Irish ready for physical clashUnder-21 International Preview/Ireland v Italy: Ireland coach Mark McDermott has made a couple of alterations and a brace of…Fri Feb 03 2006 - 00:00
Hickie at fullback for LeinsterCeltic League previews/Leinster v Border Reivers: The next chapter in Leinster's season will be penned tonight at their spiritual…Fri Jan 27 2006 - 00:00
Crucial game for UlsterUlster v Llanelli Scarlets: This is a pivotal match for tonight's combatantsFri Jan 27 2006 - 00:00
Cheika adds academy boys for Borders clashCeltic League: Leinster coach Michael Cheika has named an extended, 26-man squad that includes academy players Jonathan Sexton…Thu Jan 26 2006 - 00:00
Dempsey the main concernNews round-up: Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan's main concern ahead of Saturday week's opening Six Nations Championship match…Wed Jan 25 2006 - 00:00
Leinster's love of adventure can pay off in the long runBath v Leinster : The 26th US President might not have been well versed in Leinster rugby but his words carry a certain resonance…Sat Jan 21 2006 - 00:00
Jennings not risked against ClermontNew Ireland squad member Shane Jennings is out of the Leicester team for tonight's Heineken European Cup clash with Clermont …Fri Jan 20 2006 - 00:00
Connacht without HoganConnacht coach Michael Bradley has made one change to the team that hammered Montpellier 43-10 last weekend for Friday night'…Wed Jan 18 2006 - 00:00
Dempsey comes on a ton under new axisIf there is one player who personifies the freedom of expression the Australian coaching axis of Michael Cheika and David Knox…Sat Jan 14 2006 - 00:00
Memories of last season will drive Munster and Wallace forwardEuropean Cup/Castres v Munster: David Wallace is a cause célèbre at present, a groundswell of opinion singling him out as the…Wed Jan 11 2006 - 00:00
Henson available to face Ireland after suspension is reducedGavin Henson last night had his 72-day ban reduced by three weeks after a four-hour appeal hearing in Dublin.Wed Jan 11 2006 - 00:00
Leinster wait on EasterbyRUGBY: The acute disappointment of Leinster's 20-18 loss to Llanelli in the Celtic League clash at Stradey Park on Saturday …Mon Jan 09 2006 - 00:00
Top spot's still on for LlanelliLlanelli v Leinster: Simon Easterby could have been wearing the blue of Leinster like his brother Guy rather than the scarlet…Sat Jan 07 2006 - 00:00
Munster will need more than danderEdinburgh v Munster: Munster face into three huge games in as many weeks that will define their seasonSat Jan 07 2006 - 00:00
Humphreys central to any revivalUlster v Glasgow: An aside to today's hostilities on the pitch should be a landmark achievement for Ulster outhalf and talisman…Sat Jan 07 2006 - 00:00
Munster play the waiting gameRugby News round-up: In keeping with the growing tendency to delay naming teams, Munster, like Leinster and Connacht before …Fri Jan 06 2006 - 00:00
McCall calls up ToppingRugby News round-up: Ulster coach Mark McCall has made two alterations to the team beaten by Connacht for Saturday's Celtic …Thu Jan 05 2006 - 00:00
Brothers hooked on competitionIn focus: John O'Sullivan talks to Leinster's David Blaney who is constantly vying with his brother Brian for the number two…Thu Jan 05 2006 - 00:00
Setanta to show live Irish Celtic tiesTV coverage: Setanta Sports will screen live the Celtic League matches in which all four Irish provinces take part this weekend…Wed Jan 04 2006 - 00:00
Scarlets a red rag to Easterby brotherJohn O'Sullivan hears from the Leinster scrumhalf Guy Easterby about the extra importance of this weekend's trip to LlanelliWed Jan 04 2006 - 00:00
Beefed-up Irish should do betterRepresentative Match/ Ireland Under-19 v Australia Schools Ravenhill (7Wed Dec 21 2005 - 00:00
Provinces hoping for a strong finishEuropean Cup News: Munster and Ulster's final matches in the pool stages of this season's Heineken European Cup will take place…Wed Dec 21 2005 - 00:00
Leinster pack must set the tone againHeineken Cup / Bourgoin v Leinster : It's a curious and possibly Irish mindset that favouritism on the sporting field sits …Sat Dec 17 2005 - 00:00
Bourgoin reshuffle to restore some prideEuropean Cup news: Bourgoin coach Christophe Urios has made four changes and a positional switch to the team that was hammered…Fri Dec 16 2005 - 00:00
Reddan in line to start for WaspsEoin Reddan will know at lunch-time today whether he has made the Wasps team for tomorrow's European Cup match against Llanelli…Fri Dec 16 2005 - 00:00
McCall sticks to winning formulaUlster team news: Ulster coach Mark McCall has announced an unchanged side, from that which beat Saracens 19-10 at Ravenhill…Thu Dec 15 2005 - 00:00
Leinster to focus on basicsEuropean Cup news: It's a familiar routine at this juncture: an extended Leinster squad is announced, whittled down by tomorrow…Thu Dec 15 2005 - 00:00
Munster stories stand up bestSports Books 2005 : Sports books can be like fast food: easily digested but lacking long-term sustenanceSat Dec 10 2005 - 00:00
Experience the key for MunsterHeineken Cup / Dragons v Munster: It'll be interesting to note if the Dragons can offer something more substantial than rhetoric…Sat Dec 10 2005 - 00:00
Birrell sets his sights highCricket News: The Irish Cricket Union have announced an extension to their sponsorship agreement with Bank of Ireland worth €…Fri Dec 09 2005 - 00:00
Dragon Sweeney aims to unnerve O'GaraEuropean Cup: Wales's occasional centre Ceri Sweeney has fired a verbal volley at Lions and Ireland outhalf Ronan O'Gara ahead…Fri Dec 09 2005 - 00:00
Cheika keeping door wide open for O'DriscollRugby European Cup News The impending return of Brian O'Driscoll remains an issue if not for Leinster coach Michael Cheika then…Thu Dec 08 2005 - 00:00
Ulster unchanged for Saracens clashRUGBY/News: Ulster coach Mark McCall has elected to name the same team and replacements that beat Munster in Musgrave Park last…Wed Dec 07 2005 - 00:00
Name games unlikely to disconcert LeinsterConnacht v Leinster, Sportsground, Galway, Today, 2pm: Connacht have declined to name a team ahead of today's clash, a gambit…Sat Dec 03 2005 - 00:00
Coaches keep them guessingIt's obvious that the four provincial coaches share a common philosophy, which might be distilled to the premise of 'tell 'em…Thu Dec 01 2005 - 00:00
Things still rosy in GardensInjury is rarely opportune, an assertion with which David Quinlan would empathiseThu Dec 01 2005 - 00:00
U-21 squad taking shapeIt was a case of honours even when Ireland and France met in their annual pre-Under 21 Six Nations Championship tussle at Stradbrook…Wed Nov 30 2005 - 00:00
IRB move to defuse criticismRugby World Cup 2011 : The International Rugby Board (IRB) have issued a missive to deflect accusations they snubbed an opportunity…Fri Nov 25 2005 - 00:00
North Terrace to be open for Six NationsThe IRFU are this week due to receive a report compiled by the structural engineers charged with evaluating the damage to the…Thu Nov 24 2005 - 00:00
South Africans dumbfounded as major prize proves elusiveThe sense of amazement was palpable when it was announced South Africa were the first of the three bidding nations for the 2011…Fri Nov 18 2005 - 00:00
Nature of challenge to stoke Irish firesIreland v Australia Ronan O'Gara: The Ireland team was roundly castigated for a failure to employ a kicking game to vary the…Thu Nov 17 2005 - 00:00
Mitchell itching to turn things around for AustraliaIreland v Australia Drew Mitchell: Drew Mitchell is not a marque name in world rugby, yet.Thu Nov 17 2005 - 00:00
IRFU announce refund procedureTicket refunds The IRFU has outlined the procedure for refunding patrons who were denied access to the Test match between Ireland…Tue Nov 15 2005 - 00:00
The only one that didn't get awayIreland v New Zealand: In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king - or so they say - and so it is that the Ireland team…Thu Nov 10 2005 - 00:00
All Blacks opt for wholesale changeNew Zealand Team Selection: The phrase swingeing change can sometimes be exaggerated but it is perfectly apposite to describe…Wed Nov 09 2005 - 00:00
Catching a lion's tail and living to tell the taleInterview/Risteard Cooper: Loose limbed, Risteard Cooper unfurls into a voluminous sofaMon Nov 07 2005 - 00:00