“We all do make mistakes.” Rory McIlroy has spoken out strongly on the potential breakaway tournament, known as LIV Golf, but he softened his tone before the latest golfing major of 2022. The US PGA will get underway at Southern Hills, on Thursday, but it is taking place under a cloud due to recent comments […]

4 years ago

Two back-row stars enjoying outstanding seasons, for club and country. Josh van der Flier has been rewarded for a superb season, with Leinster and Ireland, after being named the Men’s XVs Players’ Player of the Year 2022 by his fellow players at the Rugby Players Ireland Awards. The award for Women’s XVs Players’ Player of the […]

4 years ago

“It’s one of those evils that you have to go through.” George North has been in the room, on two British & Irish Lions tours, when the nitty-gritty of team selection, promotions and axing players has been meted out. One of the most compelling parts of the Lions’ ‘Uncovered’ documentary, back in 2017 after the […]

4 years ago

Good to see such a consistent run of form rewarded. James Lowe’s form in the knockout stages of the European Champions Cup has seen him rocket into contention for a big end-of-season accolade. The Leinster winger, who scored eight tries in four knockout games against Connacht, Leicester and Toulouse, has been included on the shortlist […]

4 years ago

“It’d have to be soon, though!” After 15 seasons at the top-end of the professional game, Sean O’Brien will hang up his boots this summer. The former Leinster and Ireland star is in his final season with London Irish and will retire when the season concludes. The Exiles, coached by Declan Kidney and Les Kiss, […]

4 years ago

Lots of fresh faces, and returns for familiar ones, too. Eddie Jones has included 10 uncapped players in a 36-man England squad, in preparation for this summer’s tour to Australia and a home tilt against the Barbarians. Owen Farrell is back in the mix after missing out on the Six Nations. Farrell, Jack Willis, Manu […]

4 years ago

They shared the goalkeeping load. 20 years ago, Arsenal had three goalkeepers that shared in a remarkable Premier League feat. Not one goalkeeper, nor two, but three. On their way to beating Liverpool and Manchester United to the league title, the Gunners used three goalkeepers. One played 17 times, the other 12 and a third […]

4 years ago

Some of the names and faces may catch you out. As the title race comes to a head, we have a Premier League quiz for you on players that have helped their teams to the promised land. Since the Premier League came into being, back in 1992, there have been 291 players that have collected […]

4 years ago

Leinster winning the French over with their up-tempo rugby. Back in February [far too early, but there’s no convincing some people] the EPCR announced its’ long-list for European Player of the Year. Thankfully, Caelan Doris was on it. Making up a list for the best player of a tournament before the knockout stages may smack […]

4 years ago

RACING 13-20 LA ROCHELLE Ronan O’Gara will lead his La Rochelle side into the European Champions Cup Final for the second season running after a true grind in Lens, this afternoon. Last year’s beaten finalists were certainly the better of the tournament’s two remaining French sides, but four missed kicks off the tee meant it […]

4 years ago

One French outlet described the Leinster outhalf as “rustproof”. Every now and then, you are afforded the opportunity to watch these big rugby matches in with the supporters, at grounds, in bars or on a TV screen at home. Saturday was just the case as Johnny Sexton and Leinster throttled Toulouse. We had a First […]

4 years ago

“One of the most incredible tries I’ve ever seen.” Henry Arundell took 12 seconds to run 98 metres and beat five Toulon defenders, on Sunday, and score one of the greatest tries club rugby has seen in years. The 19-year-old London Irish fullback picked up the ball deep inside his 22 and set off on […]

4 years ago

“You know I love you, Seanie, but I had to go for David Pocock. And I know that’s going to hurt you!” Paul O’Connell may not look back too fondly, these days, on his ‘Fear of God’ dressing room speech, but Kyle Sinckler cannot get enough. The Harlequins, England and Lions prop was a guest […]

4 years ago

“My bad.” Chris Ashton went to town on James Lowe, back in 2020, but then said on the same show, earlier this week, that he had just made a throwaway comment. We are all for professional athletes being opinionated and not shying away from topics, but Ashton seemed to revel in his critique of Lowe […]

4 years ago

“If I can change, and you can change, EVERYBODY can change!” In the spirit of Rocky Balboa, back in 2020, Eric Cantona and Liam Gallagher put aside their club affiliations and came together to make art. The previous year had seen the former Manchester United captain raving about Gallagher’s song ‘Once’ on his Instagram account. […]

4 years ago

“They’re a championship side, that’s for sure.” James Lowe got a taster, once again, of the hard-core support from Leinster’s travelling fans, last weekend. He is hopeful that the home crowd can replicate that sort of fervour to give Toulouse yet another warm welcome to Dublin. The reigning European champions are jumping from the red-hot […]

4 years ago

“I love living here. We’re a really great community. Not very big, but we keep everything pretty tight.” Back at the 2011 World Cup, I remember interviewing Canadian flanker Jebb Sinclair, not long after they had defeated Tonga in a gripping encounter, in Whangerei, New Zealand. As a smaller rugby nation, the Canadians were left […]

4 years ago

After eight weeks on the sidelines, Leinster welcomed back a man that could be key in them securing that fifth European Cup title. Rather than focus on the Ireland internationals in Leinster’s starting XV, against Leicester, those that decry the province’s success, but would love to see it emulated, should focus on the 19 of […]

4 years ago

David De Gea is getting a game off as he had endured enough. Even if Manchester United beat Crystal Palace, on Sunday, May 22, they will still finish with their worst points total in Premier League history. United have cobbled together only 58 points in what has been an abysmal league campaign. The club’s previous […]

4 years ago

A lot can change in two minutes, in rugby. In two months, a whole, heaping bundle. When Gavin Coombes went down with a brutal ankle injury, against Leinster, one wondered how their back row would cope. Since then, Jack O’Donoghue and Peter O’Mahony have put their hands up for more, while Alex Kendellen has been […]

4 years ago

A sizeable chunk of French rugby fans would wildly contest this call. “We got the job done in the end, which is the main thing,” Jamison Gibson Park reflected after his Leinster side’s win over Leicester, “but there’s definitely stuff to work on before next week.” With Leinster taking a shadow squad to South Africa […]

4 years ago

It did not make sense at the time. It makes even less sense now. Next Wednesday, Rugby Players Ireland will host their first in-person awards ceremony since 2019, and Josh van der Flier may pick himself up an accolade or two. Given Leinster’s excellent season, so far, a Six Nations Triple Crown and a rousing […]

4 years ago

“If anyone is going to say that to me, please don’t because it is going to wind me right up.” Ellis Genge did what good captains so often do, on Saturday, and defended his team to the hilt. Leicester Tigers may have been eliminated from the Champions Cup but they had certainly pushed Leinster hard. […]

4 years ago

“I look at you, I look back, he’s on the ground!” Daniel Cormier was probably not the only poor blighter to have blinked and missed what may well be the UFC knockout of the decade. Michael Chandler has guaranteed himself a couple of huge fights in the next 12 months after his sensational knock-out victory […]

4 years ago

“Well, it’s a good anecdote now.” Romain Ntamack and Toulouse got a good taster for a rocking rugby atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium, on Saturday. Next weekend, the reigning European champions will be back to see if the Leinster supporters can top the reception afforded to them by the Munster faithful. Toulouse held their nerve […]

4 years ago

Could very well end up with a Jordan Crane situation again. Maro Itoje was not the only rugby fan gripped to the action at the Aviva Stadium, on Saturday, as Munster were eliminated from the Champions Cup after a dramatic place-kicking competition. Johann van Graan’s side led the reigning European champions 24-14, heading into the […]

4 years ago

MUNSTER 24-24 TOULOUSE (Toulouse win shoot-out 4-2) So much for Munster to be proud of, but Toulouse have a never-say-die attitude that is simply staggering. An absolute epic at the Aviva Stadium ended with Toulouse reaching the Champions Cup semi finals by beating a spirited, impressive Munster side 4-2 in a place-kicking competition. Conor Murray […]

4 years ago

“As a partnership, we were the best.” Paul Ince and Roy Keane only played together for two seasons, but they were a dominant midfield duo. Reflecting on their short but successful partnership, last year, Ince declared, “We were invincible.” Alex Ferguson, their boss at Manchester United, took issue with Paul Ince signing for Liverpool, back […]

4 years ago

“It is quite an incredible team they have.” Steve Borthwick has done a commendable job after taking over a Leicester Tigers side that were relegation-haunted for a couple of recent seasons and turning them into title contenders and European headaches for top sides. It could be an incredible job, yet, but that remains to be […]

4 years ago

“We are not plucky losers, we are not that type of team.” Ellis Genge comes in, not long after a training session and catches a glimpse of his ruffled hair on the Zoom call that has been started up for him. Not 100% pleased with what he sees, he asks for a cap, fixes it […]

4 years ago

“You’re such a sausage man. Pick one!” There was one hell of a Conor Murray vs. Craig Casey debate, last weekend, but both men will need to contribute against Antoine Dupont and Toulouse if Munster are to make the Champions Cup semi finals. On Saturday, at Stade Ernest Wallon, the Toulouse scrumhalf was at it […]

4 years ago

“Have you not heard?” Riding high from his prediction that Denis Leamy was in line for a coaching return to Munster, Darren Cave doubled down on another provincial old boy – Mike Prendergast. The former Munster scrumhalf has been coaching over in France for the past decade, and has held posts with Grenoble, Oyonnax, Stade […]

4 years ago

Brought to you by VisitDublin.ie If you can get over 12 in this American Football quiz, we salute you. The Aer Lingus College Football Classic is coming to Aviva Stadium, in Dublin, this August and we have a great American Football quiz to get you in the (end) zone. The ‘Football Classic’ is a five-game series […]

4 years ago

“He was very, very good. Not as good as everyone thought, but he was very, very good.” If that is what Roy Keane makes of Peter Schmeichel – one of the greatest goalkeepers the Premier League and European football has ever seen – then God help David De Gea and Jordan Pickford. On Monday, Keane […]

4 years ago

It was the wee wink at the end that told you Ugo Mola knee exactly what he was up to. Ronan O’Gara rarely backs down when words are there to be shared, and so it proved again at the weekend as his La Rochelle side lost at Toulouse, but managed to get a losing bonus […]

4 years ago

“I’ll be high up there on the team-sheet!” Gary Neville was probably more worried if he would make Roy Keane’s Manchester United ‘Greatest Premier League XI’ than whether his old club could get their first win in four league matches, against Brentford. Sky Sports may have lined up this task for Keane as Brentford are […]

4 years ago

“We are going to have to be at our absolute best to get the victory.” It has been a while since Leinster and Leicester Tigers have clashed in Europe. Johnny Sexton, Ben Youngs and others have had to do their duelling in the colours of their countries. Having built up a nice, early rivalry in […]

4 years ago

“She’s slowing the **** down!” One of the most fascinating aspects of the thrilling Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano slobberknocker, on Saturday night, were the insights and advice that came from the corners of both fighters. Taylor had her manager Brian Peters alongside her coach Ross Enamait in her corner, as well as cutman Ian […]

4 years ago

This could well be the club’s biggest summer purchase. When the current season ends, Declan Rice will still have two seasons left on his West Ham United contract. The Hammers also have an option to extend the midfielder’s contract for an additional season, which would take him up to July 2025. As we all know […]

4 years ago

The list of potential opponents has only grown after Saturday night’s epic at Madison Square Garden. Ahead of Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano, DAZN asked one of their big fight commentators, women’s boxing star Jessica McCaskill, for a prediction. “I think the fight goes the full 10 rounds,” said McCaskill. “Katie’s got the feet, and […]

4 years ago

“He came back in with a face like ****ing thunder!” Back in the summer of 1993, Roy Keane had a verbal agreement with Blackburn Rovers manager Kenny Dalglish to join the club from Nottingham Forest. It would be the first of two moments that could have ended with Keane and Alan Shearer being teammates. There […]

4 years ago

“She was hurt badly tonight.” Ahead of what turned out to be an all-time classic at Madison Square Garden, Tony Bellew gave his honest opinion of Katie Taylor and where he feels she currently stands in women’s boxing. The Liverpudlian, on punditry duty for DAZN at Madison Square Garden, is a massive fan of Taylor, […]

4 years ago

“She had Katie Taylor hurt a couple of times.” Jake Paul was not the only person at Madison Square Garden that thought Katie Taylor was on a fast-track to defeat mid-way through her lightweight world title fight against Amanda Serrano. Taylor survived one hell of a barrage from Serrano in the fourth and fifth rounds, […]

4 years ago

“I will probably have a chocolate cake with a cup of tea. That’s how I celebrate! We hope they have a tasty chocolate cake and some decent tea [Lyons or Barrys!] over at Madison Square Garden, for Katie Taylor. The undefeated, undisputed women’s lightweight champion will put it all on the line, against Amanda Serrano, […]

4 years ago

“Ah, it was bound to happen one day!” Jayson Tatum has been coming and coming and coming. Against the Brooklyn Nets, he arrived, and parked his car sideways across the other V.I.P spots. Boston Celtics versus Brooklyn Nets was teed up as a potential all-timer when it came to first round playoff matches. The Celtics […]

4 years ago

“I’ve always felt, from an Irish point of view, that Carbery is the guy.” You tell yourself not to get ahead of yourself with this lad. Don’t get carried away. Let him get his minutes in. Give him time. And then you find yourself, 80 minutes later getting that old, familiar feeling. 160 minutes pass […]

4 years ago

“It’s always inspiring seeing your own countrymen or women take over the sport.” Back on October 20th, 2018, Conor McGregor was still coming to terms with his UFC 229 defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov, but he shook it off for one night to go see Katie Taylor fight. McGregor sat ring-side, at TD Gardens in Boston, […]

4 years ago

“We definitely raised that, at the time.” When the United Rugby Championship fixtures and structure were announced, ahead of the 2021/22 season, many fans were excited to see shield competitions introduced. For years, a large number of Irish rugby supporters have yearned for the reinstatement of the Interprovincial Championship to add some extra spice, and […]

4 years ago

“Should we get it going sooner, rather than later? Yes, I think we should.” A Women’s URC, featuring top club sides from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy, South Africa, and possibly the USA and Canada, is very much up for discussion right now. The 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations has highlighted – not for the first […]

4 years ago

“Poor Earlsie nearly lost a hamstring, picking the ball off his boots!” Friday night at Kingspan Stadium saw Munster send a message to those that say they are too stolid in attack. They went offload crazy against Ulster, and create a two-on-one with Chris Farrell and Keith Earls in full flight. Farrell was looking to […]

4 years ago