The journey is supposed to end at Twickenham in the World Cup Final on October 31, but it begins in earnest at Musgrave Park.

Ireland’s provinces remain every bit as capable of seeing off the biggest and best English and French clubs the European game has to offer, according to Sean O’Brien who is desperate for another crack at reigning champions Toulon.

IT’S 20 years since this column sat down to complete the Leaving Cert – for a second, excruciating time – but it is probably some sort of twisted pseudo-tribute to that daunting time in all our lives that scraps of the information we had to learn by rote occasionally jostle their way back to the forefront of the mind when least expected, writes Brendan O’Brien.

If you would like to learn how to make butter, yoghurt, labne, paneer and lots of simple cheeses, check out the Ballymaloe Cookery School website www.cookingisfun.ie for the next dates.

The Foodie Forum incorporating the Gastronomy West Symposium (Tuesday, February 3) at GMIT, in Galway, may be just three years old but already comports itself with a swagger befitting its rapidly-growing status as one of the country’s premier food events.

Maro Itoje will sit his biggest rugby exam yet with England Saxons on Friday night, but only if he meets his university coursework deadline first.

France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre believes he and English counterpart Stuart Lancaster have a much tougher job than their rival RBS 6 Nations bosses and cited Ireland’s centrally contracted players as his primary evidence.

Ireland will join the top tier of one day cricket after gaining approval from the International Cricket Council yesterday.

Dubai’s Majlis Course holds happy memories for 25-year-old Rory McIlroy and the Irishman is hoping to add to them this weekend.

When Tomás O’Leary got the call from Munster asking him to end his three-year exile at London Irish and return home, he didn’t have to think too long.

An Irishman is the driving force behind the rebirth of one of English rugby’s great clubs, says Julian Bennetts.

Munster’s great tradition in European competition has always been something to cling to in tough times, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Louis van Gaal says he feels an uncomfortable "twitch" in his backside every time Manchester United play 4-4-2.

Equestrian: It came as no surprise on Tuesday that Tony Hurley was returned as chairman of ShowjumpingIreland for a third and final year.

Cricket World Cup: Coach Phil Simmons is confident Ireland can qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup next month.

As the 17-year-old boy debutant from Belfast in the celebrated Northern Ireland World Cup team of 1982, Norman Whiteside already spotted unmistakable signs during that Spanish summer of where his skipper’s long-term future would lie.

Nobody within the Munster setup has tried to put a gloss on the performance in last week’s European Champions Cup defeat by Saracens. But end-of-an-era talk? They are not buying into that.

Ashley Johnson believes the current Wasps side are ready to move out of the shadow of Lawrence Dallaglio — starting against Leinster at ‘fortress’ Ricoh Arena on Saturday.

Stuart Lancaster has pledged to "make it absolutely crystal clear" to Dylan Hartley that any more lapses in discipline could blow England’s Six Nations chances.

More misery for Munster with the selection of just four of their players on Nigel Carolan’s expanded Ireland squad of 30 for the U20 Six Nations.