‘Beat Connacht, go deep into Europe.’ Expectations rise for Graham Rowntree at Munster helmGraham Rowntree is ambitious and philosophical about his third season as Munster’s head coach, though he admits to feeling a tad stressedSat Sept 21 2024 - 06:00
Lions intrigue and lingering heartache make Ireland-England the standout match of the campaign aheadThe URC gets more brutal every year, writes Gerry ThornleyFri Sept 20 2024 - 06:00
Rejuvenated AIL kicks off new season with Terenure seeking fourth Aviva final in a rowDomestic league features healthy smattering of former pros, club stalwarts and ambitious young playersFri Sept 20 2024 - 06:00
Rugby fixtures 2024/2025: Ireland matches and major tournament dates for the season Everything you need to know about the upcoming rugby seasonFri Sept 20 2024 - 06:00
Billy Burns gets fired up with move to Munster‘I’d maybe make mistakes in games in the past and let it affect me. Now, with age and experience, I feel like I’m a much more level person’Thu Sept 19 2024 - 06:00
Leinster go again searching for a fifth star after big-name signingsDeals for RG Snyman and Jordie Barrett look to have been made with the focus of taking that final step after many close defeatsThu Sept 19 2024 - 06:00
With less experience but plenty of X-factor, Connacht should be fun to watch this seasonQualifying for the Champions Cup is an achievable goal for ConnachtWed Sept 18 2024 - 06:00
Graham Rowntree dismisses ‘innuendos’ about Munster captaincy after confirming Tadhg Beirne’s appointmentMunster head coach addresses rumours of a falling-out with Peter O’MahonyWed Sept 18 2024 - 06:00
Simon Easterby confirmed as interim Ireland head coachAndy Farrell to begin Lions sabbatical ahead of next summer’s tour to AustraliaTue Sept 17 2024 - 16:29
Tadhg Beirne takes over as full-time Munster captain from Peter O’MahonyGraham Rowntree selects the 32-year-old Irish lock to lead province for the new seasonTue Sept 17 2024 - 13:54
Tough days await but Ireland’s women are starting to show what they can do with the right supportHead coach Scott Bemand is just one of the shrewd appointments made by the IRFU since it started backing the women’s team more effectivelyTue Sept 17 2024 - 06:00
Richie Murphy has a tough hand for his first full season at UlsterLack of depth and quality mean Ulster will have to excel to be still in contention for silverware by JanuaryTue Sept 17 2024 - 06:00
Munster’s minimum target must be to restore the Thomond Park factorDespite some shrewd signings, doubts persist about Munster’s ability to go deep in two tournamentsMon Sept 16 2024 - 06:00
Ireland women sweep Wallaroos aside in impressive performanceEye-catching performance from Scott Bemand’s side sets scene for Test against world champions New Zealand in two weeksMon Sept 16 2024 - 06:00
‘We are starting to see a bit of fruit’: Ireland’s win over Australia shows squad’s significant stridesIreland beat the Wallaroos 36-5 at Kingspan Stadium in BelfastSat Sept 14 2024 - 18:39
Ireland surprise Australia to earn 36-10 victory in BelfastEimear Considine marked her return to Test rugby with a try just before half-timeSat Sept 14 2024 - 17:13
Much-changed Ireland look to mark another reset against AustraliaIreland make seven alterations to line-up for Test in Belfast that is part of the celebrations of the IRFU’s 150th anniversaryFri Sept 13 2024 - 19:00
Four debutants named in Ireland team to face AustraliaScott Bemand’s team to face Wallaroos in Belfast on SaturdayFri Sept 13 2024 - 06:00
St Mary’s back in the big time and eager to make the right impressionNewly-promoted Division 1A side have signalled their intent by securing the services of Munster centre Dan Goggin and Ulster backrower Greg Jones for the new league campaignThu Sept 12 2024 - 20:27
Vicky Elmes Kinlan and Ruth Campbell to make Ireland Test debuts against AustraliaScott Bemand names side for Saturday’s IRFU 150th Anniversary Test in BelfastThu Sept 12 2024 - 13:20
Rugby enters new phase as Premier Sports gains blanket coverage of Irish provincesChannel will offer live coverage of all Champions Cup games involving Leinster, Munster and Ulster, plus Connacht’s Challenge Cup matchesWed Sept 11 2024 - 18:44
Return of RG Snyman and Jamison Gibson-Park to fitness an early boost for LeinsterLeo Cullen expecting to see plenty of chopping and changing in the starting Leinster team over the first six rounds of the new seasonTue Sept 10 2024 - 20:12
Gerry Thornley: Problems mounting for Australia after painful pummelling by Los PumasGerry Thornley: Joe Schmidt has a huge task in galvanising Australia for the forthcoming Bledisloe Cup matches after the historic 67-27 mauling by Felipe Contepomi’s impressive ArgentinaTue Sept 10 2024 - 06:00
URC and Premiership could learn a thing or two from Top 14French top-tier league has on and off-field buoyancy like no other league in the worldSat Sept 07 2024 - 06:00
Simon Easterby to lead Ireland’s Six Nations campaign in Farrell’s absenceExperienced assistant coach Simon Easterby will step up to the Irish head coach job as Andy Farrell takes a sabbatical at the start of 2025Wed Sept 04 2024 - 21:28
‘He’s a massive part of what we do’: Munster welcome impending return of Jean KleynLock’s forthcoming return key as seven-strong Ireland contingent will be absent for over a monthWed Sept 04 2024 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Ireland win in South Africa a reminder that Andy Farrell is a true originalIreland’s victory over Springboks in Durban after a long season was fitting reward for an authentic coachTue Jul 16 2024 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Danger of mental scarring for Leinster following latest gut-wrenching final defeatLeo Cullen’s Leinster panel could do with a URC title more than ever now after third successive Champions Cup final lossTue May 28 2024 - 06:00
Leinster evaluate loss as Toulouse celebrate victory in EuropeThis was only the third final to be decided in extra-time and as in 1996 against Cardiff in the Arms Park and 2005 against Stade Francais in Murrayfield, Toulouse emerged triumphant againMon May 27 2024 - 06:00
Like father, like son: Brennan and Ntamack emulate their fathers by winning Champions CupThe Brennans and Ntamacks are the only two father-son combinations to achieve the feat in its 29-year historyMon May 27 2024 - 06:00
Leo Cullen: ‘Everyone’s devastated in there now, they poured a hell of a lot into it’Leinster head coach and senior players confident they can rebound from their latest Champions Cup final defeatSat May 25 2024 - 20:31
Leinster fall at the final hurdle again as Toulouse take sixth Champions Cup titleAntoine Dupont was the difference between the sides as French side prevail after extra-timeSat May 25 2024 - 18:20
Champions Cup: Serial winners Leinster and Toulouse a double act with a difference Province edges head-to-head eight to six, but have since added two more semi-final wins at the Aviva in last two seasonsSat May 25 2024 - 06:00
Leinster v Toulouse preview: Using recent Champions Cup hurt as motivation will be inevitable for LeinsterNo match-up in club rugby could provide such a clash of scrum-halves and hookersSat May 25 2024 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Once again the Champions Cup final rescues the tournamentTeams such as the Bulls fielding weakened sides has harmed competitive balance while the jury is still out on South Africa’s participationFri May 24 2024 - 17:05
Leinster v Toulouse: Cullen calls for bench impact with Ryan, Conan and van der Flier among the replacementsLeinster opt for a 6-2 forward split on the bench, as Ciarán Frawley is preferred to Jimmy O’BrienFri May 24 2024 - 14:45
Champions Cup: Leinster lock Joe McCarthy looks forward to playing key role against ToulouseNo longer a fringe player, the 23-year-old says this season’s progress to the Champions Cup final ‘means a little more’Fri May 24 2024 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Leinster ponder Champions Cup selection calls as Will Connors pushes for starting berthHugo Keenan and James Ryan both set to feature after recovering from injury while Garry Ringrose looks likely to miss outThu May 23 2024 - 20:30
Bundee Aki named Ireland men’s players’ player of the yearAoife Wafer doubles up as women players’ player of the year and women’s young player of the yearWed May 22 2024 - 21:09
Leinster’s Ross Byrne: ‘You watch those games as a kid and that’s all you want to do, you want to play in them’As Leinster face Toulouse in the Champions Cup final, Byrne is mindful that not every player will get a start, but all will have made a contributionWed May 22 2024 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Simon Zebo was one of rugby’s great entertainersThe 34-year-old has announced that he will call time on his career at the end of the seasonTue May 21 2024 - 16:01
Champions Cup final: Leinster ready for ‘difficult conversations’ before taking on ToulouseSuccessful returns of James Ryan, Hugo Keenan and Will Connors enrich options for Champions Cup finalTue May 21 2024 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Leinster have become victims of their own successAmid their magnificent obsession with another Champions Cup triumph, Leinster have, to a degree, become victims of their own successTue May 21 2024 - 06:00
Connacht look to sign Sam Prendergast on loan from LeinsterOuthalf depth an issue for Connacht after JJ Hanrahan suffered an ACL injury last monthTue May 21 2024 - 01:00
Leinster trio available for Champions Cup final as Ringrose continues to be assessedJames Ryan, Hugo Keenan and Will Connors came through Ulster match without issueMon May 20 2024 - 16:51
For James Ryan it was still good to be back after being defeated by UlsterRyan last played off the bench in Ireland’s third round Six Nations win over Wales before damaging his bicep in trainingMon May 20 2024 - 06:00
John Cooney’s final say completes notable double for Ulster over Leinsterulster seal their place in the top eight and the playoffs as Leinster welcome back James Ryan and Hugh Keenan to competitive action ahead of Champions Cup finalMon May 20 2024 - 06:00
John Cooney seals thrilling Ulster win over Leinster to secure URC playoff spot Scrumhalf’s 79th-minute penalty was roared over by a capacity crowd in Belfast in final home game of the seasonSat May 18 2024 - 22:12
Gerry Thornley: Giving the Aviva Stadium to Uefa for five weeks is patently ridiculousAs rugby competes with concert season - not to mind the Europa League final - the sport is battling to hold onto its own venuesFri May 17 2024 - 19:44
Home advantage could tilt things Ulster’s way as Leinster rotate ahead of Toulouse finalJames Ryan and Hugo Keenan return from injury but no starters from the side which beat Northampton will be first choice in BelfastFri May 17 2024 - 13:31
