Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

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

Garry Ringrose is tackled by France's centre Gael Fickou

How tactics are holding Ireland's key players back

The RTÉ Rugby Podcast looks in-depth at the tactical issues impacting Ireland particularly in the attacking phase of play during the opening two Six Nations games.

Rugby • 16 Feb 21

Jonathan Sexton, right, and Harry Byrne ahead of the Autumn Nations Cup match between Ireland and Scotland last December

Is provincial focus hampering Ireland's conveyor belt?

Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman discuss the structural issue of the Irish provincial system which means some young talents are not getting enough experience in meaningful matches compared to their French counterparts.

Rugby • 11 Feb 21

Bernard Jackman believes Jamison Gibson-Park could have been introduced earlier

Three strategic errors which emerged from Cardiff

Bernard Jackman highlights three strategic errors which emerged from Ireland's Six Nations defeat to Wales on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast.

Rugby • 10 Feb 21

'It's not totally selfish around wanting to have 100% lineout stats'

The selection battle waged between Ireland's coaches

Bernard Jackman explains to the RTÉ Rugby Podcast how Paul O'Connell and Andy Farrell's other coaches will all have attempted to influence tomorrow's team selection.

Rugby • 04 Feb 21

Wales hammered Ireland the last times the teams met in the Six Nations in Cardiff

Wales can dip into well of emotion against Ireland

The Welsh regions' lack of success, in comparison to the Irish provinces, means that their players are able to lift their game when they pull on the national jersey.

Rugby • 03 Feb 21

Ireland are set to play Wales in their first 2021 Six Nations game on 7 February

Six Nations likely with pro game on tightrope - Jackman

Bernard Jackman expects the Six Nations will still go ahead but thinks the competition might take place at a single venue, possibly in France.

Rugby • 11 Jan 21

Leinster players react late in the second half against Connacht

Bernard Jackman expects 'massive Leinster backlash'

Bernard Jackman tells the RTÉ Rugby Podcast that he expects a backlash from Leinster against Ulster after their setback against Connacht.

Rugby • 07 Jan 21

A concussion awareness banner at Scotland v Ireland 2019

Concussion ramifications are 'hammer blow' for rugby

Bernard Jackman discusses the issue of concussion in rugby on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast and the ramifications an upcoming legal case could have on the sport.

Rugby • 09 Dec 20