Connacht still have an outside chance of making it into the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup but for the most part Friday’s game will be trying to end an eight-match losing run in Europe’s premier competition.

It’ll hardly be the biggest game of their respective seasons but the McKenna Cup final will be one to watch if only for the two men on the sidelines approach.

Flanker Jac Morgan, who led Wales impressively during the World Cup in France, could miss the whole tournament due to a knee injury.

Joy Neville will  retire from officiating at the end of the current season.

Ghana succumbed to a stoppage-time goal against Cape Verde, the smallest of the 24 teams at the tournament in the Ivory Coast.

Current Grand Slam champions Ireland will kick off the tournament against France on Friday February 2 in Marseille and will be live on Virgin Media

Like Munster, La Rochelle bounced back into Champions Cup contention at the weekend, but there was some bad news too for France

The Bahrain World Series of Darts is also on while the other half of the Premier League clubs return from their winter break.

Right-backs steal the show at Old Trafford, questions for Howe and a turning point for Chelsea?

Ahead of the final round of Champions Cup action pool games next weekend, incredibly, all four Irish provinces have something tangible to play for.

Victor Osimhen squandered the best opportunity of the second half, when heavy favourites Nigeria were forced to settle while their underdog opposition walked away with a valuable point.

The point meant Villa could not leapfrog Manchester City to go level on points with leaders Liverpool

'Ireland will go through a mini-renovation as Sexton has finished now and he stands head and shoulders above lots of Irish players in terms of what he’s given to the team.

His reputation as a strategist was unimpeachable, and his ability to out-think opposing coaches - especially in the clutch - was nothing short of miraculous.

Andy Farrell is poised to name his latest Six Nations squad in two days’ time and the retirement late last year of Johnny Sexton has left a few obvious holes to fill: one is the No.10 jersey, the other concerns the captaincy.

A crucial victory on foreign soil when expectations were at their lowest. 

"We still love this competition and we’re desperate to play in the round of 16," said the Ulster boss.

The Croatian had Djokovic on the ropes at the Australian Open. 

The Manchester City midfielder handles a football far better than he does public displays of affection.

Frawley shipped a tackle to the back by inside-centre Noah Nene, which left him in obvious pain on the ground, and he was taken off after receiving attention.