Rugby Australia turn down Jake White bid to succeed Michael Cheika

Former South Africa coach had approached Wallabies as pressure on Cheika increases

Gerry Thornley: World awards cap Irish rugby’s greatest year

Schmidt now set to prepare for defence of the Six Nations – then comes the hurdle of World Cup

Scott Fardy takes the long way round to reach the top

Australian is well travelled but has made himself right at home with Leinster

European rugby draws: Familiar faces and foes for Irish sides

Donnacha Ryan set for quick return to Thomond Park with Racing 92; Leinster paired with English champions Exeter

Ulster confirm deal for South African prop Schalk van der Merwe

‘Cornerstone of the Lions scrum that dominated for a couple of Super Rugby seasons’

Seán Moran: Gaelic football rich territory for crossovers

Code ‘competition’ helps from Shane Horgan’s try to Kieran Donaghy’s basketball skills

South Africans putting Springbok into Munster’s step

CJ Stander, Jaco Taute and Jean Kleyn provide powerful framework of raw power

Montpellier coach calls for consistency on high tackles

Frans Steyn was shown a red card for a forearm to the jaw and neck of Johnny Sexton

Montpellier pose big obstacle as Leinster eye quarter-final

Irish province need to stick to their own game against multinational opposition

Isa Nacewa and Leinster aiming to curb Nadalo threat

Massive Fijian winger scored a brace of tries for Montpellier last time the sides met

Montpellier: a French side carved from South African muscle

Leinster face tough threat at RDS despite Jake White’s team being in transition

Leinster brace themselves for bruising Montpellier battle

Discipline and smart kicking key against physicality of ‘langueboks’

Who will replace Pat Lam at Connacht?

Gerry Thornley looks at the possible contenders to replace Lam at Connacht coach

Bristol make Pat Lam an offer he can’t refuse

English club understood to have offered Lam a salary in the region of €750,000

Eddie Jones’s ‘speed dating in Algarve’ keeps England players on toes

Dedicated coach’s obsession is to make every player in his squad a little bit better

Leinster look well-equipped for Montpellier test

Pieces falling into place again for Leo Cullen as O’Brien, Healy and Sexton return

Hold mirror to Montpellier and see a reflection of Springboks in crisis

Leinster’s opponents backboned by former world champions who face worrying talent drain

Irish ready to give nouveau riche French a run for their money

Provinces will have to punch above weight when they face financial behemoths of Top14

Gerry Thornley: It’s baby steps to begin with for Irish provinces

Champions Cup likely to be Anglo-French carve-up again with odds against Pro12 sides

Ronan O’Gara homecoming - Munster grouped with Racing

Champions Cup draw puts focus on provinces’ failure to attract top overseas players

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