The Irish Times

An early test for Jack Crowley as physical battle expected in France

A tricky assignment against such familiar and gritty opponents awaits Munster

Fri Jan 14 2022 - 06:00

Dave Kilcoyne relishing another spicy encounter with Castres

Munster meeting familiar rivals at Thomond Park, but they won’t be complacent

Fri Dec 17 2021 - 06:00

Kockott receives three-week ban for eye-gouging Cloete

Offence occurred during Munster’s Champions Cup defeat in Castres

Wed Dec 19 2018 - 19:16

Castres’ Rory Kockott cited for alleged eye gouge on Chris Cloete

Meanwhile, Marc-Antoine Rallier will also face disciplinary action for a late tackle

Tue Dec 18 2018 - 13:41

Gerry Thornley: Munster have made it very tough for themselves

Province miss out on opening up big gap at top of Pool 2 after failing to finish off Castres

Tue Dec 18 2018 - 06:00

Sloppy Munster let opportunity slip by after Castres dogfight

Four missed kicks prove costly as Johann van Graan’s settle for losing bonus point

Mon Dec 17 2018 - 06:00

Irish provinces maintain control over their destinies in a triumphant weekend

Munster’s loss to Castres is in stark contrast to wins by Leinster, Ulster and Connacht

Mon Dec 17 2018 - 06:00

Van Graan: ‘We had enough opportunities to get some more points on the board’

Munster coach rues missed chances as side lose ‘a really tense game of rugby’

Sat Dec 15 2018 - 21:21

Castres dig in to deny Munster and blow Pool Two wide open

Province pay for profligacy off the tee as Top14 champions edge a bruising encounter

Sat Dec 15 2018 - 19:57

Munster braced for a backlash from French champions

Murray expecting to face a far more ‘passionate’ Castres side this time around

Sat Dec 15 2018 - 01:02

Chris Ashton hit with seven-week ban for tip-tackle

Sale boss Steve Diamond says player was acting in ’self defence’ against Rory Kockott

Thu Aug 23 2018 - 20:37

England’s Chris Ashton facing six-week ban for tip-tackle

Sale Sharks back sent off for incident with Rory Kockott during Castres friendly

Tue Aug 21 2018 - 11:18

Simon Zebo and Keith Earls revel in more expansive Munster

Form of flying backs illustrates Munster’s major improvement from last year

Tue Jan 23 2018 - 06:53

Munster and Castres can’t be separated in scrappy stalemate

Province begin Champions Cup campaign with error-strewn draw to forget in France

Sun Oct 15 2017 - 15:27

Rassie Erasmus sizes up physical challenge of Castres

Coach expects hard-hitting contest up front in Munster’s Champions Cup opener in France

Thu Oct 12 2017 - 06:00

Toulon work hard to beat Scarlets and keep pressure on Saracens

Mike Ford's team do enough in first half to put distance on Welsh side and return to winning ways

Sun Dec 11 2016 - 20:27

Rugby: European Champions Cup previews

Pool fixtures and team line-outs

Fri Oct 21 2016 - 18:07

Leo Cullen praises forwards after bright start in Europe

Seán Cronin and Jack McGrath scored tries in Champions Cup win over Castres

Sat Oct 15 2016 - 19:55

Gordon D’Arcy: No Racing certainty but Munster will be up against it

Rassie Erasmus’s side need to offer more variety than they displayed against Leinster

Wed Oct 12 2016 - 05:00

Six Nations: The lowdown on France

France enter a new era with Guy Noves at the helm promising to address the dull brand of rugby being played

Mon Feb 01 2016 - 10:03

Gerry Thornley's 2015: Highs and lows of a remarkable rugby year

From Roey Kockott’s kick to a legend felled – it was year never to be forgotten

Tue Dec 29 2015 - 07:45

France haunted All Blacks in past but unlikely to do so at present

Philippe Saint-André’s side don’t look like an outfit that can upset world champions

Sat Oct 17 2015 - 01:00

Campaign supernova as Ireland outshine rivals

Astronomical scores threatened to break the laws of physics

Mon Mar 23 2015 - 01:00

France’s Rory Kockott celebrates 20 point defeat

Scrum-half can’t hide his elation as Les Bleus hold on to hand Ireland the Six Nations title

Sun Mar 22 2015 - 12:12

England’s brave attempt falls just short in Twickenham thriller

Sides run in 12 tries between them in helter-skelter finale to Six Nations

Sat Mar 21 2015 - 20:52

Seven talking points from Ireland’s win over France

Midfield excellence in defending against French power runners proved key

Mon Feb 16 2015 - 12:56

Liam Toland: We shouldn’t get too excited for World Cup – France’s problems are fixable

Sexton immaculate in the accuracy of kicking and the way he run his backline

Mon Feb 16 2015 - 11:02

Saint-Andre defends Pape challenge on Heaslip

Ireland No 8 could miss remainder of Six Nations with with suspected broken vertebrae

Sun Feb 15 2015 - 16:29

Philippe Saint-André seeks his first away win against ‘major team’

France coach says Ireland are favourites but expects ‘another tight one’

Thu Feb 12 2015 - 01:00

France make just one enforced change to team to face Ireland

Injured prop Alexandre Menini drops out off the team as Eddy Ben Arous steps up

Wed Feb 11 2015 - 14:52

Ireland still need to be wary of French threat

Les Bleus may be underachieving but they do have a gameplan to stymie at the Aviva

Tue Feb 10 2015 - 12:03

Camille Lopez kicks France to victory over Scotland

Gutsy Scotland stop Les Bleus from crossing the line but are left to rue lack of possession

Sat Feb 07 2015 - 19:19

South African Rory Kockott handed first start for France against Scotland

Scott Spedding named at fullback despite the return of Brice Dulin for Six Nations opening tie

Wed Feb 04 2015 - 11:19

Noa Nakaitaci out to take chance after being named in preliminary France squad

Uncapped Clermont winger named in Philippe Saint-Andre’s 31-strong training squad

Thu Jan 15 2015 - 17:33