Somehow, amid this terrible, un-English inconsistency, Martin Johnson's have established a pattern that more often offers their supporters some sort of hope... more
Jonathan Sexton will make his Ireland debut in the clash with Fiji at the Royal Dublin Society as one of eight changes to the side that drew with Australia... more
Rugby union: Paul O'Connell insists he can rouse his battered and bruised Lions to salvage some pride in the final Test of their gruelling six-week tour of South Africa... more
Rugby union: Ugo Monye has been given a shot at redemption after being recalled to the British & Irish Lions side for the third and final Test at Kings Park... more
Rugby union: Harlequins winger Ugo Monye has been handed his first Lions Test cap only eight months after making his international debut for England... more
Rugby union: England stalwart Phil Vickery’s almost certain to be named at tight-head for the First Test against South Africa after making himself impossible to ignore... more
Lions tour: Shane Williams has admitted that the pressure and expectation of carrying the mantle of world player of the year is affecting his form... more
Rugby union: Lions captain Paul O'Connell and some of his key men know if they impress against the Sharks in Durban tonight, they can almost certainly book their place in the XV for the First Test at the same ground... more
Rugby union: Alun-Wyn Jones has forced himself into the Lions second row alongside skipper Paul O’Connell for the clash with the Sharks in Durban... more
Rugby union: Paul O'Connell goes into the clash with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein confident his squad will not be disrupted by players who fail to play in the major matches... more
Rugby union: Lions captain Paul O'Connell today warned his South African hosts that his team are ready to match the unbeaten 1974 squad and become rugby legends.... more
Rugby union: Captain Paul O’Connell wants to banish the memory of Clive Woodward’s disastrous 2005 Lions tour by defeating the world champions on their home turf... more
Rugby union: Captain Paul O'Connell is determined to put the pride back into the Lions jersey against South Africa this summer and erase the memories of the failed 2005 trip to New Zealand... more
Rugby union: Rugby's law makers last night reinstated the maul into the sport and handed the Lions a potent weapon in their bid to defeat South Africa this summer... more
Rugby union: Simon Shaw, the London Wasps and England lock, has confirmed he will be fit for the Lions tour, giving head coach Ian McGeechan a much needed boost for the 10-match series... more
Rugby union: Alan Quinlan's place on the Lions tour is under threat after he was cited for alleged gouging during Munster's Heineken Cup defeat to Leinster.... more
Rugby union: Ian McGeechan faces another anxious wait to discover if he has lost any more key men from his Lions squad as up to 17 of the players he is taking to South Africa could be involved this weekend's Heineken Cup semi-finals... more
Rugby union: The British and Irish Lions have a fantastic opportunity to repeat the 1997 Test series triumph over South Africa and Paul O'Connell is the right man to captain the squad this summer... more
Rugby union: Tom Rees will have a scan on his injured shoulder knowing he is battling to keep alive his hopes of a place on the Lions tour of South Africa this summer... more
Rugby union: Paul O'Connell gambled with his bid to captain the Lions to South Africa this summer by criticising Wales coach Warren Gatland after helping Ireland land a first Grand Slam since 1948 by winning 17-15 in Cardiff... more
The tantalising prospect of representing the Lions will dominate the thinking of all the Home Union players on the eve of a Six Nations Championship... more
Tonight:
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