FIRST VERSUS SECOND, Rugby Championship winners versus the Grand Slam champions. Saturday’s showdown at the Aviva Stadium has all the ingredients to be the Test match of the year, and former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga says it’s not just a big acid test for Ireland. Less than 12 months out from the World Cup, Read more about ‘There’s a lot of nervousness, everyone is very wary of this Irish team’[…]
IRELAND ROUNDED OFF the international rugby year with a dominant 57-14 win over the USA at the Aviva Stadium. How did you rate Joe Schmidt’s men? Replacements Click Here: brisbane broncos store Josh van der Flier and Darren Sweetnam not on long enough to be rated.
CONNACHT HEAD COACH Andy Friend has opted for a blend of international experience and youth for the province’s Challenge Cup clash with Perpignan at the Sportsground on Saturday afternoon [KO 3pm]. Friend has made wholesale changes following the two-game tour to South Africa, but Connacht are boosted by the return of Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham Read more about Bundee Aki back to boost Connacht for visit of Perpignan[…]
ULSTER HEAD COACH Dan McFarland has been able to limit the changes needed to his team for tomorrow’s Pro14 clash with Munster in Kingspan Stadium [kick-off 19.35, eir Sport]. The northern province have struck a rich vein of form through the European back-to-backs having battled back into quarter-final contention with bonus point wins over Scarlets. Read more about Baloucoune in for Stockdale, but Ulster retain strength for Munster clash[…]
IN CASE YOU were otherwise engaged, perhaps even in transit to or from one of these games, here’s a quick glance back a the weekend inter-pro action. There’s also five more Pro14 matches for good measure, including Glasgow Warriors’ loss away to Benetton and Ken Owen’s turn at number 8 for Scarlets. Leinster 40 Ulster Read more about Carbery class, O’Brien’s burst and all your Pro14 highlights[…]
FIRST AND FOREMOST, it’s good to be back. A long, long road of recovery and rehabilitation followed a horror injury sustained this time last year. Ireland star Alison Miller was left contemplating retirement as she fractured both her tibia and fibula and suffered a compound fracture in her side’s Six Nations win over Italy on Read more about ‘When I was on the trolley in Vincent’s, I definitely didn’t think I’d play again’[…]
JOSH VAN DER Flier started the 2018 Six Nations in Ireland’s seven shirt and it looks increasingly like the Leinster openside will do the same again this year when Joe Schmidt’s side face England in Dublin on 2 February. Sean O’Brien has been named in Ireland’s squad for the opening two rounds of the championship, Read more about Leinster openside Van der Flier in impressive form as Six Nations looms[…]
LEINSTER HEAD COACH Leo Cullen moved to defend Rob Kearney’s defensive performance during Friday’s Pro14 win over Scarlets and backed him to step up for the Six Nations opener against England. Like Jack McGrath, Kearney was left out of Ireland’s visit to a Portugal training camp in order to get game-time under his belt after Read more about Cullen backs Kearney to step up performance to face England[…]
CLAIRE BOLES IS on a 7s development contract with the IRFU, is currently part of the Ireland Women’s 15s squad for the Six Nations, and is in her third year of a degree in Chemical Engineering in UCD. Things are busy for the 20-year-old, who made her 15s debut for Ireland against Scotland two weekends ago, as she Read more about 7s, 15s and Chemical Engineering – Enniskillen’s Boles balancing the books[…]
NGANI LAUMAPE HAS rejected overtures from overseas to extend his contract with New Zealand Rugby and the Hurricanes until 2021. Click Here: gold coast titans rugby store The All Blacks centre received offers to ply his trade further afield after the 2019 Super Rugby season, but has opted to stay put. Laumape made his Test debut Read more about All Blacks centre Laumape rejects overseas interest to sign new Hurricanes deal[…]