Ireland will have a 75 percent prospect of meeting one of the eight teams involved in March’s Uefa Nations League quarter-finals as their top seeds: France, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Croatia or Denmark.

Who did our writers select as the standout players in this week's Harty Cup clashes?

The Leinster CEO said Leo Cullen and Andy Farrell's current deals ending in the same year is a coincidence and there is no grand plan for the Leinster head coach to take the Ireland reins. 

A run of defeats, ageing players and off-field problems have not deterred manager from opting to complete a decade at club

Ireland face Azerbaijan and Kosovo this week in two crucial World Cup pre-qualifiers.

The Ireland manager has come across like a mechanic shaking his head ruefully at a hissing engine, before saying he might be able to fix it, but it’s going to cost ya.

If you're looking for alcohol-free evening activities in the city then check out ‘Coffee House Lates’ — an initiative running as part of the Night-Time Economy Strategy for Cork city

Speculation continues to rage about Gatland’s future after a record run of 11 successive Test match defeats.

From a nightmare spell in Moldova to drawing in blank in Houston, some players enjoyed a unique professional life.

"Christmas songs sour the room. Neighbours walk past their house in groups of hats and scarves. Kids skip. He wonders if his dad is in a coffin yet."

The club are defending themselves against more than 100 charges brought by the Premier League. If the champions are found guilty then one potential sanction is relegation.

After consulting with respective Team Cup Captains Francesco Molinari, of Continental Europe, and Justin Rose, of Great Britain & Ireland, Luke Donald has confirmed the first nine competitors on each side for the match play contest in January.

Martinez's 32nd goal for his country settled the qualifier in Buenos Aires and strengthened their position at the top of the South American standings.

Bellamy extended his unbeaten run to six games – the best start by a Wales manager – as the Dragons recovered from conceding an early goal to beat Iceland 4-1 in Cardiff.

The Spaniard's present deal is due to expire at the end of the current season.

The 38-year-old is playing in his farewell tournament having finally accepted last month that his body would no longer allow him to compete at the highest level.

Scrumhalf Jaden is already a Rugby World Cup winner after helping South Africa to the trophy in France last year, but flyhalf Jordan earns a third test cap having debuted against Wales at Twickenham in June.

Ireland captain Caelan Doris has set out his goals for the season but they lie in the background as he concentrates on his game week by week.

Elsewhere Tottenham Hotspurs' Dejan Kulusevski scored twice and Viktor Gyökeres netted four for Sweden while Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko scored the opener in Ukraine's victory.

Joy Neville and Keith Wood’s contributions to Irish Rugby as players and post-retirement were honoured with their inductions to the Hall of Fame.