Neil Treacy

RTÉ Sport Journalist

29 November 2025; Munster head coach Clayton McMillan before the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and DHL Stormers at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

McMillan confident Crowley will be fit for Gloucester

Clayton McMillan has backed JJ Hanrahan to steer the ship for Munster this weekend, but the head coach remains confident Jack Crowley will be fit to return for the province's highly-anticipated meeting with Gloucester at SuperValu Pairc Uí Chaoimh next week.

Rugby • 05 Dec 25

18 January 2025; Leinster head coach Leo Cullen before the Investec Champions Cup Pool 2 match between Leinster and Bath at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Cullen insists Champions Cup hasn't lost its 'magic'

The current iteration of the Investec Champions Cup has its detractors, but Leo Cullen certainly isn't one of them.

Rugby • 05 Dec 25

29 November 2025; Jack Crowley of Munster dejected after his side's defeat in the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and DHL Stormers at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Crowley ruled out of Munster's trip to Bath with injury

Munster have been dealt a big blow for their Investec Champions Cup Pool 2 opener against Bath on Saturday, with Jack Crowley ruled out due to a leg injury.

Rugby • 05 Dec 25

3 May 2025; A general view of the Champions Cup trophy before the Investec Champions Cup semi-final match between Leinster and Northampton Saints at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Low-key Champions Cup build-up a sign of the times

This is the sixth season of the 24-team Champions Cup format, where the sprint through the pools has ironically turned the tournament into a marathon.

Rugby • 05 Dec 25

1 December 2025; Rieko Ioane during a Leinster Rugby squad training at UCD in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Internationals return as Ioane set for Leinster debut

Rieko Ioane will feature off the bench for Leinster, with the New Zealand international in line for his debut in Saturday's Champions Cup Pool 3 opener against Harlequins.

Rugby • 04 Dec 25

28 November 2024; Angus Bell during an Australia Rugby squad training session at Wanderers RFC in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Ulster hand Bell debut in Challenge Cup opener v Racing

New signing Angus Bell will make his debut for Ulster in Friday night's EPCR Challenge Cup opener against Racing 92 in Belfast.

Rugby • 04 Dec 25

3 December 2025; Head coach Andy Farrell during an Ireland Rugby media conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Farrell: We don't want to just get past a quarter-final

Given Ireland's tortured history at the Rugby World Cup, Andy Farrell knew well enough to avoid getting sucked in by the permutations of Ireland's draw when he spoke to the media on Wednesday.

Rugby • 04 Dec 25

3 December 2025; Head coach Andy Farrell, left, and captain Caelan Doris during an Ireland Rugby media conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Farrell not drawn on Ireland's favourable RWC pool

Andy Farrell gave a pokerfaced reaction to what looks like a favourable 2027 Rugby World Cup pool draw, but the Ireland head coach will quietly be pleased with this morning's outcome.

Rugby • 03 Dec 25