The Irish Times

Josh van der Flier excited to pit himself against the All Blacks

Ireland player pays tribute to captain and teammate Johnny Sexton after special day

Mon Nov 08 2021 - 06:00

Johnny Sexton: ‘The most special messages I got were from the guys who got the 100 caps’

Sexton, Andy Farrell and Jamie Joseph reflect on Ireland’s dominant win at the Aviva

Sat Nov 06 2021 - 17:03

Ireland v Japan: Landmark day in store for Sexton and co

Ireland will have to stay organised to counter Japan’s improved attack and set-piece

Fri Nov 05 2021 - 21:00

Andy Farrell front loads Ireland side in expectation of dangerous Japanese threat

‘This is a proper Test match, you guys know that. I’m not sure everybody else does’

Fri Nov 05 2021 - 06:00

Japan coach Jamie Joseph expects Ireland to raise their game to mark Sexton milestone

‘We know it’s going to create a lot of emotion with the Irish boys’

Thu Nov 04 2021 - 16:19

Johnny Sexton to wait until after Six Nations before making decision on World Cup

‘My body is good, my mind is good and, in an ideal world, I would love to keep going’

Tue Nov 02 2021 - 17:40

Japan player watch: How Timothy Lafaele enables his side’s dynamic back play

Ireland have found the Samoan-born centre a tough opponent in recent meetings

Sun Oct 31 2021 - 07:00

James Ryan and Joey Carbery in Ireland side to face Japan

Andy Farrell selects strongest side at his disposal for match in Dublin

Thu Jul 01 2021 - 14:32

Plenty of motivation for Irish and Scottish players as Lions face Japan

Murray one of seven-strong Irish contingent with painful memories of World Cup

Fri Jun 25 2021 - 08:07

Lions to play Japan on home soil before tour to South Africa

Warren Gatland’s side will play Brave Blossoms at Murrayfield on June 26th 2021

Wed Oct 21 2020 - 09:26

Sporting upsets: Japan light the blue touch paper as Ireland slowly wilt

Brave Blossoms’ win sparks beginning of the end for Schmidt’s side and inspires a nation

Fri Oct 16 2020 - 06:00

Rugby in a pandemic: Welcome to the season from the edge of oblivion

The return of supporters is seen as vital to the future of the professional game

Sat Oct 03 2020 - 06:00

Bernard Jackman helping world’s top coaches pick each other’s brains

Zoom gathering started with just seven coaches has mushroomed during lockdown

Fri Jun 05 2020 - 06:00

Liam Toland: Astute kicking game helps England establish a stranglehold

For the third time in a row Ireland were unable to cope with England’s tactics

Mon Feb 24 2020 - 06:30

Ian Foster gets the nod as new All Blacks coach

He served eight years as Hansen’s assistant and beat Scott Robertson to the position

Wed Dec 11 2019 - 07:14

Pieter-Steph Du Toit named World Rugby Player of the Year

Rassie Erasmus named coach of the year with Jamie Heaslip receiving merit award

Sun Nov 03 2019 - 14:59

It’ll be all black for a while but New Zealand will rise again

Steve Hansen fronts up and offers no excuses after crushing semi-final defeat to England

Mon Oct 28 2019 - 06:00

The Offload: Ireland’s Joe Schmidt rattled rugby’s true elite

Outgoing coach has left a blueprint behind, Jamie Joseph will have plenty of options

Mon Oct 21 2019 - 10:00

Power prevails as Springboks crush Japan’s World Cup dreams

Brave Blossoms wilt against South Africa as they set up a semi-final meeting with Wales

Sun Oct 20 2019 - 14:26

Japan’s thrilling odyssey snuffed out by harsh South African reality

Rugby World Cup: Brave Blossoms have brought game to new levels in host country

Sun Oct 20 2019 - 14:07

Jamie Joseph makes one change to Japan XV for Springboks clash

Ryohei Yamanaka replaces William Tupou at fullback for South Africa quarter-final

Fri Oct 18 2019 - 08:38

Gerry Thornley: Japan v Scotland was a magnificent irrelevance

Decision to go ahead despite typhoon vindicated by uplifting performance from hosts

Tue Oct 15 2019 - 07:00

Rassie Erasmus: ‘Japan are the enemy for one week’

South Africa coach impressed with hosts’ improvement through Rugby World Cup

Tue Oct 15 2019 - 06:00

Exhilarating Japan arrive on the big stage in the land of the rising water

Hosts send an intoxicating air through rugby’s old order as they dump out Scotland

Mon Oct 14 2019 - 07:09

Rugby World Cup: Japan enthral a nation and beyond as they storm into quarter-finals

Ireland will now play world champions New Zealand in the last eight next Saturday

Sun Oct 13 2019 - 13:59

Japan hoping to maintain momentum with win over Samoa

The Japanese public has taken to devouring rugby stories as it gets to know its heroes

Fri Oct 04 2019 - 18:30

Niall Scannell dismisses criticism of sub-par Irish performance

Ireland accentuate the positive after 35-0 victory over Russia on a rainy night in Kobe

Thu Oct 03 2019 - 21:30

Rugby World Cup - Ireland v Russia: Irish kick-off time, TV channels and more

Joe Schmidt’s side look to get their tournament back on track against Bears in Kobe

Tue Oct 01 2019 - 09:00

Rugby World Cup: Preparation drives Japan’s perfect coup

Unlike four years ago, favourable schedule in the pool will now suit the Brave Blossoms

Tue Oct 01 2019 - 06:00

Rugby World Cup: Japan pitch perfect as Ireland strike bum note

Host nation take full advantage as Ireland let standards drop in Shizuoka

Mon Sept 30 2019 - 06:00

Rugby World Cup: Japan’s old guard to the fore on glorious night for host nation

Luke Thompson. Michael Leitch and Shota Horie all put in huge performances in Shizuoka