Tag Archives: Guinness PRO14 2019/20

Seán McMahon reporting from Thomond Park.  Munster are facing into a potential out-half crisis with European rugby on the horizon after JJ Hanrahan was removed after the half-hour mark in Munster’s 22-16 win over Ulster in Limerick on Saturday night.  Munster head coach Johann van Graan confirmed during his post-match press conference that Hanrahan was removed with what looks to …

Munster 22 Ulster 16 Sean McMahon reporting from Thomond Park  Halloween may be behind us but Munster produced a real fright for their supporters as they almost suffered an unlikely defeat at home. With a 15-6 lead at halftime, many expected Munster to push on but some poor discipline allowed Ulster a way back into the game through the boot …

Connacht head coach Andy Friend will welcome back his returning Ireland stars Jack Carty and Bundee Aki for Friday night’s clash with Leinster at the Sportsground in Galway (KO 19:35).  Jack Carty comes straight back into the side to steer the ship from 10 where he is joined by Caolin Blade at scrum-half. Peter Robb, who was excellent in last …

Leinster have named their team for Friday night’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Connacht (KO 19.35) at the Sportsground which includes a number of returning Ireland internationals.  There are a number of changes to the team which secured a bonus-point 50-15 win over the Dragons last weekend. James Lowe keeps his spot on the wing while Hugo Keenan comes in at …

Munster will have to plan for some crucial fixtures without the services of their star out-half Joey Carbery.  Carbery is currently sidelined with an ankle injury which he originally picked up in the Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Italy at the Aviva Stadium back in August. The 24-year-old missed the remainder of the preparatory fixtures against Wales and England …

Brought to you by Energia, proud sponsors of Leinster Rugby Leinster maintained their 100% record in the Guinness PRO14 with a 50-15 demolition of the Dragons at the RDS on Friday night.  With the internationals still away, head coach Leo Cullen offered an opportunity to more of Leinster’s budding young stars as Jack Aungier was introduced from the bench for …

Sean McMahon reporting from the RDS.  Leinster head coach Leo Cullen was pleased with Harry Byrne’s man-of-the-match performance as the youngster helped his side to a 50-15 victory on what was his first start in the Guinness PRO14.  Byrne, younger brother of Ireland international, Ross, produced a controlled performance which included a first-half try and a sublime cross-field kick which …

Leinster 50 Dragons 15 Seán McMahon reporting from the RDS. Leinster continued their dominance in Conference A of the Guinness PRO14 as they produced a ruthless eight-try bonus-point victory at the RDS in difficult conditions. There were first PRO14 starts for Harry Byrne and Ryan Baird as the duo produced excellent performances which will just add to the selection headache …

Leinster and Ulster have named their teams for their respective matches in the Guinness PRO14 this weekend.  Leinster host the Dragons on Friday night at the RDS and head coach Leo Cullen has made a number of changes to the side which produced a narrow 3-0 win over Zebre in Italy last weekend. Devin Toner will captain Leinster from the …

Munster head coach Johann van Graan has named his team for Friday night’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Ospreys at Irish Independent Park in Cork.  There will be a PRO14 debut for Munster Academy back-row Jack O’Sullivan. The UCC club man starts at number eight where he is joined by Jack O’Donoghue and Tommy O’Donnell. Up front sees James Cronin, Rhys …

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen will have some interesting decisions to make over the coming weeks.  His side have started the new season at a blistering pace – securing three consecutive bonus-point victories leaving them joint top of Conference A on 15 points with the Cheetahs. Confidence is high at their base in UCD and encouragingly, there have been a …

Leinster and Ireland have been hit with the disappointing news that Jack Conan will miss the majority of the season.  Conan suffered a foot injury at the World Cup which ended his involvement in the tournament and he was replaced in the squad by former provincial teammate Jordi Murphy. Leinster confirmed today that Conan had a procedure on his foot …

When Dave Kearney lined out on the left wing for Ireland’s opening Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Italy at the Aviva Stadium in August, it marked the closing of a disappointing and frustrating chapter in his career.  That was Kearney’s 18th cap for Ireland, his first appearance in green since a November 2017 win over Fiji 21 months earlier. …

Highly-rated Munster Academy prop Keynan Knox will make his senior debut for the province as he has been named to start for Johann van Graan’s side in their pre-season clash with London Irish in Cork on Friday (KO 7.30pm). The South Africa born tighthead prop is currently in Year 3 of the Munster Academy and he will make his senior …

Leinster have confirmed that James Lowe underwent a shoulder reconstruction at the end of the 2018/19 season.  Lowe, who made 17 appearances for the eastern province in all competitions last season, had surgery soon after he featured in the Guinness PRO14 final victory over the Glasgow Warriors at the end of May. The club have confirmed that the 27-year-old is …

The fixtures for the 2019/20 Guinness PRO14 season have been released by tournament officials this afternoon.  Due to the 2019 Rugby World Cup which takes place in Japan, the season will begin later than usual with the opening round taking place on the weekend of 27-28th September. Ahead of the new campaign, there has been some shake-up to the conferences …

Ulster have been hit with the disappointing news that their new signing, Gareth Milasinovich, has sustained an ACL tear in training.  The northern province are currently in pre-season training ahead of the 2019/20 campaign and Milasinovich, a tighthead prop signed from Worcester Warriors, will now miss nine months due to the injury. Milasinovich was expected to put pressure on Marty …

Leinster and Ireland international Devin Toner doesn’t believe that the eastern province needs to review its culture in the wake of two controversial incidents which occurred in the aftermath of their Guinness PRO14 title win.  This week, IRFU sanctioned Sean O’Brien for his behaviour in a Dublin pub on the weekend of their title win. While on the same weekend, …