Cathal Forde (Connacht) Since Tom Farrell’s departure to Munster, filling the 13 shirt at Connacht hasn’t been an easy task. Many were called, a few were chosen, but no one’s claim to the jersey was unequivocal. This season, Stuart Lancaster initially turned to Byron Ralston, but a knee injury in October has kept him on … Read more
European rugby, albeit with a South African twist, returns over the next two weekends when both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup suddenly assume an altogether different tempo. It is the season’s first knockout phase. After the jostling for position which saw 48 matches whittle the 24 contenders down to 16 in the Champions Cup, … Read more
Confidence represents a fuel source for the individual and the team, one that drives success in all its forms, whether it is accomplished performances or the ultimate collective goal, winning trophies. Its absence can make the best players appear hesitant and unsure and great teams distinctly ordinary. Confidence can come from a single source, a … Read more
Matthew Devine of Connacht on his way to scoring his side’s third try during the United Rugby Championship win over Ospreys at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo by Paul Phelan/Sportsfile Stuart Lancaster said he did everything he could to keep Matthew Devine at Connacht but that ultimately it was the player’s decision to join Ulster … Read more
Matthew Devine of Connacht celebrates after scoring his side’s third try with Sam Illo during the United Rugby Championship match at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile Stuart Lancaster said he is just pleased that Connacht have extended their winning run rather than dwell on how they did not go for a try bonus … Read more
Coming in the wake of a vintage Six Nations, last weekend seemed a little anticlimactic, in the United Rugby Championship (URC) anyway, if not so much the All-Ireland League (AIL). Coming amid Ireland’s World Cup football qualifier(s), next weekend’s URC matches are unlikely to dominate the sporting firmament either, yet these will heavily affect the … Read more
There’s a lack of consistency across the board but head coach will be comfortable with what he has as he hones in on Australia Ireland head coach Andy Farrell (centre) with, clockwise from top left, Tom O’Toole, Robert Baloucoune, Caelan Doris, Edwin Edogbo, Bryn Ward, Craig Casey. Squad depth is an obsession in rugby and … Read more
URC: Ulster 19 Connacht 26 Connacht brought a miserable run of 11 interprovincial URC defeats to an end with a superb victory at the Affidea Stadium. Three tries in seven second-half minutes, two from the impressive Finn Treacy, gave the visitors the momentum to squeeze home with a bonus-point win. Ulster, meanwhile, will rue several … Read more
With six matches left, there are play-off positions and European spots at stake Juarno Augustus is making a timely return to action for Ulster. Photo: Sportsfile If you’ve been following the provinces on social media this week, you’ll have spotted plenty of Ireland’s Six Nations stars back in training. Those who started against Scotland will … Read more
There will be no St Patrick’s Day celebrations for Stuart Lancaster and his Connacht players this year. The province’s boss said that with a game on Friday, there will be no day off to join the festivities in advance of their fixture against Ulster. “With a game on Friday, Tuesday is important,” Lancaster explained, as … Read more