AFTER 37 SENIOR international matches, Irish referee John Lacey is set to retire from Test match officiating at the end of the season and will take up a new role in the IRFU. John Lacey officiating at Leinster against Scarlets. Source: Byran Keane/INPHO Lacey’s imminent departure was confirmed today and will see him fill a […]
Sean Farrell reports from the Aviva Stadium RORY BEST COULDN’T quite pick a favourite win as captain against New Zealand. And that’s a hell of a nice position to be in. The Ulster stalwart was the first Ireland captain to claim a victory against the All Blacks, breaking a 111-year hoodoo in Chicago. And tonight, […]
IT WAS THE news everyone expected, but didn’t want to hear. The IRFU this morning confirmed that Joe Schmidt will leave his position as Ireland head coach after the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The end is near: Joe Schmidt. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO In charge of Ireland since 2013, the 53-year-old Kiwi led the side to […]
Munster 30 Castres 5 Sean Farrell reports from Thomond Park A LOW WINTER sun meant a day of long shadows stretching across Thomond Park and, despite the margin of victory by full-time, a day when Munster needed long fuses and immense patience. The patience, through flashes of provocation, helped the southern province remain on course […]
Sean Farrell reports from the RDS THERE WAS PLENTY of wreckage to sift through, but ample reason for Leo Cullen to smile. Connacht created all manner of havoc in the Leinster defence during last night’s high-octane inter-pro, carving them open on four occasions in the RDS. Hugo Keenan (collarbone) was forced off injured, the blue […]
ULTAN DILLANE HAS signed a two-year contract extension with Connacht, extending his stay at the Sportsground up to the end of the 2020/21 season. Dillane joined the Connacht Academy in 2012, and went on to make his senior debut for the province in December 2014. He has since made 73 appearances for the side. His […]
RUGBY PLAYERS WITH poorer balance were three times more likely to sustain a concussion, according to findings in a recently published study. The conclusions of the study suggest that risk of concussion can be reduced for players, if the athlete works to improve ‘modifiable factors’ of balance and strength. Simply put, if a player has […]
THE SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES had barely lifted as the Ireland players assembled on the training paddock at Carton House on a bitterly cold Tuesday morning, but it didn’t take long for steam to rise into the country air. Conditions here could not be any different to the sunny, temperate climes England have chosen to fine-tune their […]
AFTER THE DISAPPOINTING opening weekend loss to England, Joe Schmidt unveiled his team to take on Scotland in Saturday’s Six Nations clash in Murrayfield (kick-off, 14.15). You can view the full matchday 23 selection here, with some of our immediate takeaways below. Big Chris Farrell While Robbie Henshaw was expected to again strike up the […]
ULSTER HAVE ANNOUNCED first senior contracts for three of their academy players. Eric O’Sullivan, Michael Lowry and James Hume — all affiliated with Banbridge RF — have signed deals with the province. 23-year-old loosehead prop O’Sullivan has made 19 appearances for Ulster this season, following his debut in the Pro14 opener against Scarlets. Lowry, 20, […]