Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

RTÉ Rugby pod: Michael Bradley on Italy's 6N future

Neil Treacy is joined by former Zebre Parma head coach Michael Bradley, as well as regular guests Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman to discuss the future of the Six Nations and Italy's role in it, ahead of this weekend's Round 3 meeting with Ireland.

Rugby • 23 Feb 22

Andrew Porter (L) and Tadhg Furlong were there nearly to the finish

Jackman: Ireland still need to find more squad depth

RTÉ rugby analyst Bernard Jackman believes that Saturday's Six Nations loss to France demonstrated that Ireland still need to deepen their squad ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

Rugby • 14 Feb 22

France number 8 Gregory Alldritt makes a break against Italy

Jackman pinpoints two areas of French concern

Ireland's ability to cope with French power and speed will go a long way to determining Saturday's Six Nations clash in Paris, according to Bernard Jackman.

Rugby • 07 Feb 22

Ireland come into the Six Nations off an impressive autumn series

Jackman: Lack of game time not a concern for Ireland

Bernard Jackman tells RTÉ's Game On that a lack of game time shouldn't be a concern for Ireland as they prepare for the start of the Guinness Six Nations next month.

Rugby • 19 Jan 22

Gavin Coombes tackled by Jack Whetton of Castres Olympique

'Unambitious' style holding Munster back from trophies

Bernard Jackman believes the "unambitious" style of rugby Munster are currently utilising will hold them back when it comes to the crunch time of challenging for domestic or European honours this season.

Rugby • 17 Jan 22

Could Munster cut ties with Van Graan and Larkham early?

'You can't afford to wait six months to rebuild'

Bernard Jackman believes that Graham Rowntree could be an ideal fit to be the next head coach of Munster.

Rugby • 05 Jan 22

Moment of the year, star players, and 2022 rugby wishes

As the calendar year draws to a close, the RTÉ Rugby team look back on their best and worst moments of the year that was, as well as trying their hand at some predictions of what's top come in 2022.

Rugby • 23 Dec 21

Andrew Conway, Daniel Okeke and Declan Moore at Coventry Building Society Arena in Coventry

Jackman: Win at Wasps could be Munster 'turning point'

Bernard Jackman believes the circumstances of Munster's Heineken Champions Cup victory over Wasps is likely to be a "turning point" for the province.

Rugby • 13 Dec 21

Munster's European campaign begins with an away trip to take on Wasps

Jackman backs depleted Munster to pull out a result

Munster possess a strong enough core group of players to pull off a victory over Wasps in their Heineken Champions Cup opener, according to Bernard Jackman.

Rugby • 08 Dec 21

Joey Carbery, Simon Zebo and Gavin Coombes are among those who Jackman and Lenihan want to see more of

Jackman and Lenihan on possible changes for Argentina

Andy Farrell should avoid wholesale changes for Sunday's final Autumn Nations Series game against Argentina, according to Bernard Jackman and Donal Lenihan.

Rugby • 17 Nov 21

RTÉ Rugby pod: Recapping Ireland's 'phenomenal' NZ win

Neil Treacy, Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman recap Ireland's sensational 29-20 win against New Zealand and look ahead to what changes Andy Farrell should make for the final Test of 2021 against Argentina on Sunday.

Rugby • 17 Nov 21

RTÉ Rugby pod: Ireland v NZ, and women's rugby crisis

Hugh Cahill is joined by Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman as we break down the key battlegrounds ahead of Ireland v New Zealand this Saturday at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 11 Nov 21

Stephen Larkham (left) and Johann van Graan (right) are out of contract at the end of the season

Munster shouldn't 'rush' into coach contracts - Jackman

Bernard Jackman believes Munster should take their time before retaining their coaching ticket to new contracts.

Rugby • 30 Sep 21

Ireland players dejected after defeat to Scotland

Jackman: Massive review needed after World Cup setback

Bernard Jackman believes a "massive review" is needed in the wake of Ireland missing out on next year's Women's Rugby World Cup.

Rugby • 26 Sep 21

Leinster have dominated domestic rugby over the last few years

Jackman expects URC to be more competitive than Pro14

Bernard Jackman says he expects the United Rugby Championship to be much more competitive than previous incarnations ahead of the start of the new tournament later this month.

Rugby • 16 Sep 21

Warren Gatland is eyeing a winning finale to his Lions coaching career

Jackman: Beating Boks would be Gatland's finest moment

Leading the British and Irish Lions to a series win over South Africa would rank as Warren Gatland's finest achievement as a coach, says Bernard Jackman.

Rugby • 06 Aug 21

Gregor Townsend (left) has come under scrutiny due to the Lions' shortcomings in attack

Townsend in the spotlight for Lions' lack of bite

Bernard Jackman and Donal Lenihan pointed the finger at Gregor Townsend for the British and Irish Lions' lack of attacking spark and warned South Africa will run out comprehensive winners in Saturday's series decider unless Warren Gatland changes tact.

Rugby • 05 Aug 21

Rassie Erasmus aired his concerns about the officiating in an hour-long video on Thursday

Lenihan: Latest 'Rassie rant' plays into Lions' hands

Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman join the RTÉ Rugby Podcast to discuss South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus' latest online criticisms of the officiating on the Lions tour.

Rugby • 29 Jul 21

Rassie Erasmus has been in waterboy mode

Jackman: Hands-on Erasmus has always been unorthodox

Bernard Jackman has said Rassie Erasmus' touchline antics are nothing new and merely symptomatic of an incredibly "hands-on" style that sees the South African go to extreme lengths to convey his message.

Rugby • 23 Jul 21

RTÉ Rugby Podcast: Focus on Gatland's first Test team

Hugh Cahill, Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman are back and raring to preview the first Test between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions.

Rugby • 22 Jul 21

Ireland's players acknowledge the fans at the Aviva Stadium after the final whistle

Jackman: Ireland performance shows work still to do

Bernard Jackman feels Ireland still appear to be a work in progress in facets flagged up by the post-2019 Rugby World Cup review and feels Gavin Coombes could have been given more game-time against Japan on Saturday.

Rugby • 05 Jul 21

Earlier this week Furlong extended his contract by one year, up to the end of the 2021/22 season after a prolonged period of negotiations

Jackman: Furlong's bargaining power will increase

Bernard Jackman says it "definitely wasn't the right time" for Tadhg Furlong to explore his options outside of Ireland, but believes the prop and Irish rugby will be in a better position next year to negotiate.

Rugby • 12 May 21

Johnny Sexton says he is close to agreeing a new contract with the IRFU

Sexton's pre-World Cup exit talk 'not surprising'

Johnny Sexton's admission that his international career could be finished before the 2023 World Cup is "not surprising", according to Donal Lenihan.

Rugby • 24 Feb 21

CJ Stander, right, and Hugo Keenan in action against France

Is Ireland's incoherent attack lost in translation?

Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman discuss the roots of Ireland's issues in attack between the coaches' blueprint and the players' execution on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast ahead of Ireland's clash against Italy.

Rugby • 25 Feb 21

Gavin Coombes scores Munster's third try in their win over Edinburgh

Losing to Italy with big guns would be 'catastrophic'

Losing to Italy with an experienced Ireland XV would be "catastrophic" for Andy Farrell, says former international hooker Bernard Jackman.

Six Nations • 22 Feb 21