Ireland Rugby

Read all of our stories related to the Ireland men's rugby team

Ireland ‘don’t want to be noble losers’, says Scott Bemand

Ireland lose Six Nations opener to France in Belfast

Paul O’Connell set to be Ireland interim head coach for summer Tests

Simon Easterby understood to have accepted place on Lions coaching ticket

What next for the provinces after the Six Nations?

The Counter Ruck Podcast: Will Leinster maintain their buffer at the top? Can Munster maintain their position in the top eight?

Women’s Six Nations: Team by team guide, fixtures and predictions

Ireland begin their Six Nations campaign against France in Belfast on Saturday

Amee-Leigh Costigan to captain Ireland as team is named to face France in Six Nations

Anna McGann comes in on right wing while Eva Higgins starts in midfield

James Abankwah catches Hallgrímsson’s eye, and Ireland rugby team ‘far from a crisis’

Gordon D’Arcy on how Ireland can move forward; Gerry Thornley on new optimism in Irish women’s team; and the race to become the next IOC president

Gordon D’Arcy: Ideal opportunity for Ireland to take stock and move forward with clarity

Ireland’s ability to evolve, adapt, and rebuild will define the next chapter for the team

Improved Ireland rearing to go up against France in tough Six Nations start

Beibhinn Parsons nearing full fitness after breaking leg in December

Gerry Thornley: It’s staring us in the face, this Ireland team is simply not what it was

Perhaps Ireland’s third place feels more anti-climactic because they also finished behind England

Owen Doyle: Italy had a great chance to beat Ireland but they hit the self-destruct button

Ireland will have legitimate questions about two key moments which were bungled by officials

Gerry Thornley’s Six Nations Team of the Tournament: Three Irish players make the cut

Ireland backs conspicuous by their absence

Are Ireland only Europe’s third best team?

The Counter Ruck Podcast

How Ireland came dangerously close to a rare defeat to Italy

As Leonardo Marin raced up the touchline, thoughts of just a second Six Nations win for Italy in 26 meetings against Ireland flashed before our eyes

Sense of anticlimax as Ireland’s campaign peters out

Error-strewn display in Rome raises concerns that this Irish team is not what it was

Ireland’s gladiator Peter O’Mahony bows out in Italian rugby’s colosseum

A player who gave so much – for that alone he will be remembered and celebrated

Twenty-minute red cards: Rugby selling soul to spectacle at the expense of player welfare

Two notable incidents in the final round of matches affirmed that the law is indeed an ass at times

Ireland’s number 10 debate isn’t over, refereeing is in question and what else we learned from Six Nations

Ireland probably underachieved this year amid patchy campaign

TV View: Easterby uses Dumb and Dumber clip to try convince Irish players of Six Nations chances

Needing favours in at the Principality and Stade de France was always a long shot, and so it proved

Simon Easterby frustrated by Ireland’s missed tackles and coughing up of possession

Interim head coach pays credit to Italy for making things difficult at the Stadio Olimpico

Italy vs Ireland as it happened: Easterby’s men secure four-try bonus point at Stadio Olimpico in patchy display

Simon Easterby’s side take on Italy in Rome on a day where France look set to win the Six Nations title

Usually officials get things right in the Six Nations, not on that James Lowe pass

Ireland winger’s incredible balance and pass should have earned Ireland breathing space and Hugo Keenan a second try

Dan Sheehan’s hat-trick earns Ireland a scrappy win as Italy’s discipline lets them down

Italy vs Ireland: Irish errors denied them any chance of establishing any kind of attacking rhythm

Italy 17 Ireland 22: How the Irish players rated in Rome

Dan Sheehan and Hugo Keenan lead the way on a mixed afternoon for Ireland’s players

Malachy Clerkin: Relax! This is not the end of an era for either Liverpool or the Ireland rugby team

On the back of defeats to French teams last week, there was a mad dash to declare the end of two teams that are actually fine

Italy v Ireland preview: Six team changes; what to expect from The Azzurri; and slim title hopes remain

Six changes to starting XV from losing side against France, with recalls for Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, James Ryan and Jack Conan

Ireland fans savour Roman holiday as they hope for ‘dream’ results elsewhere

Some 30,000 Irish fans expected to watch Six Nations match in Italy

Italy match gives Ireland ‘massive opportunity’ to turn bad day into start of better times

This is a key moment in preparation for next Rugby World Cup, says former Ireland scrumhalf Eoin Reddan

Gerry Thornley: French accusations against Ireland not in keeping with the spirit of the Six Nations

Antoine Dupont’s injury in Dublin prompted a nasty reaction from the French camp

Ireland did not lose because France were bigger, it was because they were better

Ireland contributed to their own demise on the gain line

Steve Aboud: the Irishman who saved Italian rugby

The Counter Ruck Podcast

The age of rugby imperialism is here, and Ireland must realise we sit with the ‘Have-nots’

France have found a way to evolve the South African blueprint, and the ramifications are disastrous

James Ryan: ‘We’ve been very honest and open about our shortcomings ... now it’s about turning the page'

The lock says Ireland can’t afford any more indiscipline when they face Italy in their Six Nations finale

Think you know when it’ll be time to tell Bundee Aki and Tadhg Furlong to step aside?

Ireland and Andy Farrell have to plan for the future but that means adding up more than just numbers

Ireland v Italy: Simon Easterby shakes up team for Six Nations final round

Jack Crowley to start at outhalf as James Lowe and Mack Hansen return on the wings

Jack Crowley’s patience rewarded as Ireland go in search of Rome revival against Italy

The return of Mack Hansen, James Lowe and Garry Ringrose gives Ireland more variety in attack

Simon Easterby defends Beirne and Porter as French criticism prompts abuse

‘These things happen. No player goes out to intentionally injure another player’

Why do so many Irish men look Australian? Ireland is under a sort of reverse colonisation

The unholy mullet-moustache diptych is a sign that the emigrant experience works both ways

Garry Ringrose graduates from Tackle School in time for Ireland’s final exam against Italy

Ieland’s experienced centre paid a costly price for one poorly-timed tackle against Wales

Brexoncello: Italy’s midfield duo hope joined-up thinking will trouble Ireland

Centres Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello have shone in this season’s Six Nations despite their team’s defensive frailties

Jack Crowley set to start for Ireland in Rome as Leicester Tigers eye up Munster outhalf

Ireland team news: Simon Easterby to make several changes to starting XV for Italy match

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