The Irish Times

Owen Doyle: Referees damned if they do, damned if they don’t on red cards

Three finals is a huge achievement for Barnes and he is standing the test of time

Tue May 24 2022 - 06:00

No shame in the manner of valiant Munster’s exit

Loss to Toulouse via the lottery of a penalty shoot-out perhaps the most heartbreaking defeat of all

Tue May 10 2022 - 06:00

Highest ranked team to host URC Grand Final as playoff format confirmed

Announcement heightens importance of final three rounds of regular-season games

Thu Apr 21 2022 - 14:53

Four-try Lowe to the fore as Leinster swat aside Connacht in second leg rout

Likely quarter-final date with Leicester booked in the diary after Aviva hammering

Fri Apr 15 2022 - 19:49

Three changes to Leinster team to face Connacht in Champions Cup

Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter and Rónan Kelleher make starting XV

Thu Apr 14 2022 - 12:19

Owen Doyle: Unacceptable face of rugby was on full show over the weekend

Gibson-Park should’ve seen red as too many brutal collisions went far beyond legal limits

Tue Apr 12 2022 - 06:00

Owen Doyle: Not even South Africa could've resisted England's illegal scrum

Real question now for James Ryan is how many serious knocks to the head are enough

Tue Mar 15 2022 - 06:00

Sexton and Biggar set to let sparks fly until the final whistle is blown

Welsh outhalf believes he and his Ireland counterpart have many similarities

Sat Jan 29 2022 - 09:00

Owen Doyle: Champions Cup format needs a rethink

Montpellier’s collapse a sign of how quickly teams can lose interest in redesigned pools

Tue Jan 18 2022 - 07:12

De Allende remains a concern but Kleyn returns for Munster

Centre unlikely to feature in Champions Cup clash against Castres

Tue Jan 11 2022 - 15:43

Owen Doyle: Respect match officials have always enjoyed is being chipped away

Manner and timing of Johann van Graan’s Munster exit a huge disappointment

Tue Dec 21 2021 - 06:00

Connacht dominate Stade Francais to kick off European campaign in style

Bonus point win comes with six tries and a rock solid defence in a famous Galway win

Sun Dec 12 2021 - 17:54

Owen Doyle: Luke Pearce had a solid performance despite inappropriate use of ‘mate’

Pearce stayed calm throughout a tense affair but caused confusion around Carbery’s kick

Tue Nov 16 2021 - 06:00

View from the New Zealand press: Final whistle ‘was almost merciful’

New Zealand writers react to the All Blacks’ second straight defeat in Dublin

Sun Nov 14 2021 - 11:23

Ireland full value for another memorable victory over New Zealand

Full house at the Aviva relishes outstanding performance from Andy Farrell’s side

Sat Nov 13 2021 - 18:04

Autumn Tests - Ireland v All Blacks: Kick-off time, TV details, teams, tickets and more

Farrell’s side welcome mighty New Zealand to Dublin for the headline November Test

Thu Nov 11 2021 - 09:28

Owen Doyle: Japan win was refreshing but All Blacks will bring the heat

The intensity brought by New Zealand in Saturday’s Test will be off the Richter scaler

Tue Nov 09 2021 - 06:00

Owen Doyle: Referee Luke Pearce far from perfect in fraught final

Referee was never far from the centre of attention, some of his own making, some not

Tue May 25 2021 - 01:00

Agony for 14-man La Rochelle as five star Toulouse conquer Europe again

Ronan O’Gara’s side fall short as winners return to the top of the continental table

Sat May 22 2021 - 19:28

Matt Williams: Rugby is getting in the way of its own success

Arcane laws and increasingly complex officiating need to be urgently addressed

Sat Apr 24 2021 - 01:00

Gerry Thornley: 2021 Six Nations was distorted by over-influence of officials

An increase in away wins made the tournament a success despite the absence of fans

Tue Mar 30 2021 - 06:45

Owen Doyle: France may well benefit in the long run from Scotland defeat

The arrogance that has been wafting over the French set-up needed to be cleared

Tue Mar 30 2021 - 06:00

Owen Doyle: Bundee Aki is good but really needs to change technique

‘Matey’ Luke Pearce and ‘Barnesy’ Wayne Barnes were utterly irritating in Paris

Tue Mar 23 2021 - 06:00

Owen Doyle: Clearout red cards will see the penny finally drop with players and coaches

Scotland’s Zander Fagerson the latest to head for an early shower for a reckless hit

Tue Feb 16 2021 - 06:36

Owen Doyle: Ireland suffered from officiating of the breakdown

Joy Neville makes important calls in Wales as other officials struggle over the weekend

Tue Nov 24 2020 - 06:59

Wales see off Georgia to give Wayne Pivac a welcome win

Teenage winger Louis Rees-Zammit scores on his debut in Llanelli

Sat Nov 21 2020 - 20:09

Owen Doyle: Wales lucky to escape heavier censure for a litany of offences

Ireland will learn more about their worth after daunting trip to Twickenham

Mon Nov 16 2020 - 06:00

Scotland given a fright in Florence but Italy are beaten again

Gregord Townsend’s side come from behind to notch their fifth-consecutive victory

Sat Nov 14 2020 - 15:22

Owen Doyle: Ireland should have been awarded penalty try for Bouthier bat

Barnes got most things right in Paris but Keenan would have scored without intervention

Tue Nov 03 2020 - 06:55

Owen Doyle: Concussions bring high tackle trial into focus

World Rugby doing its best to address a persistent and worrying problem

Wed Feb 05 2020 - 19:00

Toulouse clear tricky hurdle as Connacht come up short again

French champions absorb blow of early penalty try to triumph in Galway

Mon Jan 13 2020 - 06:00

Depleted Connacht overpowered by Toulouse

Defeat spells the end of Connacht’s slim hopes of progressing to quarter-finals

Sat Jan 11 2020 - 18:05

Leinster make it two from two as they grind out valuable away win in Lyon

Leo Cullen’s side put in a brilliant defensive showing in victory in France

Sat Nov 23 2019 - 17:42

Owen Doyle: Referees will be under more scrutiny than ever at this World Cup

The 12 referees have gone through a long and arduous selection process

Sat Sept 14 2019 - 08:30