Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong could be available to play France in Six Nations opener

Tadhg Furlong appears to remain the only real fitness concern for Ireland ahead of moving on to Paris for Thursday’s 2026 Six Nations opener against France in the Stade de France (kick-off 9.10pm local time/8.10pm Irish), although there are more positive noises about the wellbeing of the three-time Lions tighthead. Furlong took at least some part in the squad’s session at The Campus in Quinta do Lago on Sunday and afterwards the Ireland defence coach Simon Easterby sounded moderately optimistic that the Leinsterman was recovering well from the calf strain he aggravated in his province’s win in Bayonne a fortnight ago. “He got...