Leinster primed and ready to take the Bulls by the horns in URC finalLeo Cullen says Josh van der Flier and Garry Ringrose are back in selection mix for Croke Park encounterMon Jun 09 2025 - 06:00
Leinster driven by siege mentality ahead of URC showdown with BullsJack Conan admits squad also motivated by desire to give departing players winning send-offMon Jun 09 2025 - 06:00
Leinster class shines through in bruising URC semi-final that proved familiarity breeds contemptGhosts of Northampton defeat banished as Leinster’s will and skill too much for pumped-up GlasgowMon Jun 09 2025 - 06:00
Leinster should have too much for Glasgow but mental scars from Champions Cup exit still a problemMuch has changed since Leo Cullen’s team beat Warriors 52-0Sat Jun 07 2025 - 06:00
‘We’ve reached that tipping point’: More than a place in the final at stake for Leinster, says Ian MadiganFormer outhalf believes province can’t afford to sign off on another season without silverwareSat Jun 07 2025 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Talk of a breakaway rugby competition odd at such a perilous time for the sportMany believe the all-singing, all-dancing R360 has a chance but it comes at a time when rugby faces severe headwinds Fri Jun 06 2025 - 19:55
Leinster v Glasgow Warriors team news: Dan Sheehan among three changesJimmy O’Brien starts at fullback as Hugo Keenan rested due to calf injury; Tommy O’Brien returns on right wing Fri Jun 06 2025 - 12:40
Leinster and Glasgow face into URC semi-finals in contrasting headspacesThe defending URC champions have taken a familiar path to Saturday’s semi-final against Leinster and are plotting a last hurrah for departing playersFri Jun 06 2025 - 06:00
Renewed James Ryan ready for final push for URC gloryLock says Glasgow side will offer very different test to one thrashed in Champions CupWed Jun 04 2025 - 06:00
Ireland casting its net broad and wide to land winning squad for Tbilisi and LisbonWith 15 Irish players in the Lions squad, and three centurions retiring, upcoming Tests could see many players get first capTue Jun 03 2025 - 20:52
Gerry Thornley: Stuart Lancaster quite the coup for Connacht and IRFU Former England head coach signs two-year deal with ConnachtTue Jun 03 2025 - 15:39
Leinster hopeful Josh van der Flier will be fit for Glasgow clashRingrose and Tommy O’Brien will be monitored before decision for URC semi-finalTue Jun 03 2025 - 06:00
Sharks’ shameful antics against Munster betrayed the moral code that makes rugby specialJaden Hendrikse’s antics during URC shootout have been roundly criticised, apart from in South AfricaTue Jun 03 2025 - 06:00
Munster will need to dip into their reserves of emotional energy in DurbanURC quarter-final is a chance for Munster to let their hearts rule while still keeping their headsWed May 28 2025 - 06:00
Ross Molony: ‘Moving to Bath has done wonders for my career’A year after leaving Leinster, the lock has a European medal, new energy and the prospect of winning more silverware Tue May 27 2025 - 06:00
Who can challenge the dominance by French clubs of European rugby?Top 14 clubs are dominating European rugby and the end does not appear in sightTue May 27 2025 - 06:00
Noel McNamara and Bordeaux discover what doesn’t break you can make you stronger‘Everything that could go wrong went wrong’, says assistant coachMon May 26 2025 - 06:00
French flair seals Champions Cup title for Bordeaux Bègles over Northampton SaintsDamian Penaud supplied two tries for Yannick Bru’s side in CardiffSun May 25 2025 - 16:49
Gerry Thornley: Take criticism of Lions squad make-up from likes of Willie John McBride with a hefty pinch of saltOxygen shouldn’t be given to comments on the number of southern hemisphere-born players Fri May 23 2025 - 19:21
Fresh, novel pairing to Champions Cup final as Leinster wonder what might have beenGreat opportunity for moment of history for Northampton and Bordeaux in finalFri May 23 2025 - 19:00
Bordeaux Bègles armed with lessons learnt ahead of Champions Cup final against NorthamptonAttack coach Noel McNamara says French side prepared for ‘incredibly difficult’ Saints challengeFri May 23 2025 - 15:33
Joey Carbery not selected in Bordeaux Bègles matchday squad for Champions Cup finalOuthalf unlucky to miss out as French side decide on 6-2 split on the benchFri May 23 2025 - 13:39
Spirit of Garbally alive in campaign to incorporate name in new amalgamated school Campaign launched to ensure newly merged Clonfert College in Ballinasloe will retain Garbally name in its sports teams Fri May 23 2025 - 06:00
Leinster planning for Croke Park if they make it to Grand Final of URC Munster plan to bring Champions Cup match to Páirc Uí Chaoimh in DecemberThu May 22 2025 - 17:49
Are Ireland fans getting a raw deal when it comes to Six Nations fixtures? Schedule for next year’s championship shows little regard for match-going supportersMon May 19 2025 - 20:29
Ireland to open 2026 Six Nations campaign against France on a Thursday nightDecision taken to avoid clashing with Winter Olympics opening ceremonyMon May 19 2025 - 15:14
Having survived, Munster now planning to thrive as URC playoff picture becomes clearerMunster will be on the road in the quarter-finals and may be heading for South Africa depending on Saturday’s resultsSat May 17 2025 - 16:27
The inside story of how Terenure signed Carlos Spencer as a coachThe former All Black’s imminent arrival in Dublin 6w as coach is causing delight, not least among players and staffSat May 17 2025 - 06:00
Munster can fight on after battling past BenettonMunster will face Bulls or Glasgow in playoffsFri May 16 2025 - 22:45
Gerry Thornley: IRFU decision on Sevens reflects the cold, hard business of sportCutting the men’s programme is not necessarily a huge saving, although it could be around the €400,000 markFri May 16 2025 - 18:54
Munster v Benetton preview: Irish province are ever the drama kings as they take Champions Cup hopes down to the wireMusgrave Park hosts winner-takes-all shoot-out for a place in URC playoffs and next season’s CupFri May 16 2025 - 06:00
Munster stick with winning formula for vital visit of BenettonMunster team news: Peter O’Mahony and Stephen Archer both start for final home game with provinceThu May 15 2025 - 13:34
Champions Cup without Munster is ‘inconceivable’, says Craig Casey ahead of important Benetton showdownMunster's Craig Casey keen to channel disappointment of Lions omission into a match-winning performanceWed May 14 2025 - 06:00
Munster will face probably the best Benetton side that has ever set foot on an Irish ground Benetton’s core of Italian internationals is garnished with clever overseas acquisitionsTue May 13 2025 - 20:24
Results suggest Ulster and Connacht on a worrying slide Provinces miss out on United Rugby Championship playoffs with both now consigned to next season’s Challenge Cup Tue May 13 2025 - 06:00
Munster v Benetton: A sell-out crowd, an emotional farewell and a chance of a top-eight finish This is a playoff to reach the playoffs for next season’s Champions Cup as Peter O’Mahony, Stephen Archer and Conor Murray bow outMon May 12 2025 - 18:41
What Munster must do to guarantee URC playoff spot and Champions Cup rugby next seasonFive teams are in contention for the final three places in the playoffs going into the final round of games Mon May 12 2025 - 15:16
Terenure College name former All Black Carlos Spencer as new head coachFormer outhalf has signed a three-year deal with the clubSat May 10 2025 - 17:45
‘At this moment in time, we’re not good enough’: Ulster look to the future as Munster end URC hopesUlster head coach Richie Murphy believes experience will stand to his side next seasonSat May 10 2025 - 14:24
Win over Ulster a fitting Thomond Park farewell for Munster’s departing faithfulFormer captain Peter O’Mahony gave the home crowd in Limerick a try-scoring goodbySat May 10 2025 - 13:53
Peter O’Mahony scores on Thomond farewell as Munster secure bonus-point win over UlsterUlster facing a season without Champions Cup for first time in 31 yearsFri May 09 2025 - 21:53
Gerry Thornley: Lions selections cap bittersweet week for Leinster after Northampton defeatFans left wondering how team with a dozen Lions players could lose at home in Champions Cup semi-finalFri May 09 2025 - 14:52
Lions Tour 2025: The winners and losers as Andy Farrell names squadMack Hansen returns home as a Lions player but Sam Prendergast will have to bide his time Fri May 09 2025 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Ireland deserve top billing in Lions touring party to Australia With 15 players named in the 38-man squad, Ireland players lead the way on a Lions tour for the first timeThu May 08 2025 - 16:50
Lions Tour 2025: Our rugby writers select their squads to face Australia Caelan Doris’s injury is a cruel blow but Ireland’s four-year record looks set to be rewarded in Andy Farrell’s selection Wed May 07 2025 - 20:07
‘If anything, we care too much’: Josh van der Flier picking himself back up after crushing Champions Cup exitVeteran openside hopes to soften blow of Leinster’s semi-final defeat with Lions inclusionWed May 07 2025 - 06:00
RG Snyman and Linda Djougang named Leinster Players of the YearSam Prendergast and Robyn O’Connor receive Young Player of the Year awardsWed May 07 2025 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Munster and Ulster have faced each other in bigger games, but this one is a must-win for bothThe two sides could be missing from the Champions Cup next season for the first time in 31 yearsWed May 07 2025 - 06:00
‘We should have been better defensively’: Jacques Nienaber on Leinster’s shock defeat to Northampton Head coach admits questions will be asked about selection, not to mention missed tackles and concession of five tries and 37 pointsTue May 06 2025 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Leinster’s latest heartbreak in Europe shows they are human after allCullen’s men face a painful postmortem to rival that of the 2023 final when Leinster let slip a 23-7 lead against La RochelleTue May 06 2025 - 06:00
