‘My mother probably has the rosary beads swallowed’: Top sports quotes of 2025
From Troy Parrott to Ellen Walshe, here are the year’s memorable sporting quotes of the year
Ireland Rugby
Read all of our stories related to the Ireland men's rugby team
Gordon D’Arcy: Picking provincial teams should be based on merit rather than reputation
Getting dropped by Michael Cheika in 2009 proved to be a powerful motivational tool for me
Edwin Edogbo ready to make stamp on Munster after overcoming injury woes
Irish lock on his pride for Cobh and changing focus from tennis to rugby
Tommy O’Brien enjoying new sense of freedom since removing self-imposed shackles
Leinster wing hoping to keep up fine run of form in Champions Cup clash against Leicester Tigers
Craig Casey signs two-year extension to remain at Munster until at 2028 at least
26-year-old scrumhalf has made 104 appearances for the province and won 24 Ireland caps
‘The games you dream of playing’: Munster’s Tom Farrell on his roundabout way to the top
The centre discusses Munster’s Champions Cup clash with Bath and his long route to Ireland caps
Andy Farrell: ‘We’re always open-minded to do the right thing by the squad’
Caelan Doris refutes the idea that past World Cups increasingly weigh on successive Irish sides
‘It’s already started, believe me’ – Andy Farrell admits Ireland’s World Cup preparations are under way
That Ireland were drawn against Scotland once again drew a wry smile from the head coach
2027 Rugby World Cup: Kind draw gives Ireland a glimpse of route through tournament
Ireland to face Scotland in a third successive World Cup but Portugal and Uruguay provide some novelty
Rugby World Cup draw: Ireland get Scotland, Uruguay and Portugal – As it happened
Hosts Australia are drawn with three time champions, New Zealand
2027 Rugby World Cup: Team by team analysis of Ireland’s Pool D opponents
Ireland will be meeting Scotland for the third straight time in the pool stages while they will face Uruguay and Portugal for the first time
Ireland drawn in Rugby World Cup group with Scotland, Uruguay and Portugal
Expanded draw includes 24 teams with tournament starting on October 1st, 2027
Gerry Thornley: Who Ireland might wish to avoid in the Rugby World Cup pool draw
The draw to determine the make-up of the tournament’s six pools will be held in Sydney on Wednesday
Scrums for dummies: What goes on in there and why Ireland needn’t panic after Springbok ordeal
Former Ireland tighthead Mike Ross talks us through the finer details of the scrum as well as the ‘PR campaign’ against Andrew Porter and lessons from the loss to South Africa
Malachy Clerkin: Scrums are like Finnegans Wake – you either haven’t a clue or you spoof that you do
Rugby needs to do so much more to enlighten a baffled public as to why a retreating scrum concedes so many penalties
Ulster determined to get back to winning ways against Benetton
Nick Timoney, Iain Henderson and Jacob Stockdale all available for selection
South Africa ‘up a level’ across all areas of the game, says Garry Ringrose
Ireland centre didn’t enjoy losing the two games he started in the Autumn Series
Hugo Keenan says he has been battling hip injury for almost 18 months
Fullback hopes to be back in time for the Six Nations after surgery
James Ryan to miss Leinster’s Champions Cup opener through suspension
Secondrow handed three-match ban for red card against South Africa
Rugby World Cup draw: When is it, what will it decide, and who might Ireland face?
Draw to determine World Cup pools will be held on Wednesday, December 3rd
‘Fight, problem-solving, guts’: Johnny Sexton hails Ireland’s response in Springboks clash
Loss of players and chaotic first half on Saturday made for severe test of team and coaches
Gordon D’Arcy: Ireland’s loss against South Africa highlighted one of our biggest problems
Saturday’s defeat to the Springboks highlighted Ireland’s lack of squad depth
Gerry Thornley: What autumn internationals tell us about each contender ahead of World Cup draw
Chasing pack will be hoping reigning champions peaked too early
Tadhg Beirne named in World Rugby team of the year
South Africa dominate team with Beirne being Ireland’s only representative
Tadhg Beirne believes Ireland will benefit from facing ‘gold standard’ Springboks scrum
Despite disappointment of defeat, Munster player feels national team is heading in the right direction
Ireland’s 50% win rate in Autumn Nations Series is not where Andy Farrell wants or needs to be
There were positives, but head coach only has a little over two months until Six Nations starts
Ryan Baird and Jamie Osborne are doubts for Six Nations with long-term injuries
Joe McCarthy enters final stages of rehab for foot injury
Owen Doyle: Ireland v South Africa was a poisonous match, but don’t blame the referee
If Aviva Stadium debacle doesn’t convince World Rugby to fix the sport, nothing will
Farrell determined to maintain upbeat tone despite South Africa defeat
One ventures Andy Farrell is privately more worried than he lets on, and so must be the scrum coach John Fogarty
‘We kept fighting, even down to 12’: Bundee Aki says Springboks battle will stand to Ireland
Jack Crowley echoed Connacht veteran’s sentiments following war of attrition against world champions
Ireland show heroic defiance in face of ferocious pummelling from Springboks
Ireland reduced to 12 for a spell as referee Matthew Carley features prominently
John O’Sullivan: World Rugby may as well put the sport in the bin after Saturday’s farce
Matthew Carley showed seven yellow cards on Saturday, with one upgraded and one rescinded, but there probably should have been more
Too many bums on seats in Irish sinbin leaves commentators in counting chaos
Donal Lenihan found himself in need of an abacus for much of Saturday’s game at the Aviva
‘Like the terminator, they refused to die’: South African media reacts to Springboks’ win over Ireland
World champions’ dominant display draws praise but visiting media credit Ireland’s dogged resistance in defeat
Ireland must address crux of scrum issues – Five things we learned from this weekend’s action
Ill-discipline hindered Ireland against the Springboks, but their admirable collective spirit offered some solace
Andy Farrell draws positives from spirited Ireland in ‘chaotic’ South Africa defeat
‘I’m proud of the fight, the courage, the character that we showed at times,’ says Caelan Doris
Rassie Erasmus praises South Africa’s dominant scrum after ‘sweet’ win over Ireland
Head coach said he was giving travelling fans the thumbs up at the end of the game
Only Ireland’s courage saved them from a scoreboard thrashing against South Africa
Ireland broke the law to survive but by breaking the law they had no chance of survival
Ireland v South Africa: Battling Irish side beaten by Springboks – As it happened
Three yellow cards and a red card for Ireland in first half as they could not deal with South African physicality
Ireland’s indiscipline was hugely damaging against the Springboks
Given the heroic closing stages, Andy Farrell will wonder the cost of energy-sapping first half
Ireland player ratings v South Africa: James Ryan’s red card costs team
Mack Hansen and Caelan Doris among those who impressed in difficult circumstances
Ireland v South Africa: Springbok juggernaut may be too powerful to stop
The latest instalment in Ireland’s rivalry with all-conquering Springboks will surely ignite the Aviva
Matt Williams: The mighty Springboks have one weakness that Ireland can try to exploit
Despite South Africa’s silky running skills, the heart of this side’s attack remains their pack
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu: Springbok prodigy has a chance to hit the next level at Aviva
Rassie Erasmus wants to see how the talented 23-year-old outhalf handles the cauldron of a Test against Ireland
Caelan Doris: ‘Momentum has been built, and we want to finish on a proper high’
Irish captain believes Saturday’s final Test match of the year will define the side’s November campaign
Conor Murray: Rassie Erasmus will try to ‘beat the s**te’ out of Ireland. But we can win
Visitors at the end of a long season, while Ireland are rediscovering that winning groove after putting 46 points on the Wallabies
Ireland’s improving lineout statistics bode well for South Africa Test match
Setpiece in 2025 running at 89.1%, which is higher than the 85.9% of world champions, the Springboks
Andy Farrell comes to Sam Prendergast’s defence as he highlights outhalf’s qualities
‘I think Sam’s ability as a flyhalf far outweighs a work-on within his game’
Springboks seeing red over recent red cards – and it’s an eyesore for spectators too
Confusing and bewildering rules around tackling have become hugely consequential for the game
Of all the epic confrontations this autumn, Ireland v Springboks will be the monster clash
South Africa are dominating the global game, but they need to avoid red cards if they’re going to beat Andy Farrell’s men
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices