Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Referee Mathieu Raynal gave Darcy Swain a yellow card for his foul

All Blacks still angry over Tupaea 'free shot' by Swain

The All Blacks remain unhappy with Wallabies lock Darcy Swain after his "free shot" on Quinn Tupaea in Melbourne last week left the midfielder with a season-ending injury.

Rugby • 19 Sep 22

Foley (right) was penalised for time-wasting late in the game by referee Mathieu Raynal

Foley denies time-wasting after controversial defeat

Australia fly-half Bernard Foley said he had no intention of deliberately soaking up seconds on the clock against the All Blacks before being controversially penalised for time-wasting in the final minute of the Wallabies' defeat in Melbourne.

Rugby • 16 Sep 22

Ireland's up-and-coming players will get another chance to impress against a New Zealand XV

Ireland A to face New Zealand XV in November

The IRFU have confirmed Ireland A will face a New Zealand XV at the RDS on 4 November.

Rugby • 13 Sep 22

Jordie Barrett celebrates after scoring the fourth of New Zealand's seven tries

New Zealand respond with seven-try mauling of Argentina

New Zealand produced their most dominant performance of the season to beat Argentina 53-3 in Hamilton and put their Rugby Championship defence back on track.

Rugby • 03 Sep 22

Rugby Championship: New Zealand 53-3 Argentina recap

New Zealand answered their critics with a ruthless seven-try hammering of Argentina in Hamilton.

Rugby • 05 Sep 22

Joe Schmidt (left) could step up to head coach if Ian Foster (right) departs

About Schmidt: Coach a bit player in All Blacks drama

Two weeks after receiving the dreaded vote of confidence, Ian Foster is back on the brink. And New Zealand have a ready-made replacement in Joe Schmidt.

Rugby • 02 Sep 22

Ardie Savea (L), Sam Cane (C) and Shannon Frizell (R) were on the losing side again at the weekend

'Heaps of pressure' but NZ not way off, insists Cane

The All Blacks are feeling pressure from all sides to rebound after their shock home defeat to Argentina but are not far away from producing a winning performance, according to embattled captain Sam Cane.

Rugby • 30 Aug 22

Ian Foster's side have lost four of their last five matches

Foster under mounting pressure after Argentina defeat

Less than two weeks after a ringing endorsement from New Zealand Rugby, All Blacks coach Ian Foster is under renewed pressure following a third successive home loss.

Rugby • 29 Aug 22

Defeat to Argentina piles more pressure on NZ's Foster

A fourth defeat in six matches has piled further pressure on All Black head coach Ian Foster after suffering a 25-18 defeat to Argentina.

Rugby • 27 Aug 22

Joe Schmidt has been on Ian Foster's radar 'for a couple of years'

Schmidt takes NZ role as Foster backed by Kiwi board

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster has been given the full backing of his bosses to continue in his job, with former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt taking up a full-time assistant role.

Rugby • 17 Aug 22

Ian Foster is under mounting pressure after three successive defeats

All Blacks coach Foster faces crunch clash with Boks

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster insists his side are still evolving as they prepare to face South Africa in what could potentially be his last match in charge.

Rugby • 11 Aug 22

Richie Mo'unga replaces Beauden Barrett at out-half

Mo'unga starts as All Blacks change four for SA rematch

Richie Mo'unga will make his first start of the year for New Zealand in Saturday's Rugby Championship rematch with South Africa.

Rugby • 11 Aug 22

Vermeulen missed the summer Test series against Wales due to knee surgery

Vermeulen returns for Boks among five changes for NZ

Ulster's Duane Vermeulen will return to the South Africa team for Saturday's second Rugby Championship meeting with New Zealand at Ellis Park.

Rugby • 09 Aug 22

Outside noise is not a distraction for Mo'unga

Mo'unga's main focus is on fixing broken All Blacks

Richie Mo'unga said the All Blacks were blocking out the outside noise of their unhappy fans and focusing squarely on the job of snapping their three-match losing streak when they take on the Springboks at Johannesburg this weekend.

Rugby • 09 Aug 22

'No point sulking' - NZ coach Foster vows to battle on

Embattled All Blacks coach Ian Foster has urged his players to move on quickly from their Mbombela mauling and focus only on the rematch with South Africa at Ellis Park this weekend.

Rugby • 08 Aug 22

Caleb Clarke (C) is back for the All Blacks

Clarke returns but All Blacks largely stick to guns

New Zealand wing Caleb Clarke will play his first test in two years but coach Ian Foster has resisted the urge to make wholesale changes for their Rugby Championship opener in South Africa, though he has recalled hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho.

Rugby • 04 Aug 22

A dejected Sam Cane walks past Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton match July's test in Wellington

Cane confident All Blacks will fix Ireland issues

New Zealand captain Sam Cane believes there is "not a whole lot" they need to improve to get back into top form after four losses in their last five tests has left the team under fire back home and their 2023 Rugby World Cup preparations under a cloud.

Rugby • 02 Aug 22

Beauden Barrett admits that New Zealand players are feeling the pain

All Blacks players share Foster's pain, says Barrett

New Zealand coach Ian Foster opened up about the toll of the job in the wake of the Ireland series defeat, leaving players feeling hurt for their leader and determined to make amends, fly-half Beauden Barrett said.

Rugby • 29 Jul 22

Ian Foster's All Blacks will take on the Springboks on 6 and 13 August before completing the Rugby Championship campaign by late September

Foster 'not panicking' in wake of loss to Ireland

Ian Foster has shrugged off queries over his future as New Zealand coach in the wake of the landmark series defeat to Ireland and with Tests against South Africa looming.

Rugby • 26 Jul 22

The series defeat has caused a stir in New Zealand

New Zealand fallout continues as Foster shuffles staff

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster has reshuffled his backroom staff in the wake of the All Blacks' first series defeat to Ireland.

Rugby • 24 Jul 22

Ian Foster has been head coach of the All Blacks since 2019

New Zealand coach Foster defends his position

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has survived the storm of criticism that followed the series loss to Ireland, at least for now, and has promised change ahead of two Rugby Championship Tests against the Springboks.

Rugby • 22 Jul 22

Old guard the key component of historic series success

As the dust settles on Ireland's greatest achievement in their rugby history – winning a series against the All Blacks in New Zealand – it's important to reflect on some of the key considerations before the tour began.

Rugby • 19 Jul 22

'I know in a year's time when the Word Cup starts it won't mean anything as we learned before' - Johnny Sexton

Ireland yet to hit their peak, and have France to thank

After Ireland completed a famous Test series win against New Zealand, Neil Treacy argues that France's recent success means there is still target for Andy Farrell's side to chase.

Rugby • 18 Jul 22

Sexton (C) celebrates the series win that has moved Ireland to the top fo the world rankings

Sexton wary of complacency as Ireland on top of world

As Ireland move to the top of the world rankings, captain Johnny Sexton has warned Ireland against complacency ahead of next year's World Cup following a momentous series win in New Zealand.

Rugby • 17 Jul 22

Porter celebrates the series win with Hugo Keenan (right)

Series win could inspire next generation - Porter

Ireland prop Andrew Porter says he hopes their win against New Zealand inspires a future generation of rugby players.