IRELAND’S Rugby World Cup hopes have been given a boost with Rory Best, Rob Kearney and Iain Henderson all signing new contracts.

Ireland captain Rory Best and full-back Rob Kearney have signed new contracts with the Irish Rugby Football Union until the 2019 World Cup.

NatWest 6 Nations Championship: England v Ireland (Saturday, 2.

?Irish rugby fans are set to descend on London ahead of their side's St Patrick's Day Grand Slam showdown with England.

Ulster rugby fans will have to pay to watch the team's games on television after the BBC were outbid on Guinness PRO14 broadcast rights.

TWENTY years ago Republic of Ireland skipper Andy Townsend announced his retirement from international football.

The tape goes up on the Cheltenham Festival just six days from now, and the first afternoon of the four-day Festival has the potential to make or break the bookies and favourite-backers alike.

FORMER Ireland flanker Nigel Carr admitted last night that he was baffled by the news that Ulster head coach Jono Gibbes is to leave at the end of the season without fulfilling the second year of his contract.

BRIAN McLaughlin believes Ulster Rugby must work harder at grassroots level to harness homegrown talent in order to produce a successful professional team in the years to come.

Guinness PRO14: Ulster v Edinburgh (Friday, 7.

Jordan Larmour can bridge the Test match generation gap and produce his "devastating" best on his Ireland debut on Saturday, according to Rory Best.

Jordan Larmour should make his Test debut in Ireland's NatWest 6 Nations clash with Italy in Dublin.

FOLLOWING a run of poor results, it was last night confirmed that Les Kiss had left his role as director of rugby with Ulster with immediate effect.