Leinster’s Sam Prendergast, right, celebrates with Luke McGrath after scoring their side’s second try against Bayonne. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile So we’re now down to one after Munster’s disappointing exit from this Champions Cup in a limp fashion in Limerick albeit in a match that, much like Leinster in Bayonne, could have easily gone either way. … Read more
This week’s squad will tell us if Irish head coach is planning to stick with his gradual evolution, or whether he thinks the project needs a sharp shock Ireland’s head coach Andy Farrell. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile The international rugby landscape changed significantly on Wednesday night when Scott Robertson was removed from his position as All … Read more
Edwin Edogbo is a super talent and I would be shocked if he doesn’t play for Ireland in this Six Nations Edwin Edogbo, one of Munster’s best performers against Castres, after his side’s defeat at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile Today’s European action was important on many fronts. It was the last round … Read more
Champions Cup pool stage: Bayonne 10 Leinster 3 46 mins: Leinster turn over the scrum and Gibson-Park charges towards the line and Leinster have a great chance, but they’re slowed down again and struggling to make ground. Then unsurprisingly turned over. Wasted again. Meanwhile, Dan Sheehan is on for Kelleher, can he make the difference? … Read more
Growth spurt during Covid and stint with Ireland sevens has turned Joshua Kenny into a star Pres Bray’s JJ (or Joshua) Kenny had a growth spurt before 6th year in school before he made his breakthrough with Leinster. Every year, the students at Presentation College, Bray hold a vote of staff and students to recognise … Read more
Tadhg Furlong, alongside Andrew Sparrow, is back from injury in a boost for both Leinster and Ireland. Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile Leinster travel to Stade Jean Dauger to face a Bayonne side, whose focus may be elsewhere at (Live Premier Sports 2, 3.15pm). Leinster’s front-row woes are eased slightly by the return of a three-time Lion; … Read more
Harry Byrne’s late heroics in Leinster’s 25-24 win over La Rochelle last weekend have earned him a start at outhalf ahead of Sam Prendergast, who’ll take a place on the bench for the province’s Champions Cup trip to Bayonne on Saturday (kick-off 3.15pm Irish time). Leo Cullen’s side is boosted by returns from injury for … Read more
At risk of employing the old ‘If my aunty had wheels, she’d be a bike’ argument, here goes nothing… Had Reda Wardi and Antoine Hastoy not got in each other’s way on Saturday night, if Simeli Daunivucu’s offload had not been spilled, if the same man had run through Sam Prendergast instead of trying to … Read more
No sooner have Joe and Paddy McCarthy belatedly been able to put a run of games together than the brotherly partnership has been cruelly interrupted. Alas therefore, the boyhood dream of playing together for Ireland will also have to be suspended for the time being as well. The extent of Paddy McCarthy’s absence has yet … Read more
The Munster and Ireland player talks about the historic game that changed everything for him at 15, getting spotted to play for Leinster and embracing every opportunity Ireland and Munster rugby star Tadhg Beirne. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile I was lucky enough to go to the Ireland versus England game in the 2007 Six Nations. That … Read more