Rugby

Mako Vunipola has not been included in England’s 33-man squad as Eddie Jones’ side begin preparations for the visit of Ireland to Twickenham on Sunday in round three of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations.  The RFU released a squad update this afternoon and it confirmed that Vunipola has travelled back to Tonga due to “family reasons”. This will come as …

After a down week, the 2020 Guinness Six Nations returns this weekend with England v Ireland at Twickenham the highlight of the action.  Ireland head to London knowing that a win will secure a Triple Crown, which would be their first since 2018 and their sixth in the Six Nations era (since 2000). A win would also likely set up …

RTÉ will show live coverage of the women’s All-Ireland League final for the first time in its history later this year.  The news was confirmed today after the IRFU announced that both the men’s and women’s AIL finals will take place at Energia Park in Donnybrook. The women’s final will take place on Sunday, April 26 with the men’s final …

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named a 36-man squad for his side’s trip to Twickenham to take on England on Sunday (KO 3 pm]  23 players convened last week for a three day camp in Cork as Farrell released 13 players for provincial duty as the Guinness PRO14 reconvened after a mid-season break. Those 13 players have returned and …

Beibhinn Parsons has stepped away from the Ireland squad for the remainder of the Six Nations to focus on studying for her leaving cert. The Ballinasloe native has so far set the Women’s Six Nations Championship alight with two tries in two games as Adam Griggs’ side picked up back-to-back wins at Energia Park.  Parsons, who has been playing on …

Such is the strength in depth which Leinster have in the back-row at the moment, you would almost be forgiven in forgetting that the eastern province has two Ireland internationals waiting to make their return from long-term injury.  Both Jack Conan and Dan Leavy are closing in on making their first appearances of the season. Conan is expected to be …

This Six Nations has been a little bit different for Munster and Ireland’s Keith Earls.  The Moyross man missed out on the action as Ireland got their campaign up and running with a win over Scotland. Next up against Wales, he started on the bench before entering the fray at the 45th-minute mark to replace Robbie Henshaw at outside centre. …

Stepping off his right and then quickly off his left, Jack Crowley burst through the Scottish defence in his own 22 to raise the decibel level at Musgrave Park in Cork.  Showing superb pace to sprint down the field, Crowley used a powerful left arm fend to take care of the Scottish fullback before touching down under the posts. That …

Ireland head into the Guinness Six Nations mid-tournament break in great spirits having recorded back-to-back wins over Scotland and Wales in Dublin. Andy Farrell has taken his charges down to Cork where they will review the opening two rounds while preparing for a crack at the Triple Crown in nine days time when they face England at Twickenham. Despite their, …

Eddie Jones has been coaching at the highest level for over 20 years.  In that time, the Australian would have witnessed the transformation of rugby union – the game looks completely different now from what it did in the late 1990s. Yet, the coach has been successful in the majority of the roles has taken throughout his coaching career. A …

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has opted for an exciting blend of youth and experience for the visit of the Cheetahs to the RDS Arena on Saturday in the PRO14.  A number of players released from the Ireland camp for this weekend are chosen by Cullen in his starting XV, while four Academy players also make the match-day 23. Rob …

There was mixed news on the injury front when Ireland head coach Andy Farrell spoke to the media in Cork on Thursday afternoon.  He confirmed that those involved in the training camp this week were all involved and fit which includes Caelan Doris and Robbie Henshaw. Doris was removed early on against Scotland due to a head knock, likewise with …

This isn’t exactly new territory for Andy Farrell.  The Ireland head coach has been involved in the national setup on these shores since 2016 when he performed the role of defence coach under Joe Schmidt. In that time, he has coached against his son, Owen, on four occasions as Ireland defence coach. Two wins in 2017 and 2018 followed by …

Connacht have today announced that five players have signed contract renewals keeping them at the western province until the end of the 2020/2021 season.  Tom Daly, Peter Robb and Dominic Robertson-McCoy have all signed two-year extensions to keep them at the Sportsground until the end of the 2021/22 season, while Shane Delahunt and Conor Kenny have signed one-year extensions with …

Allianz will end its sponsorship deal with Saracens at the end of this season following months of controversy.  The insurance group has been the main sponsor of the Premiership side since 2012 with the current deal set to run out at the end of next year. However, Allianz will bring their partnership with Saracens to an end prematurely due to …

Andy Farrell has confirmed that there are no fresh injury worries for Ireland ahead of their trip to Twickenham to take on England next weekend.  The Ireland head coach was speaking in Cork City this afternoon after the Irish team took part in a three-day training camp. A number of players were released for provincial duty this weekend and Farrell …

Eddie Jones has named a 25-man training squad for a three-day camp this week as his side begin preparations for their Six Nations round three clash with Ireland at Twickenham next weekend.  The Six Nations is on a down week but Jones will take training this week in Kensington, central London, as he looks to build on his side’s hard-fought …

It’s been a pretty a successful two-week period for Irish rugby.  The senior men, the Ireland U20s and the women are two from two in their respective Six Nations competitions. For the U20s, they have the most points on the board, with back-to-back bonus-point wins against Scotland and Wales keeping their Six Nations title defence firmly on track after 2019’s …