IT’S THAT TIME of year when we’re gasping for a bit of northern hemisphere rugby, what with all the magic that’s going on south of the equator. Unfortunately, the wait will go on, but we can at least use these drab, humid weekdays to wistfully plan some of the cool crisp autumnal rugby days ahead. […]
Read MoreLEINSTER SAY OUT-half Johnny Sexton is aiming for a return in the early rounds of the Guinness Pro12 season, as his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery at the end of last season continues. Leo Cullen’s side are facing the prospect of beginning the season without a host of their star names. Source: Gary Carr/INPHO 31-year-old Sexton […]
Read MoreHome Ireland wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien attempts a stumping against Hong Kong’s Ninad Shah. Ireland lead Hong Kong by 79 runs after the second day of their ICC International Cup clash in Belfast. William Porterfield’s side, led by George Dockrell (3-46) and Peter Chase (3-50), bowled Hong Kong out for 237. Ireland scored 316 runs in […]
Read MoreTHE FIRST TWO weekends of the Guinness Pro12 have brought Connacht crashing back back to earth after their lofty achievements last season. For many of Pat Lam’s squad, giving up bonus points in defeat on consecutive weekends is a strange feeling. “It is different,” says fullback Tiernan O’Halloran. “A lot of the lads in the […]
Read MoreULSTER ASSISTANT COACH Joe Barakat will leave the province in December it was confirmed today. The Australian, who joined the Ulster set-up in 2015 on a two-year deal is returning home to take up a role as senior assistant coach with Western Force. Barakat previously coached the Waratahs in Sydney and had a five-year spell in […]
Read MoreGLASGOW WARRIORS HEAD coach Dave Rennie has signed a contract extension with the Guinness Pro14 title contenders that runs until June 2020. Click Here: st george illawarra dragons shirt Rennie signed a two-year deal to succeed Gregor Townsend prior to the 2017-18 season and was reportedly a leading contender to replace Australia head coach Michael Cheika. However, Glasgow […]
Read MoreJOHNNY SEXTON WILL make his first Leinster appearance of 2019 in Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final showdown against Toulouse [kick-off 3.15pm, Virgin Media / BT Sport / Channel 4]. Sexton, who has not played since the final weekend of the Six Nations, returns for what promises to be a seismic European clash at the Aviva […]
Read MoreMunster 27 Connacht 14 Ryan Bailey reports from Thomond Park DEVELOPMENTS ELSEWHERE QUICKLY contrived to make this end-of-season inter-pro a glorified warm-up for the serious business to come, as Munster — despite a commanding victory here — had to settle for a second-place finish in Conference A. Johann van Graan’s side did what was asked […]
Read MoreFOR THE SECOND time in the space of a year, Josh van der Flier is set to defy an initial medical prognosis and return to action ahead of schedule to hand Leinster’s two-pronged title bid a major boost. The flanker was initially ruled out for the remainder of this season after undergoing surgery on the […]
Read MoreMUNSTER HAVE BEEN given a huge boost with Joey Carbery and Keith Earls returning from injury for tomorrow’s Guinness Pro14 semi-final against Leinster at the RDS [KO 2.30pm, eir Sport/Premier Sports]. Out-half Carbery and wing Earls have been sidelined since Munster’s Champions Cup quarter-final win over Edinburgh at the end of March but make their […]
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