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
United Rugby Championship
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?
‘I want to win trophies’: Munster newcomer Marnus van der Merwe raring to prove his worth
South African hooker praises set-up and environment after switch from Scarlets
‘It just felt like a perfect storm was building here’: Will Connors on Connacht move
Former Leinster man relishing fresh challenge out west and fighting for Ireland place
Munster’s Clayton McMillan: ‘There were a few things that I would have had a strong opinion on’
Head coach is focusing on change, saying team must be more multidimensional to meet challenges of game
Clayton McMillan faces formidable task with Munster, with young guns key to any revival
Continuing commitment of head coach and emerging stars crucial to their chances
Connacht face demanding tests ahead but Lancaster effect bodes for improvement
Young players were given their opportunities and flourished under Stuart Lancaster’s watch last season
Ulster turn to new recruits and youthful energy in push to end trophy drought
Silverware a realistic goal, but Richie Murphy may have to get by without his Ireland contingent more often than he would like
Munster, Leinster and Connacht head to France for preseason games to test out new signings
Edinburgh-bound Ulster now include some of Richie Murphy’s former Ireland under-20s charges
Ulster and Ireland secondrow Iain Henderson to miss start of season after hip surgery
The 34-year-old also underwent hip surgeries in 2014 and 2020; Bryn Ward, Juarno Augustus and Jude Postlethwaite also underwent surgeries
‘That success fed the players’: Reggie Corrigan on pivotal 2001 Celtic League win
Former captain on Leinster’s triumph and what the future holds as new jersey recalls glory days
Matt Williams: New Zealand are planning a very public sacrificial act on rugby’s greatest altar
Eden Park could descend into a blowout if Ireland do not lift intensity and quality
Jimmy O’Brien making the most of late call-up after rediscovering his best form
Leinster man taking his opportunities in Nations Championship after injury struggles
‘There’s little moments that are pretty cool’: Prendergast brothers shine in Australia
Sam relishing chance to play alongside Cian as they soak up ‘class’ atmosphere Down Under
Jamie Osborne cements status as Ireland’s Mr Versatile with number 11 role against Australia
Andy Farrell places faith in Leinster fullback’s aerial work and left-footed kicking game for Wallabies clash
‘The senior leadership group has had to step up’: Jack Conan ‘gutted’ to lose Caelan Doris
Leinster man ‘excited’ about the atmosphere in Irish camp before Australia clash
‘I’m itching to get back into the green jersey’: Hugo Keenan relishing return to Australia
Leinster fullback puts injury woes behind him as he heads back Down Under
Matt Williams: Leo Cullen deserves a final season, but Leinster must avoid the long goodbye
Speculation over a coach’s successor can destabilise the team unless the process is handled properly
Owen Doyle: Rugby union cannot prioritise spectacle over player safety
Issue of 20-minute red card is central to future existence of the sport
‘I still made loads of errors’: Sam Prendergast sidesteps praise after redemptive performance
Outhalf turns his focus to Ireland after a fine display for Leinster in the URC Grand Final
‘An exceptional day’: Leo Cullen pleased with season after URC triumph
Caelan Doris to ‘see how it unfolds over the next 24 hours’ after picking up foot injury in win over the Bulls
Leinster run riot against Bulls to retain URC title
Leo Cullen’s side eclipse last year’s victory in front of 39,184 fans in Croke Park
Leinster win URC title against Bulls in Croke Park – as it happened
Impressive 36-7 victory for the Irish province to make it back-to-back titles in James Lowe’s final game
Leinster scrum refuses to take a backward step in face of Bulls battering
The South Africans came with a stunning set piece record but Leinster’s resolve was unyielding
Leinster player ratings: Rieko Ioane played like an All Black; the official man of the match
Rieko Ioane played like an All Black, while Sam Prendergast showed lovely range in his game
James Lowe can push Leinster to URC title and remind them what they’re about to lose
Springbok-laden Bulls will take some beating, but home advantage could tip the balance if Leinster fans get behind their team
Leinster can’t fall into the same trap that finished them off in Bilbao
The sport may be shifting to suit teams like Leinster, but there’s no substitute for efficiency in possession
Beating three South African teams on the bounce is the only response to Champions Cup loss
Tough days on the road bonded our Munster group — just like Bilbao will have gelled the Leinster lads
What to make of Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad to tour Australia and New Zealand
The Counter Ruck Podcast
Leinster v Bulls: TV details, kick-off time, team news for URC final
Everything you need to know about the URC decider at Croke Park
Leinster hoping to send departing players out with a bang in URC final
Leo Cullen makes three changes for Croke Park showdown against the Bulls
Isa Nacewa backs Nienaber system as Leinster prepare for Bulls URC final at Croke Park
Former captain Nacewa also reflects on James Lowe’s impending exit and the club’s changing identity
Andrea Piardi appointed to referee URC final between Leinster and Bulls
Croke Park decider will be the Italian official’s fourth URC decider in succession
‘We can’t be scared’: Leinster expect stern fight from raging Bulls in URC final
Injury-hit Blues face URC final against South African side with one of best scrums in the competition
Combination of entitled fans and big-stadium fatigue sees Leinster’s appeal fall sharply
URC final attendance likely to fall short of last year’s decider, which featured the same two sides
Andrew Porter ruled out of Leinster’s URC final with doubts over Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan
Loosehead prop suffered a calf injury in the first half of the URC semi-final win over the Stormers
How Deegan, Soroka and Deeny strengthened their case for bigger roles at Leinster
Consistency, resilience and versatility have helped each enhance their standing within the squad
Matt Williams: It’s truly sad a mob of Irish fans simply want to drag Leinster down
Other Ireland rugby provinces should focus on getting their acts together instead of dragging down the best in the country
Handré Pollard: ‘Jamison Gibson-Park’s kicking off nine is probably the best in the world’
The Bulls outhalf hopes for a ‘great spectacle’ in the URC Grand Final against Leinster at Croke Park
Owen Doyle: It looks like Hollie Davidson didn’t get the memo on player backchat
Referee allowed constant questioning of her decisions in the URC semi-final between Leinster and Stormers
‘Opportunistic’ Jamison Gibson-Park makes the difference for Leinster against Stormers
Scrumhalf operated like a man on the lam, looking to escape and outfox a vigilant Stormers defence
‘We want to put on a proper show’: Leo Cullen ready for ‘physical’ Bulls showdown
Leinster anticipating another special atmosphere in Croke Park for URC final
Leo Cullen pleased with how Leinster stood up to Stormers’ physicality in victory
Andrew Porter is an injury concern for the final in two weeks against Bulls
Bulls seal URC final place with comeback win over Glasgow
South African side’s power at set-pieces saw them grind down their opponents to earn revenge for an upset loss in 2024 final
Dogged Leinster hold off brave Stormers to make URC final
Jamison Gibson-Park stars as Irish province have to grind out victory against the South Africa side
Leinster face Stormers test as scrutiny lingers after European disappointment
Leo Cullen’s side seek to build on Lions victory as South Africans arrive with upset ambitions
Matt Williams: Why are Leinster being held to higher standards? Because they’re that good
Say what you like about that defeat in Bilbao – Leo Cullen’s men are still looking like a winning side
Stormers lack Sacha magic, but Jurie Matthee ready to blow Leinster away again in URC
Starting outhalf provided 20 points when South Africans hammered The Blues without reply last September
‘We’re incredibly lucky to have him. He’s a genius’: Leo Cullen backs Jacques Nienaber
After Cup loss, South African spoke on Monday of not feeling valued and feared Leinster future in doubt
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Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
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