Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Farrell has picked an experimental side for Saturday's opening warm-up game v Italy

'We expect to be at our best' - Farrell trusting depth

Andy Farrell expects nothing but the best from his Ireland side in the opening game of their Rugby World Cup warm-up programme, as they welcome Italy to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Rugby • 03 Aug 23

Crowley starts versus Italy with three potential debuts

Jack Crowley will get a first opportunity of the summer to stake his claim at out-half for Ireland, with the Munster man starting at 10 in Saturday's opening Rugby World Cup warm-up against Italy at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 03 Aug 23

Johnny Sexton will be available to return for Ireland's opening Rugby World Cup game against Romania

Sexton ban far from ideal as Farrell forced to rethink

With Johnny Sexton set to miss Ireland's Rugby World Cup warm-up games due to suspension, Neil Treacy looks at how Ireland's RWC preparations have been impacted.

Rugby • 17 Jul 23

Preparations have begun for the Irish squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France

81 days and counting - Ireland's World Cup camp begins

Ireland's 42-player training squad gathered in Dublin on Monday to mark the start of their Rugby World Cup training camp.

Rugby • 20 Jun 23

Andy Farrell named his 42-man Rugby World Cup squad

End of season was unlikely to swing RWC squad - Holland

Jonny Holland says it's no surprise that Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has stuck with what he knows in his World Cup training squad.

Rugby • 31 May 23

Andy Farrell's Ireland record speaks for itself

'It's a squad he trusts' - Toner on Farrell selection

Andy Farrell shouldn't be second-guessed about the make-up of his World Cup training squad, according to Devin Toner.

Rugby • 01 Jun 23

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named a squad of 42 players to prepare for the World Cup

No shocks, but plenty of talking points in Irish squad

Neil Treacy looks at the major talking points from Ireland's Rugby World Cup training squad announcement

Rugby • 30 May 23

Uncapped Calvin Nash has previously featured for Ireland A

Nash among four uncapped players in Ireland squad

Munster wing Calvin Nash is among four uncapped players named in Andy Farrell's World Cup training squad.

Rugby • 30 May 23

Farrell: 'It's part of the journey of us as a group going forward into a World Cup'

Farrell: Grand Slam title just 'part of the journey'

Andy Farrell believes there is more to come from his side, after they completed a dominant Six Nations Grand Slam title on Saturday.

Rugby • 20 Mar 23

Ireland's players celebrate Rob Herring's try late in the 29-16 win against England

Solid foundations have allowed Ireland build their Slam

While Ireland have scored 20 tries and an average of 30 points per game in their Grand Slam success, Neil Treacy writes that the Six Nations campaign has been built on the basics of defence and discipline.

Rugby • 20 Mar 23

Sexton became the Six Nations all-time leading scorer after kicking three conversions and a penalty

Farrell hails captain Sexton as Ireland's best ever

Andy Farrell declared Johnny Sexton as the best to ever play for Ireland, as they capped off a dominant Six Nations campaign with a Grand Slam title.

Rugby • 18 Mar 23

Ireland will be crowned Grand Slam champions with a win against England

Preview: Confidence trumps complacency as history looms

Neil Treacy looks ahead to Ireland's Six Nations finale against England, as Andy Farrell's side go in search of just their fourth Grand Slam title.

Rugby • 18 Mar 23

'Getting the balance right. To me, desperation is an illness. You want to stay away from that.'

'Desperation is an illness' - Farrell wants focus

You'd have to go back 16 years to find a Six Nations game in Dublin where the stakes felt as high as they are this week.

Rugby • 17 Mar 23

Farrell has made three changes to his side for the Six Nations finale

Farrell: We know how much it means to the Irish people

Andy Farrell says the thoughts of winning a Grand Slam in front of a home crowd at the Aviva Stadium has been a motivating factor for his side from the very start of the championship.

Rugby • 16 Mar 23

Andy Farrell expects his native land to be out for blood

Farrell: Nature of England loss makes Irish task harder

England shipped a record defeat to France on Saturday but Andy Farrell says that fact makes Ireland's task more difficult on Saturday.

Rugby • 14 Mar 23

Ireland are ranked number one in the world

Farrell: Experience vital to cope with Scotland threat

Andy Farrell says Ireland are primed to accept the toughest of challenges from a Scotland team with their own eyes on the prize.

Rugby • 11 Mar 23

Andy Farrell: ' I'm sure they're confident going into what is a huge game'

Farrell: Always a 'ding-dong' battle against Scots

Andy Farrell straight-batted a question about this version of the Scotland team being the toughest Ireland have faced in recent times, but deep down he'll know it to be true.

Rugby • 10 Mar 23

There is a lot to play for in next two weeks

Final rounds of Six Nations to throw up big plotlines

Whether it's silverware or pride, there's something on the line for all six countries over the next 11 days, culminating with Ireland's meeting with England on Saturday 18 March at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 07 Mar 23

Ryan Baird and James Lowe celebrate after the full-time whistle in Rome

Cool heads under pressure a positive for Farrell

An assuring element of Ireland's three Six Nations victories this season has been that when it's looked like momentum was moving away from them, they've consistently shown an ability to bring it back on side.

Rugby • 27 Feb 23

Bundee Aki saw a second half try ruled out following a knock-on

Ireland learn valuable lessons after hard-fought win

Saturday's victory against Italy was far from the facile wins Ireland have had against the Azzurri in recent years.

Rugby • 26 Feb 23

Andy Farrell concerned by Ireland's wastefulness

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell admitted that he was frustrated by his side's wastefulness in their 34-20 Six Nations victory over Italy.

Rugby • 25 Feb 23

James Ryan on his way to scoring his side's first try while teammate James Lowe celebrates

Ireland far from perfect in five-try Italian win

Ireland kept their Six Nations Grand Slam hopes alive, with a 34-20 win against Italy in Rome.

Rugby • 25 Feb 23

Andy Farrell says he has full confidence Johnny Sexton will be available to face Scotland

Sexton, Furlong and Gibson-Park to be fit for Scotland

Andy Farrell says he expects Ireland to have Johnny Sexton, Jamison Gibson-Park and Tadhg Furlong all back for the Round 4 Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield in just over two weeks.

Rugby • 24 Feb 23

Garry Ringrose will win his 50th Ireland cap in Rome

Farrell sure Ringrose is a future Ireland captain

Andy Farrell says Garry Ringrose is an Ireland captain in-waiting, as the centre prepares to win his 50th cap on Saturday against Italy.

Rugby • 23 Feb 23

Andy Farrell's Ireland side next travel to Rome to face Italy in two weeks' time

Farrell: 'Heroic' Ireland have more to offer

Ireland coach Andy Farrell hailed his side's 32-19 bonus-point win over France in the Guinness Six Nations as "heroic", but believes the winning margin should have been even more emphatic.

Rugby • 11 Feb 23

Andy Farrell

'We expect to be at our best' - Farrell trusting depth

Crowley starts versus Italy with three potential debuts

Sexton ban far from ideal as Farrell forced to rethink

81 days and counting - Ireland's World Cup camp begins

End of season was unlikely to swing RWC squad - Holland

'It's a squad he trusts' - Toner on Farrell selection

No shocks, but plenty of talking points in Irish squad

Nash among four uncapped players in Ireland squad

Farrell: Grand Slam title just 'part of the journey'

Solid foundations have allowed Ireland build their Slam

Farrell hails captain Sexton as Ireland's best ever

Preview: Confidence trumps complacency as history looms

'Desperation is an illness' - Farrell wants focus

Farrell: We know how much it means to the Irish people

Farrell: Nature of England loss makes Irish task harder

Farrell: Experience vital to cope with Scotland threat

Farrell: Always a 'ding-dong' battle against Scots

Final rounds of Six Nations to throw up big plotlines

Cool heads under pressure a positive for Farrell

Ireland learn valuable lessons after hard-fought win

Andy Farrell concerned by Ireland's wastefulness

Ireland far from perfect in five-try Italian win

Sexton, Furlong and Gibson-Park to be fit for Scotland

Farrell sure Ringrose is a future Ireland captain

Farrell: 'Heroic' Ireland have more to offer

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