BBC Sport NI looks at some of the talking points from Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby's Six Nations squad.

As interim head coach Simon Easterby prepares to announce his Ireland squad on Wednesday, BBC Sport NI looks at his options ahead of the Six Nations.

Ireland has moved a step closer to forming a new government. Irish media says a deal was reached Tuesday between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Regional Independent Group to form a government a month and a half after the election gave no party a majority of seats needed to control parliament.

Ireland’s centrist political parties struck a deal to form a coalition government, backed by a handful of unaligned lawmakers, after weeks of negotiations, according to the Irish Times.

Former Aston Villa women's manager Carla Ward will take over as coach of the Ireland women's team, the country's football association (FAI) said on Wednesday.

Former Aston Villa boss Carla Ward has been appointed the new head coach of the Republic of Ireland through to the end of the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirmed on Wednesday.