‘Brazil are the champs’. In the end, as staff tidied up at the T-Mobile Arena after UFC 269, it was left to Dustin Poirier to sum up where he stands in the game. “I worked hard to get back here for another shot at a world title, and got choked out again.” ‘The Diamond’ had […]

4 years ago

“I still can’t believe it happened.” Julianna Pena pulled off a shock win to rival Holly Hom’s UFC 183 knock-out of Ronda Rousey to win the women’s bantamweight title in Las Vegas. The American was up against Amanda Nunes [21-4], who was on an 11-fight winning streak that stretched back six years and included victories […]

4 years ago

This one should be a cracker. Katie Taylor moved imperiously to 20-0 in her professional career, tonight, with a unanimous points decision victory over Firuza Sharipova at the M&S Arena in Liverpool. Eddie Hearn has even bigger and better planned for 2022. The first four rounds were close enough, but Sharipova got ragged and loose […]

4 years ago

There she goes. There she goes again. There goes Katie Taylor. At it again. Defending her stack of belts and looking on another level entirely. Firuza Sharipova was a brave opponent for Katie Taylor at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, but she finished imperiously and defended her WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine Lightweight […]

4 years ago

Quick as a whip. Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa gave a good account of themselves, at Anfield, but still left empty-handed. Villa caused Liverpool a few problems but lost 1-0 after Mo Salah converted a penalty he won when he was bundled over by Tyrone Mings. The visitors felt they could have had a spot-kick given […]

4 years ago

“Aw, mate, it was a rollercoaster of emotions.” James Lowe came into the Ireland team, in 2020, with huge expectations as to what he could achieve in a green jersey. He started with a bang, against Wales, but had it tough in a couple of games after that. One tough away day against England threatened […]

4 years ago

“There might be eight or 10 tries in there, but that one always gets the biggest cheer.” Brian O’Driscoll admits he and Leinster may have got ahead of themselves, in 2006, when they set up what was effectively a home Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster. Leinster had gone to Toulouse on April 1st 2006 and […]

4 years ago

“I genuinely think he still plays at that high level.” Will Genia, like the rest of us, has witnessed a new generation of scrum-halves stepping it up at Test level. Still, his position on world’s best scrumhalf has not shifted. 2021 has ended with a wrong being made right in the sporting world. Antoine Dupont […]

4 years ago

“We felt it was interesting to explore outside the bright lights of Croke Park, and down in that grassroots version of GAA.” For much of November, the town in Granard was buzzing with activity. The Longford town had a GAA movie being shot, and there was plenty of work to be done. Robert Higgins and […]

4 years ago

“I’m looking forward to going to The Sportsground, albeit on the back of Storm Barra being there.” It is Champions Cup week, the days are counting down quickly and both myself and Brian O’Driscoll are well indoors as Storm Barra howls outside of respective homes. It’s a funny old chat with O’Driscoll, but it follows […]

4 years ago

“It certainly hasn’t been ideal.” 12 days ago, Johann van Graan and his Munster squad were getting ready for a United Rugby Championship encounter with the Bulls, in Pretoria. A call came into the Munster camp that would tip everything sideways. The ‘Omicron’ strain of the Covid-19 virus had been identified by South African scientists. […]

4 years ago

“It’s been a challenge for us.” Peter O’Mahony is exuding as much confidence as possible ahead of Munster’s Champions Cup opener against Wasps. The souther province are currently without a slew of senior players as they are either isolating in hotel rooms or back in South Africa. 14 of their travelling party that headed to […]

4 years ago

A few eye-brow raising inclusions in there with plenty of undeniables. World Rugby was never going to miss out on the Team of the Year action, and their ’15s Dream Team’ has been announced as part of a week-long sprinkling of accolades. Rugby’s global governing body has already announced a slew of awards, such as […]

4 years ago

“That’s a very good question, and a very difficult one to answer… “ ‘Who were the best and worst players to referee?’ Nigel Owens gave this one some thought before he dived on in. The Welsh referee has stepped down from officiating at Test level in 2020 and last oversaw a professional club game in […]

4 years ago

Hold on tight! Josh Tuisova and Charlie Ngatai out here putting lads into the next dimension. This is what Lyon are capable of. The Top 14 has borne witness to the most brutally devastating try of 2021. It arrived 25 minutes into Lyon’s encounter with Brive, and summed up the home side’s complete dominance. Lyon […]

4 years ago

Munster are still set to face Wasps on Sunday. In a decision that could well impact upon Munster and Cardiff’s hopes of fielding teams for this weekend’s Champions Cup, Scarlets have forfeited their game against Bristol Bears. All three sides, along with Italian club Zebre, were in South Africa to fulfil United Rugby Championship fixtures […]

4 years ago

The bi-annual list was compiled by an expert panel based in the UK. Every couple of years, the long-established Rugby World magazine assembles a group of rugby lovers to put together a list of the planet’s top 100 players. If the Top 20 is anything to go by, the full 100 list will cause some […]

4 years ago

“I hope that we can get them in here in the next one or two weeks, but I cannot tell you any names.” In his first press conference as Manchester United manager, Ralf Rangnick confirmed he wanted to add to his coaching staff but said Brexit red-tape could cause delays. Chris Armas may step into […]

4 years ago

Let the games begin… 2021 is winding down and the awards and accolades are starting to be handed out. Tadhg Furlong may pick up some personal baubles yet. Robbie Henshaw [Best 15s Player] and Gavin Coombes [Best Young Player] were recipients of two of the big Rugby Players Ireland recipients, last Friday, while France winger […]

4 years ago

“I know that is particularly harsh, but I’ve got nothing to lose now.” There was a time when Jenny Murphy would be seething over inadequacies within women’s rugby in Ireland, but would bite her tongue. Not any more. The Leinster star helped Ireland to a Grand Slam in 2013 and another Six Nations title in […]

4 years ago

“We could have sat there all night listening to him.” Roy Keane and Johnny Sexton have a lot in common. Two driven leaders that demand the best of those around them, and get under the skin of the opposition, and a few referees. Keane is a big rugby fan and spent a week with the […]

4 years ago

“I half went after one of them… “ When a video of Roy Keane clashing with a man outside Old Trafford, after Manchester United lost to Manchester City, gained traction last month, it saw many come to the Cork native’s defence. Keane had been signing autographs and posing for a couple of quick pictures as […]

4 years ago

“There was a story where a lad was supposed to have had 10 pints of Guinness before an All-Ireland Final!” Sean O’Brien was happy to see Tyson Fury’s ‘two pints before my fight’ story and raise it with a tale of the Offaly hurlers. Fury claimed in a chat with JOE’s Alex Roberts that he […]

4 years ago

Could have taken the easy score, but had other ideas. The main take away from Leinster vs. Connacht, on Friday night, was how well stocked the national team is in certain positions. Fans at The RDS got to see a fascinating Mack Hansen vs. Jordan Larmour battle play out. Connacht, buoyed by recent big wins […]

4 years ago

It takes a supporter like no other. It takes Aviva. “This is a community club first and a rugby club second.” Creggs RFC, located in the village of Creggs, sits on the Galway side of the border with Roscommon and has been in existence since 1974. The club has just under 500 members and features […]

4 years ago

EVERTON 1-4 LIVERPOOL Everton had fought their way back into the Merseyside Derby after a horror start, but Seamus Coleman’s error saw the match slip away. After drawing and losing the Premier League encounters with Everton last season, Liverpool set about righting some wrongs [real, perceived and everything in between] at Goodison Park. Everton went […]

4 years ago

“You should not forget that when you ask the question.” Jurgen Klopp needed very little reminding of what befell his Liverpool side, and two of his key players, on their last visit to Goodison Park. The Reds drew with Everton on their home patch, early last season, but the biggest damage to their Premier League […]

4 years ago

10 names to get. Four minutes to do so. Liverpool and Everton’s footballing rivalry stretches back over 125 years. This Everton and Liverpool quiz deals with more recent history between the Merseyside clubs. There have been more than 40 players to have played for both clubs, over the years, but we are not looking for […]

4 years ago

“It was still a bit disappointing that I didn’t get a run-out.” As much as he loved being part of the British & Irish Lions squad [twice] in the summer, you can easily read that Ronan Kelleher has a couple of gnawing regrets. March to July 2021 were a tumble dryer of emotions for the […]

4 years ago

“I don’t know if it’s a controversial viewpoint… “ Darren Cave was sticking his neck out, somewhat, when he said he expected more from a Stephen Larkham coached Munster side. Given the reputation Larkham brought with him to Munster, though, he made a couple of valid points. It was confirmed, late last month, that the […]

4 years ago

“He had a serious game.” Back in October, when Ulster beat Lions, Louis Ludik and Andrew Trimble tried to decipher what James Hume’s ‘H’ celebration meant. “That’s the first letter of his second name,” Trimble guessed. “Either that or he’s doing rugby posts.” Ludik suggested it could be a double ‘L’ to emphasise his ‘love […]

4 years ago

“They were my second favourite team, until they gave Ulster an absolute spanking.” Six games into the United Rugby Championship season and we are still not entirely sure what to make of Connacht. Andy Friend’s side lost three of their first four URC games and we being told, by pundits and fans, that they were […]

4 years ago

“We talked about leadership.” As a player driven to be the best, and make the most out of what talents he had, Roy Keane always identified with the All Blacks. Football was always Keane’s first love but, like many sports fans in Ireland, he followed the fortunes of Munster and the Irish rugby team when […]

4 years ago

10 of the travelling party will now remain in South Africa for the time being. Munster Rugby has today confirmed nine more positive Covid-19 cases in their South Africa travelling party after PCR test results from Monday were returned. Munster sent a party of 34 players and 14 staff members to Pretoria, last week, ahead […]

4 years ago

A light-hearted moment before he took another pop at Michael Carrick. Roy Keane briefly allowed himself a moment to crack a joke with his fellow Sky Sports pundits, before interim Manchester United boss Michael Carrick brought him back to earth. The former United and Ireland captain was on duty at Stamford Bridge as his former […]

4 years ago

He had to walk for that. Sale Sharks winger Byron McGuigan lost the head completely and was red-carded for a couple of dangerous slams on Saracens’ Nick Tompkins. With Saracens leading Sharks 13-0, early in the second half, a penalty went against the visitors and Tompkins was on the mind-up. The Wales star leaned down […]

4 years ago

‘One of which is suspected to be the new variant Omicron.’ Munster and Cardiff have been forced to change travel plans again and remain in Cape Town after three positive Covid-19 cases were confirmed across the two squads. Munster, Cardiff, Zebre and Scarlets were all in South Africa were rounds six and seven of the […]

4 years ago

LEINSTER 10-20 ULSTER Well now, well now. Ulster have sent a big statement to the rest of the United Rugby Championship by defeating champions Leinster at The RDS. Nick Timoney and Matty Rea typified the visitor’s physicality and fight as they combined for two turnovers apiece and held Leinster’s feet to the fire. Dan McFarland’s […]

4 years ago

“I can’t win!” Back in 2011, in the lead-up to the World Cup, Mike McCarthy made his Ireland debut at blindside in an away loss to Scotland. He was 29, and it was the realisation of a life-long mission to wear the green jersey. McCarthy had been playing with Connacht for four seasons, at that […]

4 years ago

Fans now heading to Twickenham will only get to see the women’s match. ‘Confirmed positive Covid cases’ mean this afternoon’s match between the Barbarians and Samoa, at Twickenham, has now been cancelled. The news arrived just 80 minutes before kick-off in the game, which was set to be the final game of Ireland star Rob […]

4 years ago

“The way he’s played has been just brilliant.” Caelan Doris would have definitely been in contention for a British & Irish Lions spot were it not for concussion and a calf injury that meant he did not return to action in May of this year, after Warren Gatland’s squad was announced. Having been backed by […]

4 years ago

“He was unbelievable.” Following Ireland’s 53-7 win over Argentina, head coach Andy Farrell was asked a question about Robbie Henshaw, who had played superbly for 65 minutes in his first game of the season. “He was preparing like everyone else,” Farrell said, “just to be ready if called and it’s no surprise to us that […]

4 years ago

“It will provide transformational opportunities to players with dual backgrounds.” World Rugby has approved and eligibility change that will transform the prospects of many nations over the coming years. From January 1st 2002, a player can transfer once from one union to another as long as they have ‘a close and credible link to that […]

4 years ago

“Great players. Great players.” Back in 2001, the International Rugby Board introduced that is now the World Rugby Player of the Year award. Two Irishmen, two Australians and England outhalf Jonny Wilkinson were the nominees. The award was won that year by Ireland hooker Keith Wood and not won again by another Irish player until […]

4 years ago

“We’ve had two teams that have been waiting for us… “ All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has returned to New Zealand and is facing the music. Joe Schmidt and Scott Robertson have already been mentioned a possible replacements. The ABs may have won The Rugby Championship at a canter, yet again, but they lost […]

4 years ago

Letting his gloves do the talking. In the days proceeding Manchester United’s wretched 4-1 defeat against Watford, David de Gea was not the only player to post a message of thanks or support (or both) on social media. With big clubs, it would be a story whether you post to your page or not. Whether […]

4 years ago

Over half a million votes were made. The votes have been tallied and a pretty impressive ‘Best XV” for the Autumn Nations Series has been selected. Following the final weekend of Autumn Nations Series games, which saw excellent wins for France and Ireland and closer-run victories for England, Wales and France, the call went out […]

4 years ago

“It depends on what you’re doing. Do you want an actual boxing match?!” Many rugby teams use boxing training to build up cardio for their players, as well as hand-eye movement. Sean O’Brien has always enjoyed when the gloves have been thrown his way for a sparring session. The Ireland back-row has not done too much […]

4 years ago

“People were like, ‘Oh, he’s not up for it’.” Joey Carbery kicked 18 points for Ireland, in their win over Argentina, looked excellent at outhalf for 50 minutes and did a fine job at fullback for the final 30 minutes. Greg O’Shea was not the only one singing his praises. Following the 53-7 victory, Peter […]

4 years ago

And then some, Harry. Harry Maguire and Michael Carrick were the first club representatives to face the media, today, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked as manager. Carrick, who was an assistant manager under Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho before him, has been named caretaker manager while the club look for someone to steer the ship […]

4 years ago