O’Connor draws the positives from inexperienced side’s fightback‘The Heineken pool is going to be very tight with very small margins,’ says coachMon Sept 16 2013 - 01:01
Leinster’s young guns earn draw in shoot-out with OpsreysMcGrath and Murphy inspire 14-man rally as home side run in three triesMon Sept 16 2013 - 01:00
Could this be the beginning of the end for the Heineken Cup?The positions of the French and English clubs look to be entrenchedSat Sept 14 2013 - 01:34
Leinster hope to shake off early season rust and dispatch some familiar foes in OpsreysLeinster beef up their pack for visit of Welsh nemesisSat Sept 14 2013 - 01:00
Wounded pride should help Ulster start at Ravenhill with a bang against Glasgow WarriorsMark Anscombe hopes his side can put disappointment of Pro12 opening day defeat in Newport behind themFri Sept 13 2013 - 01:08
Eoin Reddan not distracted by Heineken Cup issues ahead of Pro12 clash against OspreysScrumhalf focused on challenge from Welsh side for Leinster’s first competitive home gameFri Sept 13 2013 - 01:00
Rob Kearney stresses importance of Heineken Cup to Irish gameNew Irupa chairman believes provincial system could suffer without foreign competitionThu Sept 12 2013 - 01:00
Celtic and Italian clubs won’t join any new competitionBut representatives tell ERC meeting they’re open to compromise with English and French clubsThu Sept 12 2013 - 01:00
Anglo-French alliance look set to break from ERC Heineken CupDemise of European Cup would free up nine weekends to accommodate Top 14, perhaps expanding into a Top 16Wed Sept 11 2013 - 01:00
Leinster concerned by French interest in Irish pairSeán O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip reportedly targets for Clermont AuvergneTue Sept 10 2013 - 01:00
Jonathan Sexton up and racing after Metro debut‘It’s hard to know what to expect when you do take such a plunge, but I am determined to succeed at it’Mon Aug 19 2013 - 01:00
Lions can go in search of fresh prey with confidenceAustralia was the perfect host for a tour which restored Lions’ credibilityTue Jul 09 2013 - 01:00
Sexton: ‘We did the Lions tradition proud’Ireland international reflects on successful tour and impending move to Racing MetroMon Jul 08 2013 - 01:00
Dazzling win confirms Warren Gatland’s call on Brian O’DriscollEarly experience with Ireland taught coach to back his own judgmentMon Jul 08 2013 - 01:00
Gatland in pole position to lead next Lions’ tour to New Zealand as pride is restoredFirst series win in 16 years a massive boostMon Jul 08 2013 - 01:00
Tommy Bowe ‘nervous but excited’ at prospect of emerging victorious in Lions series deciderIreland international far from risk averse and at 29 this could be his last Lions tourSat Jul 06 2013 - 01:00
Gatland hopes his big gambles pays off for the LionsWallabies more likely to produce a moment of magic to win the seriesSat Jul 06 2013 - 01:00
Will Genia cites team bonding as key to building Wallaby confidenceThis generation of Australian rugby players have shown a tendency toward ‘yo-yo’ performancesSat Jul 06 2013 - 01:00
Jonathan Davies remains calm but admits the pressure is on him to deliverO’Driscoll as effusive as anyone about Davies’s performance in the win over the WaratahsFri Jul 05 2013 - 01:00
Intense scrutiny having no adverse effect on a relaxed and engaging Robbie DeansWallabies coach makes his own big call, restoring veteran George SmithFri Jul 05 2013 - 01:00
Warren Gatland stands over his decision to drop Brian O’Driscoll for Sydney decider“I have to put hand on my heart and say it’s the right rugby decision”Thu Jul 04 2013 - 01:00
Ballsy call to drop O’Driscoll just doesn’t sit rightIt’s hard not to be furious about it and upset for him in equal measureThu Jul 04 2013 - 01:00
Brian O’Driscoll left out of final Lions test in AustraliaIrish centre fails to make the bench with Jamie Roberts returning from injuryWed Jul 03 2013 - 06:37
Real risk Sydney Test decider may hinge on referee Romain Poite’s interpretation of the lawsThere is a strong argument for having the same referee in charge for all three Tests in this seriesWed Jul 03 2013 - 01:00
Meddling IRB give Wallabies higher ground before crucial third TestHome side retain their captain James Horwill for a second time after a judicial hearingWed Jul 03 2013 - 01:00
Lions basking in their own little Utopia of NoosaSunshine Coast location is easing the aches and pains of the touring squad before the decider in SydneyWed Jul 03 2013 - 01:00
Lots of key decisions for Lions managementAt least if Roberts is fit, tourists can adopt go-forward game necessary for successTue Jul 02 2013 - 01:00
Brian O’Driscoll calls on team-mates to produce ‘80 minutes of their lives’Leinster and Irish player desperately wants to be part of a Lions Test series win at the fourth time of askingTue Jul 02 2013 - 01:00
Lions hope rest can restore pride as they try to recover from body blowsSquad look to recuperate after emotional and physical cost of losing second TestMon Jul 01 2013 - 01:00
Horwill hailed for leadership and decision-making qualitiesRefusing three points and opting for attacking scrum a defining momentMon Jul 01 2013 - 01:00
Opportunity knocks and the Lions are ready to answerIt’ll be tight but the visitors can prevail if keeping pressure on Australia in right areasSat Jun 29 2013 - 01:00
Tommy Bowe grateful to Australians for getting him back on the wing‘I was pretty much told it was curtains when I hurt my hand’Fri Jun 28 2013 - 07:00
Lions identify Will Genia as the big threat as Tommy Bowe makes welcome returnLions have little option but to go with their fourth-choice loosehead in Mako Vunipola, and Geoff Parling for their sorely missed enforcer Paul O’ConnellFri Jun 28 2013 - 07:00
Robbie Deans keeps Australia changes to minimum for second TestWallabies coach decides to retain James O’Connor as playmakerFri Jun 28 2013 - 07:00
Gatland rings the changes as Bowe returns for LionsFive changes to line-up for second test against Australia, O’Brien and Murray on benchThu Jun 27 2013 - 06:00
For the Lions, GPS plays important role in preventing injury as well as helping with players’ rehabilitationInformation provided by the device can determine how hard a player is workingThu Jun 27 2013 - 01:00
Australia’s Ben Mowen finally arrives at the test partyDebut was tarnished by defeat but it was still the most memorable day of his career in front of his family and friendsThu Jun 27 2013 - 01:00
Unexpected dream debut for Tom Court as Lions continue their winning ways against Melbourne RebelsLoose-head prop was on a family holiday to Brisbane when he received a dramatic call-up to join the tourists’ squadWed Jun 26 2013 - 00:30
Injured O’Connell agrees to request to remain on with LionsMunster man intends to still play a part as Warren Gatland’s men bid for series gloryWed Jun 26 2013 - 00:30
Lions dirt-trackers show plenty of fight against RebelsSean O’Brien one of the standout performers in final midweek game of Lions tour of AustraliaTue Jun 25 2013 - 12:53
Rebels game a last chance for some Lions, a last hurrah for othersLions team bolstered by return of Tuilagi and should have the requisite fire-powerTue Jun 25 2013 - 01:00
Lions staying on their feet in the PR gameLessons have been learned from previous tours in not winding up these wounded WalllabiesTue Jun 25 2013 - 01:00
Lions get out of jail but will do very well to beware wounded and cornered WallabiesTourists better in many ways but Australia are unlucky to be undone by Beale slip in opening TestMon Jun 24 2013 - 01:00
Forever could be only 80 minutes away as Lions regroup for Melbourne TestVictory in Brisbane Test comes at a price as Lions await word on Paul O’Connell (below) arm injuryMon Jun 24 2013 - 01:00
Fourth time around and Brian O’Driscoll is still at the centre of it all for the LionsIreland veteran still a leader but enjoying life on tour without responsibility of being captainSat Jun 22 2013 - 01:00
Buzzing Brisbane awaits Lions’ first shot at foreverIf tourists are to win the series, they almost certainly have to win this opening TestSat Jun 22 2013 - 00:00
Lack of an Irish voice at the coaches’ table reflected in just four picks for Lions’ first TestThe most contentious selection of all is that of Dan Lydiate ahead of Seán O’Brien on the benchFri Jun 21 2013 - 01:00
There’ll be no rabble-rousing speeches as Ireland’s Paul O’Connell basks in relaxed Lions build-upThe Munster man’s journey to Saturday’s first Test against Australia has been remarkableFri Jun 21 2013 - 01:00
Australia team to face the Lions packed with playmakers, gamebreakers and no little skillDeans gives Israel Folau his chanceFri Jun 21 2013 - 01:00
