Neil Treacy

RTÉ Sport Journalist

10 January 2026; Harry Byrne of Leinster celebrates after converting an 80th minute penalty to give his side a 25-24 victory during the Investec Champions Cup match between Leinster and La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsf

Cullen pleased with Leinster's fight and Byrne's nerve

Sparks always fly when Leinster and La Rochelle cross paths, and the great modern rivals produced another game for the ages as Leinster edged a 25-24 thriller which went down to the final kick of the game.

Rugby • 12 hrs

10 January 2026; Leinster players celebrate after Harry Byrne, hidden, converted an 80th minute penalty to give his side a 25-24 victory during the Investec Champions Cup match between Leinster and La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb

Byrne the hero as Leinster beat La Rochelle in epic

Leinster and La Rochelle's rivalry produced another game for the ages, as Harry Byrne's penalty kick with the final play of the game sealed a 25-24 Champions Cup win for Leo Cullen's side.

Rugby • 10 Jan

6 December 2025; Ruadhan Quinn of Munster reacts after his side's defeat in the Investec Champions Cup match between Bath and Munster at The Recreation Ground in Bath, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

'There have been days when we've let ourselves down'

Like most coaches who come to Ireland from New Zealand or Australia, Clayton McMillan has now experienced the step up in energy on the week of a big Champions Cup tie.

Rugby • 10 Jan

27 December 2025; Munster head coach Clayton McMillan before the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

McMillan calls on Munster to 'embrace the cauldron'

Champions Cup cauldrons in France are new to Clayton McMillan, but nothing new to Munster.

Rugby • 09 Jan

3 January 2026; Andrew Porter of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Connacht at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Leinster low on props as Munster make 10 changes

Leinster have been dealt a blow ahead of tomorrow's Investec Champions Cup clash with La Rochelle with three of their frontline prop forwards missing.

Rugby • 09 Jan

2 January 2026; The Munster team huddle, including Paddy Patterson, centre, during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Munster at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Munster must start hitting ceiling to go deep in Europe

With Ireland opening their 2026 Guinness Six Nations campaign away to France in just under four weeks' time, there's an appropriate theme to these next two weekends of Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup rugby.

Rugby • 09 Jan

11 January 2026; Munster supporters, from left, Ben Leahy, Patricia Vieira, Dave O'Keefe and Caolan Scully before the Investec Champions Cup match between RC Toulon and Munster at Stade Felix Mayol in Toulon, France. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Champions Cup round 3: All You Need To Know

All four Irish provinces are back in action this week across the Investec Champions and EPCR Challenge Cup pool stages. Here's everything you need to know ahead of this weekend's games.

Rugby • 6 hrs

Will Ulster's form be rewarded in the Six Nations?

Bernard Jackman and Gareth Steenson outline the case for more Ulster players in the Ireland Six Nations squad.

United Rugby Championship • 07 Jan

3 January 2026; Sam Prendergast of Leinster scores his side's third try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Connacht at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Leinster's composure under pressure pleases Cullen

While Leinster easily brushed aside Connacht in the second half of their BKT United Rugby Championship Interpro at Aviva Stadium, the 52-17 win could have been very different had it not been for the final three minutes of the first half.

United Rugby Championship • 03 Jan

2 January 2026; Ulster head coach Richie Murphy and Jacob Stockdale after their side's victory in the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Munster at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Murphy: Ulster 'buzzing' after statement win v Munster

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy praised the patience of his side as they produced a brilliant second-half performance to hammer Munster 28-3 in Belfast.

United Rugby Championship • 03 Jan