How Sam Prendergast’s tee illustrates wider debate within world of kicking
Sam Prendergast now uses a telescopic tee, one that elevates the ball with a forward tilt. But why did he change?
Rugby
Eve Higgins: ‘We haven’t played in big crowds full of Irish people. It’s going to be special’
The Ireland centre, who is a criminology graduate, hopes to unlock Scotland’s defence when they meet in Dublin on Sunday
Connacht expect ‘huge battle’ against Edinburgh in final-round URC match
Edinburgh’s ‘motivation will be huge to finish the season on a high’, says Connacht’s Cullie Tucker
Owen Doyle: Ulster fans booed the referee, but he got the penalty try decision right
Nathan Doak’s collision with Stomers’ Leolin Zas did not have great force, but it was to the head
Robyn O’Connor passing Ireland test with flying colours in Women’s Six Nations
Student relishing time in Scott Bemand’s set-up as Irish look for big performance against Wales
Conor Murray: Leinster Rugby deserves more than social media cynicism
Leo Cullen’s frustration is visible, but the consistency of this Leinster era deserves more than social media cynicism
Ulster turn focus to league as they look to stay in the hunt for playoff place
Tight and tense occasion beckons in URC against table-topping Stormers
‘We want to be a really hard group to get into’ - Bemand names Irish team for Wales clash
Eve Higgins returning at centre as coach looks for strong finish to Women’s Six Nations campaign
Women in sport deserve more and better coverage
Plenty of events, such as Champions League semi-final, merit reporting in newspaper
Owen Doyle: End of TV director controlling what is shown on replay cannot come soon enough
Failure to show dangerous head contact on Alfie Barbeary meant Bordeaux culprit escaped possible red card
Conor Murray: Leinster players need to channel Twickenham win to see off Toulon and make final
Two provinces in European finals would confirm a great season for Irish rugby
Brain injury in sport is out of control, and getting worse, writes a neurologist
‘Bodies were put on the line’ . . . This now fully glorified gladiatorial contest is what rugby has become
Paul O’Connell: ‘I see little difference between a Limerick rugby player and one from a Dublin private school’
Former Ireland, Munster and Lions captain Paul O’Connell talks to Róisín Ingle about how his life still revolves around rugby 10 years after retirement, his love of golf and the difficulties with Munster
UCD and rivals Trinity prepare to do battle for AIL top-flight status
Thousands expected at UCD Bowl to see ‘colours match’ promotion/relegation decider
Conor Murray: Win over Ulster can help Munster redefine their troubled season
URC clash could alter picture of entire campaign for both provinces and their players
Clontarf’s Daniel Hawkshaw looks for redemption in AIL final against St Mary’s
Unused in 2022 final and released by Connacht last year, centre is now regular starter for ’Tarf
Ex-rugby international Kathryn Dane: ‘I got exposed to concussions from a pretty young age’
Benefits of the game ‘far outweigh the risk of concussion in my mind, especially the social benefits of playing a sport like rugby’
How women’s concussions differ biologically from men’s
Neck muscles, brain microarchitecture and the menstrual cycle are factors in why the genders suffer and recover from concussion differently
Conor Murray: Noel McNamara coaches Europe’s best attack – the IRFU could benefit some day
Coaches such as McNamara, Ronan O’Gara and Felix Jones should be top of the list whenever Irish provinces are hiring
Roger Randle fallout raises serious questions over governance of Munster
Roger Randle’s appointment as attack coach has led to disquiet and three resignations
Owen Doyle: Someone needs to have a word with some of these referees – and their critics
The great official Francis Palmade showed how it should be done, with help from Marcel Marceau
Conor Murray: Ireland’s nines and tens are quickly adding up as depth continues to grow
Nathan Doak has taken his opportunity with a buoyant Ulster side and is one of a fine stock of young halfbacks
‘He was back on in five minutes’: The former Munster captain now suffering with dementia
Dementia came early for Donal Canniffe, who played for Ireland, but deterioration has been ‘extremely slow’, says his wife Mary
‘My worst money habit is buying overpriced coffee almost every day’
Me & My Money: Béibhinn Parsons, Ireland women’s rugby international shares her spending habits
Conor Murray: Munster players should be focused on Exeter, not worrying about job losses
Team has been left to shoulder an unfair burden ahead of Challenge cup encounter
‘You’re trying to use all these few percenters’: Hugo Keenan on time well spent in a hyperbaric chamber
Finally back from injury, fullback is ready to go for Leinster’s Champions Cup knockout clash against Edinburgh
Stakes are high for all four provinces as they seek to define their season
Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht sit within seven points and six places of one other in URC table
Dublin’s spoofers? Rugby fans and Bloomsday experts
Something that makes not an ounce of sense to anyone – least of all themselves
‘Leaky’ brain barrier a key link between head trauma and brain disease, study finds
Sport related concussion has been linked to rugby, boxing, soccer and MMA, among others
‘It should be a fantastic game’: Ireland can beat Scotland in quest for Six Nations glory
Andy Farrell’s buoyant side face potent opponents in tournament showdown for Triple Crown and more
‘I was six when I decided I wanted to play rugby for Ireland... Beating New Zealand was the stuff you dream of’
Aoife Wafer on what’s it like to beat New Zealand, and the heartbreak of losing to France last year
Ireland show resolve in defence and attack to secure hard-fought win over Wales
Andy Farrell’s men hold out for bonus-point victory at the Aviva
Judge throws out rugby club challenge in Foxrock playing fields row
Claim that valuable five-acre site was bought in trust is not supported by evidence, High Court rules
Matt Williams: After that win at Twickenham, a few home truths about Ireland
The players overcame the seemingly insurmountable, but supporters need to come back to earth
‘Seeing them wear the green jersey is what we want’: Munster’s Six Nations players praised
Time spent on international duty can only improve their game, forwards coach Alex Codling says
State considers accepting gift of shuttered Limerick rugby space to open women’s museum
Limerick City and County Council rejected offer from JP McManus on property and payment of €1.2m to cover projected losses
‘Worse than trying to get Taylor Swift tickets’: Fans’ fury at Rugby World Cup seat presale
Supporters faced long waits to buy for tickets online for tournament or were kicked out the system
‘This is the right time’: Farrell puts faith in much-changed Ireland team to see off Italy
After Paris mismatch, head coach hopes for Six Nations victory over ‘very good’ opponents
Ireland’s social contract with fans was broken after defeat to France
The hope is that the character of this Irish team won’t fail again in this Six Nations
Five things we learned from Ireland’s opening-night horror show against France
Six Nations: After 36-14 nightmare defeat, are there more scares in store for Andy Farrell’s men?
Irish fans warned over tourist attraction ticket prices in Paris
The difference between buying directly from museum sites and third-party resellers can be substantial
‘A big threat, the heart of their attack’: Caelan Doris on France captain Antoine Dupont
Ireland star sees Six Nations opener in Paris as ‘exciting opportunity’ against tournament favourites
Seasonal rugby spectators critiqued ahead of Six Nations
They will have all the terminology but none of the knowledge
‘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
Conor Murray: Irish fans demanding change in the Six Nations squad should take a breath
I started reading the comments on social media – big mistake. Now is not the moment to break up an established team
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
‘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
Conor Murray: ‘Taking the space’ is the latest rugby jargon I do not understand
Champions Cup match officials have still not explained what ‘taking the space’ means after Munster’s loss to Toulon. It’s not good enough
Conor Murray: Bringing Sexton into a column about O’Gara is an easy trap to fall into
Sam Prendergast is a special talent around whom there is too much negative commentary
Owen Doyle: Changes to rugby’s laws need widespread buy-in, not more haste
Plenty of on-the-pitch examples should be giving World Rugby pause for thought
Conor Murray: Ciarán Frawley’s move to Connacht shows Irish system is working
The provinces should be producing four international calibre players in every position
Conor Murray: I’d compare Leinster’s dip to the Limerick hurlers. Both will come good again
It is hard to keep going back to the well after a lot of success
While Ireland switches off for Christmas, rugby players switch on
Leinster’s visit to Limerick next week will be a brilliant end to the rugby year
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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