Jackson Out of 6 Nations

Ireland are likely to be without Ulster fly-half Paddy Jackson for the entire Six Nations tournament after he suffered a dislocated elbow.

The 23-year-old requires surgery which will keep him on the sidelines for 10 to 12 weeks after he was hurt during Ulster’s European Champions Cup defeat to Toulon on Saturday.

"Paddy Jackson suffered a dislocated elbow in Saturday's defeat to Toulon at Stade Mayol," said an Ulster statement.

"A scan on Monday revealed that he has an unstable joint and that he will require surgery. He is expected to be out of rugby for between 10 and 12 weeks."

Ireland will also be without Jonathan Sexton for their Six Nations opener against Italy on February 7, leaving Leinster’s Ian Madigan, who has played mostly at inside centre this season, as the most likely starter at No 10 in Rome, although Munster's Ian Keatley is another contender.

Sexton has been advised to rest for 12 weeks after being concussed for the fourth time in a year in November's win over Australia. He should be available to play against France in Dublin on February 14.

Ulster centre Stuart Olding, 22, is also expected to be out of action for a similar period to Jackson because of an elbow operation after he was injured against Toulon.

Meanwhile, Ireland's long-term absentees Sean O'Brien and Cian Healy are closing in on a return to action, but Leinster have ruled out either facing Wasps in the Champions Cup this weekend.

O'Brien is battling back from two consecutive shoulder operations, while prop Healy is nearing a return after a severe hamstring tear.

Leinster are hopeful they will be available to face the Dragons on February 15, but they may still struggle to feature for Ireland in the Six Nations.

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Davies's Passing is Howley Motivation

Robert Howley says Mervyn Davies' death has given them extra motivation ahead of Saturday's Grand Slam showdown against France in Cardiff.

Davies succumbed to cancer at the age of 65, prompting tributes to pour in for the Welsh number eight icon.

Wales backs coach Howley said: "It gives us even more motivation for tomorrow on what is hopefully going to be a great game for Welsh rugby."

Howley described Davies as a "colossus" and "legend" of the game.

Davies led Wales to the 1976 Five Nations Grand Slam and won 38 consecutive Wales caps and played in eight Tests on the successful British and Irish Lions tours to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa three years later.

His rugby career was cut short in 1976 when he suffered a brain haemorrhage playing for Swansea in a Welsh Cup semi-final against Pontypool at Cardiff Arms Park.

Davies won two Grand Slams and three Triple Crowns with Wales and after becoming captain in 1975 led them to the Five Nations Championship that season and the Slam the next.

In his 46 international appearances for Wales and the Lions he only ended on the losing side nine times.

He was widely tipped to captain the 1977 Lions squad but his glittering career was ended at just 29 by the brain haemorrhage.

“We can speak frequently of world-class players, but icon and legend belongs to Merv the Swerve”Robert HowleyWales assistant coach

"It's emotional, I met him on several occasions when I was Wales captain and he gave me plenty of words of wisdom," added Howley.

"He was a very humble man who knew the game inside-out.

"It's a sad day for Welsh rugby. The players, the management, we all send our sincere condolences to the family.

"Unfortunately, I never played with him, but from what I'm told he was a colossus.

"To only lose nine games as a player for Wales, the amount of caps, to play eight Tests for the Lions, he's an icon of world rugby.

"We can speak frequently of world-class players, but icon and legend belongs to Merv the Swerve.

There will be a minute's silence ahead of the Wales v France clash on Saturday as well as the corresponding Under-20s and Women's clashes that take place on Friday and Sunday respectively.

Ireland Team to Play France

Jamie Heaslip returns for Ireland

The Ireland team to play France in the first RBS 6 Nations Championship game at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 3pm) has been named.

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has made one change to the team that started against Italy last Saturday, with the fit-again Jamie Heaslip returning at number 8.

Sean O'Brien moves to blindside flanker and Denis Leamy is named among the replacements in place of Shane Jennings. David Wallace, who touched down against France last year, completes the starting back row.

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll is within touching distance of yet another career milestone - the Championship try-scoring record that has stood since 1933. O'Driscoll is one try short of equalling Ian Smith's record.

Click here for the Ireland v France head-to-head preview.

IRELAND Team & Replacements (v France, 2011 RBS 6 Nations Championship, Aviva Stadium, Sunday, February 13, kick-off 3.pm):

15 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

14 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)

12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

11 - Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster)

10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)

1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)

3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)

4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

6 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)

7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)

17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)

18 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)

19 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)

20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

22 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Guinness Strengthens Ties

Diageo has strengthened its relationship with rugby for its GUINNESS brand in Europe by announcing a deal as Official Beer Partner of the RBS 6 Nations.

ShareGUINNESS is proud to become the first beer partner in the 100-year history of the leading annual international rugby tournament in the world.

GUINNESS already enjoy a long standing association with the IRFU as a proud partner of Irish rugby and title sponsor of the autumn internationals, the GUINNESS Series.

In recent years GUINNESS extended its rugby partnership to include both Leinster and Munster, in addition to being the official beer of the Aviva Premiership and the British & Irish Lions.

The partnership with the RBS 6 Nations broadens the GUINNESS brand association from Irish provincial and national rugby to appeal to the millions of international fans of the sport, making GUINNESS a significant player in rugby sponsorship in the northern Hemisphere.

Stuart Kinch, Senior Brand Manager, GUINNESS Ireland, said: "The new partnership gives us our largest ever presence in rugby, with over 120 million in TV audiences watching the RBS 6 Nations, and demonstrates our long term commitment to the sport.

"Our rugby partnerships are all about offering fans an enriched experience around the rugby occasion.

"The GUINNESS brand's association with the RBS 6 Nations will encourage the coming together of all fans, whoever their team is and wherever they watch the rugby, to share a rugby experience together over a pint of the black stuff."

John Feehan, Chief Executive of RBS 6 Nations Rugby, said: "We are delighted to welcome GUINNESS on board as a RBS 6 Nations Partner. The GUINNESS brand has a long standing presence in and commitment to rugby that makes them the perfect partner for our Championship.

"The union of GUINNESS and the RBS 6 Nations together espouses all that is great about international rugby union on and off the field in terms of the pan-national camaraderie and friendship that is so unique to our sport and so ingrained in the culture of the Championship.

"We greatly look forward to working with GUINNESS over the years and Championships to come."

Irish fans can follow the GUINNESS rugby team of International players - Jamie Heaslip, Tommy Bowe, Jonathan Sexton, Stephen Ferris, John Muldoon, Tomas O'Leary andJerry Flannery - on the GUINNESS Rugby Supporters Facebook page throughout the RBS 6 Nations campaign and beyond.