The start of spring heralds the beginning of many things and for sports fans it's no different. Just as temperatures rise outside they are sure to do the same inside stadia throughout the country as teams and championships are reborn. For those competitions already in operation, spring is the time when things get serious.

All winter sports fans have been feeding themselves on poor relations like darts and snooker. The one thing keeping people who love physical sports going was the drama of the Heineken Cup but the real excitement of that competition will be seen in March for the quarter-finals.

Exciting

Even the normally reliable Premiership had a disrupted winter due to the awful weather conditions. From now on things get more exciting, the basketball has just had it's National Cup Final and the knockout stages of the SuperLeague loom on the horizon. In the AIB All-Ireland rugby leagues, the play-offs are just around the corner and there is little or no room for error for teams hopeful of making the knockout stages. This weekend is a monster one for all sports fans and the armchair supporter is spoilt for choice.

Six Nations

Biggest on the horizon is the start of the Six Nations Championship. It is hugely significant for Ireland as they begin the defence of the Grand Slam for the first time in 61 years and all eyes will be on Declan Kidney and his charges.

It was a dream year for Irish rugby in 2009 but to repeat the memorable Grand Slam would be an even better achievement. Before the Championships start many questions surround the Irish team and the likelihood of them becoming only the sixth team in history to repeat the Grand Slam and the first ever to do so in the Six Nations Championship.

Questions

Can the scrum stand up to expected onslaughts from the strong Italian and French packs? Will breakthrough players like Rob Kearney, Keith Earls, Cian Healy and Stephen Ferris be as influential as last year? Will the enigmatic French produce another stuttering campaign or will they conjure some magic? As Coach Declan Kidney has said, the "bulls eye" will firmly be on Ireland this year and every team will want to beat them even more than ever. Ireland must also play France and England away, which will be a daunting task. Kidney has tried to play down expectations, saying that Ireland aren't that good but any Grand Slam winning team must be special, which this bunch is. The tough battle the Irish scrum will get this Saturday will stand to them for the trip to Paris, the following weekend.

League

In GAA the Allianz National Football league kicks into action this weekend, with Cork facing a long trip to Monaghan for their opening game. The hurlers begin their campaign at home to Offaly on 21 February. The footballers start on the long road they hope will finish with Sam Maguire in September against the team that inflicted their only league defeat last year. Cork have had a quiet start to the year, they didn't take part in the McGrath Cup due to the team holiday to Thailand. Cork have had a longer layoff than other teams and they may struggle in the first few league games but the extra rest is welcome considering the long season they had.

Under strength

With Sigerson Cup commitments, they will also be under strength and don't be surprised if the league is not given as much prominence by Cork this season as they have done so in recent years. The hurlers face their first league campaign in three years without the shadow of a strike hanging over them. Cork have had the full winter to train without worrying about politics and they will be anxious to make a point from early on that they will be a force to be reckoned with this year.

Retired

Denis Walsh must do without the retired stalwart Timmy McCarthy but he has gained footballer Michael Cussen and with Aisake O'hAilpin having more time to get his touch back, there is a lot to look forward to in the year ahead. Also in GAA Newtownshandrum are readying themselves for an assault on the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Club title, they face champions Ballyhale Shamrocks on 14 February.

So, the start of February gives sports fans a lot to look forward to, the many competitions will have just as many twists and turns and we are all sure to have much joy and heartbreak in the year ahead. Would we have it any other way?!

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