Ireland

Wales delivered a disjointed display in their opening World Cup warm-up game as RBS 6 Nations champions Ireland cruised to a 35-21 victory at the Millennium Stadium.

Simon Easterby admits it is not ideal that Cian Healy could arrive at the World Cup without full match fitness as the Ireland prop battles neck trouble.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has offered his players little indication of who is in line to play against Wales in Cardiff next weekend.

Ireland have received a major pre-World Cup boost with head coach Joe Schmidt committing his future to the reigning RBS 6 Nations champions for another two years.

The bidding battle to host Rugby World Cup 2023 is set to be between four countries - Ireland, France, Italy and South Africa.

Rhys Ruddock's second broken arm in six months has cost the Leinster flanker a place in Ireland's World Cup squad.

Ireland flanker Rhys Ruddock could face a race to be fit for the World Cup after suffering another arm injury during a tour match in Georgia.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell has finalised his two-year deal to join triple European champions Toulon after the autumn's World Cup.

Keith Wood has described Ireland's repeated failure to progress beyond the World Cup quarter-finals as "a horrible and embarrassing statistic".

Paul O'Connell will play his final game for Ireland at this autumn's World Cup after the Irish Rugby Football Union confirmed he has been granted early release from his contract.

Paul O'Connell is expected to complete a two-year deal to join Toulon after the World Cup, following Saturday's Guinness PRO12 final with Munster.

Jack McGrath could be facing a ban to jeopardise his World Cup participation after kneeing lock Konstantin Mikautadze in the back during Ireland's 22-21 defeat to the Barbarians.

Chris Henry will make his first appearance for Ireland since suffering a mini-stroke in November when he features in Thursday's clash with the Barbarians.

Conor Murray ran in a hat-trick of tries as Munster hammered the Newport Gwent Dragons 50-27 at Irish Independent Park to book a home Guinness PRO12 play-off.

Brian O'Driscoll will flex his superstar muscle to boost Ireland's battle to host Rugby World Cup 2023.

Ireland is to host the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2017.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell would be "an invaluable addition" to Toulon, according to Australia wing Drew Mitchell.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell has been named as the RBS 6 Nations player of the championship six days after leading his side to a successful title defence.

Paul O'Connell insists Ireland's back-to-back RBS 6 Nations titles rest entirely on never once questioning taskmaster boss Joe Schmidt's intense methods.

Ireland tiptoed their way to successive RBS 6 Nations titles for the first time since 1949, sneaking past England on points-difference after beating Scotland 40-10.