Lions tours have marked benchmarks in Munster man’s career, and never more so than now

Ireland scrumhalf admits he was surprised to be named as new captain of the Lions

Japan’s high-tempo brand of rugby has capacity to trouble Warren Gatland’s side

Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne and Jack Conan will all start in pack for Saturday’s match

Party to tour South Africa consists of 16 backs and 21 forwards

Controversy as Bristol defeated by Bordeaux-Begles as Racing 92 hammer Edinburgh

Ireland’s strong end to the tournament reflected in selection

Italy’s 31st Six Nations defeat in a row saw them offer little resistance at Stadio Olimpico

Assistant coach’s lineout expertise was evident from early on

Visitors left with a mountain to climb as Six Nations campaign starts with bruising loss

John O’Sullivan takes a look at Ireland’s opponents ahead of Sunday’s opener

Last year’s results were so poor that a big improvement this term seems inevitable

Lions hooker dislocated his shoulder on club duty and will miss all six remaining Tests

Head coach says ‘currently we are not good enough at knockout rugby at this stage’

Secondrow will match Richie McCaw as the Six Nations reaches conclusion in Cardiff

Denying Wales possession and kicking to gain distance were key to Ireland’s win

A much improved performance is rewarded with a bonus point win in Dublin

Players from six countries are represented, with five of the XV from South Africa

Rassie Erasmus’s Springboks break Welsh hearts as they take a physical last four tie

Warren Gatland could be taking charge of Wales for a final time against South Africa

Vahaamahina’s red card proves crucial as Moriarty breaks French hearts at the last

Gatland must regenerate squad to face Uruguay but will almost certainly top Pool D

Michael Cheika hits out at World Rugby following Reece Hodge’s three-match ban

Flawed human nature is rare in Japan, so it was strange to see how police handled drunken violence

Key to James Ryan’s performance was taking full responsibility as main lineout target

Ireland mark Joe Schmidt’s final game in Dublin with nine-point win

Andy Farrell says players are ‘raring to go’ for final World Cup warm-up game against Wales

Both Ireland and Wales expected to unveil full-strength sides for last Test match

Eddie Jones’s side too strong at Twickenham as intensity takes its toll

Late Larmour try no consolation for Ireland as Warren Gatland wins a third Grand Slam

The coach and his team are proven big-game performers and Ireland have it all to do

All-conquering Welsh side close in on Grand Slam ahead of weekend Ireland showdown

Players’ futures are in limbo as Wales look to secure possible Grand Slam

‘Project Reset’ could see new side formed in Colwyn Bay

‘We’ve looked really sharp and the squad are incredibly motivated to kick on’

Secondrow will earn his 132nd Test cap when the old enemy England arrive in Cardiff

Leicester Tigers look to pounce on injury-hit Scarlets; Toulon brace for Edinburgh

Jonah Holmes and Luke Morgan included in squad for autumn internationals

Pro14: After some costly errors, McFarland’s men bag winning score right at the death

Scrumhalf kicks late penalty to get Dan McFarland's side over the line against Scarlets