Matt O’Connor feels positive ahead of Castres’ challengeLeinster head coach refuses to dwell on bad luck and expects his side to deliver in FranceFri Jan 10 2014 - 01:00
Tough task awaits Leinster as Castres wait in the long grassFrench champions’ home form augers well for durable outfit to continue punching above weightThu Jan 09 2014 - 01:08
IRB says emphatic no to British and Irish CupGame’s global governing body will not support any cross-border event not approved by respective UnionsThu Jan 09 2014 - 01:00
More work to be done for Irish provinces in climax to Heineken Cup’s pool stagesLeinster, Munster and Ulster well placed to qualify but two more wins apiece required for home quartersWed Jan 08 2014 - 01:00
TMOs were supposed to make life easier for referees, not harderThe men in the middle are losing faith in their own eyes thanks to the power of replaysTue Jan 07 2014 - 12:00
Connacht’s Pat Lam ‘gutted’ to let another game slip away against LeinsterLeinster move up to second in Pro12 table, with Munster and Ulster in first and fourthMon Jan 06 2014 - 01:00
Leinster emerge from Connacht scrap with clean bill of health and many positivesWhile hardly setting the world alight, Matt O’Connor believes his side will benefit from the blow-outMon Jan 06 2014 - 01:00
Leinster stars to outshine Connacht’s youngstersVisitors recall experienced men to face a callow line-upSat Jan 04 2014 - 01:00
Here’s looking forward to the best Super Duper year everIrish Times rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley has a whimsical look at what the next year holds for players, clubs and countriesTue Dec 31 2013 - 01:00
Heartbreaking last-minute defeat to All Blacks ranks as the one that got away in 2013Women’s Grand Slam and Leinster’s double helped make it by no means a dud year for Irish rugbyTue Dec 24 2013 - 11:33
Stage is set for major encores as four Irish provinces go into a big day of Heineken Cup actionLeinster and Connacht hope for home comforts while Munster and Ulster travel in hope and expectationMon Dec 23 2013 - 18:50
Mediator to assist latest talks on the future of European club rugbyRenewed resolve apparent to try to in some way broker an agreement with English clubs’ umbrella bodyThu Dec 19 2013 - 01:00
Munster again get most favourable Heineken Cup schedule of Irish teamsLeinster disadvantaged by five-day turnaround and being first to play in final roundThu Dec 19 2013 - 01:00
Can’t help feeling English boycott of the Heineken Cup will harm England most of alllThe evidence of this weekend’s games alone gives the lie to the criticisms of this great competitionTue Dec 17 2013 - 12:00
Connacht must regroup and prepare for less glamorous fixturesCaptain Craig Clarke thrilled by level of support for visit of ToulouseMon Dec 16 2013 - 01:00
European Cup run by Six Nations is a non-runnerWhile concessions have been made, still no progress on tournament governanceMon Dec 16 2013 - 01:00
The real Toulouse turn up at The Sportsground and make amendsDebilitating virus ensures Connacht are no match for French opponentsMon Dec 16 2013 - 01:00
Toulouse get it right against ConnachtFrench side record their first bonus point in four attempts over ConnachtSat Dec 14 2013 - 20:33
Connacht need to be at full throttle as Toulouse look for revengeTiming could hardly be worse as flu hits squadSat Dec 14 2013 - 01:00
Buying into Connacht way of doing thingsNew Zealand’s loss is turning out to be Connacht’s gain as Craig Clarke settles in nicelySat Dec 14 2013 - 01:00
Ulster have creativity to secure bonus-point victory over TrevisoDan Tuohy makes his 100th appearance for province and John Afoa his 50thSat Dec 14 2013 - 01:00
Four provinces go into a big day of Heineken Cup actionLeinster and Connacht hope for home comforts while Munster and Ulster travel in hope and expectationSat Dec 14 2013 - 00:03
Perpignan president complains to ERC over referee in Munster gamePeter Stringer is set to make 100 appearances in European competitionsFri Dec 13 2013 - 01:00
Nothing to lose for Connacht as Pat Lam looks for a repeat performance against ToulouseWin in France has created a real opportunity for Connacht this SaturdayWed Dec 11 2013 - 01:00
Robbie Henshaw living the dream with ‘team I was born and bred into’A ‘fired-up’ Toulouse expected to bring more physicality and intensityWed Dec 11 2013 - 01:00
Rugby family has shameful past in propping up apartheid regimeNelson Mandela utilised the Springboks as a means of unity for the Rainbow NationTue Dec 10 2013 - 12:00
Munster anxiously awaiting news on Conor Murray’s injuryCloud hangs over scrumhalf’s involvement in festive programme as well as concluding pool games in Heineken CupTue Dec 10 2013 - 01:00
Lam’s lions the ones doing the slaughtering in Toulouse’s denConnacht’s seismic Heineken cup Pool 3 victory over four-time winners one for the agesMon Dec 09 2013 - 08:46
Job done for Munster but plenty of room for improvement in return tieInjury to Conor Murray a concern but misfiring lineout is the biggest worryMon Dec 09 2013 - 01:00
Provinces face into critical back-to-back weekendsMake-or-break, head-to-head, back-to-back . . . it's the usual heady fare as Heineken Cup returnsSat Dec 07 2013 - 01:09
Munster find themselves in familiar must-win Thomond terrainPenney wary of robust, “massive” Perpignan sideSat Dec 07 2013 - 01:01
Ian Keatley slowly emerging from the shadow of a legendMunster outhalf knows he has a hard act to follow in Ronan O’GaraSat Dec 07 2013 - 01:00
Heineken Cup could face boycott by English clubsPremiership Rugby statement makes clear kernel of the matter has always been about powerFri Dec 06 2013 - 01:00
Intense nature of back-to-back Heineken Cup ties will prove pivotalNorthampton host Leinster on Saturday for a reprisal of their memorable 2011 finalThu Dec 05 2013 - 01:00
Rob Penney in happy place as Munster are ‘masters of our own destiny’Coach confirmed he was in discussions about a new contract at MunsterThu Dec 05 2013 - 01:00
Tommy Bowe sidelined for up to six weeks with groin injuryMunster have also been hit by injuries for their back-to-back matches against PerpignanWed Dec 04 2013 - 01:00
Return of Johann Muller and Ruan Pienaar offsets loss of Tommy Bowe and Rory BestAnscombe wary of Italian opposition for what he calls a ‘must win’ gameWed Dec 04 2013 - 01:00
Leinster face losing Martin Moore as French and English clubs circlePromising tighthead prop has attracted interest from Racing Metro, Castres and ExeterTue Dec 03 2013 - 01:00
Southern heavyweights still rule the roostOne win out of a dozen matches underlines the customary gapTue Dec 03 2013 - 01:00
From ‘perfect start’ to darkest finaleMinutes away from an historic triumph – then all Ireland’s good work came to noughtSat Nov 30 2013 - 01:01
ERC-run Heineken Cup to go ahead next seasonAnglo-French plan for breakaway European club competition looks in tattersFri Nov 29 2013 - 01:00
Sunday’s narrow loss to best team in world showed anything is possibleNigel Owens a key figure in a classic contest and another dramatic endgameTue Nov 26 2013 - 01:00
Irish hearts broken by All Blacks’ last gaspIreland’s epic performance goes unrewarded in a remarkable gameMon Nov 25 2013 - 01:02
Famous victory turns to sickening defeat as Ireland are caught at the death by the All BlacksLast second try and twice taken conversion allow New Zealand to snatch a winMon Nov 25 2013 - 01:00
History suggests Ireland facing a glorious defeatOne chink of light may be that The All Blacks are showing signs of wearinessSun Nov 24 2013 - 13:09
All Blacks beatable - but Ireland may tackle a glorious defeatShould players even show up? Well, of course they should, for every team is beatableSat Nov 23 2013 - 01:00
Easy part over as Conor Murray gets set for the hard work after an impressive start to his careerIreland’s scrum-half is eager for the game against the All Blacks to beginSat Nov 23 2013 - 01:00
Five Unions resolve to press ahead with a pan-European tournament next seasonIt’s clearly a statement of intent in their resolution to retain governance of European club rugbyFri Nov 22 2013 - 01:00
Sexton and O’Driscoll on track to startBulk of the side beaten by Australia are set to be given a shot at redemptionFri Nov 22 2013 - 01:00
