Wallabies relishing Mack Hansen’s return to Canberra as Ireland face first game in Australian capital in World Cup warm-up

Mack Hansen. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile Andy Farrell’s Ireland will take on Australia in a World Cup warm-up next year as they visit the capital city Canberra for the first time in their history. Wallabies fullback Tom Wright believes victory in the fixture will provide significant momentum ahead of one of the biggest events in Australian … Read more

IRFU poised to poach Australia’s hottest prospect as Massimo De Lutiis ponders ‘life-changing’ deal

Massimo De Lutiis, pictured in action for Australia ‘A’, is on the IRFU’s radar. Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Ireland are leading the chase for a player touted as one of Australia’s hottest prospects with 22-year-old tight-head Massimo De Lutiis on the verge of signing an eye-watering deal. Respected Australian rugby writer Jamie Pandaram has reported … Read more

‘Mouthy’ Leinster must do their talking on pitch, says Tyler Bleyendaal

Leinster assistant coach Tyler Bleyendaal (left) and senior coach Jacques Nienaber have a lot of work to do with the players on the training ground this week after a heavy defeat to Glasgow last Friday night. Photo: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile Leinster’s latest URC outing may have been nothing to shout about but it seems they did … Read more

Bleak future for Irish rugby? Why there are very few immediate prospects in NextGen group

Ireland XV squad that faces a strong English side at Thomond Park appear unlikely to win over Andy Farrell any time soon Connacht academy prop Billy Bohan was part of Ireland’s pre-Six Nations training camp in the Algarve as a replacement for the injured Jack Boyle. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Irish rugby’s strength can often be … Read more

Six Nations jury: English hype, Welsh fear and can Ireland rise again?

Our writers answer six key questions as the tournament looms into view Captains Dewi Lake (Wales), Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland), Jamie George (England), Antoine Dupont (France), Caelan Doris (Ireland) and Michele Lamaro (Italy) at the Six Nations launch Edinburgh. Photo: Steve Welsh/PA Wire Rúaidhrí O’Connor: On the back of their win over New Zealand, English rugby … Read more

Leinster refuse to blame Connacht’s 4G pitch after Jack Boyle’s freak season-ending injury

Jack Boyle of Leinster leaves the pitch with an injury during the United Rugby Championship match against Connacht at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile As Jack Boyle confronts the prospect of not being able to play rugby for the rest of the season following Leinster’s confirmation that he must undergo a procedure … Read more

Rugby jury: Farrell squad surprises and Six Nations bolters – Our writers give their verdicts

Hugo Keenan (middle) is on the way back from injury 1 – After a difficult November, do you expect Andy Farrell to make many changes to his Six Nations squad when he names it on January 21? Rúaidhrí O’Connor: He’ll have to given the recent spate of injuries, but even if there wasn’t so many … Read more