Last weekend crystallised the waning appeal of the Champions CupThe inclusion of the South African sides is not working. One-off long haul treks to Europe are not wanted by anyoneTue Dec 17 2024 - 06:00
Munster’s Craig Casey to undergo knee surgery after injury against CastresScrumhalf looks to be in a race against time for to be available for Ireland’s opening Six Nations gameMon Dec 16 2024 - 16:57
Mixed fortunes for Irish provinces leaves plenty of room for improvementLeo Cullen admits Leinster just muddling their way through after win over Clermont while chastened Munster and Ulster now facing important URC derby clash in BelfastMon Dec 16 2024 - 06:00
Ian Costello defends Munster team selection after Castres defeat Craig Casey’s serious knee injury places further strain on Munster squadMon Dec 16 2024 - 06:00
St Mary’s extend their unbeaten run to six gamesClontarf moved up to second after 35-25 win at home to City of ArmaghSun Dec 15 2024 - 20:54
Munster must wait to find out extent of Craig Casey’s knee injuryFriday night’s defeat to Castres came at a cost after an attritional encounterSat Dec 14 2024 - 12:02
Joey Carbery embracing his new challenge at Bordeaux BèglesThe former Leinster, Munster and Ireland outhalf has warned his team-mates what to expect when they lock horns with a chastened Ulster at the Kingspan StadiumSat Dec 14 2024 - 06:00
Disconnected Munster pay the price against Castres in scrappy defeatIrish province could not take advantage of the three yellow cards for a Castres side that played on the edgeFri Dec 13 2024 - 22:34
Terenure target third successive win as they host second placed Ballynahinch at Lakelands City of Armagh recall centre Matthew Hooks for trip to ClontarfFri Dec 13 2024 - 21:26
Opportunity knocks for Brian Gleeson as Munster face formidable CastresThe impressive Gavin Coombes rested for difficult assignment against a side that boasts an exceptional home record in the Top 14Fri Dec 13 2024 - 06:00
James Ryan and Leinster learning from RG Snyman’s ‘chilled’ attitude on the pitchMeetings between Leinster and Clermont have provided the Champions Cup with some of its finest memoriesFri Dec 13 2024 - 06:00
Patience and perseverance help Jeremy Davidson prove his coaching mettle in FranceThe former Ulster and Ireland lock has coached in France for 16 years, the last seven of which have been as a head coach in the fiercely competitive environment of the Top 14Thu Dec 12 2024 - 06:00
Jordie Barrett: ‘I came to Leinster to grow my game’ New arrival from New Zealand says ‘family affinity to Ireland’ helped convince him to join provinceWed Dec 11 2024 - 06:00
Leo Cullen defuses talk of bomb squad at ‘home-grown’ LeinsterLeinster head coach Leo Cullen irritated when asked about array of formidable replacements introduced in BristolTue Dec 10 2024 - 06:00
No game illustrated the widening gulf between Europe’s elite and the rest than Toulouse’s mauling of UlsterThe Irish challenge for the Champions Cup is reliant on Leinster, and that is not healthy for Irish rugbyTue Dec 10 2024 - 06:00
Jordie Barrett shines as Leinster beat Bristol to get search for elusive fifth star under way Champions Cup: Munster secure bonus-point win over Stade Francais, Connacht beat Zebre, while champions Toulouse pummel UlsterSun Dec 08 2024 - 22:13
Jordie Barrett makes try-scoring Leinster debut in Champions Cup win over BristolSam Prendergast impresses at outhalf in first Champions Cup startSun Dec 08 2024 - 20:29
Clontarf end Ballynahinch’s winning run in AIL with dominant displayAIL round-up: St Mary’s go top with win over Young Munster; Terenure steal victory at UCD; Cork Con edge GarryowenSun Dec 08 2024 - 16:11
Storm Darragh welcomes All-Ireland League back after break with Clontarf heading to BallynahinchLeinster’s match-winner in Ulster James Culhane benched for UCD’s fixture against TerenureSat Dec 07 2024 - 06:00
Much-changed Leinster eye Champions Cup winning start against free-flowing BristolProvince showing nine changes in personnel from last weekend’s winning side against rivals UlsterSat Dec 07 2024 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: This season could see an outhalf bolter make a play for Lions starting shirtAndy Farrell’s potential choices at outhalf for the Lions tour to Australia look wide open at this stage.Fri Dec 06 2024 - 18:14
Jacques Nienaber: ‘It was never the case that Rassie and I didn’t enjoy Munster or Ireland’Former South Africa coach on his future, the danger of only reading headlines, and how good players can challenge a coachFri Dec 06 2024 - 14:00
Gerry Thornley’s Champions Cup preview and pool by pool guideLeinster again look best placed to challenge the recent domination by France’s big beasts Toulouse and La RochelleThu Dec 05 2024 - 16:12
Gerry Thornley: Ireland’s fitful displays made for a rather disconcerting monthThere were positives along the way in the three wins but the reliance on five-metre lineouts tells us that Ireland’s attack has become more bluntTue Dec 03 2024 - 06:00
Ireland capable of kicking on from patchy autumnal campaign, says Farrell‘Three from four, some good stuff and some not so-good stuff ... But that’s what you want in an autumn isn’t it?’Mon Dec 02 2024 - 06:00
Ireland ‘just a little bit off’ as they grind out a hard-earned victory over AustraliaAndy Farrell’s side demonstrate mental strength to eventually prevail despite Wallabies’ resolute displayMon Dec 02 2024 - 01:00
Andy Farrell ‘proud’ of hard-fought victory over AustraliaIreland head coach says team were ‘feeling sorry’ for themselves at half-time before turnaround in the second halfSat Nov 30 2024 - 20:38
Andy Farrell wants Ireland to deliver against Australia to show they are on an upward curveA self-assured Sam Prendergast has been added to an Ireland where the bulk of the World Cup team remains intactSat Nov 30 2024 - 06:00
‘Superhero stuff’: There’s only one Cian Healy With the Leinster man poised to become Ireland’s most capped player of all time by appearing against Australia on Saturday, people who have played with him or coached him describe a unique athlete and characterSat Nov 30 2024 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Will this be the last we see of O’Mahony, Murray etc in green shirts?All three centurions are out of contract at the end of this seasonFri Nov 29 2024 - 17:12
Andy Farrell hoping Ireland have kept their best performance until last against AustraliaIreland see return of Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ronan Kelleher and James Ryan, as well as the retention of Sam Prendergast at outhalfFri Nov 29 2024 - 06:00
Sam Prendergast ‘deserves’ starting role at 10 for clash with Australia, says Andy FarrellIreland team news: Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Ryan all return to the team for final Autumn Nations Series matchThu Nov 28 2024 - 17:30
Jack Conan returns to captain Leinster as Leo Cullen makes 11 changes for Ulster clash Ulster celebrating a century of rugby at Ravenhill this week as the corresponding game against Leinster in 1924 was the first at the historic groundThu Nov 28 2024 - 16:07
Sam Prendergast expected to retain No 10 jersey for Australia gameLeinster outhalf impressed against Fiji last weekendWed Nov 27 2024 - 17:45
Joe Schmidt factor makes Australia game special for Ireland and Andy Farrell As the New Zealander first ‘taught Ireland how to win’, it would be particularly satisfying to beat his WallabiesTue Nov 26 2024 - 06:00
Even a dodgy Firework couldn’t mar day to remember for Gus McCarthy It’s right to sing the praises of a 21-year-old who was surprised to make his Ireland debut against FijiTue Nov 26 2024 - 06:00
Munster appoint Alex Codling as interim forwards coach consultantAppointment follows departure of forwards coach Andi KyriacouMon Nov 25 2024 - 20:24
Joe Schmidt: ‘I’ve swapped sides again and there’ll be a degree of unpopularity’Former Leinster and Ireland head coach set for Aviva return with the WallabiesMon Nov 25 2024 - 16:30
Andy Farrell and Ireland aiming to end the year on a highLions-bound Ireland coach relishing the chance to celebrate the IRFU’s 150th anniversary by taking on Joe Schmidt’s AustraliaMon Nov 25 2024 - 06:00
Ireland produced their most fluent performance of the series so far against FijiAndy Farrell’s men deserve credit for giving Fiji virtually nothing to feed off in dominant victoryMon Nov 25 2024 - 06:00
Erin King named World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the YearSpringboks’ Pieter-Steph Du Toit pips Caelen Dorris for Men’s Player of the Year awardSun Nov 24 2024 - 20:31
Andy Farrell praises Ireland’s young guns for stepping up in Fiji winGus McCarthy and Cormac Izuchukwu earned their first caps for Ireland against FijiSat Nov 23 2024 - 20:11
Ireland make light work of ill-disciplined FijiIreland beat Fiji 52-17 at the Aviva Stadium in their Autumn Nations Series encounterSat Nov 23 2024 - 17:55
Izuchukwu’s debut for Ireland against Fiji another welcome addition to Tullamore’s rugby tradition‘He had the talent to play almost anywhere and some days with Roscrea he was unplayable; he’d score two or three tries’Sat Nov 23 2024 - 06:00
No underestimating the Flying Fijians as they prepare to target Ireland’s vulnerabilitiesWith 11 of their squad part of the Fijian Druas, who play professional Super Rugby, Ireland will hope the Irish weather will help them hold firmSat Nov 23 2024 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Scotland growing in confidence but Schmidt’s Wallabies are on a rollAustralia have taken wins over England and Wales so far in the Autumn Nations SeriesFri Nov 22 2024 - 17:47
Andy Farrell offers opportunities against Fiji but stresses established Ireland players must also performTest debuts given to Gus McCarthy and Cormac Izuchukwu, a full Test debut to Sam Prendergast and a third Test start for Jamie OsborneFri Nov 22 2024 - 06:00
Ireland v Fiji team news: Gus McCarthy, Cormac Izuchukwu and Sam Prendergast all startJamie Osborne starts at fullback while Cian Prendergast is in line to play alongside younger brother SamThu Nov 21 2024 - 13:58
Leo Cullen has sights set on coaching Ireland one day, says Leinster CEOLeinster head coach has signed a new two-year contract to extend his term at the provinceThu Nov 21 2024 - 06:00
Ireland v Fiji: Gus McCarthy and Cormac Izuchukwu in line to make Irish debutsSam Prendergast set to make his first international start while Jamie Osborne looks like getting a run at fullbackWed Nov 20 2024 - 20:13
