Posts

AARON SMITH HAS committed his future to New Zealand and has signed a new two-year deal with Super Rugby side, Highlanders. Aaron Smith with New Zealand team-mate Liam Squire. Source: AAP/PA Images The 30-year-old, who made his All Blacks debut in 2012, has made 81 Test appearances for the reigning world champions. “From my earliest […]

IF YOU WERE to have a debate about the best outside centres in world rugby at present, Garry Ringrose’s name would be very much in the mix. Still just 24, the Dublin man has become a key cog for Leinster and Joe Schmidt’s Ireland, a player of intelligence and decision-making class, essential to both teams’ defences […]

ULSTER HAVE INCLUDED three of Ireland’s U20 Grand Slam winners in their ‘A’ squad for this week’s trip to America for two Cara Cup fixtures. David McCann, Callum Reid and Iwan Hughes have all travelled to Boston with the northern province for games against Connacht ‘A’ and the New England Free Jacks after helping Ireland […]

JOEY CARBERY RETURNS to the Munster XV tomorrow, with Johann van Graan naming his side to face Edinburgh in their Champions Cup quarter-final [KO 12.45pm, live on Virgin Media One, Channel 4 and BT Sport]. A hamstring injury picked up in training ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations win over Italy had ruled the out-half out […]

NOT LONG AFTER a coach and two players had retreated back behind locked doors from the rooms Leinster routinely open to the media, the squad was assembled for a meeting. The walls in UCD aren’t flimsy, but you could hear enough to know the group are in a good place – even if you hadn’t […]

Murray Kinsella reports from Murrayfield PAT LAM HAS targeted another Guinness Pro12 title next season after his side secured their first-ever trophy with a 20-10 win over Leinster in the 2016 decider in Edinburgh. Lam has masterminded Connacht’s rise to Pro12 glory. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO Connacht had never before lifted silverware in their 130-year history, […]

SUPER RUGBY FANS have been getting used to Lionel Mapoe’s ‘chicken run’ celebration this season. The Lions centre, who makes his first start for South Africa at 13 against Ireland tomorrow, has had plenty of opportunity to unleash his unique celebratory salute. With nine tries in 11 starts, Mapoe is the leading try scorer in […]

Rory Keane reports from Port Elizabeth AFTER HIS HEROICS at Ellis Park, Springboks winger Ruan Combrinck declared: “For my country I will try and run over every wall I see.” The Lions winger certainly made his presence felt following his introduction at half-time for a struggling Lwazi Mvovo. Paddy Jackson and Jared Payne will certainly remember […]

Rory Keane reports from Port Elizabeth  SOUTH AFRICA HEAD coach Allister Coetzee is expecting a “battle of attrition” with Ireland in Saturday’s third-Test decider at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The Springboks avenged their opening-day defeat in Cape Town against a 14-man Irish outfit with a 32-26 comeback victory at Ellis Park last Saturday. Trailing 26-10 […]

AFTER BEING FORCED to sit out last year’s Champions Cup final in Bilbao, it’s hard to fathom how Leinster can go into their St James’ Park showdown against Saracens without James Lowe in their team.  The Kiwi winger has missed out on several big days since joining the province at the start of last season […]