Munster stay top of the tree as they contain Connacht’s ambitionDisciplined away performance earns Johann van Graan’s side the points in GalwaySat Dec 21 2019 - 19:36
Dave Heffernan keen to grab Ireland chance second time around‘Explosive’ Connacht hooker finding greater consistency after switch from backrowSat Dec 21 2019 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Champions Cup packed with usual suspects againLeinster have qualified after four rounds, turning a potential pool of sharks into a rompTue Dec 17 2019 - 07:00
Rob Kearney left out of Ireland squad get togetherAndy Farrell and his coaches will meet up with the group of players next weekMon Dec 16 2019 - 15:50
Johnny Sexton turns down big money offer from LyonTop 14 club wanted to bring Sexton back to France at end of this seasonMon Dec 16 2019 - 12:25
Chastened Munster leave the champions’ lair with regretsVunipola brothers help Saracens up the ante following all-in melee in the third quarterMon Dec 16 2019 - 02:00
Wounded Munster left facing a win-or-bust clash in ParisUnseemly fracas during defeat to Saracens to be investigated by tournament organisersMon Dec 16 2019 - 01:00
Ulster’s man of the moment John Cooney won’t believe the hypeScrumhalf has the Midas touch, but he puts streak of good form down to hard workMon Dec 16 2019 - 01:00
Van Graan stands by decision to kick to touchMunster turned down late shot at goal which could have secured bonus point against SaracensSat Dec 14 2019 - 18:49
Munster up against it after losing at SaracensDefending champions put on show of strength against Johann van Graan's visitorsSat Dec 14 2019 - 17:31
Opportunity knocks for JJ Hanrahan as cards fall his wayInjuries give the former Ireland U-20 star chance to prove his worth as Munster outhalfSat Dec 14 2019 - 06:00
Ulster run riot at the Stoop to make it four from fourJohn Cooney once again shone as the Ulstermen marched on with a bonus pointFri Dec 13 2019 - 22:02
Champions Saracens provide litmus test for new MunsterTrip to face the defending champions will be toughest test yet in Munster’s pool of deathFri Dec 13 2019 - 19:22
More settled Ulster have what it takes to pass stern Stoop testMcFarland’s side looking to complete a notable double over Harlequins in Pool 3Fri Dec 13 2019 - 06:00
Johnny Sexton to be fit for Ireland’s opening Six NationsOuthalf expected to recover in time for Andy Farrell’s first game as head coachWed Dec 11 2019 - 01:00
Johnny Sexton to be fit for opening Six Nations matchOuthalf should be fit for Andy Farrell’s first game as head coach of the Irish teamTue Dec 10 2019 - 18:12
Gerry Thornley: Irish halfback situation now looking less certainFor the first time since the 2011 World Cup, the nine-ten partnership is not certainTue Dec 10 2019 - 06:18
Leinster and Ireland sweating on Sexton scan after positive weekendsCullen’s team on course for home quarter-final while Munster likely to need away victoryMon Dec 09 2019 - 06:00
Peter O’Mahony gives Billy Holland credit in lineout warsMunster captain lauds secondrow for set-piece work in victory over SaracensMon Dec 09 2019 - 06:00
Munster mix the old with the new in victory over SaracensEarly salvos a sign of hosts’ progress before weather turns second half into grim affairMon Dec 09 2019 - 01:00
Johann van Graan: ‘We’ll take a win against Saracens any day of the week’Peter O’Mahony admits second-half weather meant it was better off not having possessionSat Dec 07 2019 - 21:32
Mark McCall says Saracens will bring back big guns for return legBonus point keeps champions in the frame to qualify for knockout stagesSat Dec 07 2019 - 20:58
New Munster battle some old-school weather to hold off SaracensGame of two halves sees Mark McCall’s side take bonus point away from Thomond ParkSat Dec 07 2019 - 20:01
Mark McCall: ‘We wanted to be more like Munster to be honest’The Saracens coach still has faith in European champions despite their travailsSat Dec 07 2019 - 06:00
Munster find themselves in must-win territory again as they brace for SaracensMcCall’s decision to leave number of big guns at home bodes well for provinceSat Dec 07 2019 - 06:00
Review suggests mounting anxiety a factor in Ireland’s World Cup woesUnderestimation of Japan and failure to develop game plan also among main findingsThu Dec 05 2019 - 01:00
IRFU review admits Ireland caught cold by Japan at World Cup‘We underestimated the intensity of what Japan were able to play at, that genuinely surprised us’Wed Dec 04 2019 - 17:18
Wales shatter Ireland's World Cup dreamIreland 10 Wales 22: The dream is over as a great Irish side misfired on the nightTue Dec 03 2019 - 15:06
Gerry Thornley: Edinburgh’s upright antics must be nipped in the bud by World RugbyPadding on post is there to protect players and tampering with it endangers their welfareTue Dec 03 2019 - 06:00
Mike Ruddock leaves Lansdowne to take charge of OspreysFormer player will take charge of struggling Welsh franchise after disastrous start to the seasonMon Dec 02 2019 - 18:59
Leinster on the forward march as they line up another pack of likely ladsDepartures, injuries have depleted province but backrow production line goes onSat Nov 30 2019 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Ronan Kelleher could be in the right place at the right timeCircumstances can steer careers, and hooker is timing form perfectly to catch Farrell’s eyeTue Nov 26 2019 - 06:30
New ground has been broken in Larkham's Munster revolution‘New Munster’ show their width and wit as they draw with Racing 92 at Thomond ParkMon Nov 25 2019 - 06:00
Munster’s old dogs learn a few new tricks under LarkhamDespite disappointing draw with Racing 92, Peter O’Mahony feels his side held their ownMon Nov 25 2019 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Anglo-Irish clashes pivotal to European hopesDecember's games come fast on the back of a quartet of tough Franco-Irish battlesMon Nov 25 2019 - 06:00
Peter O’Mahony admits Munster’s regret is two-fold‘I don’t think we played well enough to win the game, to be totally honest with you’Sat Nov 23 2019 - 21:29
Munster fall just short of the full Houdini as Racing take share of the spoilsJJ Hanrahan’s late drop goal misses target in thrilling Thomond Park endgameSat Nov 23 2019 - 20:04
Formidable home fortress key to Munster conquering the FrenchOver the years Racing have been one of many French sides to fail the Thomond Park testSat Nov 23 2019 - 05:00
Munster could do with a racing start against old foes and friendsVan Graan’s men will have to bring their ‘A’ game to overcome talented French visitorsFri Nov 22 2019 - 21:15
Schmidt was handed cards late mother wrote in lead-up to quarter-finalShe penned notes in knowledge that she would not have been alive to see World CupThu Nov 21 2019 - 07:12
Joe Schmidt: Rory Best nearly quit before 2018 Grand SlamIn his autobiography Ordinary Joe, the coach says he faced several ‘uncontrollables’Thu Nov 21 2019 - 07:00
Joe Schmidt reveals reason for omitting Toner in new book'Ordinary Joe' shows ex-coach’s restless mind and obsessive attention to detailThu Nov 21 2019 - 06:00
Schmidt wanted Samoa match called off due to state of pitchFormer Ireland coach felt pitch in Fukuoka for Rugby World Cup tie was dangerous for playersThu Nov 21 2019 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: French clubs loom large for the provincesFrance’s international contingent set to ensure tough test for Irish provinces in EuropeTue Nov 19 2019 - 08:19
Gerry Thornley: Promising signs that Irish rugby’s healing process has begunThose on Japanese expedition will feel they have a lot to prove as Champions Cup beginsTue Nov 12 2019 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Japan World Cup reminds rugby of its core valuesSouth Africa emerge deserving winners from open tournament made by hosts’ enthusiasmTue Nov 05 2019 - 06:30
South Africa’s Damian de Allende to join Munster next seasonWorld Cup winning centre has agreed a two-year deal with the Irish provinceMon Nov 04 2019 - 15:59
Rugby World Cup 2019: Gerry Thornley’s team of the tournamentPlayers from six countries are represented, with five of the XV from South AfricaMon Nov 04 2019 - 13:29
South African victory a cocktail of hope and unity – with a twist of IrishFelix Jones is a part of a Springboks coaching ticket fine-tuned in MunsterMon Nov 04 2019 - 06:00
Five things we learned from the Rugby World Cup finalManner of South Africa’s win showed some of game's basics remain the sameMon Nov 04 2019 - 06:00
