Tag Archives: Rugby

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 …

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 …

Munster head coach Johann van Graan has said he is “gutted” for Joey Carbery following his latest injury setback on his return from a lengthy absence. According to Virgin Media’s Sinead Kissane, the 24-year-old is set to spend between two and four months on the sidelines after suffering a wrist ligament injury in Friday night’s game against Ulster which requires …

Worcester Warriors’ lock Michael Fatialofa is recovering well following surgery to relieve pressure on his spinal cord caused by swelling. The 27-year-old suffered a serious neck injury during his side’s clash with Saracens and was withdrawn on a stretcher after receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch. Fatialofa was transferred to St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington in West London where he underwent …

Saracens could be forced to dismantle their current squad in order to comply with the Premiership salary cap, their new interim chief executive has warned.  The London club were fined £5.36 million and docked 35 points by Premiership Rugby for breaching salary cap regulations in the 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons by failing to disclose payments to players, leading to …

Racing 92 could be without the services of former Munster player Simon Zebo for the visit of the Irish province to Paris in the Heineken Champions Cup this weekend. According to a report by James Harrington in the Irish Examiner, the former Ireland international has emerged as a doubt after he was withdrawn from Racing’s win over Clermont in the …

With the Summer Olympics, Euro Championships and the Ryder Cup, 2020 will be an incredible year for sport. To ensure you don’t miss a second of the action, we’ve compiled all the key dates into one essential guide. _____ January 2020 4th: All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship semi-finals 5th: All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship semi-finals 19th: All-Ireland Senior Club Football …

It’s been a pretty special year for rugby.  2019 started off with Wales winning a Grand Slam in Warren Gatland’s final year in charge while at European club level, Saracens won the Champions Cup after a gripping final against Leinster. This, of course, was all an appetiser before the main course – the 2019 Rugby World Cup – and it …

Wales international Liam Williams will rejoin Scarlets for the 2020/21 season following a three-year spell with Saracens. Williams began his professional career with the Welsh side in 2011 but made the move to Saracens following a successful British & Irish Lions tour in 2017. In his first season at Allianz Park, Williams scored 10 tries in all competitions and has …

Greig Laidlaw has announced his retirement from international rugby, following in the footsteps of John Barclay and Tommy Seymour who have also stepped away.  Laidlaw made his debut for Scotland against New Zealand in 2010, aged 25. He has since made 76 appearances, captaining the side on 39 of those occasions. While he failed to make the World Cup squad …

Dan McFarland has rung the changes for Ulster’s PRO14 inter-provincial derby against Leinster on Friday evening in the RDS Arena.  On the back of a successful run in Europe which saw the Irish provinces record back-to-back wins over Harlequins, McFarland has rested his star players for the trip to Dublin. Alan O’Connor will captain the side on the occasion of …

Saracens 15 Munster 6 Munster fell to a nine-point loss to reigning champions Saracens in their Heineken Champions Cup clash in Allianz Park this afternoon. Following last week’s win, this was always going to be a formidable challenge for the Irish province with the number of England internationals returning to the Saracens line-up. However, that challenge was intensified by the …

Connacht 27 Gloucester 24 A last-second try from Robin Copeland sealed a dramatic Heineken Champions Cup win for Connacht over Gloucester. With six minutes remaining in the game, Connacht were trailing by 11 points but tries from substitutes Shane Delahunt and Copeland ensured the last-gasp win as they move to eight points in the Pool table. The home side enjoyed …

Owen Farrell, Billy Vunpiola, Jamie George and Mako Vunipula are among the players returning for Saracens this weekend as they welcome Munster to Allianz Park. The World Cup finalists were rested for last week’s clash in Thomond Park which resulted in a 10-3 for Johann van Graan’s men. However, Mark McCall has rang the changes for Saturday’s game with Max …

Jack Carty has been named at full-back for Connacht for their Heineken Champions Cup clash with Gloucester on Saturday. Carty is part of a back three that includes Niyi Adeolokun and John Porch on the wings. Conor Fitzgerald and Caolin Blade also renew their half back partnership while Bundee Aki and Kyle Godwin start in midfield. Captain Jarrad Butler will …

World bronze medallist Rhys McClenaghan has once again been shortlisted for the RTÉ Young Sportsperson of the Year award. McClenaghan collected the gong in 2018 having won gold on the pommel horse at the European Championships and 2019 brought more success for the Down man as he became the first Irish gymnast to medal at the World Championships, claiming a …

Ulster have made two changes to the side that defeated Harlequins last Saturday for their return Heineken Champions Cup clash at Twickenham Stoop on Friday. A penalty from John Cooney in the dying seconds of the game in Kingspan Stadium gifted Ulster a 25-24 win last weekend following a thrilling game. However, Dan McFarland’s side will be wary of the …

Munster back row, Arno Botha, has been suspended for three weeks following an independent Disciplinary Hearing in London today. The South Africa native received a straight red card during the closing minutes of the club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against Saracens at Thomond Park on Saturday. Botha was introduced in the 70th minute as a replacement for CJ …