“The young girl who won the US Open… “ Not long after England had smashed Tonga 69-3, at Twickenham on Saturday, Eddie Jones was waxing lyrical about tennis star Emma Raducanu. The England head coach was fielding questions as to why Marcus Smith had not been given the No.10 jersey after captain Owen Farrell was […]

4 years ago

“F***ing hell! That’s a mad scene, lads.” Conor McGregor was only planning to stay up and watch the early UFC 268 preliminaries, but Ian Garry and his impressive K.O win had the Dubliner “buzzing”. The 23-year-old was given a stiff test on his UFC debut by ‘Contender Series’ alumni Jordan Williams, at Madison Square Garden, […]

4 years ago

‘Ya little ****ing daisy!’ Ian Garry certainly talked the talked ahead of his UFC debut at Madison Square Garden. Conor McGregor himself could not have scripted it any better. At UFC 268, as the crowds rolled in for a jammed pay-per-view event in New York’s storied sporting arena, the young Dubliner walked the walk. It […]

4 years ago

“The most highly rated Irish prospect since Conor McGregor… “ UFC commentator John Anik laid it out for fight fans ahead of the promotional debut for Dublin’s Ian Garry at Madison Square Garden. The 23-year-old came into UFC 268 with a 7-0-0 record and Joe Rogan was declaring, before he entered The Octagon at MSG, […]

4 years ago

The Connacht centre has bounced back from those dual set-backs incredibly well. Bundee Aki was not the only Ireland player to return from the 2019 World Cup with a raw hurt that would take some time to subside. Aki went into that tournament with a lot riding on how he performed in the Irish midfield. […]

4 years ago

“That idiot!” Ryle Nugent may have summed it up best, over on Premier Sports, as a pitch invader chose the worst possible moment to try to make himself famous. With Wales level with the world champion Springboks at the Principality Stadium, in Cardiff, scrumhalf Tomos Williams spread the ball out to the left-wing. Pitch invader […]

4 years ago

“You couldn’t not notice it. It was a very special moment for me.” As Johnny Sexton was engulfed by Ireland teammates, not long after crossing for his side’s sixth try against Japan, fans across the Aviva Stadium rose to acclaim the Test centurion. Sexton was making his 106th Test outing but his 100th for Ireland. […]

4 years ago

IRELAND 60-5 JAPAN Andrew Conway scored a hat-trick as Ireland ran in eight tries against Japan. Our Ireland ratings are full of big scores. Ireland were given a few scares in their summer meeting with Japan, but there would be no repeat today. As soon as James Lowe coasted up the left wing to score, […]

4 years ago

“On and off, all day. It was ridiculous!” On the back of some of the Newcastle Falcons players sharing tales about some of their rugby forfeits, Alex Goode, Sean O’Brien and Adam Jones got into the topic and raised plenty of eyebrows. Forfeits are part of most rugby squads, amateur and professional, and some sides […]

4 years ago

‘He’s like one of those goats that fall down when startled!’ Joe Marler is back in the England camp, and back to his old, wind-up antics. The loosehead is one of four Harlequins players in the England squad for the November Tests, having opted out of the 2021 Six Nations and the British & Irish […]

4 years ago

“I can see him doing this more often.” Connacht’s topsy-turvy season continued at break-neck speed, on Saturday, as they put Ulster’s feet to the fire and claimed an impressive bonus point win. While many were raving about established stars, the form of two Connacht flyers – Diarmuid Kilgallen and Mack Hansen – bode well for […]

4 years ago

“We managed to do that from the beginning, which made the game a bit easier.” Mo Salah and his Liverpool teammates knew they had Manchester United where they wanted them, before a ball was even kicked. United went into their Premier League clash with Liverpool off the back of four defeats in their previous eight […]

4 years ago

“God almighty, what brings you back?” For millions of Manchester United supporters across the globe, they will be experiencing the same odd sensation today. They know what has happened, but they still haven’t fully got their heads around it. For some, it will come later today. For others, it will be a few days from […]

4 years ago

Paul Scholes saw it all coming. As many pundits and fans were celebrating Man United coming back from 2-0 down to beat Atalanta 3-2, Scholes was inconsolable in the BT Sports studio. The former Manchester United midfielder was so shook by the way his old side performed in a woeful first half that he could […]

4 years ago

Ulster got a rude awakening at the Aviva Stadium. If it were not for their inconsistent scrummaging and lineouts, Connacht could have put an even greater beating on Ulster. The Westerners flaked previously unbeaten Ulster 36-11 to give their United Rugby Championship campaign a much-needed shot in the arm. Mack Hansen ran in two tries […]

4 years ago

Leicester Tigers making a positive splash again. Six games into the new Premiership season and Leicester are sitting pretty. Led by recently appointed captain Ellis Genge, the Tigers are six wins from six and have picked up three bonus points along the way. The past few seasons have been tumultuous for the former kingpins of […]

4 years ago

Pushing his luck to the brink. Antoine Dupont is a national treasure to the French. To all rugby, in fact. He must be protected at all costs. “It think he was a touch fortunate there, to be honest with you. Crikey!” Not since the 2005 Lions Tour to New Zealand has a commentator under-sold a […]

4 years ago

CONNACHT 36-11 ULSTER “This has been coming,” lamented Stephen Ferris as Ulster were badly exposed by Connacht for their first true test of the season. Ulster went into tonight’s United Rugby Championship match against Connacht, at the Aviva Stadium, having won four from four and having collected a maximum of 20 points. They head back […]

4 years ago

BALLINTUBBER 0-12 KNOCKMORE 2-9 What massive drama. Diarmuid O’Connor struck his spot-kick well, but Ryan McDonnell guessed right and was rewarded. Mayo GAA and nail-biting, hand-wringing drama come hand-in-hand. The Mayo senior football club championship delivered a huge dollop of drama, this evening, as Knockmore beat Ballintubber in the quarter finals. Knockmore led 1-6 to […]

4 years ago

“I burst a few stitches, doing that, and got in trouble for it.” Being a rugby player and copping a few bad injuries is a peril of the job, that comes hand-in-hand with the perks. Just ask Greg O’Shea and Megan Williams. While the Covid-enforced break in the 2019/20 rugby season afforded every battered and […]

4 years ago

Irish rugby wages have plateaued in recent years. The latest list of highest-paid players in world rugby has been compiled and there are no Irish players in the Top 10. There are two England internationals while Finn Russell is being handsomely remunerated in Paris. In terms of value for money, Montpellier never quite got there […]

4 years ago

Simon Zebo is back! Andy Farrell has announced his 38-man Ireland squad for the three upcoming November internationals, and there’s a little something in there for everybody. Johnny Sexton will once again lead Ireland with the only big absence from their 2021 Lions contingent being Robbie Henshaw, who just returned to training with Leinster. Dan […]

4 years ago

“We’re so scripted to look at the men’s game… let’s get a level playing field first, and then look at it.” There was a positive stir, last week, when a Women’s Lions Tour went from warm sentiments and wishful thinking to bodies getting in a room to start planning and discussing how it would work. […]

4 years ago

“Jeez, they opened them like a tin can, didn’t they?!” It is no big surprise to see Josh van der Flier heaving into counter-rucks, but he didn’t have to go it alone against Scarlets. Jordan Larmour was on the scene and he packed more of a punch than most would have expected. In flew the […]

4 years ago

“What they’re doing up there is incredible.” Ulster will be asking league officials if they can do a three-game home stand every season. After an impressive winning start, Ulster top the United Rugby Championship standings and several of their players are pressing for Ireland selection. Dan McFarland’s side have claimed a maximum of 20 points […]

4 years ago

“We’ve got our Carberys and Cartys, the two Byrnes at Leinster. We’ve even got Ben Healy.” Should Johnny Sexton feature against Japan on November 6, or in either of the subsequent Tests against New Zealand or Argentina, he will earned Ireland cap 100. It is a remarkable achievement, even as many are wondering how many […]

4 years ago

“I think I speak for all the girls when I say I’m pretty numb, emotional and upset.” Lindsay Peat made her Ireland debut in her mid 30s and, over the past six years, has amassed 37 caps since then. Given the squad’s recent World Cup heartbreak, she fears it could be 37 and out. A […]

4 years ago

It truly is a new era for England, with the focus very much on 2023 and the World Cup. Eddie Jones has named four uncapped players in his 34-man England squad for the autumn internationals, but much of the focus will be on the players NOT included. Nic Dolly and Tommy Freeman are called up […]

4 years ago

“They absolutely made a mess of me!” Will Connors is the first to admit it, one of his stand-out memories of playing senior level GAA was a men vs. boys outing. Youth versus Experience and making the ball do the work. Will Connors got an early lesson in the way of the sporting world but […]

4 years ago

The 20-time PGA Tour tournament winner admitted he had almost packed in golf for 2021. On Saturday night at Whistling Straits, in Wisconsin, Rory McIlroy was at rock bottom. The 32-year-old was supposed to be Team Europe’s big gun, alongside World No.1 Jon Rahm, but he had been blown out of the water. Paired with […]

4 years ago

“There’s stuff out there so far from the realm of truth, that it’s crazy.” It has been a little over a month since James Horan and Mayo’s latest All-Ireland Final heartache. The wounds are healing, but harsh words and wild accusations are still festering. Having soundly run away from Dublin in extra time of their […]

4 years ago

“When Rory is playing like this, it’s like he’s brought a gun to a knife fight!” Rory McIlroy stormed to victory at the $9.75m CJ Cup, in Las Vegas, to capture his 20th PGA Tour title and join and elite group. Having struggled to find his ‘A’ game at The Ryder Cup, only a few […]

4 years ago

Some tough decisions to be made in the days ahead. Ahead of November internationals against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina, head coach Andy Farrell is set to name his latest Ireland squad during the week. The squad is expected to feature between 35 to 37 players, with Farrell and his coaching staff settling on the […]

4 years ago

Stephen Kenny remarked, earlier this week, that 60 to 70% of Ireland’s best players are goalkeepers or defenders. There is a strong argument in your favour if you stated 60% of Irish rugby’s best players are back-rowers. Last month, Andy Farrell called up 50 players for a one-day camp at the IRFU’s High Performance Centre. […]

4 years ago

MUNSTER 20-18 CONNACHT Joey Carbery proved the matchwinner for Munster, and boy did he need that shot at redemption. The Munster outhalf had endured a tough outing against Connacht but Johann van Graan, his coach, backed him by leaving him out there. The South African’s faith was rewarded after a late Diarmuid Barron try. Connacht […]

4 years ago

Munster vs. Connacht is always spicy. Tonight was no different. Peter O’Mahony sticking up for his teammates before it all kicks off and in front of a baying crowd. Great to have rugby back. Munster welcomed Connacht to Thomond Park on Saturday night as they sought to keep up their winning start to the league […]

4 years ago

LEICESTER CITY 4-2 MAN UNITED Only Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be able to tell you what he was thinking with some of his team selections today. On Wednesday, Harry Maguire gave an interview with the United website and revealed he had not had a full training session with the senior squad. On Saturday, Solskjaer threw […]

4 years ago

“Sometimes it’s hard to put one foot in front of the other, but when you have a reason why, nothing is impossible… “ 2021 marks a decade of Run in the Dark events, with millions raised for charitable causes and tens of thousands taking to the streets each year. Ru in the Dark was founded […]

4 years ago

“Not again. Not again.” You could hear the despair in the voices of Premier Sports commentators Mark Robson and Stephen Ferris as Will Addison lay on the Ravenhill pitch with his hands covering his face. Ulster were in prime position to record another bonus point victory, and maintain their great start to the United Rugby […]

4 years ago

“Ah, the lads were delighted for him.” Munster and Leinster fans may be arguing about which score is best until the next round of United Rugby Championship games kick off. It is hardly earth-shattering to see most of the Irish provinces going well in league action, but some of the tries being scored by Leinster, […]

4 years ago

Back to his best. Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady divide a lot of opinions, here in Ireland. While both midfielders have avid backers, there is also a vocal cohort that feel they very often don’t reach their potential. Whenever that happens, they are not shy about letting everyone know. Perhaps what has so many invested […]

4 years ago

“Critics may say you see the bad side of it, but that, for us, is just his emotion.” There is a great picture, taken by Ramsey Cardy of Sportsfile, of Will Connors giving a post-match interview after winning Man of the Match on his Ireland debut. The Leinster flanker is giving his thoughts on a […]

4 years ago

IRELAND 4-0 QATAR Two wins in a row for Ireland, seven goals scored and zero conceded. A positive few days and our player ratings have a few lads sitting pretty. Ireland hit the front after only four minutes when Enda Stevens and Conor Hourihane combined and the in-form Callum Robinson did the rest. His deflected […]

4 years ago

“You’re always guaranteed that with Sexto. He’s going to come on and make those big plays.” Warren Gatland may have deemed him surplus to the Lions’ requirements, but Johnny Sexton is unquestionably Ireland’s best 10 and no-one is close to his crown yet. It has been a decade at the top for Sexton now. He made […]

4 years ago

“Here I go again, #Round2fight” RG Snyman posted that stoic message on his Instagram Stories, on Monday, accompanying a post from Munster that confirmed he had once again ruptured his cruciate ligament. The Springbok second row was out for nine months, last season, after injuring the same knee on his Munster debut against Leinster. That […]

4 years ago

“Delighted to be here. I’m not looking my greatest but, for now, you’ll have to deal with me like this!” Greg O’Shea joined up with the House of Rugby URC team for their latest episode, after signing on as a co-host, and brought an immediate talking point with him. The former Ireland Sevens star, who […]

4 years ago

The worst news was confirmed this afternoon. Munster head coach Johann van Graan surely knew this was coming when he saw RG Snyman hobble off after only nine minutes of action against Scarlets, on Sunday. The South African lock came off the bench for Munster against the Welsh outfit in their United Rugby Championship outing […]

4 years ago

The Ireland forward says he has taken a personal choice, but has not considered the wider team or picture. Callum Robinson is one of Ireland’s top players. Top eight, top six, top four. That depends on how you view it, but he is one of the best we have. One only needed to see how […]

4 years ago

Injury to the big South African has put a real dampener on Munster’s bonus point victory. Munster put an experienced Scarlets side to the sword, in Wales, but injury to RG Snyman was a real downer. Johann van Graan’s side had already secured the try-scoring bonus point with 44 minutes on the clock after Jeremy […]

4 years ago

We are still getting our heads around that epic encounter. Marcus Smith entered the fray with his team’s head on the chopping block. By the end of the match, he had made another compelling case to start for England. Last season, on their way to Premiership glory, Harlequins staged a semi-final comeback against Bristol, at […]

4 years ago