France stirring under Guy Novès as they combine force with touch of flairLes Bleus will arrive in Dublin with most settled team and squad since Laporte daysFri Feb 17 2017 - 20:05
Johnny Sexton sits out open training session in MonaghanRory Best, Peter O’Mahony, Iain Henderson and Andrew Trimble, all take a full partFri Feb 17 2017 - 14:06
Kieran Keane a strong contender to be next Connacht coachWaikato Chiefs backs coach has formidable credentials to succeed Pat LamThu Feb 16 2017 - 12:49
Gerry Thornley: Top tier expands and leaves Italy behindThis year’s series is going to be more brutally physical and exacting than its predecessorsTue Feb 14 2017 - 07:39
Gerry Thornley: Ireland performance so good it was almost wasted on ItalyJoe Schmidt’s men put Murrayfield behind them with nine-try, record-winning marginMon Feb 13 2017 - 01:00
Gerry Thornley: Six Nations a different trial from autumn seriesSchmidt: ‘Hopefully, after today, they’ll appreciate they can live up to these big matches’Mon Feb 13 2017 - 01:00
Stander and Gilroy run over hat-tricks as Ireland complete Roman routJoe Schmidt’s side ran over nine tries in Rome to pick up a much-needed victorySat Feb 11 2017 - 16:49
Ireland ready for relaunch as Italy brace for backlashSchmidt’s side cannot afford to slip up against tournament underdogs in RomeSat Feb 11 2017 - 07:52
Conor O’Shea loving life in Italy but knows Rome wasn’t built in a dayIrishman wants his side to arrive at the next World Cup like Argentina did in 1999Fri Feb 10 2017 - 19:29
Ireland v Italy: Rome offers chance for redemptionJoe Schmidt calls up Donnacha Ryan and Cian Healy to starting XV for Italy testFri Feb 10 2017 - 08:00
Sexton to miss Italy match with Donnacha Ryan set for recallRyan to come in to Ireland secondrow while Peter O’Mahony will not be riskedWed Feb 08 2017 - 21:16
John Ryan looks to make big impact for Ireland at tightheadMunster player relishes first outings in Test rugby but knows he has to fight for a placeWed Feb 08 2017 - 06:00
Andy Farrell says Ireland can emulate Wales in RomeSchmidt’s assistant argues poor defence was less a technical issue than one of appetiteWed Feb 08 2017 - 01:00
Gerry Thornley: Scotland defeat hard to take but no need to panicThe glow from the historic treble over the southern hemisphere giants has not lastedTue Feb 07 2017 - 07:00
Robbie Henshaw says Ireland have learned harsh lessonsDoubts remain over Peter O’Mahony and Johnny Sexton as Ian Keatley stays in campTue Feb 07 2017 - 01:00
Ireland already out of wriggle room as Six Nations reality bites hardJoe Schmidt’s team will need four wins, and possibly bonus points, to contend for titleMon Feb 06 2017 - 08:29
Ireland miss the Grand Slam bus with a sluggish startBlame their tardy arrival at, but Ireland never found that extra gear to beat ScotlandMon Feb 06 2017 - 07:00
Vern Cotter hails win over Ireland as his best with Scotland‘It certainly changes the dynamic, to start the Six Nations with a win’Sat Feb 04 2017 - 18:31
Gerry Thornley: Ireland pay heavy price for missing the starting gunSecond-half fightback falls short as Ireland left with just a losing bonus pointSat Feb 04 2017 - 16:51
Indomitable Rory Best sums up nerves, fear and excitementIreland captain insists his men can’t let an emotional Scotland spring from the trapsSat Feb 04 2017 - 01:00
Plenty done, plenty more to achieve for Jack McGrathIreland prop forward believes Six Nations opener against Scotland will be a huge taskSat Feb 04 2017 - 01:00
Ireland have ball-carriers to earn hard yards in wild and windy MurrayfieldJoe Schmidt’s side has array of dynamic runners with more ballast to come from benchFri Feb 03 2017 - 01:00
Brian O’Driscoll expects Ireland to be in title hunt on final dayFormer captain acknowledges luck will play a part in Six Nations campaignThu Feb 02 2017 - 01:00
Gerry Thornley: Seán O’Brien set to be named in familiar Ireland teamNiall Scannell in line to make his debut off the bench at MurrayfieldWed Feb 01 2017 - 20:20
Tadhg Furlong still getting to grips with life in the fast laneIreland prop has come a long way since making his full Test debut in South AfricaWed Feb 01 2017 - 07:00
Simon Easterby defends decision not to pick Ian MadiganPaddy Jackson has huge responsibility on his shoulders with Johnny Sexton out injuredWed Feb 01 2017 - 06:00
Overlooking Ian Madigan sends out clear messageIrish management will only turn to overseas-based players in rare circumstancesTue Jan 31 2017 - 21:32
Gerry Thornley: Avoiding injuries is critical for Ireland’s Six NationsRecent history shows the more settled an Irish side, the more likely they will be contendersTue Jan 31 2017 - 07:00
Rob Kearney feeling the heat, but knows the scoreIreland fullback wary of threat posed by on-form Scotland side at MurrayfieldTue Jan 31 2017 - 01:00
Vern Cotter says Scotland ready to push Ireland closerCoach confident his improving team have the resources this time to test Ireland’s mettleMon Jan 30 2017 - 01:00
Six Nations: England could seal title before Ireland finaleSchmidt’s side face a much-improved Scottish team in the opening game of tournamentSat Jan 28 2017 - 05:00
Momentum so crucial for Joe Schmidt and IrelandResult in opener at Murrayfield will go long way to determining Ireland’s campaignSat Jan 28 2017 - 01:00
Joe Schmidt targeting top-two finish for Ireland in Six NationsIreland head coach expecting hugely competitive and compelling tournamentThu Jan 26 2017 - 11:28
Italy’s O’Shea not expecting to pull up trees – but seed has been plantedFormer Ireland fullback is prioritising performances over results in Six NationsThu Jan 26 2017 - 06:00
Johnny Sexton will be fit for opening Six Nations matchIreland coach Joe Schmidt has said the outhalf will return to the full training next weekWed Jan 25 2017 - 11:49
Gerry Thornley: Tight margins until the tightest of finalesIrish sides did better than expected in Champions Cup pool stage with Munster the happiestTue Jan 24 2017 - 07:00
Schmidt's squad points to Sexton’s likely returnSquad of 40 selected for next month’s opening two games in Scotland and ItalyTue Jan 24 2017 - 01:04
Regrets, John Muldoon and Connacht will have a fewPlaying Munster at Thomond Park in a Champions Cup quarter-final would have been a dreamTue Jan 24 2017 - 01:00
Connacht’s pain magnified by missing Munster quarter-finalChampions Cup quarter-final and semi-final permutations for Leinster and MunsterMon Jan 23 2017 - 08:56
Tiernan O’Halloran: We clawed back but it just didn’t happenConnacht full-back reflects on the one that got away as Toulouse deprive them of a European Champions Cup quarter-final placeMon Jan 23 2017 - 01:00
Robbie Henshaw: ‘I think Leinster can go all the way’After draw with Castres, Henshaw is ready for home quarter-final with his new teamMon Jan 23 2017 - 01:00
Pat Lam: ‘You miss out by two points, it’s a killer blow’Connacht coach frustrated after side fail to make European quarter-finalsSun Jan 22 2017 - 18:45
Gerry Thornley: Connacht fall just short of prizePat Lam’s brave side miss out on quarter-final slot by smallest of marginsSun Jan 22 2017 - 18:07
Connacht facing biggest European challenge everWithstanding European aristocrats Toulouse on their own patch a tall order for Lam’s sideSun Jan 22 2017 - 07:00
Leo Cullen confident Johnny Sexton will be fit for Six NationsLeinster coach says his young side will learn a lesson from hard-earned draw in CastresSat Jan 21 2017 - 19:58
Jack Carty’s back for Connacht and aiming for bigger thingsAfter recovering from horrific injury the outhalf is excited about future with province and IrelandSat Jan 21 2017 - 08:00
Leinster draw conclusion that home quarter-final is in the bagLeo Cullen’s side guaranteed home tie unless Connacht secure huge win in ToulouseFri Jan 20 2017 - 23:59
Leinster one win away from a substantial windfallVictory against Castres will secure a lucrative home quarter-final for Leo Cullen’s sideFri Jan 20 2017 - 06:00
European Champions Cup: What’s needed to progress?Munster and Leinster have home ties within reach while Connacht have work to doWed Jan 18 2017 - 05:00
Gerry Thornley: HIAs have been underminedProvinces’ weekend achievements clouded by events that led to Conor Murray’s HIATue Jan 17 2017 - 07:00
