“Guys, you need to get a song about where you come from!” Back when Willie Anderson was coaching at the Ulster Rugby academy – overseeing the development of players such as Michael Lowry, Stewart Moore, Nathan Doak and James Hume – he was always perplexed when it came to the sing-songs. Instilled in him from […]

4 years ago

And this coming from a guy that insists he is a fan of the Scotland outhalf. Six minutes into Scotland’s Six Nations encounter with France and the game was going at a rate of knots. Seeking to give his teammates some respite, Finn Russell put a long put down the pitch. Unfortunately for Russell and […]

4 years ago

ENGLAND 23-19 WALES In the end, at Twickenham, the forwards won enough penalties for Eddie Jones’ side to cruise home. Our England ratings and marks out of 10 for the Welsh players have the usual mix of heroes, lads that will be questioning their performances and plenty in between. In a first half that most […]

4 years ago

SCOTLAND 17-36 FRANCE Scotland fans were left fuming, 25 minutes into their side’s Six Nations clash with France, when Melvyn Jaminet clattered into Sam Skinner. On first viewing, it looked as though there was a case to answer. Les Bleus were 12-3 up after early tries for Paul Willemse and Yoram Moefana, when the incident […]

4 years ago

And so began a long sporting rivalry. Back in May 1983, over at the Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg, Alex Ferguson led his Aberdeen side to a European Cup Winners’ Cup final victory over the mighty Real Madrid. Both sides had come through thrilling quarter finals – Aberdeen beating Bayern Munich and Real seeing off Inter […]

4 years ago

“They’re singing Delilah and it’s absolutely bouncing!” If he casts he mind back, and he is more than happy to do so, Justin Tipuric can place himself back out on the Principality Stadium pitch as Wales did a double that gave them immense, immense pleasure. Back in 2013, when it was still called the Millennium […]

4 years ago

“I can’t say enough about him.” Ireland head coach Andy Farrell paid a powerful, moving tribute to Va’aiga Tuigamala just a day after the former All Blacks and Samoa star passed away, aged just 52. Affectionately known by many rugby union and league fans as Inga the Winger, the Samoan lit up both codes in […]

4 years ago

Ireland will be targeting a bonus point win to keep up the title hunt. Andy Farrell has named his Ireland team to face Italy and there are a few changes from the side that lost out to France in their last outing. Ulster’s Mike Lowry starts at fullback while James Lowe comes in at left […]

4 years ago

“I think it’s a bit easy for people to jump on that.” It is the Wednesday before Ireland take on Italy in the third round of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations and Brian O’Driscoll is being pinged with team selection questions, and enquiries if our men’s rugby team can reach a World Cup semi-final, next […]

4 years ago

The Big Bash is back. Eddie Jones has named his England team for the pivotal Six Nations clash with Wales, and some big-hitters return. For their recent win against Italy, Jones made eight changes to the team that started their Six Nations campaign with a narrow away defeat to Scotland. Knowing that their title hopes […]

4 years ago

‘Iain is well and has left Ireland camp to complete his period of isolation at home.’ Changes will be made to the Ireland team, come the Friday afternoon announcement by the IRFU, but do not expect too many. No sooner had the Zoom press chats with Johnny Sexton and Dave Kilcoyne ended that inboxes pinged […]

4 years ago

“Look, I’m well used to competition. I’ve had it my whole career.” Ireland captain Johnny Sexton is back in full training again and clearly has his sights set on starting against Italy on Sunday. Sexton was a Wednesday withdrawal on the week of the France game, leading to Joey Carbery starting in Paris in the […]

4 years ago

“That’s all I can really give you, if I’m honest!” After an opening weekend loss to Scotland was followed up with a bonus point win over Italy, Ellis Genge is not getting too deep into the weeds on England’s 2022 Guinness Six Nations campaign. He knows how much is resting on beating Wales at Twickenham […]

4 years ago

“He’s a bit of a lightning bolt, in fairness to him.” Give Hugo Keenan a Bronco to compete in and he would back himself against most comers. Credit to the Leinster and Ireland fullback, his 4:11 personal best over those ever-lengthening shuttle-run distances would take some beating. Over shorter bursts, though, Keenan is happy to […]

4 years ago

Battering inanimate objects. How brave! Alexander Zverev has a short temper, and even the man himself would not deny it. The world number three has often clashed with line judges and umpires in his career, but he bounded well past the line of decency with his latest outburst at the Mexican Open. Zverev and Marcelo […]

4 years ago

“Ah, there was fights. There was fights!” Stacey Flood grew up in a house-hold of eight, with her parents and as one of six sports-mad siblings. There was always someone to throw a ball around with, head out rowing or try beat in a game of one-on-one. There was always support. As siblings often do, […]

4 years ago

“It’s going to be cool, it’s going to be epic. Can’t wait.” After going on his travels to Edinburgh and Rome for the opening rounds of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations, Maro Itoje has the passport squirrelled away and is excited to be playing at a sold-out Twickenham again. Saturday’s visit of Wales to London […]

4 years ago

“I’m excited to make a difference. That’s my whole mind-set, everywhere I go. I want to make an impact.” Malakai Fekitoa could have easily won over 50 caps with the All Blacks, and signed off with another tilt at a World Cup, but he was keen to kick-start his club career in Europe. Identified as […]

4 years ago

“That will be a jersey, now, that I’ll hold onto for a while.” 18 Test caps into his international career and most everyone close to Hugo Keenan has got an Ireland jersey or some match-day memento. In the space of 16 months, the Leinster star has shown the Test level was made for him. He […]

4 years ago

“Any other time, playing the way he is, he’d be in that Irish back row.” Andy Farrell made two additions to his Ireland squad for the third round of this year’s Six Nations. Both are Leinster stars. Rob Herring is back in the squad after sitting out round two, and he will be pushing hard […]

4 years ago

“I don’t want to kick someone while he’s down, obviously, but… “ Once that ‘but’ came, you knew Rory McIlroy was going to drop the hammer on Phil Mickelson. The Saudi Arabia-backed Golf Super League looks, in the words of McIlroy, to be ‘dead in the water’ after Dustin Johnson and Brysaon DeChambeau became the […]

4 years ago

“Hold on Chappers, I thought you were Man City!” Jadon Sancho has now hit his groove at Manchester United, but Jonathan Woodgate allowed himself to picture a move that, in his opinion, would really set the England star off. Woodgate was jokingly told his Match of the Day 2 punditry appearance was in danger of […]

4 years ago

“I don’t know why that was such a big talking point.” Joey Carbery squints as he is told, over Zoom, how he was one of Ireland’s “stand-out performers” in the weekend defeat to France. He mulls it for just a second then nods. The result is still raw, but he appreciates the crumb of comfort. […]

4 years ago

“You’ll have one? Yeah.” Tadhg Furlong certainly earned his post-match sup on Saturday at Stade de France. The Leinster tighthead spent 73 minutes at the coal-face – taking on Cyril Baille and then a fresh Jean-Baptiste Gros – and lived to tell the tales. It was a gruelling encounter for all that laced up, but […]

4 years ago

Setting the alarm for those early sessions. George Furbank and the rest of the England squad are getting a couple of days off, after their win against Italy, but they should assemble again with head coach Eddie Jones, on Wednesday. The England fullback will be hitting the on-field, skills and gym sessions in and effort […]

4 years ago

“Please, prepare to fight.” Baptiste Serin led by his actions, then delivered a rallying call to a French giant that is by no means out of relegation trouble yet. The France scrumhalf was dealing with the disappointment of not making his country’s squad for the Six Nations but, last weekend, he parked that and focused […]

4 years ago

“Maybe it’s fine if the best Irish, Welsh and American female players are playing in those leagues, for a short period of time.” World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin believes England and France are “flying ahead” in the women’s 15 game. His short-term club rugby solution may not please everyone. Back in the late 1990s, […]

4 years ago

“I was sitting at home, watching it, and going, ‘Take the shot. Take the points!’” James Ryan and Andy Farrell both stuck by a crucial, late penalty call against France. Should Ireland have kicked for points or an attacking lineout when they were awarded a late penalty against Les Bleus? Whatever your gut said at the […]

4 years ago

“We wanted to make a big splash.” This Gloucester rugby calendar should go down a treat with fans of the club, and anyone that is a fan of suggested photography using props! Gloucester rugby has taken the plunge this Valentine’s Day, by going the full monty in aid of a charity calendar. Inspired by the […]

4 years ago

Four Irish picks from the former England and Lions star. Ireland may have fallen short at the second Grand Slam hurdle, but they are still in the championship hunt. Stuart Barnes was impressed enough with four Ireland stars to include them in his Six Nations XV after round two. France beat Ireland 30-24 in Paris […]

4 years ago

An incredible story, and what a way to finish… again. In February 2020, Eric Weddle hung up his cleats and ended a 13-year NFL stretch as two-time First Team All Pro. It was a very good football career, but it was missing a Super Bowl ring. At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, on Sunday, Eric […]

4 years ago

“You knew it was coming but that still doesn’t make it easy to stop.” John Hayes knows how achingly tough it is to go to Paris and turn the French over. ‘The Bull’ was part of the Ireland team, back in 2000, that ended a losing streak stretching back to 1978 with a stunning 27-25 […]

4 years ago

“We did a good job to get back and give ourselves a chance.” As Dan Sheehan pointed out, on Saturday night at Stade de France, many in this Ireland team are not too experienced with chasing back from 10-0 and 22-7 deficits. That was where Ireland found themselves, twice, against an impressive French side. The […]

4 years ago

ITALY 0-33 ENGLAND Eddie Jones’ men got back on track, in Rome, thanks to a couple of their Harlequins stars. They score well in our England player ratings, along with Harry Randall. Alex Dombrandt clearly had a point to prove, starting in the No.8 jersey, and his paw prints were all over the first half. […]

4 years ago

Until this team wins a big away game under Andy Farrell, the stick will continue to beat them. Jamison Gibson-Park was honest enough to make a big post-match admission, and there is one chance left to right a wrong with this Ireland team. Six minutes into a compelling contest at Stade de France and the […]

4 years ago

He was not trying to stick the boot in, but the former Ireland captain was nonetheless perplexed. With seven minutes to go, as Ireland tried to finish off what would have been another incredible comeback in Paris, referee Angus Gardner awarded them a penalty in front of the posts. Brian O’Driscoll was willing them to […]

4 years ago

FRANCE 30-24 IRELAND France fully deserved their victory, in Paris, but Andy Farrell’s side will rue a sloppy finish. Our Ireland player ratings are a real mixed bag. France started like a freight-train and Antoine Dupont was over for a try after only 70 seconds. Melvin Jaminent added a conversion and a penalty, but a […]

4 years ago

MAN UNITED 1-1 SOUTHAMPTON The malaise continues at Old Trafford, and Man United seem incapable of shaking themselves out of it. Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United often went in 0-0, or 1-0 down, at the break only to get their act together in the second half. Despite a number of comebacks and late goals, […]

4 years ago

“Listen, that happens 100% of the time. I’m yesterday’s news!” The last time I spoke with Shane Horgan, for an Energia event out at the Donnybrook stadium that now holds their name, I was scolded afterward for not asking about his sister, Sharon. Wary of avoiding a repeat, this interview with Horgan – 69 times […]

4 years ago

Eddie Jones trying out some new combinations and giving prospects a chance to shine. Jones has named a much-changed England team to the one that lost the Six Nations opener to Scotland, but it is still full of class acts and players with points to prove. The England head coach has made eight changes to […]

4 years ago

Andy Farrell is keeping faith in the men that got Ireland off to a winning start. Andy Farrell has named his Ireland team to face France in Paris, this Saturday. He is rewarding the players that started with a win over Wales, while Johnny Sexton misses out due to a ‘hamstring strain’. Joey Carbery comes […]

4 years ago

“Get them all in, and we can have a party with the Baa Baas!” For the past decade, Italy have been dealing with calls for relegation to be brought into the Six Nations, or for another side to take their place. Playing a Barbarians side in the Six Nations, though? That is a new one. […]

4 years ago

“We’ve had a couple of conversations.” Following the raging success of sports documentaries like Drive to Survive, The Last Dance and the All or Nothing series, in the NFL and Premier League, talk of a rugby documentary in a similar vein has ramped up. The increased interest, and viewing figures, in Formula 1 has many […]

4 years ago

“I think you’ll all agree, Robert Baloucoune was unbelievable.” Early last week, Robert Baloucoune would have read the training tea leaves and come to terms with missing out on his Six Nations bow. The Ulster winger has been in fine form since he returned to the provincial fold, and some impressive Champions Cup performances had […]

4 years ago

“Andrew, we didn’t quite expect you to turn up wearing a vest but, hey, just get on with life, I suppose!” Tuesday afternoon of a crucial Six Nations week, Andrew Conway had the guns out and a big grin on his face. The Munster winger overcame a “dodgy” night of vomiting and feeling queasy, on […]

4 years ago

“It’s always one thing or the other.” Johnny Sexton and France. What started off so positively, back in 2013, has since devolved into a strangely one-way barrage. There is no doubt that many in France respect the Ireland captain. How could they not. He has beaten Les Bleus on five occasions, drawn another and put […]

4 years ago

Whoever wins this one will be well set for a run at the title, and possibly a Grand Slam. Not many changes expected for Andy Farrell’s Ireland team, but some new faces could come in to the match-day squad. Barring any draws, the Six Nations opening weekend usually ends the Grand Slam hopes of three […]

4 years ago

“Where does it stop?” Luke Cowan-Dickie will have been in a low place on Saturday night as he and his England teammates went back to the dressing room with the cheers and songs from Scottish players and supporters ringing in their ears. For the first time since 1984, Scotland managed to retain the Calcutta Cup […]

4 years ago

Words that the former Brumbies winger lived by. Mack Hansen comes across as a pretty laid-back chap, with little fazing him. As most of this island was getting carried away with his Ireland debut, he sat there, blinking away. Taking it all in. Hansen ran for 105 metres [off 10 carries] and came up with […]

4 years ago

The Cardiff star was not having it, but he could have no complaints with the call. Watching from the upper level of the West Stand, at the Aviva Stadium, on Saturday, it was clear as day that Josh Adams had diverted course to thump into Johnny Sexton. Wales were trailing 17-0 at this point [48 […]

4 years ago