James Ryan eyes ninth Six Nations campaign with focus on French challenge
Ryan highlights defence, concentration and set-piece focus as keys against unpredictable French side
Leinster Rugby
Scott Penny grabs hat-trick as experimental Leinster beat Edinburgh
Impressive bonus point win for Leinster in Dublin despite missing Irish international contingent
Caelan Doris: ‘Therapy opened a can of worms for me. I didn’t know what I was going to find’
A series of concussions forced Ireland rugby captain Caelan Doris to confront anxiety, emotional repression and inherited trauma. What followed was a reckoning that changed how he lives, leads and listens
Leinster face tall task against Edinburgh without international contingent
Eleven of Leinster’s matchday 23 have fewer than 10 caps
Bundee Aki’s hope for a World Cup finale hang in the balance after four-week suspension confirmed
Most popular Ireland player of the last decade will face uphill battle to make it back into side for final two games of Six Nations
Bundee Aki handed four-week suspension after being axed from Ireland’s Six Nations squad
Independent Disciplinary Committee hand down six-week ban following hearing but suspend two weeks for two years
The ‘meteoric rise’ of Billy Bohan from Connacht academy to Ireland Six Nations squad
Injuries to Irish frontrowers have opened the door for Bohan to earn a senior international debut
Opportunity knocks for Leinster props to stake claim for selection amid injury crisis
Jerry Cahir and Alex Usanov in contention after Jack Boyle got injured against Connacht
Should Irish players have been wrapped in cotton wool ahead of the Six Nations?
The Counter Ruck Podcast
‘Just an accident’: Antoine Dupont bears no ill will towards Ireland pair over knee injury
France captain tore his ACL when the sides met in last year’s Six Nations
Connacht’s Billy Bohan called up to Ireland squad for Portugal training camp, Jack Boyle ruled out
Leinster loosehead picked up a leg injury during Leinster’s URC win over Connacht
‘It didn’t look great’ - Jack Boyle leg injury a concern for Leinster and Ireland
Loosehead prop suffers lower leg injury in Leinster’s win over Connacht in Galway
‘The energy was huge’: Stuart Lancaster taking positives from Connacht defeat to Leinster
Rousing interpro marks official opening of new Clan Stand at Dexcom Stadium
Gerry Thornley: Counterintuitively, Connacht may be the biggest winners in URC TV deal
Westerners have potential to draw more viewers due higher number of games being shown on TG4
Connacht welcome Leinster to revamped Dexcom Stadium for enticing URC clash
James Lowe returns for strong Leinster team in front of its brand new Clan Stand and a record attendance for a rugby match in Galway
Cian Prendergast: ‘It’s a privilege to compete with your brother at the highest level’
The Connacht captain will lead out his team to face Leinster in front of a record crowd for a rugby match in Galway
Leinster’s European showdown with Edinburgh to take place on Easter Sunday
In Challenge Cup, Connacht will face Sharks on Friday night while Munster have early Saturday kick-off
Gordon D’Arcy: Champions Cup exit brings Munster close to a mini-crisis
Clayton McMillan’s squad should take a little inspiration from the way Ulster are currently playing the game
‘He is playing great rugby’: Luke McGrath on team-mate Harry Byrne’s Six Nations hopes
Veteran Leinster No.9 believes fellow Blues player ‘can definitely get into the mix’
Picking Harry Byrne would be a disrupting selection, perfect for what Ireland needs
Leinster No.10’s form is giving Andy Farrell plenty to think about before he names his Six Nations squad
Jacques Nienaber hails rapid rise of Leinster breakout star Joshua Kenny
The Leinster winger has quickly put himself in contention for selection in Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad
Leinster to face Edinburgh in Champions Cup last 16
Ulster, Connacht and Munster learn Challenge Cup Round of 16 opponents
Leinster enter knockout stages with a crucial box ticked for the first time in years
Victory over Bayonne provided further evidence of province’s ability to win tight battles
‘Teams are dropping at different stages, we’re managing to get wins’: Leo Cullen credits Leinster resolve against Bayonne
Leinster come good after the break at trying Stade Jean Dauger
Injury concerns for Leinster after Bayonne victory
Tommy O’Brien and Robbie Henshaw among early departures in final Champions Cup pool game
Bayonne 13 Leinster 22: Leinster win with late show in Champions Cup clash – as it happened
Away wins sees Leinster top Pool 3
Leinster resilience finds a way at Bayonne fortress
Leo Cullen’s side ground out a win at the Stade Jean Dauger to top Pool 3
Leinster can get valuable win if they conquer French rugby’s ultimate fortress
Bayonne are already out of contention, but will relish facing celebrated opposition in front of their fans
‘We want to play this team’: Bayonne players relishing visit of ‘outstanding’ Leinster
But French side know their next Top 14 game is higher priority than Champions Cup fixture
Matt Williams: If Leinster can fix one glaring defensive flaw, they will be unstoppable
They have the quality to win the Champions Cup but need to have open and honest discussions about their defence
Harry Byrne to start at 10 for Leinster against Bayonne, Craig Casey fit for Munster
Garry Ringrose, Jimmy O’Brien and RG Snyman return from injury for final Champions Cup pool clash
Provinces face final pool games in Champions, Challenge Cup: TV details, permutations and team news
Four provinces in action on Saturday, with only Leinster on the road
Jamison Gibson-Park: My speed and fitness are ‘better now than in my mid-20s, definitely’
With ‘freakish’ speed and fitness levels, Gibson-Park remains the heartbeat of the Leinster and Ireland teams
The Jacques Nienaber conundrum: What’s going on with Leinster’s defence?
A fascinating dynamic is at work in the province’s Champions Cup campaign as more and more opponents find ways to exploit Leinster’s imperfections
Joe McCarthy ‘gutted’ for brother Paddy after ‘significant’ injury in Leinster-La Rochelle classic
Leinster’s match away to Bayonne should prove `ideal preparation’ for Ireland’s Six Nations opener in France
Leinster lack edge, and no ‘pity party’ for Munster
Ulster have been the most consistent Irish province this season, says Gordon D’Arcy
Gordon D’Arcy: Leinster’s lacklustre performances raise questions ahead of Six Nations
As the season progresses, the scope for missteps narrows quickly
Champions Cup pool permutations: Format may be flawed but stakes are high this weekend
Leinster can top pool with Bayonne victory on Saturday but Munster are in win-or-bust territory against Castres
Signs are ominous for Leinster opponents after attack hit top gear in La Rochelle thriller
Coach Tyler Bleyendaal placed an emphasis on the team’s ‘much improved’ output in transitions
Injuries to Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy leave Ireland stretched for Paris clash
The Leinster duo will not be available for the Six Nations opener at Stade de France
Owen Doyle: Munster have good reason to feel wronged after shocking call decided defeat
Referee Karl Dickson broke the unwritten rule of not letting the whistle decide the outcome of a game
Ringrose, Snyman, Furlong and Jimmy O’Brien back for Leinster for Bayonne clash
Paddy McCarthy out with ‘significant knee injury’
Munster face crunch Champions Cup duel with Castres while Leinster eye top-four seeding
Clayton McMillan’s team must beat French visitors at Thomond Park on Saturday to reach knockout stages
Leinster’s habit of finding a way to win pleases captain Caelan Doris
Doris says epic win over La Rochelle will stand to team later in Champions Cup
Leinster beat La Rochelle in classic thanks to Harry Byrne’s late kick
An unforgettable climax to a pulsating Champions Cup game between two great rivals
‘I just said to Caelan I want it’: Leinster’s Harry Byrne on nailing match-winning kick
Leo Cullen pleased with how Leinster dug deep against La Rochelle
Leinster 25 La Rochelle 24 as it happened: Harry Byrne snatches victory with last gasp penalty
Follow all the action as Leinster face their European rivals in Dublin
Matt Williams: Leinster’s clash with La Rochelle has big implications for next month’s Six Nations
Leo Cullen’s team have been effective in winning six on the spin, but they must find new levels against La Rochelle
Suddenly, Leinster look a little short on firepower for La Rochelle grudge match
Leo Cullen fields sprinkling of youngsters and fringe players as province targets latest defeat of French rivals
‘There are a few Leinster crybabies in my inbox’: Simon Zebo embraces punditry
As Munster face Toulon, he recalls his pivotal try last time and talks on bringing his larger-than-life presence to TV
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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