Andrew Porter - ‘I think I probably took it harder than a lot of people’Loosehead prop says returning to Leinster after World Cup disappointment was ‘a breath of fresh air’Fri Nov 24 2023 - 06:00
Peter O’Mahony steps down as Munster captain after more than 10 yearsThere are not too many obvious alternatives to the flanker for the provinceWed Nov 22 2023 - 18:38
‘All friendships and everything will be put to the side for the few hours,’ says DorisCaelan Doris looks forward to playing Munster in the Aviva and the prospect of ‘getting stuck into Craig Casey and Jack Crowley in particular’Wed Nov 22 2023 - 06:00
Archer likely to play for Munster as O’Mahony and O’Donoghue remain a doubt with injuriesStephen Archer looks sure to break Donncha O’Callaghan’s Munster appearances record next SaturdayWed Nov 22 2023 - 06:00
Andrew Goodman explains Leinster’s more ‘traditional’ coaching ticket pending Jacques Nienaber’s arrivalKiwi coach moves from structured play to all-out attack with Nienaber responsible for the defensive portfolioTue Nov 21 2023 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Rugby authorities braced for the implications of ticking legal time bombRugby is not in denial to anything like the same level nowadays but the price must still be paid for past failures to adequately protect players’ healthTue Nov 21 2023 - 06:00
Childhood friends Calvin Nash and Shay McCarthy manning Munster’s wings in the Limerick rainNash has yet to play for Munster in the Aviva Stadium but hopes to tick that box against Leinster next weekTue Nov 21 2023 - 06:00
Leinster prepare for Munster duel without delayed Jacques NienaberSouth African coach unlikely to play much role in preparations for Saturday’s match at the AvivaMon Nov 20 2023 - 06:00
Graham Rowntree: ‘I’ve pushed us on this summer, because we can’t stand still’ Munster coach has no issue with his side having a target on their backs as they get set to face LeinsterMon Nov 20 2023 - 06:00
Munster ride out storm and Stormers’ challenge for satisfying Thomond win Rearguard action in the second half helps home side hold out for win on dreadful nightSat Nov 18 2023 - 19:28
Munster v Stormers: This could be the beginning of a beautiful rivalryURC preview: The two sides meet again at Thomond Park after Munster’s triumph last season, but this ‘grudge match’ is only a good thing for the championshipSat Nov 18 2023 - 05:00
Sharks look vulnerable but bounce required of Connacht after recent defeat South Africans prop up the table following four defeats from their four-week trek to four European countriesFri Nov 17 2023 - 20:05
O’Mahony and Beirne two of four changes in Munster side for game against StormersStephen Archer, one of the heroes of last season’s title charge, is also named among the replacements and in line to play his 268th game for MunsterFri Nov 17 2023 - 19:59
Gerry Thornley: Antoine Dupont’s switch to Sevens has political implicationsFFR’s Florian Grill’s sanction of Dupont to play Olympics over Six Nations must play well with the French governmentFri Nov 17 2023 - 17:42
Leinster welcome back raft of first-teamers for visit of ScarletsSam Prendergast makes his first start at the RDS as outhalf in the post-Johnny Sexton eraFri Nov 17 2023 - 15:13
John Ryan: ‘I’m not exactly going to be setting the world alight, but I think that I’ve added to my game’John Ryan talks about playing for Munster and about life in New Zealand playing rugby with the ChiefsThu Nov 16 2023 - 06:00
‘It ranks right up there’ - Denis Leamy values Munster’s URC title alongside European triumphsMunster defence coach wary of the Stormers individual attacking threats ahead of final rematchTue Nov 14 2023 - 17:22
Tommy O’Brien an injury doubt for Leinster’s interpros vs Munster and ConnachtIn-form wing picked up the injury during Leinster’s victory over the Dragons on SundayTue Nov 14 2023 - 14:39
Gerry Thornley: Home advantage makes all the difference in URC and Top 14 gamesA staggering 74 per cent of games were won by the home team in FranceTue Nov 14 2023 - 06:00
Connacht lose Mack Hansen and Bundee Aki to injuryWilkins delighted with impact Hanrahan is having on the teamMon Nov 13 2023 - 18:03
Possibilities of post-Sexton era on show as World Cup hangover liftsAs is customary at the end of a four-year World Cup cycle, the level of change is more acute than at any point over the previous three seasonsTue Nov 07 2023 - 06:00
How many Irish players made Gerry Thornley’s team of the Rugby World Cup? Best try, highs and lows and the most memorable quotes from France 2023Tue Oct 31 2023 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: South Africa were worthy World Cup winners, but it’s a shame about aspects of their gameSpringboks’ conservative game plan prevailed again and whatever about enjoying watching them, no one can enjoy playing against themTue Oct 31 2023 - 06:00
South Africa’s Jean Kleyn: ‘I’m just glad I’m one of the guys they thought was a warrior’Handré Pollard replaced the injured Malcolm Marx and steered them home with unerring kicking displaysMon Oct 30 2023 - 06:00
Rugby World Cup: Five things we learned from the finalSpringboks’ remarkable self-belief; Foster won’t forget; defences win World Cups; Pollard’s pivotal call-up; pride in the fall for All BlacksSun Oct 29 2023 - 16:28
South Africa show winning nous to win record fourth Rugby World CupNew Zealand run the Springboks close despite losing captain Sam Cane to a first half red cardSat Oct 28 2023 - 23:00
David Humphreys set to succeed Nucifora as IRFU’s high performance directorFormer Ulster and Ireland outhalf currently in a high profile role in English cricketSat Oct 28 2023 - 06:00
Joe Schmidt and Rassie Erasmus add some Irish rugby flavour to the World Cup finalRugby World Cup final sees matchup of two coaches with deep links to Irish rugbySat Oct 28 2023 - 06:00
Rugby World Cup: New Zealand could have last laugh in final of contrasts New Zealand v South Africa preview: Demolished by Springboks just before the tournament started, the All Blacks have the ability to complete a memorable turn-aroundSat Oct 28 2023 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Extending Bundee Aki’s contract is good business from IRFUIreland centre is playing some of the best rugby of his life and was nominated for World Player of the YearFri Oct 27 2023 - 17:58
Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand play it safe as South Africa roll dice with 7-1 bench splitManie Libbok misses out completely for Springboks, while All Blacks recall Brodie RetallickThu Oct 26 2023 - 20:02
Rugby World Cup final week failing to build expectation with France and Ireland missing Lack of French involvement leaves this weekend’s final relegated to page 22 of the local pressThu Oct 26 2023 - 06:00
Felix Jones ready to face off against former mentor Joe SchmidtFormer Ireland and Munster fullback aims to have perfect send-off with South Africa before taking up coaching role with England after World CupWed Oct 25 2023 - 17:38
‘We’ve got a pretty good plan’ - New Zealand prepared to defuse South Africa’s bomb squadAll Blacks coach Ryan full of admiration for Nche and the Springboks’ scrumWed Oct 25 2023 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Nations League and expanded World Cup should be viewed in a positive lightNew biennial international competition should also bring greater unity in the global gameTue Oct 24 2023 - 20:26
Gerry Thornley: With so much on the line, did England’s punishment fit the crime?Do we really want Rugby World Cup semi-finals to be decided by slightly subjective interpretations of complicated scrums?Tue Oct 24 2023 - 06:00
Jean Kleyn’s strange yet fulfilling rugby journey takes him to a World Cup final‘I’ll probably wake up when it’s all said and done and think: ‘was that a dream or did that actually happen’?’Mon Oct 23 2023 - 21:00
World Rugby investigating alleged racist abuse by South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambihe alleged incident occurred during the World Cup semi-final against England and was raised at the time by Tom CurryMon Oct 23 2023 - 12:06
Heavyweights South Africa and New Zealand to decide Rugby World Cup top dog South Africa captain Siya Kolisi pays glowing tribute to Leinster-bound Jacques NienaberMon Oct 23 2023 - 06:00
Rugby World Cup: Five things we learned from the semi-final weekendEngland v South Africa and New Zealand v Argentina showed Handre Pollard enjoys pressure; and Will Jordan is on course to make historyMon Oct 23 2023 - 06:00
South Africa draw on deepest reserves to snatch victory from EnglandRugby World Cup: The second semi-final assumed a kind of ugly beauty and reached an almighty crescendoSun Oct 22 2023 - 14:33
Gerry Thornley: We will never again see the like of Johnny SextonNo Ireland rugby player gave more or achieved more than the recently retired outhalfSat Oct 21 2023 - 06:00
New Zealand pummel Pumas as Rugby World Cup semi-final turns into a no-contestAll Blacks into decider in most one-sided semi-final since they beat Wales in Brisbane in 1987Fri Oct 20 2023 - 22:31
Gerry Thornley: Unpopular Borthwick has free shot to upset favourites South AfricaRugby World Cup semi-final build-up felt anticlimactic with hosts and best supported visiting side out of the tournamentFri Oct 20 2023 - 13:44
Powerful New Zealand strong favourites to reach a fifth Rugby World Cup finalAll Blacks may not have to reach the stellar heights they achieved against Ireland to overcome Argentina in the Rugby World Cup semi-finalFri Oct 20 2023 - 05:15
England’s Maro Itoje focused on his own game ahead of battle with Eben EtzebethLock’s form has been improving of late and he will be key to result in Rugby World Cup semi-finalThu Oct 19 2023 - 22:00
Cheika acknowledges Contepomi’s role in getting Argentina to World Cup semi-finalArgentina head coach says the match is a ‘great opportunity’ for his team, and ‘we’re doing everything we can to try and take it’Wed Oct 18 2023 - 22:04
Gerry Thornley: Why can’t Ireland get past the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals?More than any other Rugby World Cup exit, this one feels like a golden chance missed on so many levelsTue Oct 17 2023 - 06:00
All Black magic derails Ireland’s Rugby World Cup dreamIreland v New Zealand: Courage comes in many forms and has rarely been personified better than by astonishing 37-phase attack in overtimeMon Oct 16 2023 - 06:00
Peter O’Mahony crestfallen as tough defeat signals end of an eraPeter O'Mahony says he retains huge pride in what this Ireland team have achieved in recent yearsMon Oct 16 2023 - 06:00
