Interim Ireland head coach Paul O’Connell included a number of interesting selections in his 32-strong squad for this summer’s two Test matches, among them 11 uncapped players. Although Georgia in Tbilisi on July 5th and Portugal in Lisbon a week later represent Tier 2 nations, it will be a challenge for O’Connell to whip his … Read more
Ireland will dive deeper into their depth chart than perhaps they’ve ever done before when the squad for the upcoming Tests away to Georgia and Portugal is announced on Wednesday, given the unavailability of 15 Irish members of the Lions squad, the retirement from international rugby of three centurions, and injuries. It was noticeable that, … Read more
ELAINE Porter asked “How do I bottle the feeling of the past month” while sharing cute snaps of her and husband Andrew’s first few days as parents. She gave birth to their first child sometime earlier this month. 6 Elaine shared this photo of her breastfeeding their son while still in the maternity hospitalCredit: @elainecporter … Read more
“Did you hear Richie Whelan has signed for La Rochelle?” You never know when a sliver of transfer gossip will fall into your lap. This one came from overhearing punters taking in the annual fixture between Ireland U20s and a Leinster Development XV. The name of the club was familiar. That of the player less … Read more
BRIAN O’DRISCOLL reckons Caelan Doris will try to shut off from rugby altogether during this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour. The Ireland legend reckons that the Leinster star will have to come to terms with missing the trip to Australia. 2 Brian O’Driscoll offered some advice to Caelan Doris after he missed Lions selection … Read more
The Six Nations has decided to schedule its opening game, France against Ireland, on a Thursday next year, the first time there will be a midweek fixture in the tournament’s history. What does that, and other fixture decisions to accommodate television over the last few years, mean for the average match-going Irish fan? Irish Times … Read more
If anyone was under any illusions about the decreasing importance of paying rugby fans in general, and Ireland supporters especially, then a cursory glance at the 2026 Six Nations fixtures will confirm as much. The schedule was released on Monday and heaven knows how much bartering went into the negotiations between the various broadcasters (France … Read more
Rugby Fans’ Top Stadiums: A Global Bucket List CITY – May 10, 2024 – Where should rugby enthusiasts go next? This global stadium bucket list highlights 20 must-visit venues across multiple continents. From the iconic Ellis Park in Johannesburg to the scenic Central Coast Stadium, Gosford, the featured locations offer unique experiences. Explore the rich … Read more
Sports fans often bemoan a lack of honesty from those in charge. Wednesday’s announcement of the culling of the Irish men’s sevens programme, while controversial in many quarters, cannot be accused of lacking honest reasoning. There, written in ink, was an explanation for the decision. Sevens “does not contribute as a development pathway for the … Read more
Munster and Ireland prop Dave Kilcoyne has announced that he is to retire at the end of the season after a 15-year career in which he played over 200 times for his province and won 56 caps for his country. The 36-year-old Limerick loosehead scored 22 tries in 220 appearances for Munster and played in … Read more