Gerry Thornley: Antoine Dupont’s injury again highlights the toll on modern-day rugby playersAny World Cup which loses the world’s best player is simply the poorer for his absenceFri Sept 22 2023 - 15:07
Ireland v South Africa: 7-1 bench split shows Springboks’ gameplan, says Farrell Rugby World Cup: Ireland coach Andy Farrell springs no selection surprises for Saturday’s pivotal clash with South AfricaFri Sept 22 2023 - 06:00
Ireland v South Africa: Jamison Gibson-Park the only change for crucial Rugby World Cup match Andy Farrell retains conventional 5-3 split despite Springboks opting for seven forwardsThu Sept 21 2023 - 16:02
Ireland’s calm and collected James Ryan focused on South Africa challenge Rugby World Cup: They’re reigning world champions, we have a huge amount of respect for them and we know we’ve got to really step it up this week’Thu Sept 21 2023 - 06:00
Ireland v South Africa: Andy Farrell set to stick with 5-3 split for Springboks game Rugby World Cup: ‘We haven’t tinkered with that split before’ says Simon Easterby as Jack Conan set to miss Paris gameWed Sept 20 2023 - 15:36
Ireland’s Caelan Doris on facing South Africa: ‘I remember being shocked by the sheer size of them’ Ireland number eight Caelan Doris is braced for impact with huge Springboks in Saturday’s crucial Rugby World Cup clashWed Sept 20 2023 - 06:00
Ireland v South Africa: Jack Crowley set to make bench as Andy Farrell considers 6-2 split Munster outhalf’s versatility to cover backline would allow coach to name six forwards including Jack Conan and Finlay BealhamTue Sept 19 2023 - 17:24
Ireland v South Africa: Anticipation growing ahead of key Pool B clashAustralia prove disappointing but New Zealand and Springboks deliver on tournament potential with powerful performancesTue Sept 19 2023 - 06:00
O’Connell knows Ireland will face the best defensive lineout in the world in the SpringboksRonan Kelleher and all the Ireland players have been blown away by the scale and strength of the Irish supportTue Sept 19 2023 - 06:00
Jack Conan in race to be fit for Ireland’s Rugby World Cup showdown with South AfricaIreland attack coach Mike Catt admits Springboks are the masters of the blitz defenceMon Sept 18 2023 - 06:00
Ross Byrne pulls off understudy role to perfection on World Cup debutOuthalf helps Ireland finish strongly after taking over from Johnny Sexton in the second halfMon Sept 18 2023 - 06:00
Rugby World Cup-winning outhalf Handre Pollard called up to the Springboks squadHe’s been called up to fill the vacancy created by hooker Malcolm MarxSun Sept 17 2023 - 17:56
Andy Farrell: It’s a fantastic week to look forward to playing the World ChampionsIrish head coach reacts to win over Tonga, Johnny Sexton’s record and looks ahead to South AfricaSun Sept 17 2023 - 12:40
Ireland 59 Tonga 16: Ireland gather further momentum with impressive bonus-point winRugby World Cup, Pool B: Andy Farrell will be happy with seeing his side rack up a 15th successive win ahead of the vital meeting with South AfricaSat Sept 16 2023 - 22:43
Conor Murray still taking nothing for granted in fourth Rugby World Cup outing Ireland v Tonga: Scrumhalf will partner Johnny Sexton for a 69th Test having first paired up at halfback in 2011 World CupSat Sept 16 2023 - 06:00
Rugby World Cup: Ireland looking to keep up momentum in tricky Tonga testIrish fitness levels could be decisive against a Tongan team playing their first game in the tournamentSat Sept 16 2023 - 05:00
Gerry Thornley: This World Cup probably couldn’t be in a better rugby countryRugby may be the 10th biggest sport in France in terms of playing numbers, but its popularity as a sporting spectacle is clear to seeFri Sept 15 2023 - 14:38
Ireland v Tonga: Andy Farrell’s line-up for Saturday a logical choiceIrish team selected against Tonga for Saturday has echoes of 2007 Rugby World Cup but makes utter senseFri Sept 15 2023 - 05:00
‘Where the hell did all that come from?’ Andy Farrell unhappy with Mack Hansen non-story‘Did Andy not just censor a question about this a second ago?’ Ireland head coach and Peter O’Mahony unhappy with speculationThu Sept 14 2023 - 19:18
Ireland v Tonga: Johnny Sexton to captain Irish team in second Rugby World Cup gameIreland play their second Rugby World Cup match against Tonga in Nantes on Saturday nightThu Sept 14 2023 - 14:38
Rugby World Cup: Tadhg Beirne hoping Ireland can dictate play against powerful TongaTadhg Beirne says there is one area, in particular, where Ireland must improve in their next Pool B matchThu Sept 14 2023 - 05:00
Ireland v Tonga: Johnny Sexton likely to be named in another strong Irish selectionRugby World Cup: Robbie Henshaw set to return for Ireland after missing opener through injuryWed Sept 13 2023 - 21:00
Rugby World Cup: Jack Conan the only Ireland player ruled out of Tonga clash Dan Sheehan, Dave Kilcoyne and Robbie Henshaw set to be in selection mix for Saturday’s gameWed Sept 13 2023 - 14:49
Andrew Porter lost 4kg in the heat against Romania but he’s ‘champing at the bit’ to go againVisit to children’s hospital an ‘incredibly humbling’ experience for the Irish propWed Sept 13 2023 - 05:00
Mental conditioning: The high-performance coach guiding the Irish rugby team Players not fazed by Ireland’s Rugby World Cup history, says Gary Keegan — ‘I think this group wear that skin very well’Wed Sept 13 2023 - 05:00
James Lowe on the Rugby World Cup: ‘You can’t bloody get away from the Irish!’Ireland winger says presence of family has made the Rugby World Cup even more enjoyable despite testing on-field conditions in FranceTue Sept 12 2023 - 05:00
Ireland v South Africa is the most pivotal remaining Rugby World Cup pool matchFollowing their impressive defeat of New Zealand, it’s clear a confident France would be best avoided in the quarter-finalsTue Sept 12 2023 - 05:00
Ireland tick all the boxes in Rugby World Cup opener but the heavy lifting is still to come Ireland’s superior conditioning helped them punish Romania in the stifling heat of BordeauxMon Sept 11 2023 - 05:00
‘I feel like I’m only scratching the surface’ - Joe McCarthy on his impressive Rugby World Cup bow Young Irish lock capped a typical all-action display with a try in the opening victory over RomaniaMon Sept 11 2023 - 05:00
Johnny Sexton keen to keep the foot down for Ireland’s next game with TongaRugby World Cup: Outhalf was excellent in the 65 minutes he played in the opening win over RomaniaMon Sept 11 2023 - 05:00
Simon Easterby confident Ireland will select from a full hand for Tonga gameRugby World Cup: Defence coach happy with how players came through tough conditions in BordeauxSun Sept 10 2023 - 12:24
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell delighted to have ‘record breaker’ Johnny Sexton back in harnessRugby World Cup: Outhalf may also see some game time in tougher Tonga game next SaturdaySat Sept 09 2023 - 19:18
Ireland build up a head of steam as they blow Romania away in Rugby World Cup openerAndy Farrell’s side run in 12 tries in Bordeaux as they hit the ground running in Pool BSat Sept 09 2023 - 17:13
France’s opening night win over All Blacks shows they mean business at Rugby World Cup Les Bleus put an indifferent first half behind them to hand New Zealand a first pool defeat in 32 matchesSat Sept 09 2023 - 14:03
Rugby World Cup: Ireland struggled against underdogs in 2007. They need to beat Romania soundly Ireland v Romania: Ireland's performances in their warm-ups may not have been spectacular but the aim of their preparatory programme was to help them reach their best during the Rugby World Cup, for once: the moment of truth is nighSat Sept 09 2023 - 05:01
France’s third-quarter blitz seals deal in thrilling Rugby World Cup opener against All BlacksOpening night lives up to its billing as hosts get off to the perfect start at the Stade de FranceFri Sept 08 2023 - 22:35
Ireland looking to make statement in Rugby World Cup opener against RomaniaAndy Farrell’s side need to produce a little more than a stroll in the Bordeaux sun after mixed warm-upsFri Sept 08 2023 - 18:48
Gerry Thornley: France’s love affair with watching rugby dwarfs participation levelsRugby is only France’s 10th most popular sport for participation yet viewing figures for the World Cup compare with the highs of its soccer equivalentFri Sept 08 2023 - 13:24
Andy Farrell opts for experienced line-up against Romania as Ireland get down to businessJoe McCarthy bucks the trend as Andy Farrell selects formidable starting Ireland XV for World Cup opener against RomaniaFri Sept 08 2023 - 05:00
Ireland v Romania: Johnny Sexton captains strong side for Rugby World Cup openerKeith Earls starts on the wing and Rob Herring as hooker in Ireland’s opening Rugby World Cup Pool B match against RomaniaThu Sept 07 2023 - 15:01
Gerry Thornley’s World Cup diary: On the trail of the makeshift press conferencesGerry Thornley gradually finding his World Cup feet in the university city of Tours in FranceThu Sept 07 2023 - 05:00
Caelan Doris perfectly primed to prove his worth on the Rugby World Cup stageLeinster backrow Caelan Doris has given Ireland an extra dimension with his footwork, acceleration and all-round footballing abilityThu Sept 07 2023 - 05:00
Ireland v Romania: Andy Farrell set to name strong side for Rugby World Cup opener against RomaniaThe need to give Johnny Sexton and Rónan Kelleher game time forces Andy Farrell’s hand for Bordeaux gameWed Sept 06 2023 - 20:17
Paul O’Connell relishing watching brief as Ireland’s forwards put through their paces Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell confirms he just loves the scrummaging sessions as current generation prepare for World Cup startWed Sept 06 2023 - 05:00
Josh van der Flier carries the mantle of greatness lightly as he targets unfinished businessWorld Player of the Year Josh van der Flier aiming to deliver his best in World Cup in France four years after Ireland’s anticlimactic experience in JapanWed Sept 06 2023 - 05:00
Dan Sheehan ruled out of Ireland’s opening Rugby World Cup match against RomaniaJack Conan will also miss first pool game in Bordeaux while David Kilcoyne also unlikely to featureTue Sept 05 2023 - 17:23
Rugby World Cup: Johnny Sexton faces one last challenge – and it is the most exciting yet of his remarkable careerIreland’s celebrated outhalf has resolved to tick the one relatively empty box among his achievements by breaking Ireland through that quarter-final ceilingTue Sept 05 2023 - 13:00
Fogarty says no one is ruled out of Ireland’s opening Rugby World Cup match against RomaniaCoaches looking for ‘box office’ training sessions as team prepares for Rugby World Cup openerTue Sept 05 2023 - 05:00
Days before Rugby World Cup starts France enveloped in racism controversyIf Ireland reach the quarter-finals as Pool B winners or runner-up, there’s almost no avoiding Les Bleus or the All BlacksTue Sept 05 2023 - 05:00
French rugby and Macron caught in racism storm days before hosting World CupFrench head coach and country’s president recorded saying: ‘if he has to cry, he has to cry’Mon Sept 04 2023 - 16:54
