Rory Best speaks to his troops at the Stade de France. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Home

• Ireland had their captain’s run at the Stade de France this morning ahead of tomorrow’s Six Nations showdown with France.
• Uefa has allocated the FAI 832 more tickets for Euro 2016 as the governing body begins to process payments.
• Galway man Gavin Hennigan has finished second in the Yukon Arctic Ultra, an event labelled as the world’s toughest adventure race.
• Munster have made four changes for Sunday’s Pro12 outing against Ospreys in Cork.
• Ireland U21 midfielder Josh Cullen has joined League One outfit Bradford on loan.
• Davy Fitzgerald has named his Clare team for Sunday’s Allianz League opener against Offaly at Cusack Park.
• The Leinster Schools Committee will investigate the circumstances surrounding a concussion decision row during Thursday’s Senior Cup game between Gonzaga and Roscrea.
• New Galway manager Michael Donoghue has named his side for Sunday’s Allianz League clash against Cork.

Ireland fans Chris Forde and Shauna McMahon from Monaghan in Paris. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Away

• Former Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke has been banned from the sport for 12 years.
• Eddie Jones has placed faith in Courtney Lawes, Mako Vunipola and Ben Youngs for England‘s trip to Italy on Sunday.
• Louis van Gaal has revealed he sent German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger on holiday to ‘change his mindset’.
• Former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman has died at the age of 44.
• Lionel Messi has won the La Liga Player of the Month award….for the first time.

The Best Thing We Shared

You may remember Dustin Brown from last summer, when he knocked Rafa Nadal out of Wimbledon, and who knows what he will be able to do this year with shots like this.

On The Record

“Stop holding bitterness deep in your bum soul; stuck on $20,000 to show and $20,000 to fight. I wipe my ass with that money. I tip your wage, Nate.”

Conor McGregor takes a swipe at UFC lightweight Nate Diaz, who called out the Irish superstar after his win against Michael Johnson in December — a fight for which Diaz earned a disclosed sum of $40,000.

Where We Were Today

Murray Kinsella is in Paris soaking up the atmosphere while closer to home, Sean Farrell is at the RDS for Leinster’s Pro12 meeting with Zebre.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

The Fixture List

• In the Pro12, there’s three fixtures tonight including Leinster v Zebre and Ulster v Glasgow (both 7.30pm).
• Ireland U20s play the second game of their Six Nations campaign tonight as they face France in Paris.
• There are seven Premier League games on Saturday with Man United’s trip to Sunderland the early game.
• The Six Nations continues on Saturday as France host Ireland (2.25pm) and Scotland visit Wales (4.50pm).
• The Allianz Hurling League begins with two fixtures on Saturday. Tipperary welcome Dublin to Thurles (7pm) and Limerick entertain Wexford at the Gaelic Grounds.
• And in the AIB All-Ireland senior club football semi-finals, Clonmel Commercials face Ballyboden St-Enda’s (4.30pm) and Crossmaglen Rangers do battle with Castlebar Mitchels (6.15pm).

Showbiz, baby!

When in Dublin…

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

Galway man Gavan Hennigan finishes second in ‘world’s toughest adventure race’

More Warrenball! Gatland wants Wales to be more direct after ‘expansive’ approach fell short