What a finish! In recent years, James Lowe and Mack Hansen have established themselves as Ireland’s first-choice wingers, with significant distance between them and the chasing pack. Names like Jacob Stockdale, Tommy O’Brien, Shayne Bolton, Calvin Nash, and Zac Ward pop up in discussions over who is next in line. One man who has been […]

4 months ago

Andy Farrell has a lot of credit in the bank. A LOT. Ireland have named a 42-man training squad for the World Cup and will meet up in June to begin preparations for the big dance. When you step back and take a look at it, there are no ground-quaking shocks. Joey Carbery and Jordan […]

3 years ago

Ulster remain in the hunt for a top-two finish that should make the URC knock-out stages an easier prospect. Tom Stewart was the hat-trick hero, scoring his 11th, 12th and 13th tries of a remarkable breakthrough season – writes Glenn Kelly – as Ulster won out an old fashioned slugfest 32-23 against the Bulls, at […]

3 years ago

“Gutted for him, absolutely.” Robert Baloucoune could have really announced himself to world rugby like Simon Zebo did, in New Zealand, a decade ago. Even with a 40-man squad, there were always going to be Irish players left disappointed by missing out on the summer tour to New Zealand. At first glance, most of the […]

4 years ago

TOULOUSE 20-26 ULSTER Antoine Dupont was in bullish mood after his 14-man Toulouse were beaten by Ulster in a pulsating Champions Cup ‘Last 16’ first leg. If you had offered this result to even the most one-sided and optimistic Ulster supporter, ahead of today’s match, your arm would have been snatched clean off. And still… […]

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