Rugby

Scotland out-half Finn Russell will miss his side’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland following a “breach of team protocol”, Scottish Rugby have confirmed. Gregor Townsend’s men are currently in a team camp in Edinburgh as preparations continue for the clash in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, February 1. However, those preparations have been hit with a major blow as …

Such is the nature of age-grade rugby, each year brings a whole host of new faces and talent ready to make their mark on the international stage.  For the upcoming U20 Six Nations, Ireland head coach Noel McNamara welcomes back seven players who were involved in last year’s edition of the tournament and at the World Cup which took place …

Premiership clubs contributed to the formation of the investigation which ultimately led to Saracens’ relegation according to a report in The Times on Wednesday.  It is reported that Premiership clubs were providing information to Premier Rugby in relation to Saracens’ suspected breaches of the salary cap. Some clubs did their own investigations and it is understood that Harlequins compiled a …

Eddie Jones has claimed his England squad will hold talks this week to resolve any anger stemming from the ongoing salary cap scandal to hit Saracens. Saracens, who will be relegated at the end of the season, boast seven squad members ahead of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations. Speaking to the BBC, Jones said he will preside over talks with …

Ireland U20s head coach Noel McNamara believes that the U20 age-grade is an ideal platform for players to grow and develop into senior players.  And it’s difficult to argue with when you consider the rise of some of last year’s Grand Slam-winning contingent. Azur Allison (Ulster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Michael Milne (Leinster), Niall Murray (Connacht), Scott Penny (Leinster), Harry Byrne …

Felix Jones has packed more into his coaching career than most will in a lifetime. In the last four years, he has dealt the highest highs and the lowest lows. As his career in the technical box was taking off, the tragic death of Anthony Foley ripped the heart and soul out of Munster. Jones, alongside Jerry Flanery, was left …

Head coach Noel McNamara has named his Ireland U20s squad ahead of the beginning of the U20 Six Nations which begins in less than two weeks’ time.  There are seven players included in the squad who were also involved at this age-grade last year during the 2018 Grand Slam triumph and the U20 World Cup in Argentina. Ireland get their …

England have named their squad for the Six Nations. England head coach Eddie Jones has named a 34-man squad for the tournament, which gets underway next weekend. The World Cup finalists begin their campaign against France in Paris on Sunday, February 2. Jones has called-up 22 players who played at the World Cup in Japan last year and eight uncapped …

The quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup have been confirmed following the final weekend of action in the competition’s pool stages. The tie of the round is undoubtedly defending champions Saracens game against top seeds Leinster with the English club securing a spot in the last eight with victory over Racing – just a day after their Premiership relegation was …

A “freaky” training ground incident is what caused Chris Farrell to be ruled out of today’s Heineken Champions Cup clash between Munster and Ospreys at Thomond Park.  Munster secured a bonus-point 33-6 victory to sign off their European campaign on a high but they did so without the services of Farrell who was withdrawn from the starting XV before kick-off. …

Munster 33 Ospreys 6 Sean McMahon reporting from Thomond Park.  It was supposed to be a day of miracles but for Munster, their exit from this season’s Heineken Champions Cup was already confirmed before the players went to bed on Saturday night thanks to the failure of Lyon and Sale in claiming wins in their respective ties yesterday. So for …

Premiership Rugby have confirmed that Saracens will be relegated from the top flight at the end of the 2019/2020 Premiership season. Saracens are the reigning Premiership champions in addition to being holders of the Champions Cup but will start next season in the RFU Championship. The club was fined £5 million in November and deducted 35 points for failing to …

Saracens look set to accept another 35 points deduction from Premiership Rugby which will ultimately consign them to relegation to the Championship according to a report on Friday. Rob Kitson, writing in The Guardian, reports that Saracens are failing to comply with the salary cap this season despite the club’s best efforts to offload a number of players over the …

Connacht have named their team this weekend’s clash against Montpellier in the Heineken Champions Cup (Sunday KO 3.15 pm).  Connacht’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages were dashed last weekend when they fell to a defeat at home to Toulouse but they are determined to finish their European campaign on a high and this is reflected by the strong team …

Munster’s Calvin Nash will make his Heineken Champions Cup debut in their final pool game against Ospreys this weekend in Thomond Park.  The game will also mark a first European start for Fineen Wycherley while Academy duo Ben Healy and Jack O’Sullivan have been named among the replacements. Following last Sunday’s 39-22 loss to Racing 92 in Paris, Johann van …

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named his team to take on Benetton in the final pool round of the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday (KO 1 pm).  The eastern province travel to Italy to take on Benetton and they have been boosted by the return of James Ryan who has been missing in recent weeks due to a calf …

Ulster have made one change to their side ahead of their final Heineken Champions Cup Pool 3 game against Bath at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday.  Despite their loss to Clermont Auvergne at the weekend, Ulster remain confident of securing a Champions Cup quarter-final spot knowing that any manner of victory against Bath will see them progress. Tom O’Toole – who …

Brought to you by Energia, proud sponsors of Leinster Rugby. A passion for sport runs deep in the family, Grace Miller tells Pundit Arena. There’s Grace’s older sister, Alison. The Ireland legend, who won 47 caps for her country and was part of some of the greatest days in Irish women’s rugby, announced her retirement last year after 10 years …