“There’s only room for improvement.” James Lowe takes a seat on a blue-carpeted dais, in a tent outside Celtic Park, and proudly wears his Guinness PRO14 medal around his neck. “Hey fellas,” he says as he takes a seat and shakes some hands. Lowe arrived at Leinster in November 2017 – 11,602 miles from his […]

7 years ago

Every player knew their purpose; knew their role. They may have reverted to grinding, cup rugby in the final 20 minutes of the Guinness PRO14 final, in Glasgow, but Leinster put on a real show for the first hour. Facing a Glasgow side that had put 50 points on Ulster, eight days before, Leinster played […]

7 years ago

The door is not closed, but this quartet will have every right to be concerned. Jean Kleyn and Mike Haley are the uncapped players in Ireland’s extended, 44-man training squad (named earlier today) but much of the resulting discourse will be around those that have not made the cut. Haley and Leinster winger Dave Kearney […]

7 years ago

We saw one of these coming, but not the other one. Joe Schmidt has named a 44-man extended training squad with an eye to the World Cup in Japan. Two uncapped players – Jean Kleyn (pictured below) and Mike Haley of Munster – are both named in the squad but there is no room for […]

7 years ago

“He learnt his lessons and came up with a huge play.” Jordan Larmour may yet be destined for the Leinster No.15 jersey, which he occasionally dons during the regular season, but he is putting in some good shifts out on the right wing. While Larmour’s breakthrough season in the Leinster team was packed with scintillating […]

7 years ago

Jennifer Malone and her mother, Donna are well-known and much-loved figures around the Irish rugby scene. Top man, Robbie Henshaw. Be it an Ireland camp at Carton House, away days at Twickenham or Cardiff, or Leinster going for another trophy, super-fan Jennifer Malone is always on-hand to lend her support, and get the lads in […]

7 years ago

“He’s up there with the best players I’ve ever played with.” This was not the way Sean O’Brien would have pictured finishing up with Leinster, but lifting a trophy surrounded by his jubilant squad-mates and backroom staff was not a bad way to sign out. Sean O’Brien has been fighting injuries of some shape or […]

7 years ago

Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie tried to hold his tongue, but it was clear he was frustrated. There was frustration over some of Nigel Owens’ decision-making and Rob Kearney avoiding a red-card, but there was also frustration over his team falling short at the final hurdle. Leinster were 18-15 victors, retaining their Guinness PRO14 […]

7 years ago

66 minutes into the Guinness PRO14 final and a huge moment in the game. Leinster were 18-10 ahead but Glasgow Warriors had just turned the ball over after surviving a storm. Glasgow made a clearing kick and Rob Kearney chased back before pumping a up-and-under back into the opposition half. Up soared Stuart Hogg, not […]

7 years ago

GLASGOW 15-18 LEINSTER Leinster were fortunate to end with 14 men but were deserving winners of the 2018/19 Guinness PRO14 final at Celtic Park. Tries from Garry Ringrose and Cian Healy, with Johnny Sexton kicking eight points, saw off Glasgow Warriors in front of 47,000 fans in their hometown. Leinster missed the chance to take […]

7 years ago

“We didn’t play much rugby, but we had a hell of a World Cup!” Back in 2011, Declan Kidney selected Andrew Trimble and Fergus McFadden as part of his World Cup squad. His go-to wingers were Tommy Bowe and Keith Earls but Trimble and McFadden still had roles to play. Trimble made five appearances at […]

7 years ago

“25, yeah. I’m getting on now.” That comment from Dan Leavy – during his appearance at a live recording of Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby – elicited little sympathy. The Leinster and Ireland flanker turned 25 on Thursday and reflected that he was not one of his teams’ young guns any more. There was plenty […]

7 years ago

One deal is almost over the line while the other two will take some haggling. It appears that we will see Manchester United move in a new transfer direction over the summer. The days of big-money splurges and hefty pay deals may be a thing of the past. United, who reached the Champions League quarter […]

7 years ago

One of the worst kept secrets in Irish rugby has finally, and officially, been confirmed. Leinster Rugby has announced the signing of 18 new contracts to go along with the extensions for Cian Healy, Robbie Henshaw and Johnny Sexton. But what of Rob Kearney? The Champions Cup and Guinness PRO14 finalists usually release their contract […]

7 years ago

Even with an extended squad being announced, there will be at least a dozen players feeling unfortunate to be missing out. Three of the four Irish provinces are done for the season but, this week, are tapering off their training and doing ‘beach weights’ before being set free for six weeks. Leinster are involved in […]

7 years ago

The revolution starts now. Tough luck, Brighton. Many Manchester United supporters will feel their club is in serious need of a squad and behind-the-scenes overhaul this summer. Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia are leaving the club and more big names are expected to follow. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be given funds to refresh his squad, […]

7 years ago

Right now, the Manchester United squad has four players that could fetch a decent price. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is taking a few weeks off after his first five months in the Manchester United job. The club were floundering when he took over from Jose Mourinho before they went on an impressive winning run. The season […]

7 years ago

“What can you do?” Munster captain Peter O’Mahony has brought his team to the brink of four finals in the past 12 months but they have fallen short each time. Another season where Munster reached two semi-finals but could not find that extra few per cent required to get to a final, and claim some […]

7 years ago

“I don’t know what he was thinking.” Mike Haley has done well for Munster, on his debut season, but he ended it with a questionable decision. In the closing stages of Munster’s Guinness PRO14 semi-final loss to Leinster, at The RDS, James Lowe was presented with a one-on-one. The Kiwi winger had just Haley to […]

7 years ago

LEINSTER 24-9 MUNSTER Munster may have landed a heavy blow, at Thomond Park back in December, but Leinster scored the knock-out when it counted. Leinster will go to Celtic Park – or Paradise, as the Celtic fans fondly call it – after they defeated Munster in the Guinness PRO14 semi-final at The RDS. A Sean […]

7 years ago

Casual as and Kiwi as you can get. Rhys Marshall is the living epitome of a no worries New Zealander, but don’t mistake him for someone who is not willing to work his ass off to get what he wants. Monday morning in the Munster gym and Marshall is in, along with Keith Earls, to […]

7 years ago

“If you want to go fast, focus on attacking. If you want to go far, focus on defending.” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is determined to get his Manchester United squad super fit over the summer, but he would do well to focus on another area that is killing them. This summer, more than ever, United transfers […]

7 years ago

Rory McIlroy reeled off four birdies at one stage of his second round in the US PGA yet still trails Brooks Koepka by 15 shots. Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth are both playing superbly to be on -5 at the halfway point of the US PGA Championship. Still, they are seven shots off the pace. […]

7 years ago

James Ryan has been recognised by peers with a prestigious rugby award. On Saturday evening, not long after Leinster had lost the Champions Cup final, Jack Conan stood near the exit to St James’ Park and marvelled about James Ryan. “Like, the kid is 22, he leads from the front through his tackle count, through […]

7 years ago

After seeing that feeble, grim 2-0 surrender to relegated Cardiff City, on the last day of the season, some fans would be forgiven for seeking a clean slate. After Man United had suffered their eighth loss in 12 matches, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke with Sky Sports and sounded like a man in need of a […]

7 years ago

“And never a truer word spoken.” Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall is one of the best rugby tacticians and organisers in Europe but has never seriously been in the Ireland conversation. There was a moment, in between segments on Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby, when Andrew Trimble turned and asked, in exasperation, how come […]

7 years ago

Arriving at Munster Rugby’s High Performance Centre on Bank Holiday Monday, it is Rhys Marshall that lets us in. The centre, at University of Limerick, is as close to a ghost town as you are likely to see all season. It will fill up later this afternoon but it is just after 10am, the Treviso […]

7 years ago

Luke McGrath backed up the pre-match comments of Leinster attack coach Felipe Contepomi – to play the Leinster way – but it backfired badly. Surrounded by a rake of journalists, with the Leinster team bus already filling up, Luke McGrath was trying to explain a big play that ended up biting his side in the […]

7 years ago

Go back 12 months and we were all in Bilbao, nice and cosy. Leinster lads ambling by with winners’ medals draped around their next or, in Robbie Henshaw’s case, stuffed in the kitbag. Ask them for a word, inside this cost San Mames stadium mixed zone, and most oblige. Luke McGrath, Jack Conan, Rob Kearney, […]

7 years ago

Healy was mighty impressive while Henshaw had his best game of the season. Leinster came up against a formidable Saracens side, in the Champions Cup final, but in Cian Healy and Robbie Henshaw they had two men that more than held their own. Injuries have taken bites out of each of Henshaw’s last three seasons. […]

7 years ago

This could have had a huge bearing on the game. Maro Itoje was a pain in the neck, all evening, for Leinster but he was fortunate to still be on the pitch at full-time. The England forward was sent to the sin-bin after the half-hour mark. He returned for the second half and was as […]

7 years ago

“Real life doesn’t fit into little boxes that were drawn for it.” – Elijah Price, Unbreakable Johnny Sexton’s thousand-yard stare, hugs for Sean O’Brien and a shrug of the shoulders for Jack McGrath. Leinster headed for the showers as Saracens stayed out on the pitch and partied. This was not how the surge for that fifth […]

7 years ago

It was a crucial call that cost Leinster seven points, and potentially the final. Leinster were 10-3 up and the clock had just ticked past 40 minutes. Leinster had a ruck just inside their half and the opportunity to go into the break, in the Champions Cup final, seven points clear. Leinster scrum-half Luke McGrath […]

7 years ago

LEINSTER 10-20 SARACENS Saracens are the 2018/19 champions of Europe, and no-one in Newcastle is arguing that they were full value for their victory. Billy Vunipola, Will Skelton, Brad Barritt and Liam Williams were all superb for the English side but Leinster will look back and rue a poor decision right before half-time that cost […]

7 years ago

There will be no need for a walk to the stadium on match-day, so more time for that lie-in. We are down to the final four of the 2018/19 Guinness PRO14, and three of them are Irish provinces. Munster and Leinster will face off at The RDS on Saturday, May 18, with Ulster and Glasgow […]

7 years ago

“I remember when I was a kid, in the stands. I was speechless then and I’m still speechless now.” Trent Alexander Arnold is Liverpool through and through. Up until recently, Alexander Arnold was still living at home with his mum. The 20-year-old was already well established in the Liverpool squad and had made his England […]

7 years ago

“F*** off Suarez!” rang out across Anfield and, still in shock after the game, the former Liverpool striker complied. Luis Suarez was up to his old antics in the second leg of the Champions League semi final against Liverpool, on Tuesday, and many of his former, adoring fans let rip. The Uruguayan is a scrapper […]

7 years ago

“You’re only cheating yourself.” There was nothing Barry Murphy enjoyed more than going for speed training. Murphy would head along to track at University of Limerick with the likes of Keith Earls, Ian Dowling, David Wallace, Paul Warwick, Kieran Lewis, Doug Howlett and a few others. All the lads were intent on setting personal bests, […]

7 years ago

Across the Munster backline, and on their bench, there are players willing to step forward and take big kicks. Putting the likes of Joey Carbery, Bill Johnston and Tyler Bleyendaal to one side, Munster have profited from the clutch goal-kicking of Rory Scannell and Conor Murray at different, crucial times this season. On Saturday, with […]

7 years ago

The former Ulster outhalf will join the likes of Sean O’Brien, Napolioni Nalaga and Aussie trio Sekope Kepu, Nick Phipps and Curtis Rona next season. Paddy Jackson’s move from Perpignan to London Irish has been confirmed by the newly-promoted Premiership side. Jackson, who moved to France after losing his IRFU and Ulster contract in 2018, will join […]

7 years ago

One of the most uplifting moments at Kingspan Stadium, as Ulster beat Connacht, was not the welcome or send-off for Rory Best. It was for a moment he has delivered time and again in this game. Late in the quarter final, with Connacht within a score of Ulster and on the attack, Rory Best dipped […]

7 years ago

There was a time, not so long ago, that you didn’t want to ask for a fitness update on Marcell Coetzee. It brought the mood right down. Ulster, it was clear, had signed a class act. “When we first signed him,” said Ulster captain Rory Best, “we knew how good he was. When we played […]

7 years ago

The Aussie had a fine season himself, but was quick to deflect the plaudits. It was an odd one. Andy Friend and Jarrad Butler, Connacht coach and captain, sat side by side in the press briefing room at Kingspan Stadium and may have been expecting a tough inquisition. The Westerners reached the quarter finals with […]

7 years ago

There was some marvelling, on Premier Sport, after Ulster’s 21-13 win over Connacht, that Rory Best was able to last 69 minutes in his final Belfast outing. “Well,” Ulster coach Dan McFarland dryly noted, “he’s 36, not 76.” Good point from McFarland. Best is heading to pasture soon but, witnessing him in his last two […]

7 years ago

ULSTER 21-13 CONNACHT In Belfast, they stood up for the Ulstermen. What a turnaround this has been, in just 12 months. This time last year, Ulster scraped into the Champions Cup with a late, winning run after looking dead in the water mid-way through the season. This time around, they have reached the semis of […]

7 years ago

MUNSTER 15-13 BENETTON Munster survived one hell of a scare, at Thomond Park, to reach the semi final of the Guinness PRO14. Trailing 10-3 at half-time, and 13-6 after the hour mark, Munster were indebted to CJ Stander (two penalties won) and JJ Hanrahan (three penalties kicked) for getting them out of a deep hole. […]

7 years ago

30 minutes ahead of his appearance on Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby, Jack Carty is buzzed into the office. The gate to the main courtyard is locked on a Sunday but Fiona, one of the production team, spotted a lad ‘that looked like a rugby player’ outside and about to make a call. That’s […]

7 years ago

“You come to our games now and there are so many young girls that are playing or who want to get involved.” Women’s sport is on a heady upward curve at present. Performance and skill levels are increasing, there is greater investment, media coverage and fan involvement in a whole range of sports. England won […]

7 years ago

Not an Ulster player in sight. Ireland may have underperformed in the Guinness Six Nations – finishing third – but a host of their rugby players have prospered at provincial level. Ulster, Munster and Leinster all reached the knock-out stages of the Champions Cup, with holders Leinster making it to the final, in Newcastle, on […]

7 years ago

Dublin’s drive for five will be done without the excellent, astute services of the Fingallians clubman. Six-time All-Ireland winner and four-time All Star Paul Flynn has announced his retirement from inter-county football. After 11 years playing for Dublin, Flynn is stepping away and admits that, after recent back surgery, he ‘struggled to reach the fitness […]

7 years ago