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
James Ryan extricated himself from a tangle of limbs and words by planting his hand on Henry Pollock’s cheek, using a long lever to facilitate the disengagement. The last two revellers to leave what began as a meatier pile of bodies at a breakdown. It’s commonplace in rugby, a grapple and a chirp, before the … Read more
If you want to make everyone happy then don’t be a leader. Sell ice cream instead. They’re the words of Steve Jobs. Nowadays it might apply less than he thought. Someone will say they are allergic, others won’t like the texture, someone will point out that it was better five years ago. International rugby is … 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
Amid the kind of excessive fanfare that the British & Irish Lions brand specialises in, the great quadrennial guessing game will be resolved in London’s O2 around lunchtime on Thursday when the tour manager Ieuan Evans unveils the squad for the expedition to Australia in front of a paying crowd of 2,000. At which point … Read more
As Andy Farrell prepares to name his British & Irish Lions touring squad it is worth reflecting on the events of 12 years ago. Then as now, the destination was Australia and Farrell was an important cog in Warren Gatland‘s management team. It was also the last time the Lions actually won a series, the … Read more
Caelan Doris‘s prospects of taking part in his first British & Irish Lions tour are in doubt due to a shoulder injury he suffered in Leinster’s 37-34 Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday. To compound his and Leinster‘s woes in light of Saturday’s huge setback, the province’s weekly medical … Read more
Sometimes players like to pretend they barely contemplate their direct opponent. That way they can neatly sidestep all external comparisons and inner doubts and concentrate on their own jobs. It is a team game, after all, and it never pays to waste time fretting about things over which you have limited control. Every now and … Read more
The first thing to say about the bingo bus of Ireland coaches heading off on a skite with the Lions this summer is that it will probably be fine. Ireland’s tour of Georgia and Portugal in July will come and go and the gang will all get back together in plenty of time for the … Read more
Simon Easterby has a point. When you start off a campaign strongly and finish it anti-climactic, winning four games out of five is viewed differently than if the results had been the other way around. It’s akin to a 2-2 or 3-3 draw in football when one team comes from two or three down. The … Read more