“It’s very special.” Less than an hour after Leinster reached the 2023 Champions Cup final, Leo Cullen was asked if Johnny Sexton could return in time for the game against La Rochelle. The Leinster coach was somewhat taken aback by the query. “No,” he then responded before thankfully offering another crumb, although it was not […]

3 years ago

Just one La Rochelle player makes the five-man shortlist. The final shortlist for the EPCR Player of the Year have been announced, with three Leinster stars joined by La Rochelle captain Gregory Alldritt and Toulouse star Antoine Dupont. Garry Ringrose and Caelan Doris have both made the final cut, along with teammate Josh van der […]

3 years ago

“A needed break.” Rory McIlroy has confirmed that he took a break from golf for the sake of his mental health after he played poorly and missed the cut at the recent US Masters. Having already missed a designated PGA Tour event in Hawaii, earlier in the year, McIlroy was a no-show for the RBC […]

3 years ago

“Then he went straight into the maul and scored. I was thinking, ‘Oh Joshie, are we playing games here?!’“ Lindsay Peat and Greg O’Shea had their suspicions, on the latest House of Rugby, that Josh van der Flier and Leinster may have picked out a few Toulouse players for their lapses of discipline. One thing […]

3 years ago

Little competition called the United Rugby Championship has reached the knock-out stages. Ronan O’Gara mused in his post-match chat with BT Sport that, in his opinion, La Rochelle have it much tougher, over the course of a season, than Leinster. When BT Sport presenter Martin Bayfield weighed in with his take on matters, the former […]

3 years ago

STADE ROCHELAIS 47-28 EXETER Ronan O’Gara and his La Rochelle side are off to their third successive Champions Cup final, after shredding Exeter Chiefs at Matmut Stadium, in Bordeaux. Just like Saturday’s other Champions Cup final, the underdog started with a big try then got pulled apart for most of the remaining minutes. Sam Simmonds […]

3 years ago

“I think he was playing both sides during the fight!” Conor McGregor put UFC history to one side to cheer on two of his old title rivals – Eddie Alvarez and Chad Mendes – on Saturday night in Colorado. The former UFC feather- and light-weight champion was at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s big show in […]

3 years ago

“I’m into this game. I’d be down for this!” Conor McGregor was front row, centre for a wild night in Broomfield, Colorado at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 41. ‘The Notorious’ took in the boxing bout between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia, last weekend, and took in a fight of the bare knuckle variety, as some […]

3 years ago

‘Where’s the TMO gone?’ Leinster benefitted from a couple of yellow card calls that went against Toulouse, in their Champions Cup semi-final victory at Aviva Stadium. One former England international felt Andrew Porter could have joined then in the sin-bin. Leinster scored 28 points during the two 10-minute windows when Toulouse had yellow-carded players on […]

3 years ago

The Toulouse captain was frustrated with a couple of the referee and TMO calls during the match, but was reflective after the game. For the second season running, Antoine Dupont and Toulouse came to Dublin with high hopes of toppling Leinster. For the second season running, the five-time champions got spanked and sent on their […]

3 years ago

LEINSTER 41-22 TOULOUSE Toulouse came out swinging but Leinster had the French side KO’ed with 15 minutes to go. Our full Leinster player ratings reflect the heroes, work-horses and odd few that fell below their usual impressive standards after a gripping encounter. Ross Byrne put Leinster ahead with an early penalty, but Toulouse fired back […]

3 years ago

The big boys are back to play at the top table. Leo Cullen has named his Leinster team to face Toulouse in Saturday’s Champions Cup semi-final against Toulouse, and there are a swathe of Ireland internationals back in the fold. On the positive swing, Charlie Ngatai, Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier have all […]

3 years ago

It is amazing to see what the belief of others can do to fuel your fire. Heading into this season, the most Munster games Calvin Nash had played in a season was the Covid-disrupted 2019/20 campaign (10 appearances, eight starts). He was a squad player that had flashes but struggled to string together consistent starts. […]

3 years ago

“That was his first week in. I was thinking, ‘This lad means business’.” Many rugby fans were left wondering, for a couple of months, how Leinster planned to replace influential head coach Stuart Lancaster, after his move to Racing 92 was announced. Leinster went out against got themselves World Cup-winning coach, Jacques Nienaber. Conor O’Brien, […]

3 years ago

The sole Dub in the All Star team. Ciaran Kilkenny was the sole Dub on the 2021 All-Star Gaelic football team. Our quiz wants to know the SIX other Dublin stars that were the sole All Stars in the end-of-year selections over the past 25 years. Good luck!

3 years ago

“What a get… every other team will be looking on asking, ‘HOW DID THEY DO THAT?!’” Sam Prendergast was in demand, in all four provinces, before he even made his professional rugby debut. First ever URC win in South Africa, new guy in the 10 jersey gets Man of the Match, another flying prop shows […]

3 years ago

“Did you see the hands in the eye?” Peter O’Mahony was one of the calmest men at DHL Stadium, moments after he was in the eye of a Stormers storm. The Munster captain sparked a mini melée when he was pinged for side entry to a ruck as he tried to poach breakdown ball. Munster […]

3 years ago

Eight counties have their star players honoured since the award was first introduced. The 2023 All-Ireland Hurling Championship is almost upon us, with the best and brightest set to duke it out for the Liam MacCarthy Cup. We have a nice hurling quiz for you all, to get you in the mood for a great […]

3 years ago

The 30-year-old is sticking around Leinster and hoping to add to his trophy collection. Back in June 2020, before he had even made his Ireland debut, James Lowe had a Leinster contract announced that did not mention the duration. There were still concerns, in some parts, that the winger could be tempted elsewhere and not […]

3 years ago

“What happened previously, you know, I can’t stop people talking about.” Greg McWilliams is currently trying to get a squad desperately short of caps, confidence and positives to focus on a vital game away to Italy, this weekend. For much of his Thursday press briefing, though, he found himself having to defend the union that […]

3 years ago

This would be a quite literally massive addition to the French squad. France, through their union (FFR), are hoping to get World Rugby clearance to allow 6-foot-8, 22-stone Toulouse lock Emmanuel Meafou be selected for this year’s World Cup. The New Zealand-born rugby star was identified as a potential Top 14 star by several French […]

3 years ago

Absolutely tragic news. Irish rally driver Craig Breen has passed away in Croatia, today, after an accident in a pre-event test for the Croatia Rally. The 33-year-old was preparing for his second outing of the WRC season as Hyundai’s third driver. Only back in February, Breen had a second place finish at Rally Sweden. It […]

3 years ago

“We need that turning point, without any offence to Johnny Sexton.” One legend looks to have drawn the curtain on his Leinster career, while lads like Jimmy O’Brien and Scott Penny are starting to ignite their’s. A recent Johnny Sexton interview, published over the weekend, all but brought the curtain down on his Leinster career. […]

3 years ago

The list was cut back from 14 stadiums. 10 stadiums across Ireland and the United Kingdom have been officially named as part of the joint bid for Euro 2028. The bid was confirmed, and lodged, on Wednesday with two unbuilt/unfinished stadiums included – Belfast’s Casement Park and Everton’s Bramley-Moore Doc Interestingly enough, due to sponsorship […]

3 years ago

USA 1-0 IRELAND On the day she turned 26, Courtney Brosnan gave Alana Cook a birthday present she would dearly love to take back. Ireland were doing well against world champions USA for the second friendly game in succession when Brosnan was caught out coming for a pump into the box that ended up having […]

3 years ago

“It pains me to compliment them!” As the Irish province knocking over the most sides in the club game, Leinster are copping it from many fans, pundits and even coaches in England, France, Wales, Scotland and South Africa. We are sure not everyone in Italy is too thrilled, either. So far this season, Leinster have […]

3 years ago

Thems the breaks for the top-seeded team after the pool stages. Former England hooker, and multiple Grand Slam winner, Brian Moore is not happy with Leinster having a slew of ‘home’ games in the Champions Cup knock-out stages. However, he insists he is not on ‘an ant-Leinster rant’. Leinster were rewarded for coming through the […]

3 years ago

You’ll need to be a fully rounded football fan to get full marks, or close to it. We have a football quiz that will require you to go into the recent, and distant, past. While the Football Writers Association award has been around since the 1947/48 season, the PFA Men’s Players’ Player of the Year […]

3 years ago

The men behind the goals (although they scored quite a few themselves). At the weekend, we had a small group of four become five. We want you to name all five in our latest Premier League quiz. In the 31-season history of the Premier League, only five players have assisted in 100 or more goals. […]

3 years ago

The Spaniard had to get the question repeated to him. When Jon Rahm shot an opening round of 65 to finish day one of The Masters tied for the lead, on -7, he reminded reporters that he was only the third favourite to win the green jacket. When it comes to how he is perceived […]

3 years ago

“Have you forgot his performances against Torres?” Virgil van Dijk has certainly lost his air of invincibility, of late. The Liverpool defender was unlucky to deflect the ball towards Gabriel Martinelli for Arsenal’s opener, at Anfield, but he was all at sea for their second. With Ibrahima Konatè pulling over to the right-back area, covering […]

3 years ago

Augusta National Golf Club is playing host to the 2023 US Masters, and we have you covered for all the big (and bold) moments. Scottie Scheffler is defending the Masters title he won in imperious style, last year, despite noteworthy chases from Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy. We will have all the major moments, shots, […]

3 years ago

The three-time Masters champion took no pleasure in giving this assessment of McIlroy’s fortunes. Rory McIlroy must wait until Saturday until confirmation comes but he will know that his 2023 Masters challenge is over. Play was suspended, at Augusta National, just after 5pm local time [in Georgia] after storm clouds rolled in, bringing threats of […]

3 years ago

LEINSTER 55-24 LEICESTER TIGERS Ryan Baird lasted just 22 minutes of Leinster’s Champions Cup quarter final clash against Leicester Tigers at Aviva Stadium. The 23-year-old had been in fantastic form. With Leinster leading 14-3 after two converted Garry Ringrose tries, met by a Tigers penalty, the home side were rollicking toward the last four. We […]

3 years ago

Some big moves in the top five, after that Grand Slam success. Welcome to the fourth edition of the ‘Top 20 Irish rugby players’. After following up a 2022 Triple Crown with a winning Test Series in New Zealand, an unbeaten November and a 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam, picking a ‘Top 20’ of the […]

3 years ago

The Mayo native has yet to play in the position since his pro debut. Leinster are starting Caelan Doris at openside for the first time since his April 2018 debut, with Josh van der Flier out injured. Leinster head coach Leo Cullen named Doris at No.7 in his match-day squad for Friday evening’s Champions Cup […]

3 years ago

Joanne Cantwell will now be sharing the workload with Jacqui Hurley and Damian Lawlor. RTÉ has launched its GAA Championship 2023 coverage and announced some new shows, pundits and presenters. There will also be ‘The Saturday Game’ on to cover extra analysis and debate. The big launch took place in Donnybrook, on Wednesday, with a […]

3 years ago

“Ah, stop!” Most Leinster and Irish rugby supporters have been eagerly anticipating Ryan Baird taking his game to another level ever since he first exploded on to the scene in 2020 and announced his intentions with a hat-trick against Glasgow Warriors. Baird made his Leinster debut at the tail-end of the 2018/19 season but made […]

3 years ago

‘I think one of those three Ulster lads should be in the World Cup squad’ On Saturday, at Aviva Stadium, Andy Farrell took his seat in the stands to watch the country’s two best provinces tear into each other, in the Champions Cup. Leinster ended up doing what they do every week [barring a share […]

3 years ago

“It must be something about me. I just can’t seem to get a nickname.” Mack Hansen has been playing top level sport – at underage and professional – for around a decade now but still goes by ‘Mack’. At least, he admits, that is what people call him when he is in their presence. “I […]

3 years ago

Backed up by the young guns, who would no doubt love another crack. For the first time in this country’s sporting history, the Ireland U20s and senior Test sides brought home Six Nations Grand Slams. Johnny Sexton and Gus McCarthy had the dual honour of lifting the Six Nations trophies aloft. The closest any side […]

3 years ago

What a match-up this would be. Last Wednesday saw the 2023 Six Nations Team of the Championship announced, with 10 Ireland players making the cut. This week, the tournament announced the players that got the second most votes in each position. Interestingly enough, there are still no players from England, Wales or Italy in the […]

3 years ago

“I don’t know what to say. We keep blaming the coaches, but how many coaches have we had, at this stage?” On House of Rugby, this week, former Leinster and Ireland star Lindsay Peat put provincial differences aside and invited proud Munster men Greg O’Shea and Jason Hennessy along to the Champions Cup semi-finals (if […]

3 years ago

Rapid-fire response from Rory Sutherland. Following Leinster’s latest big match triumph over Ulster, Tadhg Furlong caught up with Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen before the tighthead headed up the Aviva Stadium tunnel. Furlong was in fine spirits and took a couple of comments from the Wellington native in good humour. It helps that his team had advanced to […]

3 years ago

Two chances to see Andy Farrell’s side in action before they set off for France. The IRFU has confirmed the dates and opponents for Ireland’s two home World Cup warm-up fixtures. One more game may yet be slated in. Ireland are set to play just three warm-up games – one less than in recent World […]

3 years ago

LEINSTER 30-15 ULSTER Ryan Baird continued his superb form out of the back-end of the Six Nations and starred at blindside for a Leinster side that reached the last eight of the Champions Cup. Ross Byrne, Ross Molony, Jack Conan, Jimmy O’Brien and the entire starting Leinster front row had fine games, against a dogged […]

3 years ago

SHARKS 50-35 MUNSTER For the second weekend in a row, Munster conceded a hatful of points and were comprehensively beaten with a large chunk of the match still to go. Graham Rowntree got off to a rough start as Munster head coach, only to get a handle of his side’s season and offer signs of […]

3 years ago

“I don’t know how Tsimikas hasn’t pushed him out of the way there!” With Arsenal not playing Leeds United until later on Saturday afternoon, Pep Guardiola was desperate for his Manchester City to heap some pressure on by getting three points against Liverpool. City started the better of the old title rivals but fell behind […]

3 years ago

“Is he really 17? He looks about 29!” Sam Curtis may not be around St Patrick’s Athletic too much longer. He has an exciting future ahead and will attract the interest of many clubs. He is one of the club’s most exciting prospects since a certain Chris Forrester broke into the senior squad, back in […]

3 years ago

“The media would often like to paint a picture of this isolated figure – this madman that everybody was afraid to approach.” There have been enough awkward Roy Keane selfie and autograph moments, over the years, for most folks to think twice before approaching the former Manchester United and Ireland captain to chance their arm. […]

3 years ago