Launch hinges on TV dealOrganisers of the Celtic League are working to a time frame of six weeks, at the end of which they hope to be in a position to…Wed Jan 10 2001 - 00:00
European survival adds spice to seasonIt's as if the first four months of the season provided the entree. Now comes the beefTue Jan 09 2001 - 00:00
Confidence boost for LeinsterLeinster can extract a measure of confidence from claiming a first away win on Munster soil in over two years and 19 games, whilst…Sat Jan 06 2001 - 00:00
Sevens behind eight ballIreland have been drawn to play reigning champions Fiji in their opening pool match of the 2001 World Cup Sevens, to be held …Fri Jan 05 2001 - 00:00
Pride may come before EuropeThere may be nothing tangible at stake, but when push comes to shove it's still Munster v LeinsterFri Jan 05 2001 - 00:00
Leinster playing it for realThe latest instalment of the Munster-Leinster rivalry may not have interprovincial points at stake but it is a real match, not…Thu Jan 04 2001 - 00:00
Provinces hope to sharpen up for the European battles aheadNothing is perfect - Irish rugby included - and the flip side of the much praised three-tier system is the delicate balancing…Wed Jan 03 2001 - 00:00
Shannon hand out season's beatingClontarf were warmly received for having done the decent thing and made the effort to fulfil Sunday's re-arranged AIB League …Tue Jan 02 2001 - 00:00
After the recounts, Galwey is electedOwing to a chance meeting and a handshake with Mick Galwey, whose wisdom knows no bounds, this correspondent was afflicted with…Tue Jan 02 2001 - 00:00
Irish inhibitions lost in FranceIt's not often when a yearly review of Irish rugby prompts a feeling of excitement as the video is inserted yet againSat Dec 30 2000 - 00:00
Juggling club and country to get trickierIreland's leading international players should start to trickle back to their clubs this weekend and all, barring injury, should…Fri Dec 22 2000 - 00:00
Bertie Bowl touches a nerveWell, well, well, Ross O'Carroll-Kelly's dad would appear to have his finger on the pulse after allTue Dec 19 2000 - 00:00
Shannon rise above the drossFor much of an error-strewn game this supposed top billing seemed a case of who most deserved to loseMon Dec 18 2000 - 00:00
Clever switch of Keane and Staunton proves crucialGarryowen yesterday managed what no other club in the top two flights of the AIB League achieved the previous day when recording…Mon Dec 18 2000 - 00:00
O'Reilly and Kiernan join Hall of FameOpting for two decided heavyweight names this year, the Rugby Writers of Ireland/Guinness yesterday inducted Tom Kiernan and …Wed Dec 13 2000 - 00:00
Demanding role for HaslettMike Haslett, the former Ulster and Irish Schools flanker who graduated to the Irish under-21 Demanding role for Haslett team…Tue Dec 12 2000 - 00:00
Constitution do what they have toThese are contrasting times for the two-time former winners of the AIL: trying, tryless times for Garryowen after a second consecutive…Mon Dec 11 2000 - 00:00
Clubs accepting league realitiesLast Sunday week in Leitrim the St Mary's forwards practised lineout calls in advance of their first AIB League game of the season…Tue Dec 05 2000 - 00:00
St Mary's respond with Mary's spiritRumours of Young Munster's demise may be a tad exaggerated although their second of back-to-back wins at Templeville Road was…Mon Dec 04 2000 - 00:00
Cranfield becomes Pope's saviourAt about 5.30 yesterday evening, St Mary's College were able to unearth a player to help solve the injury jinx which has sidelined…Sat Dec 02 2000 - 00:00
St Mary's have to dig deep to find a propSOS. Wanted: one junior prop, ideally two, available to play rugby tomorrowFri Dec 01 2000 - 00:00
Clubs can embrace new realityNext Friday, the IRFU committee will try to address the vexed issue of what to do with the clubsTue Nov 28 2000 - 00:00
Anderson favourite to succeed WilliamsA shortlist of five candidates will be interviewed for the coaching director's job at Ulster by a panel of IRFU and Ulster Branch…Sat Nov 25 2000 - 00:00
Irish watch stand-off with interestMany of Ireland's current internationals will have noted the tumultuous stand-off between their English counterparts and Twickenham…Thu Nov 23 2000 - 00:00
Captain's comments leave bad aftertasteAlthough the Springboks have since relocated to Wales for the second leg of their European tour, a simmering row has continued…Wed Nov 22 2000 - 00:00
IRFU row in with BertieBowlThe IRFU have given their strongest and most unequivocal commitment yet to the Government's proposed national stadiumTue Nov 21 2000 - 00:00
Touch of finesse indicates progressIf there was one moment in Sunday's Test which perhaps confirmed Ireland's sea-change since Twickenham last February, it came…Tue Nov 21 2000 - 00:00
Creatively on the right trackAnother one that got away undoubtedly, which will add to Ireland's frustrationMon Nov 20 2000 - 00:00
Ireland still hunting the true killer instinctIt was once said that a Lansdowne Road crowd was satisfied if they saw an Irish team play with heart and style and gave it a …Mon Nov 20 2000 - 00:00
Big performance the major priorityLogically, analytically, statistically, historically and most other ways you look at it, South Africa still have to be favourites…Sat Nov 18 2000 - 00:00
Viljoen's vision put to the TestHe's made millions selling insurance and assets in turn, and now the Springbok coach, Harry Viljoen, is attempting to sell something…Fri Nov 17 2000 - 00:00
Test of Irish A levelsTwo years ago Ireland showed they could compete with South Africa for the guts of 80 minutes and at least make life difficult…Wed Nov 15 2000 - 00:00
Miller and Longwell win in pack reshuffleTime was when a victory of any manner would have been a good enough reason for leaving well enough alone, never mind one by 69…Wed Nov 15 2000 - 00:00
South Africa recall Mulder for A gameOllie Le Roux will lead the Springbok midweek team against Ireland A in Thomond Park tomorrow while Gavin Passens, Craig Davidson…Tue Nov 14 2000 - 00:00
Optimism needs to be kept in checkConfirmation that the Springboks were pushed to the wire by Argentina in winning 37-33 at the River Plate Stadium on Sunday might…Tue Nov 14 2000 - 00:00
Just a good quality training runBetter than being slapped in the face with a wet fish, as Monty Python might put it, and better, too, than another run-out at…Mon Nov 13 2000 - 00:00
Murphy pays for unsure displayThe Irish management have reacted to the 78-9 victory over Japan on Saturday by demoting Geordan Murphy to the A team for next…Mon Nov 13 2000 - 00:00
Irish plan solid start and stylish finishingPacey, inventive and utterly game, Japan have been the entertainers, even drawing the admiration of opposing fans as well as …Sat Nov 11 2000 - 00:00
Costello, Mostyn called in from coldThough notionally a development team, such are the blasts from the past that the Irish A squad to play the Springboks next Wednesday…Thu Nov 09 2000 - 00:00
Leinster pair move centre stage for IrelandRare indeed is the opening selectorial offering of the season so changed - nine positional and two in personnel from the draw…Wed Nov 08 2000 - 00:00
Leinster scale the learning curveThe auld interpros have come a long way baby, and it hardly needed another Donnybrook Experience to underline thatTue Nov 07 2000 - 00:00
Irish squad train indoorsNot surprisingly, on a day you wouldn't put the cat out, the Irish management took a similarly benign approach to Ireland's finest…Tue Nov 07 2000 - 00:00
Easterby sidelined for six weeksThe Llanelli and Irish scrum-half Guy Easterby sustained a broken leg when briefly appearing as a replacement for his club on…Mon Nov 06 2000 - 00:00
