South Africa ‘up a level’ across all areas of the game, says Garry Ringrose
Ireland centre didn’t enjoy losing the two games he started in the Autumn Series
Champions Cup
Munster’s Brian Gleeson on course for January return
Alongside lock Edwin Edogbo, the young Munster duo offer size and dynamism
James Ryan to miss Leinster’s Champions Cup opener through suspension
Secondrow handed three-match ban for red card against South Africa
Leinster to play home European pool games at the Aviva Stadium
Leo Cullen’s side will take on Harlequins on December 6th while Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle arrive on January 10th
Gerry Thornley: Not even slow ticket sales can take shine off Leinster v Munster clash
Perhaps novelty value of Blues hosting matches at Croke Park is wearing off
URC champions Leinster must come out fighting against Bulls, says McBryde
Blues know they need to bounce back in Pretoria after 35-0 defeat to Stormers
Provincial rugby preview: Predictions, prospects and players to watch as new season kicks off
Leinster and Munster will expect a tilt at glory in URC and Champions Cup, but Connacht and Ulster can hope to progress
Munster to host Gloucester at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in December Champions Cup clash as fixture details confirmed
Leinster have seventh Champions Cup meeting with La Rochelle on January 10th
Leo Cullen and Ronan O’Gara to renew rivalry as Leinster pooled with La Rochelle in Champions Cup draw
Munster drawn in Pool Two with Castres, Bath, Toulon, Edinburgh and Gloucester
Champions Cup draw: Leinster draw La Rochelle again; Munster in pool with Bath
Follow live as Connacht get two Top 14 clubs in their pool in Challenge Cup
Gordon D’Arcy: If Leinster have learned anything, it’s that nothing is guaranteed. Good teams lose
‘Lions selection is a rare honour; success within that environment is even more difficult to accomplish’
Gerry Thornley: The true story of Leinster in the 2020s is one of remarkable success
Province’s ability to keep climbing off the canvas after agonising setbacks shows an admirable inner strength
Matt Williams: Unless Leinster’s defence wake up they will be left dreaming of what might have been
Deeper commitment to physical processes of defending is needed if they are to lift this year’s URC title
Sharks’ shameful antics against Munster betrayed the moral code that makes rugby special
Jaden Hendrikse’s antics during URC shootout have been roundly criticised, apart from in South Africa
Owen Doyle: Rugby’s failure to punish violence and gamesmanship risks pushing a generation away
Amateur players are abandoning the sport over fears of sustaining brain damage
Matt Williams: Irish rugby should value the URC above the faltering Champions Cup
Many cling to memories of an era that has now passed, wrongly obsessed with the bisected remains of a once-great competition
Gordon D’Arcy: The greatest danger to Leinster could come from within
Bordeaux Bègles showed what can happen when sides get things right
Who can challenge the dominance by French clubs of European rugby?
Top 14 clubs are dominating European rugby and the end does not appear in sight
Rugby’s 20-minute red card is a dangerous departure that risks devaluing the importance of player safety
It will be in operation during Lions tour, with players sent off replaced after 20 minutes
Noel McNamara and Bordeaux discover what doesn’t break you can make you stronger
‘Everything that could go wrong went wrong’, says assistant coach
French flair seals Champions Cup title for Bordeaux Bègles over Northampton Saints
Damian Penaud supplied two tries for Yannick Bru’s side in Cardiff
Fresh, novel pairing to Champions Cup final as Leinster wonder what might have been
Great opportunity for moment of history for Northampton and Bordeaux in final
Bordeaux Bègles armed with lessons learnt ahead of Champions Cup final against Northampton
Attack coach Noel McNamara says French side prepared for ‘incredibly difficult’ Saints challenge
Joey Carbery not selected in Bordeaux Bègles matchday squad for Champions Cup final
Outhalf unlucky to miss out as French side decide on 6-2 split on the bench
Leinster planning for Croke Park if they make it to Grand Final of URC
Munster plan to bring Champions Cup match to Páirc Uí Chaoimh in December
Owen Doyle: Leaving an arguable try scoring decision totally in the TMO’s hands does not stack up
All referees should insist on seeing the replays when so many points are at stake
Munster v Benetton preview: Irish province are ever the drama kings as they take Champions Cup hopes down to the wire
Musgrave Park hosts winner-takes-all shoot-out for a place in URC playoffs and next season’s Cup
‘Getting the top two inches ready’ - How important is sports psychology to breaking a losing habit?
The Counter Ruck Podcast
‘We don’t feel entitled’: Leinster must work hard to get past Glasgow in URC, says Bleyendaal
Leinster coach backs Andy Farrell’s decision to name 12 of his players in Lions squad despite Northampton loss
Leinster rugby needs to find a fresh approach to break its losing streak
Striking a balance between systems-oriented rugby and individual creativity might be the key to ending seven years of hurt
Ugly sense of entitlement has seeped into Irish rugby fan culture
Leinster’s Champions Cup exit has led to mob-like criticism of the team and their coach
Gerry Thornley: Munster and Ulster have faced each other in bigger games, but this one is a must-win for both
The two sides could be missing from the Champions Cup next season for the first time in 31 years
‘If anything, we care too much’: Josh van der Flier picking himself back up after crushing Champions Cup exit
Veteran openside hopes to soften blow of Leinster’s semi-final defeat with Lions inclusion
Gordon D’Arcy: Leinster needed Jordie Barrett from the start, you should select your strongest team
By starting without Jordie Barrett in the Champions Cup semi-final, Leinster got too cute in their selection
‘We should have been better defensively’: Jacques Nienaber on Leinster’s shock defeat to Northampton
Head coach admits questions will be asked about selection, not to mention missed tackles and concession of five tries and 37 points
Gerry Thornley: Leinster’s latest heartbreak in Europe shows they are human after all
Cullen’s men face a painful postmortem to rival that of the 2023 final when Leinster let slip a 23-7 lead against La Rochelle
Owen Doyle: The laws of the game are clear - Leinster should have had a penalty try
The decision facing referee Pierre Brousset in the last-minute of the Champions Cup semi-final was complex, but there should have been only one outcome
Leo Cullen under scrutiny after Leinster loss to Northampton
Single Champions Cup in 13 years could be deemed poor return for considerble investment in playing squad
Leinster battle sense of dismay in wake of defeat to Northampton
Belief persists in province’s dressingroom that penalty try should have been awarded in penultimate play of Champions Cup semi-final
Leinster’s Champions Cup quest flounders in face of Northampton’s attacking brilliance
Decision to leave Jordie Barrett on the bench for so long and poor defence cost Leinster dearly in semi-final loss
Leinster fans discover their team is only human as pundits left stunned by Northampton upset
Leinster captain Caelan Doris’ sad eyes never looked sadder than in his post-match interview
Leinster continue to find new ways to lose big games
In Champions Cup semi-final, ghosts of past defeats returned
Bordeaux Bègles thrash injury-ravaged Toulouse to reach Champions Cup final
Louis Bielle-Biarrey stars with two tries to set up final meeting with Northampton
Leinster v Northampton: Mystery surrounds decision not to award late match-winning try
Ross Byrne’s effort was ruled out in last minute of Champions Cup semi-final, but Rabah Slimani felt there should have been a penalty try
Leo Cullen believes he is man to lead Leinster forward despite loss to Northampton
Leinster coach defends decision to leave Jordie Barrett on the bench until second half of Champions Cup semi-final
Leinster 34 Northampton 37: How the Leinster players rated in Champions Cup semi-final
For all the willing work, Leinster suffered from a lack of accuracy at vital times
Northampton stun Leinster with five-try blitz to book Champions Cup final place
Follow all the action from the Aviva Stadium with place in final up for grabs
Tommy Freeman overcomes adversity to become a standout Northampton Saints player
Freeman can trouble Leinster in their Champions Cup clash, having blossomed into a player of Test-match stature
Leinster may be semi-final specialists, but getting any further is often a coin toss
Northampton will be clutching all the positives they can find ahead of Champions Cup showdown
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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