Life is good for both Ireland’s senior teams as they begin the final preparation phase for their Olympic qualification campaigns.

You hear a lot about how sports people are role models for our kids.

A round up of all today’s news: figures have revealed a surge in economic recovery, find out why Al Pacino is heading for Dublin and one couple has won the Euromillions for a second time in two years.

After weeks of dealing with Ryder Cup captaincy matters, Darren Clarke can at least for the next fortnight get back to focusing fully on his chosen profession.

Close to 1m demonstrators marched in cities and towns across Brazil to protest a sluggish economy, rising prices, and corruption — and to call for the impeachment of left-wing president Dilma Rousseff.

Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley hopes Tiger Woods returns to action in time for the Masters in order to divert some of the spotlight from Rory McIlroy.

Ireland coach Darren Smith admits there is plenty of scope for improvement as his side continue their Olympic qualification campaign with a clash with Turkey at UCD today.

Rugby World Cup chiefs have warned fans not to buy tickets from unofficial sources after it emerged a single ticket for the final had been advertised for £59,000.

Winger Dougie Fife believes Scotland have what it takes to overcome Ireland on Saturday as they are too good a team to go without a win in the Six Nations.

IT wasn’t a funereal atmosphere on the ferry on Sunday, but it was sad and solemn. 

Rugby World Cup chiefs have warned fans not to buy tickets from unofficial sources amid exhorbitant pricing on ticket-sale websites.

Before the World Cup, Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom said that it would be a "failure" if Ireland missed out on the quarter-finals.

Our pundits give their thoughts on the weekend’s big Premiership games

Barcelona’s big name attackers took much of the focus during the Catalan outfit’s Champions League last 16 first leg at Manchester City late last month.

Hockey: Profligacy is an issue for Ireland but it’s still a case of a job well done so far.

Late Saturday afternoon. The second Six Nations game of the weekend is still very much in the balance in Twickenham, but another Englishman is the name on everyone’s lips in Cardiff. 

England 25 Scotland 13

If the adage that you learn more in defeat holds true on this occasion then this reversal could well serve Ireland’s World Cup cause better in the long run.

Let’s rewind two weeks.

Captain Blackadder: It’s the same plan that we used last time and the 17 times before that.