Author: FASHIONISLANDBLOG

THIS WAS CERTAINLY a year for the record books. From Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam success to that fairytale journey to a silver medal at the Women’s Hockey World Cup, there were several memorable moments to savour in 2018. The Limerick hurlers defied the odds to end a 45-year wait for the Liam MacCarthy Cup…

1. Two River fans sat next to me in the last row. They talked softly to themselves, but my translator could hear. “This could change my day so much,” one said. His friend looked at him. “No,” he replied. “My life.” He paused. “I went to the psychologist Friday and only talked about this,” he said….

EIGHT GAMES FROM this year’s Leinster Senior Schools Cup will be aired live on UK-based channel FreeSports as part of a new television deal announced by Leinster Rugby this afternoon. FreeSports, which officially launched in Ireland on the Sky network this week, will begin its coverage of the competition on 31 January as Belvedere College face…

LEINSTER ARE SET to be without captain Johnny Sexton for Saturday’s pivotal Heineken Cup clash with Toulouse at the RDS, meaning Ross Byrne is primed for a big opportunity in the 10 shirt. Ross Byrne is in line to start for Leinster. Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO As first reported by Des Berry of The Herald, Sexton…

Mustafa Ali is being pulled from the chamber match according to Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp: Ali had been working through an injured tailbone that got hurt at Royal Rumble. Then last week on SDL Ali’s eye was swollen shut after sitting up into Randy Orton’s boot. Sapp was told that an injury was accelerated on…

Smackdown drew a record low since moving live on Tuesdays, doing just 1,841,000 viewers going head-to-head against President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. That is down 296,000 viewers from the previous week. Trump was indeed ratings, pulling in over 30 million viewers, taking a good chunk of the WWE audience as well. Smackdown…

LEO CULLEN HAS dismissed claims by Wasps director of rugby Dai Young that English Premiership clubs cannot compete with Leinster in the Heineken Champions Cup because of a salary cap. Young made the claims in the build-up to Sunday’s Pool 1 encounter between the sides at the Ricoh Arena [KO 3.15pm, BT Sport], highlighting the…

THE IRFU’S IQ Rugby programme, which was launched to identify and develop Irish-qualified talent overseas, is behind the inclusion of promising Saracens centre Oli Morris in Ireland’s squad for the upcoming U20 Six Nations. Morris, who qualifies to represent Ireland through his Irish grandmother, was yesterday named in Noel McNamara’s 40-player squad for the 2019…

IAN KEATLEY’S DEPARTURE from Munster has been brought forward after London Irish moved to secure the services of the out-of-favour out-half on a short-term deal. Keatley announced earlier this month he would be leaving the southern province for Italian side Benetton at the end of the season, but the 31-year-old will now spend the remainder…

Updated at 00.27 THIS FRIDAY, VIRGIN Media One will air a documentary entitled ‘Game Over: True Lives’.  Presented by ex-Ireland and Munster rugby legend Donncha O’Callaghan, the programme will look at how sportspeople deal with life after their playing careers.  Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, a fellow Corkman, features to talk about adjusting to…