Tag Archives: Guinness PRO14

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named his matchday 23 for the visit of Benetton on Saturday.  The eastern province have named a much-changed side to the one which overcame the challenge of Ulster in the Heineken Champions Cup at the weekend. Up front, Jack McGrath starts at loosehead after his move to Ulster next season was confirmed this week. …

Connacht are back in PRO14 action this weekend following their exit for the Heineken Challenge Cup at the hands of Sale Sharks, and head coach, Andy Friend, has named a strong team to face Zebre. Jack Carty has recovered from the arm injury that forced him off the field during last week’s 20-10 loss in the AJ Bell Stadium and …

Leinster Rugby have confirmed that head coach Leo Cullen has signed a contract extension with the club while Stuart Lancaster has been retained as “senior coach”.  Cullen, who won 221 caps for Leinster and was captain of three Heineken Cup-winning squads, was appointed Head Coach at the start of the 2015/16 season and will now lead the province for a …

Connacht 46 Ospreys 5 Connacht are up to third in Conference A thanks to a huge six try victory over the Ospreys at the Sportsground in Galway this afternoon. Connacht got off to a fantastic start with just two minutes on the clock when Peter Robb received a flat pass in midfield and burst through the Ospreys defence. He laid …

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named his matchday 23 for their Guinness PRO14 clash with the Cheetahs on Friday night at the RDS (KO 19:35).  The eastern province are leading the way at the top of Conference B and they will be expected to record another win at home even with a much-changed side. The back three is made …

Brought to you by Energia, proud sponsors of Leinster Rugby ___ In the bigger picture, Leinster got the result, they got the job done, they got out of Italy and they will be happy enough that. Leinster’s 40-24 victory over Zebre wasn’t perfect and here I will go through some of the aspects of their play which secured the bonus-point …

Ireland and Ulster have received a big boost with the news that Iain Henderson has returned from injury.  In January, Henderson suffered a finger injury which was unrelated to a previous thumb injury he picked up before Christmas. It was expected that the 26-year-old would be out of action for the majority of the Six Nations, potentially making a return in …

Munster head coach Johann van Graan has named a very strong team to take on the Southern Kings at Irish Independent Park in Cork on Friday night.  In total, there are seven changes to the team which defeated the Dragons at Rodney Parade last time out. Many of Munster’s Ireland contingent have returned as Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Niall Scannell, John …

The Irish provinces return to Guinness PRO14 action this weekend after a three-week absence as the Six Nations has taken centre stage over the last few weeks.  As we are in the midst of a fallow week in the Six Nations, attention will shift back to the PRO14 and here we provide a little reminder as to where the Irish …

“Yeah, I suppose it was sort of a surprise…”  For Leinster and Ireland international Ross Byrne, how he spent the last few weeks probably wouldn’t have been what he envisaged at the beginning of the year. His omission from the Ireland Six Nations squad came as a surprise to many as head coach Joe Schmidt opted for the services of …

It was a mixed night for the Irish provinces who were in Guinness PRO14 action on Friday night. Leinster secured a 22-17 win against the Scarlets at the RDS while Ulster looked to have been beaten but a penalty try at the death secured a 17-17 draw with Benetton at the Kingspan Stadium. ___ Leinster were deprived of possession and …

After 50 minutes, Leinster lead the Scarlets 10-7 at the RDS in tonight’s Guinness PRO14 action.  A converted Rory O’Loughlin try at the stroke of halftime and an earlier penalty from Ciaran Frawley is the difference between the two sides but Scarlets will be frustrated with their performance after blowing numerous chances in Leinster’s 22 in the opening 40. They …

Cian Kelleher has confirmed that he will leave Connacht at the end of the season.  Kelleher has been the subject of widespread reports linking him with a move back to Leinster for the beginning of the 2019/20 season but as of yet, that has not been formally confirmed by either province despite it being accepted as a done deal. Kelleher …

Connacht have received a boost with the news that out-half Jack Carty has signed a new deal with the club.  Carty’s two-year contract extension will see him ply his trade at the Sportsground until the end of the 2020/21 season. The Roscommon native has been in superb form this season and has played a big part in the team’s success …

Ospreys centre Ben John has announced his retirement from professional rugby after suffering a series of head injuries in 2017.  John has made 70 appearances for the Ospreys, scoring 15 tries but he has now decided to call time on his career with his long-term health taking precedence. John hasn’t played a professional game of rugby since a clash with …

Connacht and Munster will play in front of a full house at the Sportsground in Galway on Saturday as the western province confirm that the eagerly-anticipated clash is now sold out.  Huge interest in tickets has led to the club installing additional terracing at the Bohermore and College Road ends of the ground which has now increased the capacity to 8,129. …

Munster Rugby have provided an injury update after their 26-17 win over Leinster at Thomond Park in the Guinness PRO14 on Saturday.  In what was an incredibly physical affair, the southern province have only noted Chris Cloete as a fresh injury worry ahead of Saturday’s trip to Galway to take on Connacht. Cloete left the pitch on a stretcher with …

Brought to you by Energia, proud sponsors of Leinster Rugby ___ “I thought the desire and the spirit shown by the players is pleasing.” Those were the words of Leinster head coach Leo Cullen in the aftermath of his side’s 27-16 loss to Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday night. Leinster’s recent run of form over their southern rivals came …