The Irish Times

Owen Doyle: Referees damned if they do, damned if they don’t on red cards

Three finals is a huge achievement for Barnes and he is standing the test of time

Tue May 24 2022 - 06:00

Harlequins refuse to blame Marcus Smith for Champions Cup exit after missed conversion

Montpellier go through on a one-point aggregate margin at The Stoop

Sat Apr 16 2022 - 15:14

Owen Doyle: Full ramifications of uncontested scrum law an accident waiting to happen

To have anything written into law which reduces a team to 13 for one red card is daft

Tue Mar 01 2022 - 06:00

Owen Doyle: Dishonest scrummaging at Murrayfield not the referee’s fault

Both England and Scotland have been serial offenders in this aspect for too long

Tue Feb 08 2022 - 06:00

Owen Doyle: Adamson altered the outcome in Castres’ controversial defeat

Forward pass, legitimate jackal and clear lack of evidence all ignored in the end game

Tue Jan 25 2022 - 06:00

Owen Doyle: Johann van Graan’s long goodbye is to Munster’s detriment

Province’s recent URC performances have been woeful - coaching change is needed

Tue Jan 11 2022 - 07:54

The Offload: Heaslip’s da is not happy with Johann van Graan

Career changes aplenty; TMO Brian MacNeice showing who’s boss in Zebo card saga

Mon Jan 10 2022 - 09:00

Munster blocking out external criticism after much-needed Ulster win

Province’s style of play came in for heavy criticism after Connacht loss last weekend

Mon Jan 10 2022 - 06:00

Owen Doyle: Respect match officials have always enjoyed is being chipped away

Manner and timing of Johann van Graan’s Munster exit a huge disappointment

Tue Dec 21 2021 - 06:00

Finn Russell’s cunnning and craft sets up big Racing win in Northampton

Scottish outhalf provides the telling pass for four of the five tries in bonus-point win

Fri Dec 10 2021 - 22:26

Owen Doyle: Weekend Tests show that referees should reach for their cards sooner

Matches emphasise need to punish serial offenders and retain control of game

Tue Nov 23 2021 - 06:00

A win for Wales over Australia but it was all about the cards

Angry Australia coach Dave Rennie describes the refereeing as ‘horrendous’

Sun Nov 21 2021 - 19:27

Keith Earls moves to fill Munster’s midfield shortfall

URC preview: Simon Zebo on the bench as Stormers descend on Thomond Park

Sat Oct 02 2021 - 06:00

UK to reveal proposals for offshore centres for asylum seekers

Law will allow for charges against migrants ‘knowingly’ arriving in UK without permission

Tue Jul 06 2021 - 07:45

Owen Doyle: Henshaw can count himself lucky his Lions dream is still a reality

Hard to see why the laws were not applied fully to his tackle on Robert Baloucoune

Tue May 18 2021 - 06:00

Owen Doyle: Mixed bag from Wayne Barnes as he continues race for referee gold

Toulouse simply better than Munster while Amashukeli caught the eye in London

Tue Apr 06 2021 - 06:12

Owen Doyle: France may well benefit in the long run from Scotland defeat

The arrogance that has been wafting over the French set-up needed to be cleared

Tue Mar 30 2021 - 06:00

Leinster break new ground and Munster to retain Pro14 title

Defending champions make it four on the spin as rivals are beaten again in Dublin

Mon Mar 29 2021 - 06:00

Cork City Council chief predicts €80m event centre to proceed

Combined State investment of €50m at play in project undertaken by BAM and Live Nation

Tue Mar 23 2021 - 21:01

Owen Doyle: Clearout red cards will see the penny finally drop with players and coaches

Scotland’s Zander Fagerson the latest to head for an early shower for a reckless hit

Tue Feb 16 2021 - 06:36

All eyes on Tadhg Furlong as Leinster travel to Llanelli

Ireland and Lions tighthead makes return against the Scarlets on Saturday night

Sat Jan 30 2021 - 06:00

Tadhg Furlong named in Leinster team to take on Scarlets

One player tested positive for Covid-19 but had already been isolating

Fri Jan 29 2021 - 12:45

Pat Lam not expecting red carpet on Connacht return

John Muldoon and Conor McPhillips also part of Bristol coaching team

Sun Dec 20 2020 - 08:00

Iain Henderson to miss Ireland’s Six Nations fixtures due to three-week ban

Ulster captain banned until November 9th after he was shown red against the Ospreys

Thu Oct 15 2020 - 14:52

Rampant Leinster expose gulf in quality against Connacht

Deegan gives best ever showing in a blue jersey against injury-ravaged visitors

Mon Jan 06 2020 - 00:00

Leinster expose embarrassingly brittle Connacht defence

James Ryan’s injury a concern as Leinster make easy work of Connacht at the RDS

Sat Jan 04 2020 - 19:54

Referee appointments confirmed for European double-header

French referees to take charge of six of the eight fixtures involving Irish sides

Wed Nov 27 2019 - 15:10

Munster brace for toughest test yet this season against in-form Cheetahs

Van Graan makes five changes to squad as province seek to keep unbeaten run intact

Thu Oct 10 2019 - 18:30

Leinster exploit Munster’s lack of variety to book final date with Glasgow

Defending champions bounce back from European defeat to make it to Celtic Park

Sat May 18 2019 - 17:53

Gerry Thornley: Leinster and Munster set for classic encounter

Despite familiarity this rivalry runs deep and both sides will not be found wanting for effort

Sat May 18 2019 - 06:00

Connacht book Ulster quarter-final and return to Europe’s top table

Andy Friend’s side get the required result after nervous display at the Sportsground

Sat Apr 13 2019 - 17:38

Connacht coach Andy Friend laments missed opportunity in Cardiff

‘We had ample opportunities to get scores and control the game better'

Mon Jan 28 2019 - 06:31

UK signals tougher policy on asylum applications

Home secretary Sajid Javid says UK will do everything it can to ensure applications fail

Wed Jan 02 2019 - 15:22

Stuttering Ulster have enough to keep Benetton at bay

McFarland’s team come from 7-0 behind to make it two wins from two as they head into the international break

Sun Nov 04 2018 - 14:43