Shannon break thin blue lineThe banter, acerbic observation and volume of support that would have been an integral part of many a previous meeting between…Mon Dec 04 2000 - 00:00
Mad Hatter's BoxLeinster captain and Lansdowne flanker Liam Toland is the latest to offer his most secret thoughts.Mon Dec 04 2000 - 00:00
Coming outLions and Scotland prop Tom Smith became a patron of a Scottish epilepsy charity about a year agoMon Dec 04 2000 - 00:00
Full backs jinxedWhen Conor O'Shea dislocated his ankle playing for London Irish at Gloucester on Saturday, it supported a case for wrapping in…Mon Nov 27 2000 - 00:00
Shannon backbone the key to victoryShannon won't care that it was a scrappy, error-ridden finalMon Nov 27 2000 - 00:00
Mad Hatter's BoxIrish international scrum-half, Peter Stringer, is put in the hot seat this week.Mon Nov 27 2000 - 00:00
All Black brought backDave Loveridge might prefer to forget but there wasn't much chance of that on visiting Ireland with the touring New Zealand youths…Mon Nov 27 2000 - 00:00
Galwey's master classMichael Galwey is going back to school, or university to be preciseMon Nov 27 2000 - 00:00
Terenure overrun hapless ClontarfA fifth Leinster Senior Cup final success for Terenure College, achieved in emphatic fashion, and hallmarked by passages of excellent…Sat Nov 25 2000 - 00:00
Rocky road to World CupIreland's failure to qualify for the quarter-finals of the 1999 Rugby World Cup has ensured that they will have to fight their…Fri Nov 24 2000 - 00:00
Cup still holds its lustre for SheriffIt may have lost the lustre it once boasted but the Leinster Senior Cup is nevertheless coveted by some, notably Terenure College…Thu Nov 23 2000 - 00:00
Provincial finals dominateThe provincial cup finals dominate the rugby calendar this weekend, although the dates of the respective deciders has not met…Wed Nov 22 2000 - 00:00
A day of questions and some answersSouth African coach Harry Viljoen had a word, Ireland's Warren Gatland wanted one and about 49,000 supporters would have demanded…Mon Nov 20 2000 - 00:00
Cups half emptyIt is perhaps representative of the changing face of Irish rugby that the provincial cup competitions have been relegated down…Mon Nov 20 2000 - 00:00
Springboks happy to get no kick from a gameThe South Africans spent two hours at Stradbrook yesterday blowing away the cobwebs of a long-haul flight from Argentina, scene…Thu Nov 16 2000 - 00:00
Bishop's chanceJustin Bishop celebrated his call-up to the Ireland A team with a late cameo appearance - he was a second half replacement - …Mon Nov 13 2000 - 00:00
Mad hatter's boxWe continue our weekly pursuit of useless trivia and this week's guinea pig is Garryowen, Munster and Ireland openside flanker…Mon Nov 13 2000 - 00:00
Back to schoolA conference involving referees and schools coaches will take place this week in a bid to iron out any problems with interpretations…Mon Nov 13 2000 - 00:00
Kinsale SevensThe promoting of the 2001 Heineken Kinsale Sevens which takes place from May 4th to 6th next year has already begunMon Nov 13 2000 - 00:00
Whistle happyThe IRFU is to take 10 of Ireland's top referees and their partners out for a meal next weekend in recognition of their excellent…Mon Nov 13 2000 - 00:00
Harder gain lines to crossIt was more of a courtesy call, the Irish team management and captain Keith Wood filtering into the media centre in the West …Mon Nov 13 2000 - 00:00
Flying wingFormer Garryowen, Saracens, Munster, Ireland and Lions wing Richard Wallace is proving equally successful in his career off the…Mon Nov 13 2000 - 00:00
125 and countingA new six-part series to celebrate 125 years of rugby in Ireland will be shown on Sunday nights on UTVMon Nov 13 2000 - 00:00
Damage limitation visitors' aimThe Japanese management have named 10 of the team that started Tuesday night's 8313 defeat by Ireland Under-25 at Ravenhill in…Fri Nov 10 2000 - 00:00
Free ticketsThe Ireland rugby league team attracted over 3,000 souls to the final pool match against the New Zealand Maoris at the weekend…Mon Nov 06 2000 - 00:00
Can't beat the trainWhile the weather might not have been anywhere near as severe in Ireland as it has been in England over the past week, it still…Mon Nov 06 2000 - 00:00
Black letter dayAlistair Coetzee became the first black coach of a provincial team recently when he succeeded Nelie Smith at Eastern Province…Mon Nov 06 2000 - 00:00
Wild GeeseNiall Woods continued his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury when starting for Harlequins at the weekendMon Nov 06 2000 - 00:00
Rugby speak"For that try there are a lot of wingers who would have got to the point of kicking ahead but somebody else would have won the…Mon Nov 06 2000 - 00:00
Bellaghy's firm grip is too much to handleIn the end it proved as easy as the final scoreline suggests, Derry champions Bellaghy physically shunting their opponents aside…Mon Nov 06 2000 - 00:00
Mad Hatter's box: Ronan O'GaraHow much is a large sliced pan? "Is it about 80p. I'm not sureMon Nov 06 2000 - 00:00
No respite for provincial squadsThe Heineken European Cup has proved an unqualified success both in an Irish context and from the perspective of the tournament…Thu Nov 02 2000 - 00:00
Aughavas set to receive walkoverLeitrim champions Aughavas seem likely to be handed a walkover in the Connacht club football championship unless there is a speedy…Thu Nov 02 2000 - 00:00
Interprovincial go ahead as scheduledThe final round of the Interprovincial Championship will go ahead as scheduled on Friday nightWed Nov 01 2000 - 00:00
Rugby Speak"I hear a lot of Northern Hemisphere versus Southern Hemisphere but I look at the way England play and they are playing a very…Mon Oct 30 2000 - 00:00
Mad hatter's boxWe ask a player some nonsensical questions hoping that that he can cope with the pressureMon Oct 30 2000 - 00:00
Leinster take pole positionEdinburgh Reivers' flying start in Pool One of the Heineken European Cup came to a shuddering halt when they lost a second successive…Mon Oct 30 2000 - 00:00
Answering the callIt's amazing how the barriers between rugby union and rugby league are breaking downMon Oct 30 2000 - 00:00
Japan prepareJapan arrive in Ireland soon for a couple of matches, the first an under-25 international and the second a Test match at Lansdowne…Mon Oct 30 2000 - 00:00
Unpopular figureToulouse and French international prop Franck Tournaire was just about the most unpopular person in Ravenhill last Friday night…Mon Oct 30 2000 - 00:00
Ulster leads wayFriday night's crowd at Ravenhill was a capacity 12,000 for the European Cup tie between Ulster and ToulouseMon Oct 30 2000 - 00:00
European ShieldConnacht coach Steph Nel described his side's first half performance against Montferrand last week as probably their best display…Sat Oct 28 2000 - 01:00
Ulster's turn to fall for late stingToulouse exacted retribution at Ravenhill last night in the most galling fashion, aping Ulster's remarkable late fightback last…Sat Oct 28 2000 - 01:00
Ulster v ToulouseTen minutes of character, perspiration and inspiration have rejuvenated Ulster's seasonFri Oct 27 2000 - 01:00
Maverick captain's sensible outlookShane Byrne is a maverick, has been since his school daysWed Oct 25 2000 - 01:00