Sampdoria chief Massimo Ferrero has confirmed that Uruguyan midfielder Lucas Torreira will join Arsenal at the conclusion of Uruguay’s World Cup campaign. Torreira was a second-half substitute for La Celeste’s 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and played 36 games for Sampdoria in the Serie A last season. Torreira will follow Swiss international defender Stephan Lichtsteiner and […]

8 years ago

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said one of his biggest regrets from his time at the club was not ripping former assistant manager Carlos Queiroz’s head off. Queiroz served as an assistant manager at United between 2002 and 2008, interrupted briefly by one season at Real Madrid, but Keane felt that the current Iran manager […]

8 years ago

Ireland second-row Devin Toner has been described as ‘the most awkward man in the world to be on a team with’ by former Leinster teammate Jamie Heaslip. Toner was fantastic in Ireland’s 26-21 win over Australia last weekend in Melbourne and he’s poised to start again in the third Test decider in Sydney this Saturday. […]

8 years ago

Former Russia manager Leonid Slutsky has left Russian state broadcaster Channel One just days after mentioning notable Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who has been repeatedly jailed for organising anti-Kremlin protests. Navalny uses his social media channels to publish videos and documents about corruption by Russian state officials, to organise political demonstrations and […]

8 years ago

RTE soccer pundit and former Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo for his theatrics in Portugal’s 1-0 win over Morocco on Wednesday. Ronaldo scored the only goal of the game when he headed home a Bernardo Silva cross from close range to give Portugal their first win of the tournament after […]

8 years ago

Reigning Champions Cup champions Leinster Rugby will play Wasps, Toulouse and Bath Rugby in Pool 1 of next season’s competition after today’s Champions Cup draw in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Champions entered the draw as a top seed but were drawn alongside Wasps and Toulouse who both finished third in the Premiership and Top 14 respectively. […]

8 years ago

How many positions in the Irish rugby team are really up for grabs? The front-row of Cian Healy, Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong is tried and tested, the halves pairing of Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton can just about etch their names in stone on the teamsheet while Keith Earls, Jacob Stockdale and Rob Kearney […]

8 years ago

Olympic silver medalists Gary and Paul O’Donovan feature in the latest episode of Red Bull’s ‘Way of the Wildcard’ series which tells the story of unexpected athletes succeeding in the most unlikely circumstances. The O’Donovan’s shot to national prominence when they won silver medals in the Men’s lightweight double sculls at the 2016 Olympic Games in […]

8 years ago

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is contracted with the IRFU until the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup but his future with the union is still very much up in the air. Schmidt is among the favourites to replace New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen after next year’s World Cup with the All Blacks […]

8 years ago

England head coach Eddie Jones has said that he’s absolutely loving the criticism he is receiving after England suffered their sixth successive defeat to South Africa last weekend. After losing the opening Test in Johannesburg earlier this month, England conceded the series to the Springboks in Bloemfontein last weekend after slumping to a 23-12 loss at […]

8 years ago

Australian full-back Israel Folau has said that Ireland did a great job at preventing him from contesting kicks in the Wallabies 26-21 loss to Joe Schmidt’s side in Melbourne last weekend. Folau was typically excellent in the air in Australia’s first Test win in Brisbane earlier this month and Ireland made a noted effort to […]

8 years ago

It’s been evident that Johnny Sexton has been world-class for sometime now. He’s started Lions Tests. Won Pro14, Champions Cup, Six Nations and Grand Slam titles. Kicked 45m match-winning drop goals and that’s all just in the last year. The Ireland fly-half is one of the world’s best rugby players and it showed last weekend […]

8 years ago

IRFU Prerformance Director David Nucifora has said that he would be open to the idea of former Ulster duo Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding returning to the Ireland national team in the future. Jackson and Olding both had their Ulster and IRFU contracts revoked in April after a joint internal review between the province and […]

8 years ago

Former Munster utility back Paul Warwick has said that he was surprised with just how much Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray has achieved in the sport. Warwick spent two seasons with Murray at Munster and attributes the strides that he has made with Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions to his work ethic at […]

8 years ago

Chelsea and Belgium winger Eden Hazard has said that he would be ‘interested’ by a move to Real Madrid and that the reigning European champions know what to do if they want to come get him. Hazard has said before that he wants to know Chelsea’s plans before deciding his future at the club and […]

8 years ago

Ireland second-row James Ryan is quickly becoming one of the very best locks in the world and he only just cleared his 10th appearance in international rugby last weekend. The 21-year-old suffered his first loss in professional rugby in Ireland’s summer series opener against Australia earlier this month but he was one of Ireland’s best […]

8 years ago

Following Brazil and Germany’s underwhelming performances on Sunday, we have another three matches of football lined up for day five of the FIFA World Cup from Russia. Sone Heung-min and South Korea take on Sweden, perennial underachievers Belgium take on Panama in the Fisht Stadium before Gareth Southgate’s England kick-off their World Cup campaign against Tunisia in […]

8 years ago

Gareth Southgate’s England squad were supposed to be different from the others. They were largely likeable. They tempered expectations, engaged with the media, tackled racism and put their entire squad up to talk to the press when Raheem Sterling was engulfed in controversy concerning his gun tattoo. England are 14/1 to win the World Cup […]

8 years ago

France and Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has said that he is the most criticised player in world football following his match winning goal in France’s 2-1 win over Australia on Saturday. Pogba has his share of critics with Graeme Sounness and Mark Lawrenson often quick to highlight his deficiencies as a player but the […]

8 years ago

Brazilian forward Neymar was seen hobbling around in the mixed zone after his side’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Sunday. Neymar played the full 96 minutes at the Rostov Arena as Brazil stalled in their World Cup opener after a second-half header from Switzerland winger Steven Zuber cancelled out a stunning first-half strike from Brazil […]

8 years ago

After Brazil and Germany both failed to gain wins on day four in Russia we now turn to Belgium and England on Monday as we prepare for the Group G openers. Sweden and South Korea will kick off the day in Group F at 1pm before Belgium take on Panama at 4pm with England and […]

8 years ago

RTE World Cup pundit Eamon Dunphy thought he was having a ‘JR moment’ when a light exploded in the RTE studios following the post-match analysis of the draw between Brazil and Switzerland. Host Darragh Moloney was discussing a potential penalty incident with Dunphy when a light in the background of the studio blew which caused […]

8 years ago

Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony was a menace at the breakdown in the second Test win over Australia in Melbourne. Australian flankers David Pocock and Michael Hooper both terrorised Irish ball in their first Test win in Brisbane last weekend, and while Pocock still managed to pinch two turnovers in the second Test at AAMI Park […]

8 years ago

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hailed former teammate Paul Pogba as ‘the best midfielder in the world’ after the Manchester United star scored the winner in France’s 2-1 win over Australia on Saturday. Pogba lifted the ball over Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan late in the second-half to seal his side a win in their tournament opener after […]

8 years ago

Spain defender Gerard Pique has slammed Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo for diving in the lead up to his penalty in Friday’s 3-3 draw at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi. Ronaldo won his side a penalty in the opening minutes when he dribbled towards Madrid teammate Nacho before falling to the ground. The Barcelona defender said […]

8 years ago

Australian head coach Michael Cheika has confirmed that scrum-half Will Genia will undergo surgery after suffering a broken arm in Ireland’s 26-21 win in Melbourne on Saturday. Genia was withdrawn after 27 minutes at AAMI Park and did not return to the match as he finished the game in a sling on the Wallabies bench. […]

8 years ago

Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony has said that his side produced one of their best performances of the year in Saturday’s 26-21 win over Australia in Melbourne. O’Mahony captained Ireland to their first win on Australian soil since 1979 with tries from Andrew Conway and Tadhg Furlong setting up a series tying win after Ireland lost […]

8 years ago

Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli has preemptively named his team for his side’s World Cup opener with Iceland on Saturday. Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will start over Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain with PSG winger Angel Di Maria set to partner Aguero and captain Lionel Messi up front. Sampaoli had no issue with confirming his side on […]

8 years ago

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has been heavily criticised for his decision to announce his club future on live television. Griezmann announced on Spanish television on Thursday that he would be staying at Atletico next season amid heavy interest from La Liga champions Barcelona. His decision to announce his club future via live television was […]

8 years ago

You knew there would be some weird stuff happening at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, you just didn’t think it would be this weird and happen this soon. Following Russia’s 5-0 win over Suadi Arabia in the opening game at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, a bear was filmed sitting in the back of a […]

8 years ago

New Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui struggled to hold back the tears at his official unveiling as the club’s new manager on Thursday. Lopetegui was sacked as Spain manager on Wednesday just two days before their opening World Cup match with Portugal. The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said it had dismissed Lopetegui because the negotiation to Madrid […]

8 years ago

Wexford hurler Lee Chin has said that he still deals with racism on a daily basis. Chin is enjoying a strong season with Wexford this year as he continues to reinforce himself as a pivotal figure within Davy Fitzgerald’s side. The 25-year-old is now in his eighth season with the Wexford panel and he has […]

8 years ago

Real Madrid have reportedly agreed to personal terms with Roma goalkeeper and Liverpool target Alisson Becker. According to Mundo Deportivo, a Spanish nationwide daily sports newspaper, Becker has agreed to terms with the European champions but both clubs are still negotiating a transfer fee. Roma want €80m compared to the €60m that Los Blancos have offered […]

8 years ago

No matter how good or bad a football pundit is at analysing football, their seemingly fair game for slagging on Twitter. Mark Lawrenson’s face resembles a candle, Emmanuel Petit looks like a 70s porn star and Paul Ince is worse than hair lice are just some of the tweets aimed at former pros ahead of […]

8 years ago

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said that Julen Lopetegui’s dismissal from his role as Spain manager was a ‘strange situation’. Spain sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui after he was named the new Real Madrid manager just two days before their opening World Cup match with Portugal. The Spanish football federation (RFEF) said it had […]

8 years ago

Russian MP Tamara Pletneva has been criticised for her comments on Russian women sleeping with fans of foreign races at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Pletneva, chairwoman of the Family, Women, and Children Affairs Committee in the lower house of parliament, warned Russian women from having sex with fans of foreign races and that she hoped that women […]

8 years ago

Egypt have declared that forward Mohamed Salah will be fit for the Pharaohs World Cup opener against Uruguay on Friday. Salah was a doubt heading into this summer’s tournament after injuring his shoulder in Liverpool’s Champions League final loss to Real Madrid last month. The 25-year-old went to Valencia, Spain, for treatment since the injury and […]

8 years ago

The daughter of Galway All-Ireland winner Tony Keady has made a plea to the GAA community to help get her father’s book ‘One Hundred and Ten Per Cent Legend’ to the number one spot in the country. Keady passed away last August after suffering a major heart attack at his family home before passing away a […]

8 years ago

International rugby referee Nigel Owens and American television personality Caitlyn Jenner will both be supporting Russia at this year’s FIFA World Cup. Owens and Jenner have teamed up with Irish bookmaker Paddy Power to help raise funds for LGBT groups and charities. I'm really hoping Russia will score lots of goals at the Football World Cup. […]

8 years ago

“My theory on Feds is they’re like mushrooms, feed them shit and keep them in the dark” – Sgt. Dignam, The Departed.  Sgt. Dignam didn’t like federal police agents and he had good reason to be skeptical in Martin Scorsese’s 2006 crime classic The Departed as Dignam trailed a series of double agents in the Boston […]

8 years ago

Republic of Ireland forward Áine O’Gorman received a commemorative golden cap after she earned her 100th international cap on Tuesday in Ireland’s 1-0 loss to Norway. The defeat ended Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for their first ever Women’s World Cup finals next year but Ireland manager Colin Bell took time out after the game to […]

8 years ago

Republic of Ireland defender Greg Cunningham is on the verge of signing for Premier League newcomers Cardiff City. The Preston North End left-back has reportedly agreed personal terms to join Neil Warnock’s side after a fee of around £4m was agreed between the two clubs. According to the Lancashire Post, Cunningham has undergone a medical in […]

8 years ago

New Zealand assistant coach Ian Foster has dismissed claims that the All Blacks are given an easy ride by referees during Test matches. Controversy emanated from the yellow card shown to French lock Paul Gabrillagues by referee Luke Pearce during the second-half with France conceding 41-points in under 30 minutes following the forward’s dismissal. All […]

8 years ago

FIFA’s sponsorship revenue for this summer’s World Cup is set to plummet amid bribery scandals involving football’s governing body over the last three years. A report by Nielsen, a leading global information & measurement company, predicts that FIFA will see a $179 million dip in sponsorship revenue at this month’s World Cup in Russia compared […]

8 years ago

Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho has been bombarded by eggs and flour at Brazil training. The Barcelona winger turned 26 on Tuesday and to celebrate his Brazil teammates pranked him by throwing egg and flour all over him while he was sitting down. The Brazilian boys give Philippe Coutinho the birthday treatment! Egged and covered in […]

8 years ago

“Every time I come up against Australia the intensity and physicality is second to none. There wasn’t a lot of people talking about the Australian physicality before the game, but you saw how physical they were in the first 10, 15 minutes and they carried it through the game” – Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony.  O’Mahony was […]

8 years ago

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is expected to make several changes for this Saturday’s second Test with Australia in Melbourne. The Wallabies claimed the first Test of a three-match series in Brisbane last weekend with a 18-9 win at Suncorp Stadium and the win for Michael Cheika’s side snapped a 12-game winning streak for Ireland. […]

8 years ago

Ireland number eight CJ Stander had an early second-half try against Australia disallowed on Saturday after television match official Ben Skeen ruled that the Munster backrower had been held up over the line by Wallabies winger Dane Haylett-Petty. Australia entered half-time at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane with an 8-6 lead before Ireland struck early after the […]

8 years ago

It’s amazing what one loss can do. Everyone likes the idea of experimentation until you’re standing there with soot on your lab coat and smoke in your face, but just because an experiment failed at the first hurdle, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the whole process was a waste of time. The success of the […]

8 years ago

For any kid that has ever had some middle aged man berate them on a Gaelic football pitch for trying a skill from ‘that foreign game’, you’ve been vindicated, as one of the best players in Gaelic football showed on Sunday that not everything learned from the world of soccer is necessarily a bad thing. […]

8 years ago