MUNSTER HAVE RETURNED to Paris this afternoon for the first time since the untimely death of their head coach Anthony Foley on 16 October. Foley passed away on the morning of what was due to be their opening fixture in this season’s European Champions Cup against Racing 92. The game was rescheduled for this afternoon…
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Munster crush Racing to move to top of Pool 1 on return to Paris
Racing 7 Munster 32 Murray Kinsella reports from Stade Yves du Manoir IT WAS A strange experience for Munster returning to Paris just over 11 weeks after Anthony Foley’s death, but they delivered an efficient and ruthless performance to pay tribute to ‘Axel’ and moved to the top of Pool 1 of the Champions Cup…
Mulhall returns to captain experienced Ireland Women’s side for 7s Grand Prix
IRELAND WOMEN ARE next onto the Olympic qualification path as they head for the first leg of the Rugby Europe Grand Prix in Marcoussis. The tournament doubles as the seeding round for the European Olympic Qualifier which will take place in Kazan on 13-14 July. Captain Lucy Mulhall returns to lead an experienced group hoping…
Montpellier snap up Samoan scrum-half to replace departed Pienaar
SAMOAN INTERNATIONAL SCRUM-HALF Kahn Fotuali’i has quit Bath to join Top 14 club Montpellier on a one-year deal, replacing South African Ruan Pienaar. Fotuali’i, 37, has played in Europe since 2011, first with Welsh region Ospreys before moving to Northampton in 2013 and then Bath in 2016. The 31-time capped Samoan previously played with the…
Kleyn ‘behind the eight ball’ as he bids to force his way into Schmidt’s plans
FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS, FAMILIAR faces, but as one of two uncapped players in Ireland’s extended World Cup training squad, this all remains new territory for Jean Kleyn. The big South African-born second row was a popular figure during Ireland’s open training session at Thomond Park on Friday, the sight of a Munster favourite in national kit…
All Blacks fired up for Wellington revenge against ‘Boks
NEW ZEALAND SECOND row Brodie Retallick predicts fireworks in Wellington this Saturday as the southern hemisphere rivals seek a mental edge ahead of the Rugby World Cup. The Rugby Championship clash is a dress rehearsal for the global showpiece in Japan, where New Zealand and South Africa will face each other in their opening Pool…
‘Next week it’s do or die’ – Read laments missed tackles as All Blacks concede record points haul
Click Here: cronulla sharks jersey NEW ZEALAND CAPTAIN Kieran Read lamented the All Blacks’ performance in their joint-heaviest defeat as Australia inflicted a 47-26 thrashing on the reigning Rugby World Cup champions. The Wallabies ran in six tries at Optus Stadium – against a team that played the entire second half with 14 men following Scott Barrett’s red…
Carbery injury sucks the air out of Ireland’s win over makeshift Italy
Ireland 29 Italy 10 FOR 49 MINUTES, this match felt like nothing more than a showcase for Joey Carbery’s tremendous talent. Perhaps even the beginnings of a case for his promotion in Ireland’s out-half pecking order. However, just over half an hour remaining, the excitement he brought to otherwise tame proceedings was replaced with concern…
Farrell and Ford in tandem for England against Ireland
ENGLAND HEAD COACH Eddie Jones will return to the pairing of Owen Farrell and George Ford as a 10-12 axis when Ireland visit for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up fixture. It is over a year since Jones has paired the two playmakers from the start, seeking out other centre options alongside Farrell since a summer Test…
Game time for Kleyn a ‘priority’ as Beirne gets another bench chance
JEAN KLEYN ONLY qualified for Ireland two weeks ago but already he looks like being a notable part of Joe Schmidt’s World Cup plans. The South African native made his debut as Ireland opened their warm-up campaign with a win over Italy, with Kleyn underlining his ability to do the nuts and bolts around the…