Relentless hosts turn out lights on ConnachtMunster - 33 Connacht - 3: A compelling effort by a dominant Munster pack at Musgrave Park last night earned the home side a…Sat Nov 30 2002 - 00:00
Ireland face three extra summer TestsRUGBY: Having just completed a record 13 Tests in the calendar year for 2002, Ireland will go at least two better next season…Fri Nov 29 2002 - 00:00
West expected to put up a fierce battle to end hoodooThe Celtic League may still have more teething problems than a toddler, but, for all its troubles, it has provided some of the…Fri Nov 29 2002 - 00:00
Quinlan replaces sidelined HickieDenis Hickie, still sidelined for a mandatory three weeks as a result of the concussion he sustained against the Wallabies, and…Fri Nov 29 2002 - 00:00
Let's not get too carried awayGERRY THORNLEY ON RUGBY: So Ireland scalped the world champions, put the record straight to some degree with their nemesis from…Tue Nov 26 2002 - 00:00
Connacht could face IRFU axeIRFU finances: The Connacht provincial set-up faces a renewed threat of disbandment after it emerged that the IRFU faces losses…Tue Nov 26 2002 - 00:00
Bishop gambit only strategic surpriseRUGBY: Eight changes from the win over Fiji but more pertinently, just one enforced change from the team which beat Australia…Wed Nov 20 2002 - 00:00
Pumas setbackRUGBY: The Argentinian 44-man party arrived in Ireland yesterday morning but without their boots, runners and socks after officials…Tue Nov 19 2002 - 00:00
Murphy and Bishop make squadRUGBY: The Irish management were left with a choice on the wing between Geordan Murphy and Justin Bishop for Saturday's game…Tue Nov 19 2002 - 00:00
Wood opts out of Pumas TestKeith Wood has been obliged to take another rest from the game due to his troublesome neck injury, and as a result has ruled …Sat Nov 16 2002 - 00:00
Fiji look to sevens genius SereviAlways presuming the relaid Lansdowne Road pitch survives the incessant downpours of late, the sizeable crowd anticipated for…Fri Nov 15 2002 - 00:00
Kelly to miss game against ArgentinaRUGBY/News round-up: John Kelly and Paul Wallace have been forced to withdraw from the 22-man Irish squad for next Sunday's …Tue Nov 12 2002 - 00:00
Win may have far-reaching consequencesON RUGBY: A historic triple whammy over the Southern Hemisphere by Europe's leading triumvirateTue Nov 12 2002 - 00:00
Skipper will return for Argentina, touch woodKeith Wood completed a full 80 minutes after six weeks on the sidelines in Harlequins' 36-30 defeat by Saracens yesterday and…Mon Nov 11 2002 - 00:00
It's a beautiful day for O'SullivanReaction A dank, dark, wet, windy, chilly beautiful November day. Manna from heavenMon Nov 11 2002 - 00:00
Finnegan plays the ticket master for family reunionThough he's struggling with the ankle injury which sidelined him in last Saturday's win over Argentina, Owen Finnegan is under…Thu Nov 07 2002 - 00:00
Hickie likely to make teamIRELAND V AUSTRALIA: Denis Hickie will almost certainly be named on the Irish team for this Saturday's international against…Tue Nov 05 2002 - 00:00
Celtic unions reap what they sowWhen the three Celtic unions contemplate the relatively poor impact which the pool phase of the Celtic League has made, or its…Tue Oct 29 2002 - 00:00
Irish defer selectionThe announcement of the 22-man Irish squad for the game against Australia at Lansdowne Road on November 9th has been deferred…Tue Oct 29 2002 - 00:00
Munster earn home tie against ConnachtMunster will host Connacht in the Celtic League quarter-finals at the end of NovemberMon Oct 28 2002 - 00:00
Easterby out and Wood doubtfulInjuries will weaken Ireland's hand on Monday when management announce the 22-man squad for the game against Australia this day…Sat Oct 26 2002 - 01:00
Red Army in revolt over sense of rip-offWhat has happened to Thomond Park? In his post-match interviews on RTÉ Ger Canning made much of the atmosphere in the old ground…Tue Oct 22 2002 - 01:00
Wood in race against timeKeith Wood's chances of being fit enough to lead Ireland out in the first of the autumn internationals against Australia at Lansdowne…Sat Oct 19 2002 - 01:00
Munster must stand up and fightMunster v Perpignan The Munster players' anthem, Stand Up and Fight, has rarely been more appositeSat Oct 19 2002 - 01:00
Ulster must lift their gameRUGBY: It's an indication of the pressure facing both sides in tonight's Pool Six encounter at Ravenhill that at least one of…Fri Oct 18 2002 - 01:00
Henderson out for six weeksRUGBY: Munster and Rob Henderson had their worst fears confirmed yesterday when a scan on the Irish and Lions centre's injured…Tue Oct 15 2002 - 01:00
Munster must roll with punchesEuropean Cup: Bloodied but unbowed, back they come again, and it's straight into the bear pitSat Oct 12 2002 - 01:00
PREVIEWTime was when Leinster embarked on a Heineken European Cup campaign with, at best, underdog optimismFri Oct 11 2002 - 01:00
England the fly in European ointmentThe ERC and Heineken high-rollers came to town on their third leg of their promotional tour of the European Cup yesterdayTue Oct 08 2002 - 01:00
Romania first up for IrishRomania will be Ireland's opening opponents in the World Cup finals in Australia a year from now after they qualified by dint…Mon Oct 07 2002 - 01:00
Union call off Cardiff big gameUnder fire from a variety of angles, and especially from the English clubs, the International Rugby Board yesterday had to bow…Sat Oct 05 2002 - 01:00
European showpiece for DublinNEWS ROUND-UP: The Irish provinces have been given additional incentive to progress to the knockout stages of this season's …Tue Oct 01 2002 - 01:00
September a wicked month for Test rugbyON RUGBY/Gerry Thornley: Now, at last, back to some real rugbyTue Oct 01 2002 - 01:00
Celtic League previewConnacht have dispelled coach Steph Nel's worst pre-season fears with a stunning run of four wins and today they have a very …Sat Sept 28 2002 - 01:00
Plane trek takes toll on WoodRugby: It was too good to be true really and invariably there had to be some payback for the hectic, in-and-out travel arrangements…Wed Sept 25 2002 - 01:00
Hardest work was not on the fieldTo travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labourTue Sept 24 2002 - 01:00
Irish ready for the long haulBoldly or otherwise, Ireland will go where no Irish team has gone before when they head off on a 10-hour trek to Siberia tomorrow…Wed Sept 18 2002 - 01:00
Ireland call-up for McHughMark McHugh, the 24-year-old Connacht full back, has been drafted into the 26-man Ireland squad for next Saturday's World Cup…Mon Sept 16 2002 - 01:00
Clohessy move on holdRUGBY: Negotiations for Peter Clohessy's proposed transfer to Toulouse have stalled as the French club ponder their options …Sat Sept 14 2002 - 01:00
Ulster sights set on a swift return to formRUGBY: Crestfallen by the manner of their narrow home defeat to Edinburgh, Ulster's hopes of swift redemption probably haven…Sat Sept 14 2002 - 01:00
Leinster to develop stadiumRUGBY: One of the ripple effects in the fall-out from the Government climbdown on the proposed National Stadium is that Lansdowne…Sat Sept 14 2002 - 01:00
Browne says State must provide more fundingRUGBY: The full IRFU committee will convene for their monthly meeting tomorrow with the primary topic of discussion being the…Thu Sept 12 2002 - 01:00
Leinster are close to full powerRUGBY: Leinster will be much nearer full-strength than they had originally expected for tomorrow's eagerly awaited showdown …Thu Sept 12 2002 - 01:00
Board wants longer breakRUGBY: The most significant recommendation arising from the International Board's first ever global Player Welfare Conference…Wed Sept 11 2002 - 01:00
Disappointment as rugby union considers its optionsThe Irish Rugby Football Union's (IRFU) chief executive, Mr Philip Browne, last night expressed the union's acute disappointment…Wed Sept 11 2002 - 01:00
McHugh takes charge in Cup openerRUGBY: Dave McHugh, the only referee to take charge of two European Cup finals, will start his duties in the eighth season of…Tue Sept 10 2002 - 01:00
Four extra in squad for RussiaRUGBY: Sending an SOS to 62 Lansdowne Road for last-minute replacements from Siberia could be problematic to say the leastTue Sept 10 2002 - 01:00
IRFU reject Welsh viewCELTIC LEAGUE: The IRFU yesterday went on the counter-offensive in the war of words over the future format of the Celtic League…Thu Sept 05 2002 - 01:00
Toulouse offer berth to ClohessyNEWS: In what is surely one of the unlikeliest post-scripts to any playing career, and most certainly Peter Clohessy's, the …Wed Sept 04 2002 - 01:00
Summer tour may be altered or even cancelledThe Irish management and the IRFU intend looking into the possibility of making next summer's proposed tour to Australia, Fiji…Tue Sept 03 2002 - 01:00