THE START OF the year has been something of a slow-burner but that will all change over the coming days with an unholy feast of sport hurtling down the tracks.

The beginning of the Six Nations campaign is always a significant weekend in the sporting calendar but there is so much more on offer with a couple of big Premier League games down for decision, racing at Leopardstown, the club hurling semi-finals and, of course, the small matter of Super Bowl 50.

It all makes for a busy weekend of live sport and to ensure you can plan your day(s) appropriately, here is an hour-by-hour guide to what’s happening where and when. 

Happy viewing!

Ireland's opening game of the Six Nations campaign is one if the highlights. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

 Saturday

• ODI cricket: New Zealand v Australia, Sky Sports 1, 1am 
• NBA Basketball: Spurs @ Mavericks, BT Sport 1, 2.30am
• ODI cricket: South Africa v England, Sky Sports 2, 7.30am
• European Tour: Dubai Desert Classic, Sky Sports 4, 9am
• Scottish Cup: Rangers v Kilmarnock, Sky Sports 1, 12.30pm

Leicester and City go head-to-head in a crunch Premier League game. PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

• Premier League: Manchester City v Leicester City, BT Sport 1, 12.45pm
• Women’s Six Nations: Ireland v Wales, RTÉ Online, 1pm
• Racing: Sandown Park, Ffos Las & Wetherby, Channel 4, 1.30pm
• Racing: Leopardstown, RTÉ 1, 1.40pm
• Club hurling semi-final: Sarsfields v Ruairi Og, TG4, 2pm
• Six Nations: France v Italy, RTÉ 2 and BBC 1, 2.25pm
• Premier League: Liverpool v Sunderland, Setanta 1, 3pm
• Club hurling semi-final: Oulart-the-Ballagh v Na Piarsaigh, 3.45pm
• Six Nations: Scotland v England, RTÉ 2 and BBC, 4.50pm

Oulart-The-Ballagh will be hoping for more success on Saturday. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

• Premier League: Southampton v West Ham, Sky Sports 1, 5.30pm
• PGA Tour: Phoenix Open, Sky Sports 4, 6pm
• Allianz League: Mayo v Dublin, Setanta Ireland, 7pm
• NBA: Trail Blazers @ Rockets, BT Sport 1, 10pm
• Premier League: Match of the Day, BBC 1, 10.30pm
• MMA: UFC Las Vegas, including Artem Lobov v  Alex White, BT Sport 2, 12am

 Sunday

• European Tour: Dubai Desert Classic, Sky Sports 4, 8am
• La Liga: Levante v Barcelona, Sky Sports 5, 11am
• Scottish Cup: Hearts v Hibernian, Sky Sports 2, 12.30pm
• Premier League: Bournemouth v Arsenal, Sky Sports 1, 1.30pm
• Allianz League: Kerry v Roscommon, TG4, 2pm
• Six Nations: Ireland v Wales, RTÉ 2, 3pm
• Premier League: Chelsea v Man United, Sky Sports 1, 4pm

AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

• PGA Tour: Phoenix Open, Sky Sports 4, 6pm
• La Liga: Granada v Real Madrid, Sky Sports 1, 7.30pm
• Ligue 1: Marseille v PSG, BT Sport Europe, 8pm
• Premier League: MOTD2, BBC 1, 10.50pm
• NFL: Super Bowl 50 – Carolina Panthers v Denver Broncos, Sky Sports 1 and BBC 2, 11.30pm

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Home sweet home! Ireland choose Fota Island for Euro 2016 training camp

Is this how the next Terminator movie starts? Robot hits hole-in-one at PGA Tour event