As accessible the League of Ireland and, more recently, the Ireland teams are to young coaches making their way, naïve lapses have been costly for a few.

At the famed Loftus Versfeld, the sign that greets players as they run out of the tunnel is there for a reason. 'Altitude. 1350m. It matters.'

That 88-10 loss in Twickenham, with England running in 14 tries against a side that missed 61 tackles, made for a sobering and embarrassing afternoon.

Don't be so quick to forget what made the sport what it is. The professional game has morphed into something very different – vastly improved in numerous respects, less fabulous in others – and anonymous-looking new stadia have largely replaced the old school cathedrals

Everyone is talking about the chilling, visceral, deeply compelling comedy-drama Baby Reindeer. But what about the experiences that inspired it?

"Some of the younger ones who have come through like Bukayo Saka, Martinelli and Smith Rowe remind me of when I was there age, that spirit and desire together. I'm very happy for them.”

“For Enzo, after the World Cup to arrive here, in a team that was inconsistent, difficult to get positive results, always it was really difficult."

“Listen, I haven't really thought a huge about it, to be honest,” said Cullen from the team base in Johannesburg.

Festy Ebosele and James Abankwah will work with the World Cup and Ballon d'Or winner until the end of the season.

Mourinho won the Carabao Cup and Europa League in his first season at Old Trafford before finishing second in the Premier League the following campaign.

A mouthwatering line-up will see Ireland face the All Blacks, Argentina, Fiji and Australia at the Aviva Stadium. 

James and Carol Johnston gave emotional and harrowing evidence at Limerick Coroner’s Court of the final moments of their 16-year-old daughter’s death

The hurling championship continues this weekend and it looks to be another blockbuster. The AIL finals will take place in the Aviva Stadium and it's the last weekend in the Guinness Women's Six Nations with third spot up for grabs for an automatic place at the World Cup - all you need to know about sport on tv this week. 

Despite everything Coventry have suffered, you would probably choose that 90 seconds of joy over none at all.

United ultimatley triumphed 4-2 on penalties, when striker Hoijlund scored comfortably, and will face derby rivals Manchester City in the final on 25 May (just as they did in 2023).

Networks of predatory men are potentially targeting vulnerable children missing from State care

Liberté, égalité, absurdité. Only way is up for Wembanyama and early loss for a later gain.

The Irish needed all the pick-me-ups they could find after a sobering Saturday against England.

The IOC can go on about Olympic ideals, that this pursuit is more noble than the greasy professionalism that pervades sport elsewhere, but if that’s the case they should probably stop giving executive board members per diems of $900 while at events.

“It is not right. If you look at it any angle it’s not right."