthcoming Six Nations to be head coach of the 2013 British and Irish Lions.

DCU professor Dr Niall Moyna has warned the GAA is in danger of shortening inter-county players’ careers if it doesn’t regulate its fixtures calendar.

IT was derby day in Barcelona on Sunday just as it was in Manchester.