Gerry Thornley: Andy Friend has played his part as Connacht continue to defy the odds out westProvince have enjoyed their most consistently competitive period ever under the outgoing director of rugbyTue Apr 18 2023 - 06:00
Seán O’Brien hails Leinster’s appointment of Jacques Nienaber as a masterstrokeThis week, O’Brien has effectively been elevated to the role of stand-in head coachTue Apr 18 2023 - 05:00
Rhys Ruddock ruled out of Leinster’s clash with the Bulls with hamstring injuryVakhtang Abdaladze will be assessed ahead of final URC regular season game due to neck injuryMon Apr 17 2023 - 14:48
Former Leinster forward Scott Fardy to be the new Connacht defence coachSince his retirement in 2021 he has gained coaching experience in Japan and AustraliaMon Apr 17 2023 - 11:51
Eye-catching recruitment of Jacques Nienaber by Leinster a huge statement of intentLeinster are replacing one former international head coach in the Racing-bound Stuart Lancaster with anotherMon Apr 17 2023 - 05:00
Connacht boost hopes of Champions Cup qualification with victory over CardiffBonus-point win kept hold of sixth place in the table as province head to Glasgow for final gameSat Apr 15 2023 - 22:13
‘I’ve never turned back’: Finlay Bealham on realising his life’s ambition in IrelandIt took perseverance, but the Australian-born prop found a second home playing for ConnachtSat Apr 15 2023 - 05:00
URC weekend previews: Munster braced for must-win encounterIn-form Connacht seeking a sixth successive win to secure qualification for the play-offsSat Apr 15 2023 - 05:00
Munster opt for changed front row as they try to maintain their Champions Cup status Stakes high for Rowntree’s men as they face crucial clash against Stormers in Cape Town while Connacht braced for key tie against CardiffSat Apr 15 2023 - 05:00
Gerry Thornley: Clear statement of faith in Sam Prendergast as he makes first Leinster startWith his tall, languid style and passing range, there is a hint of Stephen Larkham about the talented outhalfFri Apr 14 2023 - 14:23
All-Ireland League enters final round of regular season with plenty to be resolvedThe 25 games down for decision on Saturday involve a host of relegation, promotion and playoff issuesFri Apr 14 2023 - 06:00
Ireland winger James Lowe signs new Leinster dealRónan Kelleher and Liam Turner also extend their stays at the provinceThu Apr 13 2023 - 20:16
Jack Carty times his return perfectly as Connacht look to cap turnaround season in style Province have URC playoffs and Champions Cup qualification as their end of season goalsThu Apr 13 2023 - 15:45
Andy Friend aims to finish with a flourish before Connacht farewell Playoffs and a Champions Cup on the line in last two matches of regular URC seasonWed Apr 12 2023 - 06:00
Jason Jenkins relishing return home as Leinster braced for tough South Africa tripSecondrow will face former team-mates when Leinster take on the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in second gameWed Apr 12 2023 - 06:00
Leo Cullen names inexperienced Leinster squad for trip to South Africa Four players yet to be capped at senior level by the province named in 30-man squadTue Apr 11 2023 - 18:23
James Ryan and Josh van der Flier pen new IRFU contractsRyan will remain in the Ireland and Leinster set-up until at least 2025Tue Apr 11 2023 - 15:21
Connacht boosted for season-defining URC clash with Cardiff as Carty, Bealham and Buckley returnVictory over Welsh side will almost certainly seal place in play-offs for Champions CupTue Apr 11 2023 - 14:36
Keith Earls included in Munster squad for South Africa URC fixturesMunster will face Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday, and Sharks in Durban a week laterTue Apr 11 2023 - 13:50
Gerry Thornley: Despite new format, cream has risen to the top again in Champions CupThe SARFU clearly did their teams no favours last week but their involvement seemed to capture the imaginationTue Apr 11 2023 - 05:00
Leo Cullen opts for tested approach as Leinster prepare to battle on two frontsRuddock set to be named captain for South Africa trip, while Baird and Lowe in race against time to be fit for Toulouse cup gameTue Apr 11 2023 - 05:00
Ryan Baird ruled out of Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final against Toulouse No indication given as to whether James Lowe and Josh van der Flier will be fit to playMon Apr 10 2023 - 16:01
Leinster relieved as Garry Ringrose gets back to his magnificent bestScary incident at Murrayfield consigned to the past as classy centre proves instrumental in comprehensive defeat of LeicesterMon Apr 10 2023 - 01:00
Cream rises to the top with Leinster and Toulouse set for Saturday afternoon showdownStellar last four line-up pits holders La Rochelle against 2020 winners Exeter Chiefs in the other semi-finalSun Apr 09 2023 - 17:21
Toulouse have that old European hunger back and that should worry the restThe five-time winners have been able to rotate their side due to the strength of their Top 14 positionSat Apr 08 2023 - 05:00
No update on Ryan Baird and James Lowe injuries as Leinster ‘delighted to get through’Leo Cullen says the response to the Caelan Doris yellow card was the turning point of the matchFri Apr 07 2023 - 23:42
Leinster power home past Leicester to secure Champions Cup semi-final berthLeo Cullen’s side prove too strong for the Tigers as they make it through to a sixth semi-final in the last seven yearsFri Apr 07 2023 - 22:21
Weekend Champions Cup quarter-final previews: South African sides looking to win on the roadSunday’s meeting of champions La Rochelle and Saracens could prove an arm wrestle at Stade Marcel DeflandreFri Apr 07 2023 - 15:37
Tadhg Furlong fighting fit and eager to tame the Tigers again Leinster, Irish and Lions tighthead says he’s feeling as ‘fresh as paint’ in advance of big Leicester showdownFri Apr 07 2023 - 06:00
Leinster expect big battle in the air and at breakdown as Leicester aim to spoil their season Leo Cullen’s men should be well primed after recent visits to the Aviva Stadium by England and UlsterFri Apr 07 2023 - 05:00
Champions Cup: Garry Ringrose and Caelan Doris return to Leinster lineup to face Leicester Injured Jordan Larmour and Josh van der Flier miss out in only personnel changes from last week’s win over UlsterThu Apr 06 2023 - 13:49
Pancakes and golf will help get James Lowe in the swing of things for Tigers clashLowe recognises knock-out rugby is both beautiful and cruel ahead of Champions Cup quarter-finalThu Apr 06 2023 - 05:00
Champions Cup: More than 23,000 tickets sold for Leinster’s game against Leicester in AvivaNo plans to open upper tie of Aviva Stadium for Good Friday quarter-final clashWed Apr 05 2023 - 14:19
Van der Flier likely to miss out on Leicester showdown On the plus side for Leinster, Doris and Ringrose in line to return for big quarter-final clashTue Apr 04 2023 - 05:00
Gerry Thornley: Shocking defensive decline leaves Munster facing worst-case scenario Ulster have cause for optimism but Munster’s sudden loss of form is alarmingTue Apr 04 2023 - 05:00
Leinster v Ulster reaction: ‘I can’t change the demographics ... but I believe in what we’re doing,’ says Dan McFarland Ulster’s coach is convinced his side are progressing despite Saturday’s defeat to Leinster, who would be his tip to win the Champions Cup final if they came up against La Rochelle againMon Apr 03 2023 - 05:00
Usual suspects lie in wait for Leinster, who want happy ending this time Leo Cullen stresses importance of having another large home crowd for Friday’s clash with LeicesterMon Apr 03 2023 - 05:00
Rain forces Leinster to find alternative way to beat Ulster Leinster’s use of their power game was encouraging in advance of the quarter-final with LeicesterMon Apr 03 2023 - 05:00
Restricted attendance expected at Aviva as Leinster set for Good Friday night showdown with Leicester in Champions CupLeo Cullen praises ‘amazing support’ as Leinster beat Ulster in last 16 matchSat Apr 01 2023 - 21:53
Leinster power on to Champions Cup quarter-finals after beating Ulster in rain-soaked derbyLeicester next up for Leinster, who were too strong for a dogged Ulster team that defended heroically at timesSat Apr 01 2023 - 20:42
Champions Cup: Leinster’s superior quality should get them over the line against UlsterUncanny similarities with the epic between the same sides four years agoSat Apr 01 2023 - 05:00
Ross Molony: ‘I’ve had options to go elsewhere but Leinster is where I want to be’ The player described by a team-mate as the most underrated in Ireland discusses Lahinch royalty, Leinster’s best golfer, the perfect pre-match meal and Saturday’s showdown with UlsterSat Apr 01 2023 - 00:00
Leinster and Ulster roll out the big guns for Champions Cup showdownRG Snyman will make his Champions Cup debut for Munster in their Round of 16 clash against the SharksFri Mar 31 2023 - 15:43
Gerry Thornley: England’s appointment of Felix Jones shows high stock of Irish rugby coachesIt says something about the reputation of the Dubliner’s coaching that the biggest nations want him on boardFri Mar 31 2023 - 15:13
Grand Slam winners Mack Hansen and Bundee Aki return to Connacht line-upAndy Friend has made six changes to his starting XV for the Challenge Cup tie in Treviso against BenettonFri Mar 31 2023 - 13:59
Calvin Nash flourishing in Munster’s more high-tempo, ball-in-hand gameThe 25-year-old product of Crescent College and Young Munster is having his most productive season yetFri Mar 31 2023 - 05:00
Jamison Gibson-Park: ‘When I wasn’t playing for Ireland I used to look at the lads and think: ‘Holy hell, how do you do that?’'Once a fringe player, Leinster’s first-choice scrumhalf is looking forward to taking on Ulster two weeks after the Six Nations Grand Slam triumphFri Mar 31 2023 - 05:00
All-Ireland League preview: Relegation scramble adds to pressure of Colours clash Leinster’s ‘A’s visit to London Irish deprives Trinity of three players for annual showdown with UCDFri Mar 31 2023 - 05:00
James Ryan: ‘I understand now how hard it is to get to that point’The Ireland lock admits he appreciated this year’s Grand Slam more than his first, and says Johnny Sexton’s injury gives even more importance to Saturday’s Leinster-Ulster duelThu Mar 30 2023 - 05:00
Munster will arrive in Durban in familiar, backs-against-the-wall fashionGraham Rowntree has no doubt that they will require their best performance of the season next SaturdayWed Mar 29 2023 - 05:00
