http://www.rte.ie/sport Latest Irish and international news supplied by RTE.ie Copyright © RTÉ http://www.rte.ie/images/logo_rss_goog.gif http://www.rte.ie/sport Fri, 24 May 2013 12:20:14 +0100 Fri, 24 May 2013 12:20:14 +0100 Sport News Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss and Brian O'Driscoll return to the Leinster starting line-up for the RaboDirect Pro 12 final against Ulster. Fri, 24 May 2013 14:12:07 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2013/0524/452350-leinster-team/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2013/0524/452350-leinster-team/ Prop John Afoa will start for Ulster against Leinster in the RaboDirect PRO12 final at the RDS. Fri, 24 May 2013 12:20:14 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2013/0524/452351-ulster-team/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2013/0524/452351-ulster-team/ Former British and Irish Lions captain Gavin Hastings expects to see Jonny Wilkinson in the fabled red jersey on this summer's tour to Australia. Thu, 23 May 2013 12:31:31 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/lions-tour/2013/0523/452124-hastings-backs-wilkinson-for-lions/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/lions-tour/2013/0523/452124-hastings-backs-wilkinson-for-lions/ Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree expects Sam Warburton to be galvanised by the presence of "proven warrior" Paul O'Connell on the tour to Australia. Wed, 22 May 2013 16:52:15 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/international/2013/0522/451796-lions-coach-lauds-proven-warrior-oconnell/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/international/2013/0522/451796-lions-coach-lauds-proven-warrior-oconnell/ Sean O'Brien could yet play for Leinster in Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final after making rapid progress in his recovery from a knee injury. Tue, 21 May 2013 19:18:10 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2013/0521/451724-obrien-winning-final-fitness-battle/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2013/0521/451724-obrien-winning-final-fitness-battle/ Warren Gatland expects Leinster duo Brian O'Driscoll and Sean O'Brien to be on board Monday's flight to Hong Kong, where the tour opens against the Barbarians on 1 June. Tue, 21 May 2013 09:06:36 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/international/2013/0521/451579-gatland-impressed-with-lions-progress/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/international/2013/0521/451579-gatland-impressed-with-lions-progress/ British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland has ruled out making another offer to Jonny Wilkinson to join the forthcoming tour to Australia. Mon, 20 May 2013 14:51:03 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/lions-tour/2013/0520/451465-gatland-rules-out-wilkinson-approach/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/lions-tour/2013/0520/451465-gatland-rules-out-wilkinson-approach/ Samoan international James So'oialo will join Connacht this summer. Mon, 20 May 2013 14:27:14 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/irish/2013/0520/451457-sooialo-agrees-connacht-move/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/irish/2013/0520/451457-sooialo-agrees-connacht-move/ The Irish Rugby Football Union today announced the senior Ireland squad that will tour the USA and Canada, and the Emerging Ireland squad that will compete in the Tbilisi Cup in Georgia, this summer. Sun, 19 May 2013 20:35:47 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/irish-international/2013/0519/451217-ireland-squads-named-for-summer-tours/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/irish-international/2013/0519/451217-ireland-squads-named-for-summer-tours/ Jonny Wilkinson described winning the Heineken Cup with Toulon as a bigger achievement than his Rugby World Cup triumph 10 years ago. Sun, 19 May 2013 20:38:04 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/2013/0518/451158-wilko-european-success-eclipses-world-cup-win/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/2013/0518/451158-wilko-european-success-eclipses-world-cup-win/ Code-hopper Israel Folau was one of three uncapped players named in Australia's preliminary 25-man squad to face the British and Irish Lions, with in-form Reds playmaker Quade Cooper the most notable omission. Sun, 19 May 2013 08:48:45 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/international/2013/0519/451191-cooper-overlooked-for-australia/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/international/2013/0519/451191-cooper-overlooked-for-australia/ Jonny Wilkinson lifted the Heineken Cup after inspiring Toulon to a 16-15 victory over Clermont Auvergne at the Aviva Stadium. Sun, 19 May 2013 20:36:48 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/2013/0518/451140-clermont-toulon/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/2013/0518/451140-clermont-toulon/ Jonathan Sexton has told RTÉ Sport that he knew nothing of Ronan O'Gara's move to Racing Metro where he will work as kicking coach for the Parisian club. Sat, 18 May 2013 14:29:14 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/irish/2013/0518/451108-sexton-knew-nothing-of-ogara-move-to-racing/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/irish/2013/0518/451108-sexton-knew-nothing-of-ogara-move-to-racing/ Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has accepted that incumbent hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau will not play a part in the British and Irish Lion series but is hoping flanker George Smith will still be available after both were injured on Saturday. Sat, 18 May 2013 16:43:38 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/international/2013/0518/451116-polota-nau-likely-out-of-lions-series/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/international/2013/0518/451116-polota-nau-likely-out-of-lions-series/ Leinster coach Joe Schmidt set his sights on a trophy double after watching his side win the Amlin Challenge Cup with a 34-13 destruction of Stade Francais. Sat, 18 May 2013 10:16:59 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2013/0518/451069-schmidt-targeting-trophy-double/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-12/2013/0518/451069-schmidt-targeting-trophy-double/ Ireland and Munster fly-half Ronan O'Gara has announced his playing retirement in order to take up a coaching role with Racing Metro. Sat, 18 May 2013 14:29:46 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/irish/2013/0518/451097-ogara-confirms-move-to-racing/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/irish/2013/0518/451097-ogara-confirms-move-to-racing/ Leinster have won the Amlin Challenge Cup after a 34-13 win over Stade Francais at the RDS. Fri, 17 May 2013 22:51:02 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/amlin-challenge/2013/0517/450961-leinster-stade-report/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/amlin-challenge/2013/0517/450961-leinster-stade-report/ Ronan O'Gara is to retire from rugby and join French club Racing Metro as a kicking coach. Fri, 17 May 2013 18:55:19 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/european/2013/0517/450967-ogara/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/european/2013/0517/450967-ogara/ Clermont have been everyone's favourite to win the Heineken Cup since doing the double over Leinster in the pool, but Toulon's collection of aging superstars may just have an upset in them. Sat, 18 May 2013 17:23:53 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/2013/0518/451083-clermont-to-be-well-tested-by-toulon/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/2013/0518/451083-clermont-to-be-well-tested-by-toulon/ In the wake Brian O'Driscoll's decision to continue playing for another season, rugby analyst George Hook says he fears for the long-term health of O'Driscoll and other professional players. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:34:39 +0100 http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/irish/2013/0517/450862-hook-fears-for-odriscolls-health/ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/irish/2013/0517/450862-hook-fears-for-odriscolls-health/