Posts

THREE SEASONS AGO, Jack McGrath was Ireland and Leinster’s first-choice loosehead prop and deservedly went on to win three Test caps for the Lions in their series draw with the All Blacks in New Zealand.  Last weekend, the 29-year-old was omitted from Leinster’s matchday squad for their Champions Cup quarter-final against Ulster, with Ed Byrne […]

PAT LAM WAS succinct in giving his thoughts on the incident that saw Bundee Aki and a group of his Connacht team-mates track down Robbie Henshaw’s stolen laptop and get involved in an angry scene that required the Gardaí to be called. “It’s good to see that the boys look out for each other on […]

IF IRELAND ARE to succeed at this year’s Rugby World Cup, and last week David Nucifora made it clear what success will look like, then the team, coaches and fans might find that a little of the past has dropped off them somewhere along the way. Like or loath it, Ireland’s World Cup history is […]

PADDY JACKSON WAITED a long, long time for his second Test match start of the 2015/16 season, but it won’t be easily forgotten. By anyone. Ulster’s out-half has put down his finest season at provincial level, reining in more and more responsibility for his province while driving them into the (admittedly ill-fated) Pro12 play-offs. At […]

ALL BLACK SECOND row Brodie Retallick has agreed to stay with the All Blacks until the 2023 World Cup, but only after a stint playing Japanese club rugby, New Zealand Rugby announced overnight. Retallick, 28, was a key target for the NZR, who want to retain a core of top talent after a number of […]

Rory Keane reports from Port Elizabeth WHETHER HE’S deployed at lock or flanker this weekend, Iain Henderson will be crucial to Ireland’s cause as they chase a historic 2-1 series victory on Springbok soil. Along with Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Devin Toner, Jamie Heaslip, Conor Murray, Paddy Jackson, Andrew Trimble and Jared Payne, the 24-year-old […]

SUPER RUGBY ORGANISERS defended their tournament’s finals format today after complaints that in-form New Zealand sides were receiving a raw deal. Based purely on results going into the final round, New Zealand teams occupy four of the five top spots on the ladder and three of them would expect to host quarter-finals. However, the now […]

HAVING READ JAMES Kerr’s excellent book Legacy during this year’s Six Nations, Jamie Heaslip was intrigued when he heard Graham Henry would be flying in for a short-term stint with Leinster. Henry is with Leinster for today’s friendly against Ulster. Source: Gary Carr/INPHO Henry’s CV alone is enough to pique any player’s interest, of course, […]

THE SHEER SCALE of the Top 14 can make others look weak in comparison. Many rugby fans say they simply can’t warm to the playing style employed by some of the clubs in France’s top league, but no one can question the ambition the Ligue Nationale de Rugby [LNR] brings to everything related to the […]

AN AUSTRALIAN RUGBY league player has died after collapsing following a tackle, police and officials said Monday, just over a year after another player died in similar circumstances. Father-of-two Grant Cook was playing for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in a regional New South Wales game against Casino Cougars on Sunday when he was taken ill. As […]