Home where the heart isThe pressure is off Munster, comparatively speaking, as they have already qualified for the last eight of the European CupThu Jan 18 2001 - 00:00
Clubs strike threat deniedWally Morrissey, the treasurer of the Irish First Division Senior Rugby Clubs Association, has disputed claims that the association…Thu Jan 18 2001 - 00:00
Top clubs threaten to go on strikeThe 16 AIB League first division clubs are considering strike action if they do not get a satisfactory response from their next…Wed Jan 17 2001 - 00:00
O'Connor makes impression and the cutThe seasonal graphs of Brian O'Meara and 20-year-old Connacht openside flanker Johnny O'Connor continue to riseWed Jan 17 2001 - 00:00
Fans angeredA number of Leinster fans have been expressing their anger towards the Leinster Branch and the IRFU after the crowd congestion…Wed Jan 17 2001 - 00:00
Gatland's juggling to continueAside from attempting to trim yesterday's 44-man squad to around 30 for next week's two-day get-together, the Irish management…Tue Jan 16 2001 - 00:00
Broken structure doesn't stand upWhat are the European Cup organisers up to? Though the competition shines like a beacon in the murky professional era, the one…Tue Jan 16 2001 - 00:00
O'Gara leads Munster revivalThe Fat Lady could have bought her evening gown, tried it on, applied her make-up, recited a few words and then cleared her throat…Mon Jan 15 2001 - 00:00
A sense of duty to return to ThomondSo another Munster odyssey is up and running againMon Jan 15 2001 - 00:00
O'Gara and Langford hold key to victoryInterviewed on television over Christmas, Munster coach Declan Kidney was asked for his New Year wish listSat Jan 13 2001 - 00:00
Ulster have no answers for rampant CardiffCardiff extinguished the interests of the 1999 European champions in this season's competition in an utterly one-sided contest…Sat Jan 13 2001 - 00:00
Launch hinges on TV dealOrganisers of the Celtic League are working to a time frame of six weeks, at the end of which they hope to be in a position to…Wed Jan 10 2001 - 00:00
European survival adds spice to seasonIt's as if the first four months of the season provided the entree. Now comes the beefTue Jan 09 2001 - 00:00
Confidence boost for LeinsterLeinster can extract a measure of confidence from claiming a first away win on Munster soil in over two years and 19 games, whilst…Sat Jan 06 2001 - 00:00
Pride may come before EuropeThere may be nothing tangible at stake, but when push comes to shove it's still Munster v LeinsterFri Jan 05 2001 - 00:00
Sevens behind eight ballIreland have been drawn to play reigning champions Fiji in their opening pool match of the 2001 World Cup Sevens, to be held …Fri Jan 05 2001 - 00:00
Leinster playing it for realThe latest instalment of the Munster-Leinster rivalry may not have interprovincial points at stake but it is a real match, not…Thu Jan 04 2001 - 00:00
Provinces hope to sharpen up for the European battles aheadNothing is perfect - Irish rugby included - and the flip side of the much praised three-tier system is the delicate balancing…Wed Jan 03 2001 - 00:00
After the recounts, Galwey is electedOwing to a chance meeting and a handshake with Mick Galwey, whose wisdom knows no bounds, this correspondent was afflicted with…Tue Jan 02 2001 - 00:00
Shannon hand out season's beatingClontarf were warmly received for having done the decent thing and made the effort to fulfil Sunday's re-arranged AIB League …Tue Jan 02 2001 - 00:00
Irish inhibitions lost in FranceIt's not often when a yearly review of Irish rugby prompts a feeling of excitement as the video is inserted yet againSat Dec 30 2000 - 00:00
Juggling club and country to get trickierIreland's leading international players should start to trickle back to their clubs this weekend and all, barring injury, should…Fri Dec 22 2000 - 00:00
Bertie Bowl touches a nerveWell, well, well, Ross O'Carroll-Kelly's dad would appear to have his finger on the pulse after allTue Dec 19 2000 - 00:00
Clever switch of Keane and Staunton proves crucialGarryowen yesterday managed what no other club in the top two flights of the AIB League achieved the previous day when recording…Mon Dec 18 2000 - 00:00
Shannon rise above the drossFor much of an error-strewn game this supposed top billing seemed a case of who most deserved to loseMon Dec 18 2000 - 00:00
O'Reilly and Kiernan join Hall of FameOpting for two decided heavyweight names this year, the Rugby Writers of Ireland/Guinness yesterday inducted Tom Kiernan and …Wed Dec 13 2000 - 00:00
Demanding role for HaslettMike Haslett, the former Ulster and Irish Schools flanker who graduated to the Irish under-21 Demanding role for Haslett team…Tue Dec 12 2000 - 00:00
Constitution do what they have toThese are contrasting times for the two-time former winners of the AIL: trying, tryless times for Garryowen after a second consecutive…Mon Dec 11 2000 - 00:00
Clubs accepting league realitiesLast Sunday week in Leitrim the St Mary's forwards practised lineout calls in advance of their first AIB League game of the season…Tue Dec 05 2000 - 00:00
St Mary's respond with Mary's spiritRumours of Young Munster's demise may be a tad exaggerated although their second of back-to-back wins at Templeville Road was…Mon Dec 04 2000 - 00:00
Cranfield becomes Pope's saviourAt about 5.30 yesterday evening, St Mary's College were able to unearth a player to help solve the injury jinx which has sidelined…Sat Dec 02 2000 - 00:00
St Mary's have to dig deep to find a propSOS. Wanted: one junior prop, ideally two, available to play rugby tomorrowFri Dec 01 2000 - 00:00
Clubs can embrace new realityNext Friday, the IRFU committee will try to address the vexed issue of what to do with the clubsTue Nov 28 2000 - 00:00
Anderson favourite to succeed WilliamsA shortlist of five candidates will be interviewed for the coaching director's job at Ulster by a panel of IRFU and Ulster Branch…Sat Nov 25 2000 - 00:00
Irish watch stand-off with interestMany of Ireland's current internationals will have noted the tumultuous stand-off between their English counterparts and Twickenham…Thu Nov 23 2000 - 00:00
Captain's comments leave bad aftertasteAlthough the Springboks have since relocated to Wales for the second leg of their European tour, a simmering row has continued…Wed Nov 22 2000 - 00:00
Touch of finesse indicates progressIf there was one moment in Sunday's Test which perhaps confirmed Ireland's sea-change since Twickenham last February, it came…Tue Nov 21 2000 - 00:00
IRFU row in with BertieBowlThe IRFU have given their strongest and most unequivocal commitment yet to the Government's proposed national stadiumTue Nov 21 2000 - 00:00
Ireland still hunting the true killer instinctIt was once said that a Lansdowne Road crowd was satisfied if they saw an Irish team play with heart and style and gave it a …Mon Nov 20 2000 - 00:00
Creatively on the right trackAnother one that got away undoubtedly, which will add to Ireland's frustrationMon Nov 20 2000 - 00:00
Big performance the major priorityLogically, analytically, statistically, historically and most other ways you look at it, South Africa still have to be favourites…Sat Nov 18 2000 - 00:00
