Dublin awaits the clash of the Limerick TitansStrictly speaking, this could be interpreted as the biggest club game in the history of Irish rugbySat Apr 25 1998 - 01:00
Gatland signs on with added responsibilitiesAnother era, of sorts, dawned on Irish rugby yesterday when the IRFU finally confirmed that Warren Gatland has been appointed…Sat Apr 25 1998 - 01:00
Wanderers are relegatedOn what must constitute the lowest day in their history, Wanderers were yesterday condemned to relegation from the AIL second…Sat Apr 25 1998 - 01:00
IRFU to confirm Gatland as coachAlmost three weeks after the conclusion of the Five Nations' Championship, it is expected that Warren Gatland will be formally…Fri Apr 24 1998 - 01:00
All quiet on alleged rowNeither Pat Whelan, the Irish team manager until his resignation on Tuesday, nor Tom English, the Sunday Times rugby writer, …Fri Apr 24 1998 - 01:00
A volunteer grown wearyWhen Pat Whelan wakes up this morning, his sense of relief will probably outstrip any misgivings or regrets he may have about…Thu Apr 23 1998 - 01:00
Finalists delay naming sidesShannon have delayed the selection of their side to defend the club's AIB League crown in Saturday's historic final against fellow…Wed Apr 22 1998 - 01:00
Wanderers stand firmThe clearest indication yet that Wanderers are about to pay the ultimate price for the cancellation of their concluding AIL Division…Tue Apr 21 1998 - 01:00
When is a league not a league?A couple of misgivings remain about the knock-out denouement to the AIB League, and not unexpectedly they reside largely in Limerick…Tue Apr 21 1998 - 01:00
Garryowen brush aside lumbering MunstersWell, as the saying goes, if Mohammed won't go to the mountain then bring the mountain to MohammedMon Apr 20 1998 - 01:00
Shannon stirred and forced to dig deeperTraditionalists, diehards and ostriches alike will have a hard job knocking the semi-final format after Saturday's memorable …Mon Apr 20 1998 - 01:00
IRFU mum on WanderersFollowing their executive meeting last night, the IRFU declined to make any statement regarding the cancellation of the Wanderers…Sat Apr 18 1998 - 01:00
Leinster Cup draw throws up venue headache for LansdowneThe draw for the Heineken Leinster Senior Cup was made in Lansdowne RFC yesterday and, after a slight hiccup in identifying the…Wed Apr 15 1998 - 01:00
Shannon, Garryowen hold advantageLimerick will again assume its customary position as the heartbeat of the Irish club game this weekend when it breaks yet newer…Wed Apr 15 1998 - 01:00
Irish unchanged for deciderNot surprisingly, the Irish schools' team to play England in a Triple Crown decider in Stourbridge, Wolverhampton, on Saturday…Wed Apr 15 1998 - 01:00
Merrion to run and runWell, there's another fine mess partly of the IRFU's own makingTue Apr 14 1998 - 01:00
Old Crescent's destiny decided by penalty tryIt left a bad taste, especially as Old Crescent's Division One status hinged on it, but there was somehow fitting that a decision…Mon Apr 13 1998 - 01:00
Deferred match stirs up stormThe fate of Malone and Bective Rangers, as well as that of Wanderers, hinges on the Division Two game between Wanderers and Buccaneers…Mon Apr 13 1998 - 01:00
Semi-final places give league a totally new edgeRadios and calculators at the ready then. Come 4.00 or thereabouts, there will be no turning back and no second chancesSat Apr 11 1998 - 01:00
Crowning victory as green line holds firmIt may not be a team of all the talents, their season had the humblest of beginnings and this was, by no means, a classic, but…Sat Apr 04 1998 - 01:00
Irish need to find spirit of Paris to restore prideTime to peer over the settee again? Never mind last year's record 40-pointer, and in Dublin at that, on a line through New Zealand…Sat Apr 04 1998 - 01:00
Fortune should favour brave ClongowesThis weekend being a veritable feast, the gluttonous among us can head back for a second helping of a Lansdowne Road occasion…Sat Mar 21 1998 - 00:00
Ireland to deliver in close encounterNow comes the hard part. Going to Paris in a nothing-to-lose scenario was, relatively speaking, the easy partSat Mar 21 1998 - 00:00
Gibbs out but Wood 'okay'Ireland received distinctly more uplifting news than Wales yesterday regarding updates on two of the bulwarks of the Lions' tour…Thu Mar 19 1998 - 00:00
Renewed Ireland expect to performCellotaped to the wall in the Irish squad's tv/video room are a sample of the nearly 1,500 faxed messages of goodwill which have…Sat Mar 07 1998 - 00:00
An older Costello grows into the jobAs a hooded, heavily-wrapped and ashen-faced Eric Miller made for the front door at the Castletroy Hotel, who should he stop …Wed Mar 04 1998 - 00:00
Gatland keeps card up his sleeveThe Irish management brought forward their team announcement for Saturday's game against France by 24 hours yesterday, but are…Wed Mar 04 1998 - 00:00
Provinces to issue over 100 contractsIreland will have a pool of well over 100 professional players next season after the IRFU yesterday finally pledged its commitment…Sat Feb 28 1998 - 00:00
London Irish shaken but stirred"This is a potentially big club, but one in seemingly permanent disarray and disunity," went one of the descriptions of Manchester…Sat Feb 21 1998 - 00:00
`This one's for Willie'In spite, rather than because, of the events of the last few days, London Irish recorded only their second league win of the …Sat Feb 21 1998 - 00:00
McMahon provides the spark that ignites late Shannon winThey cut it fine enough, don't they always, but Shannon got there againMon Feb 16 1998 - 00:00
Garryowen look to key players to test ShannonAiling if not quite crippled, Irish rugby can discard its metaphorical crutches this weekend with recuperative visits to more…Sat Feb 14 1998 - 00:00
Return to league action is welcome distractionRoll on the AIB All-Ireland LeagueWed Feb 11 1998 - 00:00
Changes should be kept to minimumSometimes the sporting line between inglorious failure and glorious success is ridiculously fineTue Feb 10 1998 - 00:00
Where do we go from here?After what must have been a restless night's sleep, during which no amount of the black stuff would have softened the postmatch…Mon Feb 09 1998 - 00:00
Irish caught in vicious circleIt wouldn't be half so bad if Scotland had truly won this gameMon Feb 09 1998 - 00:00
English try to lure MurphyIn what could be a decidedly embarrassing turn of events for the IRFU, the one-time Naas player Geordan Murphy is being encouraged…Sat Feb 07 1998 - 00:00
The one that got awayAfter A calamitous start, the Irish A team endured one of the most frustrating 80 minutes imaginable at a sodden Donnybrook yesterday…Sat Feb 07 1998 - 00:00
Ashton accentuates the positiveThe Irish squad completed their preparations and began the countdown to tomorrow's opening Five Nations tie against Scotland …Fri Feb 06 1998 - 00:00
Balanced back row will shore up defenceA no news day is a good day for in the Irish campThu Feb 05 1998 - 00:00
McIvor called up as replacementGarryowen scrum-half Stephen McIvor has been named on the replacements' bench for Ireland's Five Nations opener against Scotland…Tue Feb 03 1998 - 00:00
Powerful Newbridge serve noticeAs anticipated, Newbridge College yesterday gave note that this year the Kildare school mean businessTue Feb 03 1998 - 00:00
Plus ca change upholds traditionHas the Five Nations lost a little of its lustre? Can it really be endangered by the possibility of an Anglo-French breakaway…Tue Feb 03 1998 - 00:00
Late try proves Shannon are still the bestThey have something that's intangible, indefinable and indescribable which, on days like this, makes them indestructibleMon Feb 02 1998 - 00:00