Rugby

World Rugby has discontinued their Nations Championship plans having failed to gain unanimous support from the countries involved in the Six Nations.  The proposed structure, which they hoped to launch in 2022, would have seen the Six Nations winners take on the winners of the expanded six-team Rugby Championship. The governing body says that plans were scrapped due to “a …

The draw for the 2019/2020 edition of the Heineken Champions Cup was made on Wednesday afternoon in Lausanne, Switzerland.  All four of the Irish provinces are competing in next season’s edition of the Champions Cup and today they learned who stands between them and European glory. Here we discuss some of the biggest talking points from Wednesday’s draw. Pool Of …

The draw for the 2019/2020 Heineken Champions Cup has been made in Lausanne, Switzerland.  20 clubs from across Europe will compete in next season’s edition of the competition. This is the first time since the 2016/17 season in which all four Irish provinces have qualified for the competition on their own merits – prior to the 2016/17 season, Connacht only …

The draw for the 2019/20 Heineken Champions Cup takes place today at 1.20 pm in Lausanne, Switzerland.  20 clubs have qualified for next season’s premier European club rugby competition. Before the main pool draw can take place, the 20 qualified clubs must first be placed into four tiers of five teams based on their ranking: Tier 1 The three domestic …

Mathieu Bastareaud has been left out of France’s 37-man World Cup training squad as head coach Jacques Brunel revealed his selection today.  According to reports, Bastareaud’s exclusion is at the behest of incoming head coach Fabien Galthie who will take over from Brunel after the 2019 World Cup. The powerful centre was vice-captain throughout the Six Nations which makes his …

Rugby World magazine has listed the top 100 players in the world right now which was voted by the publication’s expert panel.  In addition to the magazine’s editorial team, the panel included former Fiji 7s head coach Ben Ryan, Wasps Ladies Director of Rugby Giselle Mather and Kiwi writer Liam Napier. Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones tops the list and …

The PRO14 has confirmed the makeup of the two conferences for the next two seasons.  The current format of the PRO14 has been in place for two seasons with the same teams competing in the same conferences in the last two campaigns. However, officials have now confirmed that there will some shakeup ahead of the 2019/20 campaign with six teams …

Toulouse lifting the Top 14 title on Saturday signalled the end of the northern hemisphere club season but the lengthy nature of the French campaign aside, many of Europe’s elite players will be getting back to work soon.  Today, Ireland have reconvened at their Carton House base as they begin their preparations for their World Cup opener against Scotland on …

Disgraced rugby star, Israel Folau, has launched a fresh attack on homosexuality during his first public appearance since his sacking from Rugby Australia following social media posts claiming that “Hell awaits” drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators. The former Wallaby full-back delivered a sermon at his Sydney church where he once again described homosexuality as a sin …

Ireland U20s head coach Noel McNamara has announced his starting XV which will take on England (KO 7:30 pm) in the 5th place semi-final at the World Rugby U20 Championships on Monday.  Ireland, who have suffered from an extensive injury list throughout this campaign, will meet England for the third time this season having defeated them already in the pool …

The makeup of the quarter-finals in the 2019 edition of Super Rugby has been confirmed after the culmination of the regular season this weekend.  New Zealand side the Crusaders will be looking to make it three titles in a row and their excellent form has seen them clinch the first seed which means that they will host the final if …

It’s relatively quiet in the northern hemisphere with international players taking a well-deserved break after a gruelling 2018/19 season.  However, although many players are currently enjoying some sun on their backs, it won’t be long until the serious work starts again as preparations begin for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. Warm-up games will take place in August and …

Ireland have fallen to a 27-5 defeat in the opening round of the Biarritz leg of the World Sevens Series.  Stan McDowell’s side took on Australia and with just one win in 14 meetings with the Aussies heading into this fixture, Ireland certainly had an uphill battle on their hands. Ireland were under pressure from the off when Eve Higgins’ …

Ireland U20s head coach Noel McNamara has confirmed that two players have been ruled out of the remainder of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Argentina.  Flanker Ciaran Booth suffered a knee injury in the bonus-point win over Italy. The circumstances surrounding the injury have come in for criticism on social media as Booth was in the jackal position at …

Munster have confirmed that Wallabies legend Stephen Larkham will join the province as a new senior coach ahead of the 2019/20 season.  Munster are currently in the midst of a coaching reshuffle after the news that Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones would be leaving the province. The southern province have already secured the services of former England and British & …

The RFU have confirmed that England head coach Eddie Jones intends to see out the remainder of his contract until 2021 and that defence coach John Mitchell has also committed to two years post 2019 Rugby World Cup.  Mitchell was appointed defence coach in September 2018 and in the nine Test matches in which Mitchell has been involved in, England …

Diageo, the parent company of Guinness, have chosen to end their sponsorship deal with London Irish following their signing of Paddy Jackson. The former Irish international was acquitted of rape following a court case last year and subsequently joined French side, Perpignan. Following one season with them, it was announced that Jackson had signed for London Irish, coached by Declan …