Player welfare is a clarion call of long standing for rugby’s constituents – the governing body World Rugby, unions, federations, clubs and tournament organisers. The IRFU’s model had long been the envy of its global peers, and sport’s hierarchy in several countries have followed suit to varying degrees in adopting a version of a central … Read more
Jumping off the Luas, I bumped into the mother of an old team-mate, Stephen Grissing. She was still energised after watching St Mary’s College win the Leinster Schools Senior Cup for the first time in 24 years, having beaten Blackrock College after a replay. It offered an instant reminder of the place that schools rugby … Read more
In 2009, when I was coaching Ulster, World Rugby proposed a few sensible law changes that would allow players to execute quick lineout throws. Hardly a radical change. At that time, the coaches of the leading professional teams were invited to vote on whether the new laws should be adopted. To my great bewilderment, I … Read more
Rob Baloucoune will undergo surgery on an elbow injury sustained while trying to make a tackle in Ireland’s Triple Crown-winning victory over Scotland in the Aviva Stadium last weekend. Ulster confirmed the 28-year-old right wing will be sidelined for 12 weeks and is, therefore, likely to miss the remainder of the province’s season. The URC … Read more
No better time to check the temperature. The state of Irish rugby – and the sport itself – is on an upward curve after an enormously entertaining Six Nations. Andy Farrell gave a good line last weekend about there being a story in every position. I’d go further and say there are three, even four … Read more
In 2007, I sat in a hotel in the centre of Rome watching a title-chasing France struggle past Scotland on the final night of the Six Nations. Earlier that day, we had played some cracking rugby in beating Italy. Denis Hickie’s prematch speech provided the catalyst for our bells and whistles performance. We thought France’s … Read more
If there was an Irish theme to a vintage 2026 Six Nations campaign, it is probably the emergence of new players in their mid- to late 20s, or even 30s, and especially with an Ulster tinge. Perhaps it’s fitting therefore that Robert Baloucoune was formally named the tournament’s Rising Player at the age of 28. … Read more
15 Thomas Ramos (France) France’s Thomas Ramos lines up the winning kick during the Six Nations match against England at Stade de France. Photograph: Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images One of the main reasons France are champions, and ultimately the key man. Yet again, the most points (74) and the best kicking ratio (87.5 per … Read more
Andy Farrell has confirmed that he will sit down imminently with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) to explore the possibility of extending his tenure as the Ireland head coach beyond the conclusion of next year’s World Cup in Australia. Although he is highly regarded elsewhere, not least by influential people in England’s Rugby Football … Read more
Ireland’s improving scrum has its day against Scotland Ireland’s scrum has been under pressure throughout the Six Nations Championship, conceding 15 penalties and plenty of free kicks. The absence of three frontline loosehead props through injury was a factor. It would have been an area that Scotland targeted ahead of the Triple Crown game. So, … Read more