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
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
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
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
‘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
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
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
Iain Henderson and Rob Herring sign contract extensions with UlsterUlster captain to move off his central IRFU contact at the end of this seasonWed Nov 20 2024 - 17:41
Leinster A make eight changes for Munster clash on Friday nightHarry Byrne retained at outhalf with Cormac Foley coming in at scrumhalfWed Nov 20 2024 - 16:25
Leo Cullen signs two-year contract extension to push Leinster tenure to at least 12 seasonsHead coach had previously signed a number of rolling one-year deals with the provinceWed Nov 20 2024 - 13:00
Gerry Thornley: Irish rugby has become more than a little entitled and it doesn’t suit usArgentina have beaten every other Tier 1 nation away from home, Ireland preserving their record should be praisedTue Nov 19 2024 - 06:00
Thomas Clarkson ‘can’t help but feel happy’ after memorable Ireland debut against Argentina Match also marked Cian Healy drawing level with Brian O’Driscoll as Ireland’s most capped playerTue Nov 19 2024 - 06:00
Keith Wood and Joy Neville to be inducted into Rugby Writers Hall of FameThe duo will be honoured at the annual gala function at the Guinness StorehouseMon Nov 18 2024 - 20:43
Farrell unfazed by Ireland being outscored in latter stages of Autumn Nations Series Tests ‘Too small a sample size ... It’s certainly not a trend,’ according to Ireland head coachMon Nov 18 2024 - 06:00
Leicester Tigers and Montpellier among clubs looking to sign Leinster’s Ross ByrneAndy Farrell warns of dangers of making too many changes for Ireland’s clash with FijiMon Nov 18 2024 - 06:00
AIL round-up: St Mary’s strike late to hold Cork Con to draw as Ballynahinch march on Terenure return to winning ways thanks to victory over GarryowenSun Nov 17 2024 - 19:00
Improved structure for domestic game means Fiji more potent than everEuropean-based stars now supplemented by fully professional home-based players competing in the Super Rugby PacificSun Nov 17 2024 - 06:00
‘We’ll see the best of it in the next two games’: Andy Farrell backs Ireland players to come goodIreland head coach not overly concerned at penalty count and says players need to be patientFri Nov 15 2024 - 23:53
Ireland hold on at the death for victory over Argentina after lacklustre second halfAndy Farrell’s side roared into a 22-9 half-time lead but Argentina came back and set up a chance of a first win in DublinFri Nov 15 2024 - 22:31
AIL preview: Big guns needing to make up ground after indifferent startsChampions Cork Con, Terenure and Lansdowne have lost 10 games between them over first six roundsFri Nov 15 2024 - 19:46
Gerry Thornley: France-New Zealand could be the best match of the Autumn Nations SeriesThere’s something about a November clash in Paris and all the more so on a Saturday nightFri Nov 15 2024 - 17:18
