Matt O’Connor has no doubts about Jamie Heaslip’s ‘new’ roleLeinster number eight had become the de facto captain in any caseThu Aug 21 2014 - 01:00
Leinster hopeful Johnny Sexton can be persuaded to returnOuthalf weighs up offer of one-year extension from Racing MetroWed Aug 20 2014 - 22:30
Ulster’s Roger Wilson still hungry for successLoss of key personnel not an excuse for province with appetite for gloryWed Aug 20 2014 - 01:00
Leading French figures propose O’Driscoll as president of EPCRPlayer has not been approached and role with new club body would conflict with punditry workTue Aug 19 2014 - 01:30
All Blacks look to make history in Bledisloe Cup matchNew Zealand seek to establish longest winning sequence in history of Test rugby with 18th successive win in Rugby Championship opener against AustraliaFri Aug 15 2014 - 18:31
Connacht rugby chief Willie Ruane up for the challengeFormer player says high expectations ‘the way it should be’Fri Aug 15 2014 - 04:00
European Rugby Champions Cup fixtures unveiledCarve-up follows ‘tortuous process’ between broadcasters BT and SkyFri Aug 15 2014 - 01:00
Magic glasses give outhalf Ian McKinley his second shotSpecial goggles have allowed him to play again after an eye injury ended careerThu Aug 14 2014 - 01:00
Organisers of inaugural European Rugby Champions Cup beset by teething problemsCommercial partners have yet to be secured for the new competition while expected French TV rights deal has not yet materialisedWed Aug 13 2014 - 01:00
Muldoon to lead Connacht again in 2014/2015 seasonLeinster sign New Zealand-born Samoan rugby league international Ben Te’oTue Aug 12 2014 - 22:11
Sky to show Pro 12 Leinster versus Munster tie as part of TV dealBroadcaster to televise 30 live matches per season as well as semi-finals and finalTue Aug 12 2014 - 01:00
Rob Kearney laments ‘poor enough’ performances by Ireland in Argentina‘We have to keep evolving and improving because, if we don’t, we’ll be left behind’Tue Jun 17 2014 - 04:00
Schmidt learned plenty about his players in ArgentinaThere were winners and losers on this tour, as always, although mostly it seemed players re-affirmed their standingsTue Jun 17 2014 - 02:00
Mixed performance but Madigan and Ruddock impressLeinster outhalf has rediscovered his knack for geting in for tries in tight gamesMon Jun 16 2014 - 08:24
Ireland huff and puff their way to series win in ArgentinaThe net effect was informative rather than inspiring for head coach Joe SchmidtMon Jun 16 2014 - 01:00
Ireland can expect torrid Test in TucumánArgentina will be determined to claim second Test but Schmidt’s men expect to finish series with a flourishSat Jun 14 2014 - 12:16
Eoin Reddan feels lucky to be in such a privileged placeScrumhalf remains articulate, engaging and interesting as ever as he prepares to face ArgentinaSat Jun 14 2014 - 01:00
Ireland opt for experience for second Test against ArgentinaFergus McFadden the latest to don the Ireland number 13 jerseyFri Jun 13 2014 - 01:00
Trekking down to TucumánHere the Ireland rugby squad will be sure to sample the best empanados, small pastries filled with meats, in ArgentinaThu Jun 12 2014 - 01:00
Jamie Heaslip believes Argentina tour has been a valuable exercise in squad buildingIt’s been an intense week but the Ireland number eight wouldn’t have it any other wayThu Jun 12 2014 - 01:00
Less Kiss will be looking for significant improvement in backline tacklingIreland missed 16 tackles against Argentina, of which 11 were made by an unusually porous backlineWed Jun 11 2014 - 01:00
Iain Henderson happy to buy into Joe Schmidt’s demanding routine in ArgentinaHaving missed out on November series, Ulster star is enjoying playing catch-up with Ireland squadWed Jun 11 2014 - 01:00
David Humphreys’ departure came as major shock to Ulster players‘It’s bitterly disappointing for us but you have got to wish him all the best’ says Rory BestTue Jun 10 2014 - 01:00
Positives appear to outweigh negatives for Simon ZeboWhen asked about Zebo’s contribution on Saturday, Joe Schmidt’s reply was most untypical of a coach who is normally a compelling talker about rugbyTue Jun 10 2014 - 01:00
Schmidt set to ring changes for second Argentina TestRob Kearney likely to return at fullback, Fergus McFadden may replace Simon ZeboMon Jun 09 2014 - 01:00
Some rustiness inevitable but Ireland have plenty of room for improvementDespite victory, Paul O’Connell not overly impressed by visitors’ performanceSun Jun 08 2014 - 23:53
Ireland’s Darren Cave buzzing after stepping into the limelight‘To get my first cap, to get 80 minutes and the win it’s a day I’ll never forget and I just want to cherish it,’ says debutant Robbie DiackSun Jun 08 2014 - 23:53
Joe Schmidt right to cast net wide to bring on board players such as Ah You and DiackThe Irish coach argues Regulation 8 is an issue for the game’s lawmakers, not himSat Jun 07 2014 - 01:00
Irish reputations there to be made against fierce PumasDespite difficult conditions and new Irish faces a first Test win in Argentina beckonsSat Jun 07 2014 - 01:00
Opportunity knocks if Irish tourists can take the pressure from ArgentinaJoe Schmidt wants to meet expectations as he makes eight changes to Ireland sideFri Jun 06 2014 - 08:00
Cave gets Ireland number 13 jersey against ArgentinaUlster centre has first go at filling the Brian O’Driscoll-shaped holeFri Jun 06 2014 - 01:00
Jordi Murphy ready to grasp his opportunityLeinster back row will make his first start for Ireland this weekendThu Jun 05 2014 - 18:31
Chris Henry determined to keep Ireland run goingUlster backrow expects torrid encounter with rugged Argentinian packThu Jun 05 2014 - 01:00
Plumtree tells Ireland squad he’s leavingForwards coach returning to New Zealand after tour of Argentina to take Hurricanes jobMon Jun 02 2014 - 01:00
Heineken Cup helped drive Irish game out of amateur roots and in to professional ageGerry Thornley argues that while the Six Nations may be the financial engine of European rugby the Heineken Cup provided the most memories over the last 19 yearsTue May 27 2014 - 12:00
Argentina without Europe-based stars for Ireland TestsBut Toulon’s Lobbe warns young squad will be fired up for meetings with Six Nations championsTue May 27 2014 - 01:00
Two expensively assembled Euro superpowers contest the final Heineken CupOnly clubs like Toulon and Saracens have the cash and playing depth to go for a European-domestic doubleSat May 24 2014 - 10:30
Saracens can prove doubters wrong and take ToulonEnglish side’s ‘wolf pack’ hungry enough to win first Heineken Cup in its final yearSat May 24 2014 - 01:00
Joe’s Schmidt’s selections for Argentina Tour all based on perfectly rational argumentsThe hope is Ian Madigan and Tommy O’Donnell can make up lost ground by the time of World Cup as Ireland will be better for itTue May 20 2014 - 12:00
Ireland tour party to Argentina notable for eye-catching inclusionsAbsentees such as Ian Madigan also controversialTue May 20 2014 - 02:00
Johann Muller departs Ulster with no regretsUlster captain returns to South Africa with good memories despite the Pro 12 semi-final defeat to LeinsterMon May 19 2014 - 01:00
Brian O’Driscoll on target for final farewell in RDSLeinster coach Matt O’Connor confident centre will be fit for Pro 12 finalSun May 18 2014 - 22:57
Experienced Leinster keep their composure to grind out victoryIan Madigan’s intervention proves crucial as Ulster suffer another painful play-off defeatSun May 18 2014 - 18:15
Battle-hardened Leinster entitled to favouritismHowever determined Ulster bound to mount a massive effort at the RDS to seal their final placeSat May 17 2014 - 01:00
Rhys Ruddock: ‘I am loving it, genuinely. I signed on for another two years and I’m delighted’The Leinster flanker is keen to progress with the province and add to his two Ireland capsSat May 17 2014 - 01:00
Selection posers aplenty for Leinster boss Matt O'ConnorDecisions must be made on Eoin Reddan and Mike McCarthy, and between Madigan and Gopperth at 10Fri May 16 2014 - 01:00
If Eddie O’Sullivan can turn things around at Biarritz, it’ll be quite a feather in his capFormer Ireland coach takes over a shell of a club compared to the one which won its fourth and fifth French championships in 2005 and ‘06Fri May 16 2014 - 00:00
Johann Muller seeks to lay Leinster bogeyUlster’s departing Springbok believes discipline holds key to ending losing streakThu May 15 2014 - 01:00
Here’s hoping pivotal EPCR meeting comes up with some answersIt will be interesting to see if new cup competition embraces the pastTue May 13 2014 - 12:00
