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Peter Bills: English RFU have shamed game we love

The summer sun shines down upon Irish rugby as Leinster bask in the glory of their worthy Heineken Cup success. And it is a point worth making once more that Joe Schmidt's men beat three of the four teams that will contest the French Championship semi-finals in Marseille this weekend: Stade Toulouse, ASM Clermont Auvergne and Racing Metro.

Peter Bills: Game still a far cry from professional

And so to Cardiff for the climax of the northern hemisphere season in professional rugby. With all due respect to the Magners League, French Top 14 and English Premiership, this has to be the peak of the northern hemisphere players' year.

Peter Bills: Referee poite a real worry for Leinster

French referees have been copping criticism since time immemorial. There is a file on them big enough to have dropped on Osama Bin Laden's complex and wiped out everyone in the abode.

Peter Bills: Noves factor a danger for Schmidt's men

In light of recent events, you'd wonder why French clubs continue to target some of the game's more complicated characters. When it comes to going AWOL from their clubs, certain Fijian internationals have not covered themselves in glory of late.

Peter Bills: Old masters are snapshot of tradition

In the cold of an Augusta morning, barely half an hour after a huge orange ball of a sun arose in the eastern sky, two old men shuffled out onto an immaculate green swathe.

Peter Bills: Contepomi backs old team to tame Tigers in crunch European clash

He's swapped the suave elegance of Dublin 4 for life amid the earthier world of Toulon, France's chief naval port.

Peter Bills: Kiwis' wealth of talent is a small wonder

Consider these figures: New Zealand has around 120,000 registered rugby players -- 8,000 less than Japan, which is a minnow in international rugby terms.

Peter Bills: Jekyll and hyde boss has french on road to hell

France thought they had a coach who could never be sacked, certainly not this side of the World Cup. Now, a defeat in Paris against Wales on Saturday could see Marc Lievremont carted off to the guillotine.

Peter Bills: Ref lottery a recipe for world chaos

ON the evidence of the early weeks of the southern hemisphere’s Super 15 season, the World Cup this autumn is in danger of turning into a complete lottery.

Peter Bills: Carter shows it's not hard to be humble

Some you can categorise as scoundrels, rogues. Certain others can be condemned as cheats. Sadly, there have been plenty who have sullied the name of their sport.

Peter Bills: Can Ireland now play like this?

Joe Schmidt likes to set his Leinster players a challenge. He certainly set them one at half-time in Cardiff on Saturday.

Peter Bills: Super Blues keep faith to take place as European superpower

To win the Heineken Cup is one thing. But to do it in less than 40 minutes is something else entirely.

Peter Bills: Scrum just a charter for cheats

You might think that a rugby player -- someone like Dan Carter, Brian O'Driscoll, James O'Connor or Victor Matfield -- might actually make most of the headlines at this year's World Cup. But I fear you could be wrong.

Peter Bills: Union-league hybrid 'saviour of both codes'

Think we might just have enough rugby in the professional era, what with league and union? Reckon that TV just can't cram any more games into its schedule for the two codes?

Peter Bills: Time stands still as values from Nicklaus era remain safely in place

The morning sun still creeps through the tall, elegant pines, winking enticingly as it warms to its task.

Peter Bills: IRB's lack of vision keeping game in dark

THE International Rugby Board (IRB) had the chance two years ago to eliminate forever the kind of blunder that robbed Ireland of a Six Nations victory in Wales.

Peter Bills: Classy O'Driscoll this team's soul

So Captain Fantastic extends the legend.

Peter Bills: Change the laws to let TMOs avoid any more farcical gaffes

Two men made serious blunders in Cardiff on Saturday that directly influenced the outcome. But neither of them was the referee.

Peter Bills: Ireland can be World Cup dark horses

We're talking rugby, Jean de Villiers and I - both the northern and southern hemisphere versions -- and trying to analyse how far ahead the south may be in terms of the new law interpretations.

Peter Bills: Hand-eye guru worth a call from Kidney

The person who could hold the key to Ireland's World Cup chances is a thin, waif-like, self-effacing woman with soft, delicate hands who lives in faraway Cape Town.

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Dublin Sightseeing Reaches New Heights

Ireland’s most iconic venue, Croke Park Stadium, announced the opening of the much anticipated Etihad Skyline tour on the roof of the historic ground. Sponsored by Etihad Airways and opening to the public on Friday 1st June, the tour offers access to a unique Croke Park rooftop walkway and spectacular panoramic views of Dublin city.

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McAreavey suspect accuses police

Avinash Treebhoowoon, 30, confessed to police about his involvement in strangling Michaela McAreavey, but now insists he was forced to sign the statement.Treebhoowoon and co-accused Sandip Moneea, 42, deny murdering the 27-year-old teacher on her honeymoon at the Legends Hotel.

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