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
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
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
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
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
Kieran Read all about staying at the topThe number eight and his side have hit new heights in the last yearThu Nov 21 2013 - 01:00
Brian O’Driscoll hopes last clash with New Zealand is the charmDespite 13 defeats, the centre is still excited to face the All BlacksWed Nov 20 2013 - 01:00
Sexton and Kearney will be given every chance face New ZealandMcFadden ruled out while O’Driscoll nurses calf problem for one last crack at the All BlacksWed Nov 20 2013 - 01:00
For Six Nations not to introduce PSCA protocal would be a dereliction of dutyHow can leaving the player on the field of play be preferable to a five-minute concussion assessment?Tue Nov 19 2013 - 12:00
McFadden hand fracture adds to Ireland’s tale of injury woeIreland are already missing three wingers – Simon Zebo, Keith Earls and Craig GilroyTue Nov 19 2013 - 07:49
Unions to meet in Dublin to draw up plans for Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge CupCompetitions will not include English clubsTue Nov 19 2013 - 01:00
Plenty of pain for Ireland and Joe Schmidt with very little gainJonathan Sexton could be out for six weeks with suspected Grade Two hamstring tearMon Nov 18 2013 - 01:02
Irish fault lines well and truly exposed by Australia’s seismic performanceScale of defeat highlights size of task facing Joe SchmidtMon Nov 18 2013 - 01:00
No matter where he plays, Seán O’Brien will have Australia at sixes and sevensHappy anywhere in the backrow, seven is nonetheless his favourite positionSat Nov 16 2013 - 01:00
Focused Irish look poised to tie faltering Wallabies downWith two attacking teams going hard at it, the home side’s defensive work will be crucialSat Nov 16 2013 - 01:00
No untouchables on Joe’s watchCoach seeks to grow the collective against one of the world powers in international rugbyFri Nov 15 2013 - 01:00
Eoin Reddan could be Joe Schmidt’s most surprising selectionCoach likely to make up to six changes to face WallabiesThu Nov 14 2013 - 01:00
Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll to line out together for first time since 2011Cian Healy, Sean O’Brien and Jonathan Sexton expected to return to starting line-upWed Nov 13 2013 - 01:03
Les Kiss can see signs that ‘good mate’ Ewen McKenzie has Australia building nicelyIreland defence coach worked with Aussie supremo for five years at the WaratahsWed Nov 13 2013 - 01:00
Wallabies’ coach with conviction and talismanic outhalf leading way back to topWith McKenzie at the helm and Cooper his chief strategist, Australia are in good handsTue Nov 12 2013 - 12:00