‘Cool, quirky, lots of character’: Leo Cullen wants Laya Arena to be special place to play
After absence of more than two years, Leinster host Cardiff on return to redeveloped home ground
United Rugby Championship
‘Massive challenge’ for Connacht as they look to upset the odds against Glasgow
Bundee Aki will start as all Irish internationals return to starting lineup for URC clash
‘It’s a proper club ground’: Captain Dan Sheehan relishing Leinster’s return home
Blues’ opener at revamped Laya Arena against Cardiff is getting players and fans excited
‘I’m a young buck still’: Joe McCarthy on becoming a senior figure at Leinster
Second row taking on more leadership as part of his continuing development in dressingroom
Clayton McMillan not interested in a revenge motif ahead of Ulster clash
Munster head coach said last fixture in Belfast was ‘one of those games you remember in detail, but not for the right reasons’
Depleted Connacht need to iron out wrinkles against Glasgow, says Woodman
Province aiming to build on victory over Benetton, but must do it without several key players
‘He’s still young and learning’: Sam Prendergast’s development coming along nicely at Leinster
Leinster kicking coach Emmet Farrell says outhalf has ‘learned a lot over the last couple of years’
‘I didn’t even dream of it’: Ciarán Frawley enjoys a madcap Connacht debut
Outhalf loving life out west as he renews partnership with ‘mentor’ Stuart Lancaster
Munster have been digging this hole for years as they slide into tortured mediocrity
Change of leadership at the top of the organisation is desperately needed but there are no miracle cures
Charlie O’Shea shines for Munster on encouraging weekend for Irish provinces
Ciarán Frawley enjoys dream debut as Connacht beat Benetton in Treviso
Charlie O’Shea produces dream display and guides Munster to important win over Bulls
Outhalf making his first start for the province scores two tries in URC victory at Thomond Park
Young Leinster side outmuscled by physical Sharks in Durban
Exposing young players to high-level rugby will be arguably more valuable as the season unfurls despite defeat
Ulster draw with Glasgow in high-scoring URC thriller
Terrific game saw both sides reduced to 13 men at different points in Scotstoun Stadium
Why has rugby largely avoided gambling sponsorship?
Other sports are awash with money from betting companies, but rugby is a different story – for reasons that could change
Ciarán Frawley’s stunning debut try helps Connacht pull off away win over Benetton
Irish province had the kitchen sink thrown at them against a stacked Benetton team
Much-changed Munster hope new faces push them to victory at end of difficult week
Jack Aungier in for his debut while Marnus van der Merwe to make first start in home URC clash
Front-footed Ulster can cause an upset in Glasgow
Last half-hour against Edinburgh last weekend was Ulster at their dazzling best
Leinster pack must front up as Sharks will take no prisoners
Leo Cullen’s side move on to Durban after narrow opening defeat at altitude
Return of Ireland contingent just what the doctor ordered for Connacht in Treviso clash
All eyes on Ciarán Frawley as Stuart Lancaster’s men aim to bounce back from Stormers disappointment
Leinster with some improving to do against strengthened Sharks, says Cullen
Head coach taking little satisfaction from opening defeat to the Lions despite two bonus points
‘Opportunity knocks’: Ian Flanagan’s departure will intensify calls for a Munster reboot
He presided over decline on and off the pitch, the nadir being the bid to sign Roger Randle as attack coach
‘No extra pressure’ on Munster to make strong start to season at home, says Payne
Assistant coach Jared Payne focusing on green shoots in opening defeat to Glasgow
What is behind a sobering whitewash URC weekend for the Irish provinces?
Absence of international quality a clear contributor to sobering opening-round results
Connacht’s forward power to be strengthened with return of Irish internationals
All five forwards from Andy Farrell’s summer squad are in contention to play in Treviso
Leinster putting great emphasis on attack this season, says Tyler Bleyendaal
Coach has been particularly impressed with the halfback pairing of Gunne and Caspar Gabriel so far this season
Max Deegan and Harry Byrne unavailable for Leinster’s clash against Sharks
Caspar Gabriel is expected to start at outhalf after an assured display on his full first-team debut
Munster have ‘a lot to be optimistic about’, Clayton McMillan says
Although the home defeat by Glasgow was disappointing, Munster’s coach saw positives in the performance and is looking forward to the returns of injured players
Performance of Munster’s young scrumhalf Ben O’Donovan a positive from Glasgow defeat
Glasgow’s superior quality off the bench counts as home side suffer disappointing defeat
Leinster impress despite narrow Lions defeat as Fintan Gunne scores hat-trick
Young side lose by a point in South Africa but collect two precious bonus points
Munster with the greater need for positive start in URC opener against Glasgow
Warriors come to Limerick with experience and recent form on their side
Connacht fall to defeat against dominant Stormers in opening match
Irish province punished by Stormers side who wore them down with strong pack
Ulster’s late comeback not enough against Edinburgh in URC opener
Only a madcap second 40 allowed Ulster get in range after they trailed by 29 points
Chance for Leinster’s young stars to shine in URC opener against Lions
Sizeable task ahead for Irish province away in South Africa to win without strongest side
Luck of the Irish only lasted 83 minutes against Kosovo
Ireland off their game in Pristina, Lisa O’Rourke seals gold in Sofia
URC has been enriched by South African infusion, but Leinster remain the team to beat
Third successive title would be the perfect sendoff for Leo Cullen
‘You get a good spell and never look back’: Munster’s Diarmuid Kilgallen on overcoming injury
Winger has been dogged by hamstring, but is named on right for opening URC game against Glasgow
Confident Connacht ready for stern test as they welcome Stormers to Dexcom
Mack Hansen back in action as Stuart Lancaster looks to thrill home crowd
Recuperating Caelan Doris remains Leinster captain, but a doubt for Ireland’s November games
Max Deegan to lead callow side featuring three academy players for Blues’ URC opener at Lions
Ulster fighting fit as they face ailing Edinburgh in URC opener
Robert Baloucoune and James McNabney back in action for Richie Murphy’s side
Mack Hansen returns to URC action for Connacht after 11 months out
Team news: Caspar Gabriel gets the nod at outhalf for Leinster’s URC opener against the Lions
‘I’ve never played there in 18 years’: Kieran Brookes relishing Thomond Park debut
Irish-qualified prop targeting silverware with Munster as they begin URC campaign
Head coach Richie Murphy says Ulster have learned lesson from lousy end to last season
Ulster missed out on Champions Cup action for a second season after finishing ninth in the URC and losing Challenge Cup final
Gus McCarthy primed to tame the Lions as Leinster face URC opener in South Africa
Hooker has consistent exposure to the ultimate benchmarking experience for a frontrow forward
Munster forwards coach confident province has depth to endure injury-prompted outhalf shortage
Tom Wood joins Jack Crowley on the sidelines after being ruled out until new year
URC fixtures list: Leinster start campaign with a trip to South Africa
Connacht and Ulster head for South Africa in late October while Munster do so next April
Jacques Nienaber didn’t miss a beat when asked if he was in the running for Leinster job
After a swift reply on the matter, province’s senior coach turned his attention to the URC opener in Johannesburg
Deafening sound of September silence tells us where rugby has messed up
It will nearly be October when the season finally starts. Can’t we just go back to the old way?
Leinster name strong squad for season opening two-match tour to South Africa
Leo Cullen has named 15 players who took part in Ireland’s opening Nations Championship games in Australia and New Zealand
Alex Nankivell: ‘I had a real deep dive into why I behaved like I did on the pitch’
Calmer is better for ‘Cranks’ Nankivel as he enters his fourth season with Munster. Could an Ireland jersey be on the cards?
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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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