Ireland beat England in flawed yet convincing send-off before heading for FranceIreland will rue much of the inaccuracies which undermined this displaySat Aug 19 2023 - 20:09
Determined Ireland seek statement win for fitting World Cup send-offFarrell’s strong line-up looks equipped to extend record sequence of home wins and thereby maintain precious momentumSat Aug 19 2023 - 06:00
Popular Earls caps illustrious career by joining a very exclusive club Munster stalwart has overcome significant adversity to become just the ninth Irishman to reach 100 Test caps for his countrySat Aug 19 2023 - 05:00
Gerry Thornley: There are no winners in the Owen Farrell red card sagaYou wonder how any panel could adjudicate on any appeal to this vexed verdict such has been the noise around itFri Aug 18 2023 - 16:03
Ireland v England: Cian Prendergast given his chance as Farrell reverts to tried and trustedConnacht number eight will make his full Test debut against England as coach says injured trio Conan, Kelleher and Kilcoyne will all be fit for World CupFri Aug 18 2023 - 06:00
Ireland v England: Cian Prendergast at number eight as Andy Farrell names strong sideEleven starters named from team that beat England in the Six NationsThu Aug 17 2023 - 13:57
Ireland v England: Farrell to bring the Grand Slam band back together – with a few notable exceptionsCian Prendergast to start at 8, while Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose will revive their midfield partnership in World Cup warm-upWed Aug 16 2023 - 22:04
Five players released from Ireland squad ahead of Rugby World CupCaolin Blade, Gavin Coombes, Calvin Nash, Jamie Osborne and Kieran Treadwell fail to make the cutWed Aug 16 2023 - 18:45
France outhalf Romain Ntamack ruled out of Rugby World Cup with cruciate injuryBrilliant Toulouse No 10 suffered the injury following a tackle from Scotland’s Finn RussellMon Aug 14 2023 - 11:17
Ireland look to have learned from previous Rugby World Cup warm-up mistakesFarrell’s decision to sacrifice one preseason game will allow players recover fully from their Algarve exertionsSun Aug 13 2023 - 13:03
Gerry Thornley: Photograph of Sexton and Keane captures optimism of Ireland’s World Cup hopesThis year, more than ever, the spread of support throughout Ireland for Andy Farrell’s side appears bigger than it has ever beenFri Aug 11 2023 - 16:46
Tom Stewart has bought straight into international life after fulfilling dream with Ireland debutYoung Ulster hooker happy to be a sponge and delighted that advice is offered at every turnThu Aug 10 2023 - 06:00
Simon Easterby plays down fears concerning Jack Conan’s injury as he misses training campCraig Casey and Jimmy O’Brien overcome injury issues to join squad for camp in AlgarveWed Aug 09 2023 - 01:00
Jean Kleyn makes South Africa’s World Cup squad as key trio miss outRG Snyman and Steven Kitshoff make the cut as Pollard, Am and de Jager are placed on standbyTue Aug 08 2023 - 17:04
Stuart McCloskey hoping he remains central to Farrell’s World Cup plansLast Saturday marked the Ulster centre’s seventh start in Ireland’s last nine Tests and he attributes the change in fortune to a little overdue luckTue Aug 08 2023 - 05:00
Some good comes from necessary evil for Ireland, but Italy curse bad luckCaelan Doris can be counted on no matter the number on his backMon Aug 07 2023 - 06:00
Johnny Sexton in line for training session run against Portugal as Ireland head for the heat Andy Farrell explains Ireland’s warm-up programme and the process of honing squad to 33 playersMon Aug 07 2023 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Five things we learned from Ireland’s win over ItalyJack Crowley, Joe McCarthy and the back-row reinforcements provide encouragement about Ireland’s strength in depthMon Aug 07 2023 - 06:00
Andy Farrell shrugs off injury concerns after Ireland’s ‘clunky’ win over ItalyHead coach says Irish injuries ‘seem not too bad’ after first World Cup warm-up gameSat Aug 05 2023 - 23:37
Ireland v Italy: Andy Farrell’s team tick the boxes in Rugby World Cup warm-up winCaelan Doris stars with two tries while three players earn their first caps at the Aviva StadiumSat Aug 05 2023 - 22:36
Gerry Thornley: Why All Blacks and South Africa are more fancied for Rugby World Cup than IrelandRevived All Blacks arrive as joint-favourites while Ireland are rated third in the betting after South Africa at 5-1Sat Aug 05 2023 - 05:00
Iain Henderson: There’s been sessions in this preseason that’ve been the toughest in my careerIreland’s captain against Italy forecasts huge Irish career for fellow secondrow Joe McCarthySat Aug 05 2023 - 05:00
Ireland v Italy: Victory over Azzurri will require concentration and commitment from Farrell’s menHistory of slow starts to World Cup warm-ups suggests caution needed against inventive and dangerous ItaliansSat Aug 05 2023 - 05:00
Gerry Thornley: Calm before the storm as Ireland’s Rugby World Cup preparation buildsIreland have earned mantle of world's top side and deserve all the good will coming to themFri Aug 04 2023 - 18:01
Ireland vs Italy: Intriguing selection by Andy Farrell before Rugby World CupNovember encounter with Fiji a salutary warning ahead of winnable tournament, according to Ireland head coachFri Aug 04 2023 - 05:00
Ireland vs Italy: Jack Crowley named at outhalf for World Cup warm-up gameCraig Casey gets a start at scrumhalf, as opportunity knocks for Jacob StockdaleThu Aug 03 2023 - 14:04
Jack Conan: ‘I feel like I haven’t had the opportunity to perform on the world stage’The 31-year-old is ready for this autumn’s World Cup after a pre-season that he describes as the best he’s ever experiencedThu Aug 03 2023 - 10:11
Ireland vs Italy: Jack Crowley set to be given chance to state Rugby World Cup caseRugby World Cup: Cork outhalf likely to be partnered with Craig Casey for warm-up game against ItalyWed Aug 02 2023 - 20:58
Paul O’Connell: ‘I really like the way we’ve managed this preseason’ Forwards coach’s experience with national side has underlined how things have changed since his playing days in the green shirtWed Aug 02 2023 - 05:00
Paul O’Connell looking to the positives from Johnny Sexton’s suspensionThe Irish forwards coach intimated that Ross Byrne, Jack Crowley and Ciarán Frawley will all see some game timeTue Aug 01 2023 - 16:44
Ireland report clean bill of health for opening World Cup warm-up against ItalyJohnny Sexton is the only player missing out due to his suspensionMon Jul 31 2023 - 17:34
Lansdowne intend to keep YMCA ground as multi-sports facility after completing €6m purchase High-net worth individual assisted rugby club’s acquisition of prime 6.6 acre site beside Sandymount villageSat Jul 29 2023 - 01:00
IRFU aim to reach 40% gender balance target on union’s committee by the end of 2023 Former Munster player Greg Barrett named as new IRFU presidentFri Jul 28 2023 - 18:49
Relaxed Hugo Keenan building towards Rugby World Cup in France Constant challenge for Ireland is ‘to improve ourselves and try to improve more than the others’Fri Jul 28 2023 - 06:00
IRFU announce Scott Bemand as new Ireland Women’s head coach on three-year contractThe Englishman previously worked at lead coach with England women’s XVs teamThu Jul 27 2023 - 12:24
Simon Zebo backs Joey Carbery to ‘have a big season’ after missing out on World Cup ‘He got a bit of a rocket last year and his mindset is changed’ says his Munster colleagueThu Jul 27 2023 - 06:00
Tadhg Furlong on the impact of Paul O’Connell and the culture created by Andy Farrell Ireland and Lions tighthead says gutting Leinster loss can be used as motivationTue Jul 25 2023 - 05:00
Gerry Thornley: A damned good season for Irish rugby was just one score short of perfectionMunster ended their 12-year trophy drought in impressive style, but Leinster’s brilliant rugby shouldn’t be forgotten eitherTue May 30 2023 - 05:00
It’s doubtful any Irish squad of around 43 players has ever been harder to muscle in onAndy Farrell’s training squad to be announced on Tuesday and to begin World Cup preparations in three weeksMon May 29 2023 - 20:30
Munster savour long-awaited triumph, to which so many contributed ‘It’s a special, special day,’ says Tadgh Beirne as players and staff hail fans, families and lost friendsMon May 29 2023 - 05:00
URC final: Graham Rowntree praises battle-hardened Munster for sticking to their gunsDeparting duo Ben Healy and Malakai Fekitoa picked out for particular praise for performances in Cape TownSun May 28 2023 - 17:18
Five things we learned from the URC final: Munster are back as the competition comes of ageMunster’s 100km long haul pays off - Rising tide lifts all boats - Final success a reward for bravery on and off pitchSun May 28 2023 - 14:30
‘This won’t sink in for a long time’: Jubilation in Cape Town as Munster end the 12-year droughtGraham Rowntree admitted that Saturday’s URC victory was the best day of his coaching careerSun May 28 2023 - 11:41
Munster showing no fear as they aim to end era of near missesThis fearless team are suddenly within one game of ending the droughtSat May 27 2023 - 05:00
Red Army backing Munster to carry the day against Stormers in URC Cape Town finalProvince has rediscovered best defensive qualities and combined these with old-fashioned grit in successful runSat May 27 2023 - 05:00
None of Leinster’s outside backs made a pass in the final - a remarkable and telling statIt’s harder to argue that Leinster should have won, La Rochelle dominated possession and didn’t allow them toFri May 26 2023 - 17:31
Stormers head coach plays down video of his players celebrating Munster’s win over LeinsterA video of Joseph Dweba leading the Stormers celebrations was leaked on social mediaFri May 26 2023 - 15:58
Conor Murray, Malakai Fekitoa and Calvin Nash return to Munster line-up for URC finalThe trio have completed their return to play protocols following the head injuries they received in the quarter-final against GlasgowFri May 26 2023 - 12:59
Caolan Dooley crowns memorable season with fitting personal awardMunster native played a crucial role in Terenure College’s historic first All-Ireland League triumph, scoring 30 points in the final win over ClontarfFri May 26 2023 - 05:00
Gerry Thornley: Nienaber bringing a new voice to Leinster may now prove perfectly timedOnly the finest of margins denied Leinster the Champions Cup on Saturday, yet they do still need to take a good look at themselvesTue May 23 2023 - 06:00
