HE’S a powerful back-row and an explosive runner who has become a cult figure among his supporters and the subject of tribute videos on the internet.

NORTHAMPTON Saints head coach Jim Mallinder still wakes up in a cold sweat thinking about May’s Heineken Cup Final defeat to Leinster — but the Franklin’s Gardens boss has vowed to take revenge on Irish opposition when his side travel to face Munster tomorrow.

CONNACHT may be making their Heineken Cup debut tonight against Harlequins at the Stoop, 100 games into their European experience, but for the province’s chief executive this is not the apex of western rugby ambition but the seed for a brighter a future.

WALES captain Sam Warburton will return to action when the Cardiff Blues launch their Heineken Cup campaign in Paris tonight.

WHAT is the most important part of a rugby player’s body? His hands? Quick feet? Upper body strength?

RORY MCILROY revealed he will pledge €75,000 of his savings to the Japan earthquake and tsunami appeal when he tees up alongside Japanese golfing heartthrob Ryo Ishikawa on Monday in Yokohama.

ROB ANDREW admitted the Rugby Football Union had hit “rock bottom” following the publication of damning reports into England’s failed World Cup campaign.

ANTHONY FOLEY is confident Munster can iron out the “little errors” in defence that made for two extremely uncomfortable matches in the opening two rounds of the Heineken Cup this month.

PAUL MARSHALL is looking forward to what could be his last start for Ulster in the RaboDirect Pro 12 League for quite a while.

IT was the Irish writer Flann O’Brien who said that questions are like beggars at the door, and should not be minded.

MIKEL ARTETA says that Arsenal captain Robin van Persie deserves to be compared to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among the best players in the world.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND coach Marco Tardelli has revealed that Norwich City trio Wes Hoolahan, Anthony Pilkington and Marc Tierney are firmly on his international radar.

SEÁN O’BRIEN has dismissed an allegation that the behaviour of Irish players at a Queenstown Bar in New Zealand during the Rugby World Cup was “much worse” than that of their English counterparts.

THE IRFU has given short shrift to suggestions Ireland’s World Cup squad members were worse behaved during the tournament than England’s disgraced team.

THE US Open winning duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are the closest of friends but there is one key difference in that relationship ahead of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup at Haikou in China.

IN THE END, perhaps the only way to rid the English rugby team of the arrogance and self-righteousness that has pervaded their squad since 2003 was with a stick of dynamite planted firmly in the centre of the Twickenham pitch.

FORMER Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan wants to replace Martin Johnson as England boss, his agent has disclosed.

NOEL HUNT has admitted that his two-year international exile has left him feeling “hard done by” but the Reading striker hasn’t given up hope of securing a place in the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 squad.

IT is 1998, the summer is on its way, and Mickey Ward is about to play for Mid-Ulster in the opening game of the Milk Cup.

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger fears UEFA will not be able to force through new financial fair play regulations.