IT HARDLY NEEDS to be mentioned that Munster’s performance against Saracens on Saturday was a low point in the province’s grand history in European rugby. To be beaten so convincingly in an encounter that had make-or-break status will have cut deep. That Munster underperformed so extensively is what will have truly hurt. Saracens were brilliant,…

WATERFORD NATIVE NIAMH Briggs has been named the new captain of the Ireland Women’s team, replacing the retired Fiona Coghlan. Briggs celebrates last year’s memorable win over New Zealand. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO Briggs has won 45 caps for Ireland since her debut against Italy in 2008, and was nominated for IRB Player of The Year in…

IRELAND U20 COACH Nigel Carolan has called on a number of new faces for his side’s Six Nations opener against Italy on Friday evening [KO 18.00 Irish time]. While there is room for six players previously capped in this competition in the starting team, a total of nine will make their U20 Six Nations debuts…

Ulster 25Scarlets 20 ULSTER RECOVERED FROM a 13-6 half-time deficit to the Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium to secure an important 25-20 Guinness Pro12 victory over the Welsh side, retaining second position in the league in doing so. Tries from Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall and Ruan Pienaar helped Neil Doak’s side to dominate the second half…

DEPTH IN THE back row has never been a major issue for Irish rugby. We seem to produce powerful, mobile, skillful and breakdown-hungry flankers in particular abundance, even if freakish specimens like Sean O’Brien and Stephen Ferris don’t burst through too often. Tommy O’Donnell impressed against England last weekend. Source: ©Inpho/Billy Stickland Even now, the…

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CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA have made history and claimed the Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup for the first time by beating Belvedere College 18-11 in an absorbing final at the RDS. A try from winger Daniel Keane was a second-half turning point but the shooting accuracy of captain Tim Foley proved a big difference too. The opening…

AS THE DUST settled on Ireland’s successful November campaign, our friends at Whiff of Cordite started the countdown clock for meaningful minutes before the World Cup. The clock was set on 400 minutes, the length of five games in the Six Nations Championship. Now that time is up and players based on the fringe of Team…

JAMIE HEASLIP WILL lead Leinster into the knockout phase of European Rugby at 3.15pm tomorrow. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO Click Here: f1 racing suit for sale Noting the exact kick-off for the quarter-final against Bath is important. Because for the Leinster captain and his team-mates the countdown and preparation to that time has already begun. The…

Updated at 08.30 ULSTER CAPTAIN RORY Best certainly wasn’t resting on his laurels or hiding behind a bonus point win away to Connacht. It would have been easy to put on a blank expression and point out that Leinster and Munster have lost in Galway. Instead, Connacht’s home record only got a passing mention after…