Connacht intent on putting dirty dozen behind themON FOOT of Connacht’s 12-match losing sequence, the very notion that superstition prescribes further misfortune in Italy this…Sat Jan 07 2012 - 00:00
Munster fringe should have enough edge to secure bonus-point victoryTHERE ISN’T really a good time in broad terms to play Munster in their Limerick citadel but on the evidence of Tony McGahan’s…Sat Jan 07 2012 - 00:00
Ulster keep a close eye on Leicester's injury crisisTHE LEICESTER Tigers are suffering something of an injury crisis, a state of chassis that will be monitored closely by Ulster…Fri Jan 06 2012 - 00:00
Ulster to get ball rolling at home to LeicesterULSTER WILL be the first of the four Irish provinces in action in round five of the Heineken Cup on Friday, January 13th, in …Thu Dec 22 2011 - 00:00
IRFU to change rules governing foreign playersTHE IRFU has announced revised parameters in which foreign professional players will be contracted to Leinster, Munster and Ulster…Thu Dec 22 2011 - 00:00
O'Shea eager to maintain level of intensityHARLEQUINS’ DIRECTOR of rugby Conor O’Shea and his coaching staff challenged the players to guarantee two core constituents in…Tue Dec 20 2011 - 00:00
High flying Ravens to host MunsterTHE ULSTER Ravens will host Munster A in the quarter-finals of the British Irish Cup, which are scheduled to take place on the…Tue Dec 20 2011 - 00:00
Hampson's heroic journey proves relentlessly rivetingRUGBY: THE LAST word Matt Hampson heard as a rugby player was “engage”.Sat Dec 17 2011 - 00:00
Another pressure-laden occasion beckonsRUGBY : RONAN O’GARA commandeered the headlines by virtue of his drop goal heroics in Munster’s two Heineken Cup victories to…Sat Dec 10 2011 - 00:00
Ulster will have too much clout for AironiUlster v Aironi EVEN a rudimentary knowledge of Italian rugby without recourse to exhaustive video analysis would have forewarned…Fri Dec 09 2011 - 00:00
Blues to bounce back from Leinster maulingCardiff v Edinburgh IT’S MORE expedient given the 11 changes from the Blues team from last weekend’s league match to name the…Fri Dec 09 2011 - 00:00
Schools mustn't lose sight of the bigger pictureON RUGBY: LAST NIGHT the Leinster Schools Senior and Junior Cup draws were unveiled with a pageantry borrowed from the professional…Tue Dec 06 2011 - 00:00
Sexton wary of Donald threat in Bath showdownRUGBY HEINEKEN CUP: JONATHAN SEXTON is conversant with the importance of Leinster’s successive fixtures against Bath in the …Tue Dec 06 2011 - 00:00
Relishing stepping up to the plateRONAN O’GARA is comfortable in the spotlight on or off the pitch, although there’s no doubting his preferenceMon Nov 21 2011 - 00:00
Munster must try to hit the ground runningTHE SULPHUR of last weekend’s explosive finish at Thomond Park still lingers but not for the Munster playersSat Nov 19 2011 - 00:00
Biarritz and Cardiff may seek O'SullivanEDDIE O’SULLIVAN has announced he is to step down as head coach to the USA Eagles after almost two years in chargeThu Nov 17 2011 - 00:00
Morris looking to stay in side to face UlsterPOOLS THREE AND FOUR: NIALL MORRIS will be hoping that his try-scoring exploits for the Leicester Tigers in their 28-12 Heineken…Wed Nov 16 2011 - 00:00
Cave ready to step up and take his chance with both handsPOOL FOUR: DARREN CAVE attended Ireland’s pre-World Cup training camp aware that only an outlandish set of circumstances would…Wed Nov 16 2011 - 00:00
Ulster ready to meet fire with fireHOME VICTORIES represent essential currency for those banking on making the knockout stages of the Heineken CupSat Nov 12 2011 - 00:00
Warburton set for return after banHEINEKEN CUP POOL TWO: Racing Metro 92 v Cardiff Blues WALES CAPTAIN Sam Warburton returns for his first competitive fixture…Fri Nov 11 2011 - 00:00
Connacht facing a tough opening assignmentHarlequins v Connacht: CONNACHT CAN not be distracted by the pomp and circumstance that sees them make their competitive bow…Fri Nov 11 2011 - 00:00
'I couldn't carry on for a full season'BRIAN O’DRISCOLL will have surgery on a trapped nerve in a shoulder next week and has been given a rough recovery time of six…Tue Nov 08 2011 - 00:00
Schmidt forced to review options for LeinsterLEINSTER COACH Joe Schmidt is planning for rugby life without Brian O’Driscoll and Shane Horgan ahead of the province’s opening…Tue Nov 08 2011 - 00:00
All in the ScrumRepeat offender: IT SEEMS Samoan centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu hasn’t learned his lesson about social networking websites and…Mon Nov 07 2011 - 00:00
Schoolboy rugby players to face anti-doping drug testsSCHOOLBOY RUGBY players are to face tests for performance-enhancing drugs under a new plan agreed between sports authorities.Fri Nov 04 2011 - 00:00
Young players on supplements face serious issuesDRUGS IN SPORT - ANALYSIS : The introduction of drug testing in schools and underage club rugby is a positive step by the ISC…Fri Nov 04 2011 - 00:00
McLaughlin makes tough calls to stop the rotRABO DIRECT PRO 12: Today, kick-off – 3pm Parc y Scarlets: ULSTER COACH Brian McLaughlin has opted for swingeing changes, seven…Sat Oct 29 2011 - 01:00
Vainkolo's debut bolsters Connacht's hopesRABO DIRECT PRO 12: Connacht v Cardiff Blues, Today, kick-off - 6pm Sportsground, Galway, Live on RTÉ: THE BARE statistics of…Sat Oct 29 2011 - 01:00
Best and Ferris miss out for UlsterULSTER COACH Brian McLaughlin will be without internationals Rory Best and Stephen Ferris for Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro 12 match…Wed Oct 26 2011 - 01:00
Munster need more intensityIT’S THE final round of matches before the RaboDirect Pro12 League goes into a three-week hiatus and therefore apposite that …Sat Oct 08 2011 - 01:00
Leinster can edge clear on home soilTHERE IS a certain cross pollination of players from this fixture last seasonSat Oct 08 2011 - 01:00
Frontline trio return to give Ulster a boostPRO 12: ULSTER COACH Brian McLaughlin has welcomed back a number of frontline players following injury for tonight’s game against…Fri Oct 07 2011 - 01:00
Wily operator may let team do the talkingIRELAND v WALES: WARREN GATLAND PROFILE: WARREN GATLAND occasionally embraces the guise of the pantomime villain, from an Ireland…Wed Oct 05 2011 - 01:00
Saturday's fourballsTHE EUROPEANS may have eked out a two-point advantage but in Saturday afternoon’s fourballs the Americans demonstrated their …Mon Sept 26 2011 - 01:00
Saturday's foursomesCAROLINE HEDWALL and Sophie Gustafson renewed their successful Friday afternoon partnership in the fourballs to great effect …Mon Sept 26 2011 - 01:00
Ireland ratings15 GEORDAN MURPHY Ireland’s limited attacking gambits meant that he ended up a frustrated spectator for large passages of the…Mon Sept 12 2011 - 01:00
When the goys came to dinner...RUGBY WORLD CUP: Before they take over our living rooms for the next six weeks, The Irish Times brought RTÉ’s rugby pundits …Sat Sept 10 2011 - 01:00
Munster boosted by return of injured duoMunster v Dragons : DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Munster are strengthened by the return of fullback Johne Murphy and number eight James…Sat Sept 03 2011 - 01:00
Connacht aim to make statement of intentTreviso v Connacht IT’S ALL fine and dandy targeting these matches as potential victories but as Connacht will quickly glean…Sat Sept 03 2011 - 01:00
McLaughlin seeks fast startRUGBY: ULSTER COACH Brian McLaughlin is conscious of not only getting the RaboDirect Pro12 League season off to a winning start…Fri Sept 02 2011 - 01:00
Schmidt opts for back line flairRUGBY: WHAT’S IN a number? Well on the strength of Luke Fitzgerald donning the number 12 jersey tonight, it offers an interesting…Fri Sept 02 2011 - 01:00
Wallace will be out for six monthsRUGBY : DAVID WALLACE faces a six-month absence from the game following surgery on a knee injury sustained in Ireland’s 20-9…Wed Aug 31 2011 - 01:00
Elwood keen for Connacht to show ambition on and off the fieldRUGBY: ERIC ELWOOD has turned the ledger to a blank page, aware that Connacht’s seven victories and a draw in 22 league matches…Tue Aug 30 2011 - 01:00
Elwood makes six changesRUGBY: CONNACHT COACH Eric Elwood has made six changes from the side beaten by Ireland for tonight’s final pre-season friendly…Thu Aug 25 2011 - 01:00
O'Toole is surprise USA Solheim pickGOLF: USA SOLHEIM Cup captain Rosie Jones caused something of a surprise when including the 24-year-old LPGA tour rookie Ryann…Tue Aug 23 2011 - 01:00
Fitzgerald and O'Leary miss outRugby: Two Irish Lions, Luke Fitzgerald and Tomás O'Leary have failed to make the 30-man Ireland squad for next month's Rugby…Mon Aug 22 2011 - 01:00
Fitzgerald and O'Leary miss outRugby: Two Irish Lions, Luke Fitzgerald and Tomás O’Leary have failed to make the 30-man Ireland squad for next month’s Rugby…Mon Aug 22 2011 - 01:00
Plan outlined for rugby growth in ConnachtTHE CONNACHT Professional Game Board yesterday outlined specific plans for a three-year development of professional rugby on …Fri Aug 19 2011 - 01:00
RTÉ unveil a team of familiar and fresh facesRUGBY: RTÉ HAVE unveiled their team for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, a cornucopia of familiar faces and a few who’ll be relative…Thu Aug 18 2011 - 01:00
Local heroes honoured for contributionsNATIONA L AWARDS TO VOLUNTEERS IN IRISH SPORTS: THE MINISTER of State for Sport Michael Ring commemorated the work of 11 dedicated…Wed Jun 01 2011 - 01:00
