Rugby

The 2018/19 Guinness PRO14 season is reaching its end and competition organisers have confirmed the dates and times for the playoffs.  The top three teams in each conference are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs and we already know the makeup of some of the Final Series matches. The quarter-finals will be played in back-to-back afternoon slots on Saturday, May …

Tommaso Benvenuti has received a two-week ban for his high challenge on Stephen Archer during Munster’s 37-28 win over Benetton Treviso on Friday. The centre was reported by the Citing Commissioner in charge for an infringement of Law 9.20 – A player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders. The player was shown a …

We’re just two days away from the eagerly anticipated clash between Saracens and Munster in the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final.  These two sides have faced off many times before in the past and there will be no shortage of familiarity with players on both sides having played against each other on the international stage in addition to being on the …

Gordon D’Arcy believes Conor Murray will need to stamp his authority in their Heineken Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens in order to fill the void left by Joey Carbery. Carbery has been deemed as “highly unlikely” to start the game after being withdrawn during their quarter-final win over Edinburgh after 36 minutes with the hamstring injury that prematurely ended his …

Ireland and Ulster captain, Rory Best, has confirmed that he will retire from rugby following the World Cup in October.  Best is Ulster’s most-capped international with 116 appearances (10 tries) and has helped Ireland win the Six Nations Championship on four occasions, including two Grand Slam successes (one as captain). He made his competitive debut for Ulster in 2004 and …

Former Leinster and Ireland rugby player, Gordon D’Arcy, believes anyone who wants to participate in sport must accept and live by approved societal norms. His comments come as Rugby Australia announced the termination of Israel Folau’s contract due to a “high level” breach of the professional players’ code of conduct, while stating that he had ignored formal instruction not to …

Nigel Owens has opened up on his powerful story about discovering his sexuality and the struggles he had with his mental health as a result. The highly respected rugby referee, who came out as gay in 2007, was speaking on the Jim White show on TalkSPORT, about the recent controversies surrounding Israel Folau’s anti-gay Instagram post which was ‘liked’ and …

Leinster’s Sean Cronin admitted to being disappointed following his axing from Joe Schmidt’s squad for the final two Six Nations games but the hooker is adamant that he is still in the New Zealander’s plans going forward. Speaking to the media ahead of Leinster’s crunch Champions Cup semi-final against Toulouse on Sunday, Cronin expressed his disappointment at being dropped but …

Premiership Rugby has confirmed that Mark McCafferty will step down as chief executive with Darren Childs set to succeed him. McCafferty will now take up a role as advisor to CVC Capital Partners, the equity firm that recently bought nearly a third of the competition for a £230m investment. He served as chief executive since 2005 and was responsible for …

Leinster coach, Stuart Lancaster has today confirmed that out-half Johnny Sexton is fit and in training ahead of the provinces crucial Champions Cup semi-final clash with Toulouse on Sunday. Sexton has not played a competitive game of rugby since Ireland’s defeat to Wales in the final round of this year’s Six Nations. He was expected to start against Ulster three …

England international, Billy Vunipola has been given a formal warning by the Rugby Football Union following his Instagram post supporting Israel Folau.  Folau, who has found himself under a cloud of controversy following an Instagram post that claimed: “Hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators”. The full-back looks set to have his contract terminated by Rugby …

Former All Black, Israel Dagg has opened up the mental health struggles that almost forced him out of the game. The 30-year-old former Crusaders player who retired from rugby last week due to a chronic knee injury claims to have entered into a severe mental health battle after missing out on selection for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Speaking to …

Munster head coach, Johann van Graan, has refused to rule out the possibility of Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell joining his coaching ticket at the province in the near future. The South African signed a contract extension with the province last week that will see him remain in his post until 2022, however, he has indicated that he may look …

Saracens and England player, Billy Vunipola, has addressed the recent controversy over his social media post defending the views of Australia’s Israel Folau. Last week, the 26-year-old ‘liked’ Folau’s Instagram post in which he warned gays, drunks, and adulterers, among others, that ‘hell awaits them’. Vunipola then took to Instagram to defend his actions, explaining that it was the point …

Peter O’Mahony has warned that Munster will have to produce their best performance of the year in order to beat Saracens in the Champions Cup semi-final on Saturday.  The province edged past Edinburgh in the quarter-final last month thanks to two tries from Keith Earls. In the other match-up, Saracens registered 56 points against Glasgow, without the help of their …

Head coach Johann van Graan confirmed that Joey Carbery is “highly unlikely” to be available for Munster’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final showdown with Saracens on Saturday.  The talented out-half pulled up with a hamstring injury in the first half of the quarter-final win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield less than three weeks ago. It was a recurrence of the same injury …

The New Zealand All Blacks have been dealt a huge blow with the news that Damian McKenzie has ruptured his ACL and is ruled out of the upcoming Rugby World Cup. The Chiefs player suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while on club duty at the weekend against the Blues with All Blacks head coach, Steven …

Israel Folau’s anti-gay comments look to have ruled him out of selection ahead of the Rugby World Cup according to Wallabies head coach, Michael Cheika. Last week, Folau posted a message to Instagram stating that “Hell awaits” drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators. As Folau’s future with Australia hangs in the balance, Cheika criticised the 30-year-old following …