Tag Archives: Rugby

South African-born Paul Willemse will make his debut for France in Friday’s Six Nations opener against Wales in Paris. Willemse, a 2012 junior world champion with the Baby Boks, arrived on French soil in 2014 as a 21-year-old, so fulfilling the three years of residency required by World Rugby regulations. He received his French passport in November and will become …

Peter Stringer has said Ireland will look to get under the skin of ‘hothead’ England captain Owen Farrell when the teams meet in their Six Nations clash in Dublin. The build-up to Saturday’s match, which sees defending Six Nations Grand Slam champions Ireland up against an improving England at the start of a year culminating with the World Cup in …

There are so many photographs from Ireland’s triumphant Grand Slam win in Twickenham last year that will stay with Irish rugby fans for a long time to come. Rory Best lifting the trophy with Johnny Sexton holding the Tripe Crown plate, players embracing their families and Ireland fans preparing themselves for the celebrations that were to come. However, one photograph …

For any rugby player who has played the game professionally for 20 years, the thought of retirement must be a daunting one. However, for Peter Stringer, who retired last year on his own terms, he is happy to now live his life in the same manner.  Ireland are favourites going into this weekend’s Guinness Six Nations opener against England, having won …

Ireland head coach, Joe Schmidt, has said that his training sessions have been spied upon by opponents on more than one occasion.   Given Leeds United manager, Marco Bielsa’s astonishing admission last week, the subject of spying is very topical across all sports. Both Schmidt and Eddie Jones had joked that the England head coach would use binoculars to spy on the …

Munster head coach, Johann van Graan, has made 13 changes to his side for their PRO14 clash with Dragons at Rodney Parade on Saturday.  Tyler Bleyendaal captains the team from inside centre with full-back Mike Haley and lock Jean Kleyn the only starters from the Exeter clash to keep their places. Darren Sweetnam and Ronan O’Mahony are named on the …

The EPCR have finalised the details for the upcoming Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals, that see three of the Irish provinces. Munster will travel to BT Murrayfield for the first of three quarter-finals on Saturday, March 30, following their hard-fought win over Exeter last weekend. Kick off there is 12.45pm and the game will be broadcast live on Channel 4, Virgin Media, BT …

Rob Kearney will captain Leinster tomorrow night against Scarlets, following his recovery from a quad injury that saw him sit out last weekend’s final Heineken Champions Cup Pool game against Wasps. James Lowe also makes his return to the back-line from a three-week suspension following his tackle on Andrew Conway during their interprovincial derby against Munster in Thomond Park last …

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt admits he has a love-hate relationship with the Six Nations despite engineering three titles and a Grand Slam last season. The 53-year-old New Zealand-born coach will step down after this year’s World Cup having transformed the Irish from a demoralised outfit, when he took over in 2013, into the number two side in the world. Schmidt …

Conor O’Shea says the future of Italian rugby matters more than whether he remains the head coach of the Azzurri. O’Shea is entering the final year of a four-year deal and media reports have suggested the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) have been sounding out possible replacement candidates for the former Ireland fullback. But O’Shea, speaking at the official launch of …

Munster out-half, Tyler Bleyendaal, has conceded that his goal of playing for Ireland is still “a long way away” as he continues to reintegrate back into the Munster squad following a lengthy injury.  The New Zealand native has been qualified to play for the country of his residency since last year and has trained with Joe Schmidt’s side in Carton …

French club Clermont were “responsible” for the harm former player Jamie Cudmore suffered after sustaining a concussion, a neurologist has told a court. Cudmore, 40, left the pitch during the 2015 Champions Cup final but returned after an assessment by Clermont’s doctor. “The damage suffered by the claimant who sustained a head injury in the 56th minute of the game …

South African out-half, Pat Lambie, is set to announce his retirement from rugby due to an accumulation of concussions, according to reports.  The Racing 92 star has been out of action for months following a knee injury that he suffered during his side’s Champions Cup final defeat to Leinster in May. However, according to a report in Midi Olympique, the 28-year-old will retire …

Munster out-half, Joey Carbery, has revealed that one of his major goals is to overtake Jonathan Sexton as the best Irish No.10, and not to simply wait for him to retire.  Carbery served his apprenticeship under the World Player of the Year at Leinster and Ireland, but when his appearances came more often at full-back rather than out-half, he made the …

Racing 92 winger, Simon Zebo, has opened up about how he dealt with racism as a child and the alleged abuse aimed at him during his side’s Champions Cup loss to Ulster last weekend.  The 28-year-old took to social media following the game at the Kingspan Stadium and hinted that he had received verbal abuse from certain supporters, which his …

England coach Eddie Jones believes captain Owen Farrell is “maturing at a good rate” heading into the Six Nations, while insisting wing Jack Nowell could play at openside flanker. Farrell and Dylan Hartley were England’s co-captains during the November internationals. But Saracens star Farrell is set to be in sole charge when they begin their Six Nations campaign against champions …

New Zealand international prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen will be joining Wasps from Super Rugby’s Hurricanes next season, the Premiership club announced on Thursday. Toomaga-Allen is the second All Black signed by Wasps this week following their announcement on Wednesday that centre Malakai Fekitoa will join them from Top 14 side Toulon next season. “To bring someone of Jeff’s calibre to the …