Italy
# italy - Monday 25 February, 2013
Opinion: ‘Giving Jamie Heaslip the captaincy of Brian O’Driscoll’s team could never work’
Kidney has made a cardinal mistake according to Emmet O’Rafferty.
Italian turnout drops in key national election
Leading the electoral field is Pier Luigi Bersani who supported tough measures pushed by incumbent Premier Mario Monti.
# italy - Sunday 24 February, 2013
Italy: Topless protesters hurl themselves at Berlusconi
The women had ‘Basta Berlusconi’ (‘Enough With Berlusconi’) written on their backs.
Pope not ‘abandoning the Church’ as 100,000 attend Sunday prayer
An emotional Pope Benedict XVI has delivered his last Sunday prayer in St Peter’s Square in Rome.
Italians go to the polls as eurozone’s third largest economy hangs in the balance
Voting it to take place today and tomorrow, with over 47 million Italian’s eligible to vote.
The 9 at 9: Sunday
Good morning. Here are nine things to know as you start your day.
Explainer: Everything you need to know about today’s Italian election
Who’s running? What’s at stake? How are they picked? And is Silvio Berlusconi really in line for a fourth term in office?
# italy - Saturday 23 February, 2013
6 Nations: Wales stay on championship track after swatting Italy aside
The defending champions look revived after their victory in France last time out.
UPDATE: Horsemeat containing harmful drug ‘entered food chain’ in France
Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande has called for compulsory labelling and traceability of meat in processed foods in Europe.
# italy - Friday 22 February, 2013
Snapshot: So, Donncha O’Callaghan seems excited about heading to Edinburgh this evening
‘Bagsy the window seat!’
Latest from Irish camp: Cian Healy dunks his biscuit while wearing a lagging jacket
Somewhere, a boiler is poorly insulated.
Cheese chips and Brucie? 7 things we learned about Brian O’Driscoll from #askbrian
It’s all cry babies and dirty nappies at the moment. But enough about the post-England team meeting.
Final day of campaigning in Italy as uncertainty rules over election
Italy goes to the polls on Sunday and Monday but it’s still not clear who is most likely to emerge victorious.
# italy - Wednesday 20 February, 2013
6 Nations: Parisse to miss rest of Six Nations because of ref taunt
Italy will be without their skipper when Ireland hit Rome in a few weeks.
6 Nations: Scots summon Cross for Sunday service with Ireland
Geoff Cross has been called up into the Scotland side for Sunday’s Six Nations international against Ireland at Murrayfield.
POLL: Declan Kidney is set to pick Paddy Jackson ahead of Ronan O’Gara… is it the right call?
The unproven Ulster star is to start against Scotland.
# italy - Tuesday 19 February, 2013
In pictures: Ireland’s 6 Nations hopefuls back in business ahead of Scotland showdown
Declan Kidney’s men face a trip to Edinburgh this weekend.
# italy - Sunday 17 February, 2013
Pope calls for Catholic Church to ‘renew’ as thousands flock to prayers
The Vatican said over 50,000 people had turned out to see the pope for his Sunday Angelus, while local authorities put the number at over 100,000.
# italy - Friday 15 February, 2013
6 Nations chiefs confirm Cian Healy is suspended for Leinster’s game this weekend
The prop was hit with a three-week ban this week for a stamp on England’s Dan Cole in the Lansdowne Rd defeat last weekend.
# italy - Tuesday 12 February, 2013
Eight years: A timeline of Pope Benedict’s key moments
The highlights of Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy, from 2005 to today.
# italy - Monday 11 February, 2013
Sexton ‘doubtful’ for Scotland match as Ireland count cost of capitulation to England
Declan Kidney has plenty of injury concerns after the ‘attritional’ clash with England.
Lions team of the week, according to the official Wallabies website
Not so many Irish names this week, Ted.
# italy - Sunday 10 February, 2013
EU ‘fears’ Berlusconi’s return to power: Monti
Italy’s outgoing Prime Minister has expressed fears over Silvio Berlusconi’s potential negative effect on the euro, should his party win this month’s election.
Open thread: how do you think Ireland will get on against England today?
The Auld Enemy visit Lansdowne Road this afternoon.
# italy - Saturday 9 February, 2013
VIDEO: Stuart Hogg finishes off Italy with 90-metre run
Also, a referee gets hit in the head.
Report: 4-try Scotland dominate lacklustre Italians
Stuart Hogg sprinted in an 80-metre try to seal a much-deserved win at Murrayfield.
# italy - Thursday 7 February, 2013
Opinion: Discipline key if Ireland are to derail England’s chariot at Lansdowne Road
Two cards like last Saturday and it won’t be a fun day out in D4.
# italy - Wednesday 6 February, 2013
Vatican receives around 600 abuse cases every year, says prosecutor
The Vatican’s new chief prosecutor said many of the cases date back to the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
Work (finally) begins on Pompeii’s €105 million makeover
The Roman city has come to symbolise the decades of mismanagement of many of Italy’s cultural treasures.
President Michael D Higgins travels to Italy for official visit
The President will meet with officials in Rome as well as visiting some historic sites with Irish connections.
# italy - Tuesday 5 February, 2013
European stocks steady after dive amid Spain, Italy fears
Yesterday European stock markets slumped with banking shares suffering some of the heaviest losses.
# italy - Monday 4 February, 2013
Ireland v England: Manu Tuilagi fit for trip to Dublin
The Leicester Tigers star has recovered from the ankle injury that kept him out of the Scotland game.
# italy - Sunday 3 February, 2013
Italy stun France to throw 6 Nations race wide open
The Italians stunned Phillipe Saint-Andre’s men and had a hairy Tiger to thank for it.
Berlusconi tells voters: I will refund your property tax (if I win)
Italy’s election take place at the end of this month.
‘Zonked’ — Heaslip hails team effort after leaving it all on the field in Cardiff
“To come away with a win from the Millennium Stadium, I’m absolutely chuffed to bits.”
# italy - Saturday 2 February, 2013
England too strong for Scots ahead of trip to Dublin
England visit the Aviva Stadium in eight days’ time.
Match report: Ireland up and running after epic clash in Cardiff
The game appeared dead and buried at half-time but Wales fought back with tries from Alex Cuthbert, Leigh Halfpenny and Craig Mitchell.



























































