Ireland

Amidst all the excitement of the Six Nations and the beginning of the Super Rugby season, it would be understandable if you didn’t realise the third round of the U20 Six Nations was being contended this past weekend.

Conor Murray is "lucky" he will be fit for Ireland's RBS 6 Nations clash against Italy in Dublin on Saturday, March 12, according to assistant coach Richie Murphy.

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England began healing the wounds of last autumn's disastrous World Cup by landing their first major blow in the RBS 6 Nations title race with an emphatic 21-10 victory over Ireland.

England boss Eddie Jones has heightened tensions with Ireland by claiming Johnny Sexton's parents will be worried about his long-term health.

Stuart McCloskey and Josh van der Flier will make their Test debuts in Ireland's RBS 6 Nations clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Unfortunately for Ireland and Joe Schmidt, their hopes of becoming the first side to win the Six Nations title for three consecutive years look to be fading away.

Ultane Dillan is the "physical animal" who can ease Ireland's second-row injury crisis in Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash with England, according to Simon Easterby.

Elliot Daly is set to make his England debut against Ireland on Saturday after being retained in Eddie Jones' 23-man squad for the Twickenham showdown.

Conor Murray has admitted Ireland harbour a "fear factor" about facing England at Twickenham.

Fit-again props Cian Healy and Mike Ross are in line to boost Ireland's creaking scrum in Saturday's RBS 6 Nations match against England at Twickenham.

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Ireland have suffered a triple injury blow after Sean O'Brien, Dave Kearney and Mike McCarthy were ruled out of the remainder of the RBS 6 Nations.

Ireland back Jared Payne has signed a new contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union that will keep him at Ulster until 2018.

Leinster and Ireland prop Cian Healy has signed a new three-year Irish Rugby Football Union contract, which will see him remain with the province until the end of the 2019 World Cup.

Robbie Henshaw has opted to leave Irish province Connacht for Pro 12 rivals Leinster this summer, on signing his first Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) national contract.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has revealed fly-half Johnny Sexton suffered a "whiplash injury" to his neck and shoulder in Ireland's 10-9 RBS 6 Nations defeat to France.

With two rounds of the 2016 RBS Six Nations in the books, there has been plenty to talk about over the last couple of weeks.

Joe Schmidt has admitted Ireland have only a "very, very outside chance" of now retaining their RBS 6 Nations title.

France overturned a 9-3 half-time deficit to grind out a 10-9 win over Ireland in Paris and make it two RBS Six Nations win out of two.