Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey tackle Australia captain James Slipper

Easterby's defence a key element for Ireland - Jackman

Ireland's ability to grind out wins is a crucial takeaway from this month's Autumn Nations Series according to Bernard Jackman and Mick Kearney.

Rugby • 23 Nov 22

Mack Hansen dives over for Ireland second try

Jackman: Irish depth & variety building for 'open' RWC

RTÉ Rugby analyst Bernard Jackman said Ireland's ability to cope with South Africa's physicality was the most heartening aspect of Saturday's win at the Aviva Stadium and cautiously acknowledged that Andy Farrell's side are among the teams with legitimate World Cup aspirations.

Rugby • 07 Nov 22

The IRFU has offered 37 professional XVs rugby contracts

Jackman: Contract 'flexibility' will help Ireland women

Bernard Jackman believes it's "understandable" that some Irish women's rugby internationals have turned down contract offers and hopes they remain part of the team.

Rugby • 27 Oct 22

Joey Carbery fumbles a high ball during Munster's defeat to Connacht

Jackman: Munster are a province in turmoil

Bernard Jackman said Munster are "on the way to hitting rock-bottom" after Friday's defeat at Connacht plunged the province into an even deeper crisis.

Rugby • 11 Oct 22

The length of TMO referrals has been an issue in rugby for several years

Jackman: Game needs to speed up before it can grow

Rugby's lawmakers need to get a grip on the number of stoppages in the game, according to Bernard Jackman and Jonny Holland.

Rugby • 05 Oct 22

Bernard Jackman said that the physicality at high-end rugby is a world away to what the majority play

Jackman: Rugby remains a safe sport

Bernard Jackman has said that he believes rugby remains a safe game to play despite ever-growing concern about concussion issues in the sport.

Rugby • 30 Sep 22

Stuart McCloskey again impressed in Ulster's win over Connacht

Jackman: Six caps for McCloskey is not fair value

Bernard Jackman says Stuart McCloskey's six Ireland caps "is not fair value" for his performances with Ulster after the centre began the season in impressive fashion.

Rugby • 20 Sep 22

Malakai Fekitoa struggled on his competitive debut for Munster

Jackman: Munster coaches must change old habits

Bernard Jackman says Munster's coaching staff must "change old habits" and warned it could take until January before they start to show signs of serious improvement.

Rugby • 20 Sep 22

"Take Joe McCarthy. The makings of him will be can he get into that Champions Cup side for Leinster"

Jackman: Emerging Ireland Tour a 'terrible' idea

RTÉ Rugby analyst Bernard Jackman has branded the upcoming Emerging Ireland tour of South Africa as a "terrible idea", citing both the timing of the venture and the poor quality of the opposition involved.

Rugby • 14 Sep 22

Connacht conceded 67 tries in last season's United Rugby Championship

Jackman: Connacht defence a concern for coaching ticket

Bernard Jackman says Connacht's coaching restructure could count for little unless they can plug their leaky defence ahead of the new United Rugby Championship season.

Rugby • 25 Aug 22

The extension for Farrell will allow for longer-term planning according to Jackman

Jackman: Farrell deal is a 'brilliant bit of business'

Bernard Jackman believes the two-year contract extension for Ireland head coach Andy Farrell represents a "brilliant bit of business".

Rugby • 29 Jul 22

Whitelock is New Zealand's established lineout caller

'A big loss' - Whitelock absence a boost for Ireland

Ireland will be boosted by the absence of All Blacks second row Sam Whitelock in this Saturday's second Test, according to Bernard Jackman.

Rugby • 07 Jul 22

RTÉ Rugby pod: How can Ireland level All Blacks series?

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman as well as Michael Corcoran, who joins us live from Dunedin, ahead of Ireland's second Test match against the All Blacks.

Rugby • 07 Jul 22

RTÉ Rugby pod: Ireland team named for All Blacks Test

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman, Donal Lenihan and Michael Corcoran, as Ireland head coach Andy Farrell names his team for Saturday's first Test with New Zealand at Eden Park.

Rugby • 30 Jun 22

Jordan Larmour won the most recent of his 30 caps against Japan last July

Jackman 'fascinated' to see if Larmour makes Test side

Bernard Jackman believes Jordan Larmour is the player who potentially has the most to gain on Ireland's tour of New Zealand this summer.

Rugby • 22 Jun 22

RTÉ Rugby Pod: Ireland braced for New Zealand backlash

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman on this week's RTÉ Rugby podcast, as we preview Ireland's upcoming tour of New Zealand, which begins on 29 June against the Maori All Blacks.

Rugby • 22 Jun 22

Bulls out-half Chris Smith is congratulated by South African fans after their semi-final win against Leinster at the RDS

URC semi-final results 'great for the competition'

This weekend's United Rugby Championship semi-final results have been great for the tournament, but raise questions around how Irish teams deal with more physical teams, according to Bernard Jackman and Jamie Heaslip.

Rugby • 12 Jun 22

French international Jonathan Danty has been a key figure for La Rochelle this season

Jackman: How La Rochelle will look to overcome Leinster

La Rochelle will need to stick to a narrow and controlled game-plan if they are to defeat Leinster in Saturday's Champions Cup final, according to Bernard Jackman.

Rugby • 26 May 22

Munster players and staff look on during the 'place kick' competition

Jackman: Massive Munster progress despite 'cruel' blow

Bernard Jackman believes Munster are good enough to win silverware in the United Rugby Championship if they can bounce back from the pain of a "cruel" Heineken Champions Cup exit at the hands of Toulouse.

Rugby • 09 May 22

Ireland conceded 11 tries in the heavy defeat at Welford Road

Jackman: Ireland drubbings could get much worse

Bernard Jackman has identified three key issues the IRFU must tackle in the women's game or else suffer even more humiliating defeats to England.

Rugby • 25 Apr 22

Munster's Simon Zebo is tackled by Yaw Penxe (L) and Curwin Bosch of Cell C Sharks

Jackman: South Africans will make URC better & better

Bernard Jackman believes the United Rugby Championship is going to get "better and better" in the coming seasons as the improving South African teams contribute towards an increasingly competitive league.

Rugby • 21 Apr 22

RTÉ Rugby pod: Six Nations lessons, new captain Fryday

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Fiona Hayes on this week's RTÉ Rugby podcast.

Rugby • 23 Mar 22

Ireland sealed second place in the Six Nations 18 months out from the next World Cup

Jackman confident Ireland will largely eradicate errors

Bernard Jackman is confident that Ireland will have eradicated the errors that punctuated the Guinness Six Nations campaign by the time next year's World Cup comes around.

Rugby • 21 Mar 22

The RTÉ Rugby podcast panel are expecting France to seal the Grand Slam on Saturday

Jackman and Lenihan back France to finish 'in style'

Bernard Jackman and Donal Lenihan are both expecting Ireland to claim Triple Crown success this Saturday, but don't believe England will be able help Andy Farrell's side win the Six Nations title.

Rugby • 16 Mar 22

Carbery scored nine points off the tee in the 30-24 defeat to France

'Start Carbery and bring Sexton on for the last 30'

Joey Carbery should be rewarded with a starting place for Ireland against Italy on Sunday, according to Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman.

Rugby • 23 Feb 22