Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Jackman: Cronin has one last chance to save Irish dream

Bernard Jackman believes Sean Cronin is facing his final shot at squeezing back into the Ireland fold when Ulster come to the Aviva Stadium for Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final.

Rugby • 29 Mar 19

Leinster meet Ulster in the Aviva Stadium on 30 March

Champions Cup quarter-final dates and times announced

The Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals will take place on the final weekend of March with three Irish provinces in action.

Rugby • 25 Jan 19

Jack Carty scored the winning try against Bordeaux

Schmidt's Carty call 'brave', says Connacht coach

Joe Schmidt's decision to name Jack Carty in his Six Nations squad was a "brave call", according to Nigel Carolan.

Rugby • 22 Jan 19

Connacht's Jack Carty celebrates his try with Caolin Blade

Connacht to face Sale again after making last eight

Connacht are into the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup after a hugely spirited 33-27 victory in France against Bordeaux Begles.

Rugby • 19 Jan 19

The 28-year-old has been at the Sportsground for five years

'Honoured' Roux looking to lead Connacht by example

Second row Quinn Roux says it is a "massive honour" after he was selected as Connacht captain for the away trip to Bordeaux Begles in this weekend's Challenge Cup.

Rugby • 18 Jan 19

Tom Farrell has played 12 games this season, completing 80 minutes on all but one occasion

Farrell eager for another 'taste' of Ireland camp

Connacht centre Tom Farrell will be an interested party when Joe Schmidt names his squad for the Guinness Six Nations tomorrow.

Rugby • 15 Jan 19

Andy Friend: 'The boys didn't stop, they didn't stop whacking them'

'Not good for the heart' - Friend hails Connacht steel

Connacht head coach Andy Friend fancied his men to turn over Sale at the Sportsground, and said he was "proud" of a physical, gritty Challenge Cup display.

Rugby • 13 Jan 19

Connacht's Jarrad Butler gets swallowed up at the Sportsground

Connacht go to the well to squeeze past Sale Sharks

Connacht drew level with Sale at the top of pool three in the Challenge Cup after edging past the Premiership outfit in a gutsy 20-18 win in Galway.

Rugby • 12 Jan 19

Jarrad Butler and Tiernan O'Halloran have both recovered from injury to face Sale Sharks

Connacht boosted by return of O'Halloran to face Sharks

Having missed the entire Christmas period, Connacht are boosted by the return of full-back Tiernan O'Halloran ahead of Saturday's European Challenge Cup encounter with Sale Sharks at the Sportsground.

Rugby • 11 Jan 19

Andy Friend: "Every game offers its challenges as well as its opportunities."

Friend: Leinster arguably the best team in the world

Andy Friend believes Connacht are going up against "arguably the world's best team" when they travel to the RDS on Saturday night, but he's backing his men to put it up to Leinster and end a 16-year wait for victory in Dublin.

Rugby • 18 Dec 18

Connacht's Peter McCabe and Darragh Leader celebrate
their victory

Heffernan: 'There's a lot of good things happening'

Connacht captain Dave Heffernan said the good vibes just keep on coming for the Westerners who are now relishing the chance to bloody the nose of their provincial rivals over the festive period.

Rugby • 15 Dec 18

Connacht flanker Sean O'Brien touches down for a try

Five-star Connacht brush aside Perpignan

Five-try Connacht kept alive their push towards the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup with winning bonus point away to Perpignan.

Rugby • 14 Dec 18

Stade Francais to honour deceased academy star

Stade Francais are offering fans free entry to tonight's European Challenge Cup clash against Ospreys as a tribute to academy player Nicolas Chauvin, who died this week.

Rugby • 14 Dec 18

Paddy Jackson set to start against Connacht

Paddy Jackson is back in the Perpignan side that faces Connacht in the Challenge Cup on Friday night.

Rugby • 14 Dec 18

The Sportsground was battered by wind and rain

Andy Friend: 'We had two seasons - autumn & winter'

Connacht head coach Andy Friend joked that his wingers had hypothermia and the Australian contingent were left scratching their heads after the Westerners scrapped past Perpignan in awful conditions at the Sportsground.

Rugby • 09 Dec 18

Provinces well set for defining Champions Cup ties

Leinster, Munster and Connacht are all well prepared to kick their European campaigns up a gear.

Rugby • 07 Dec 18

Sale scored three tries in the second-half

Connacht outclassed by Sale in second half

Connacht suffered a 34-13 defeat at the hands of Sale in their Challenge Cup encounter at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Rugby • 20 Oct 18

There's an early kick-off in Limerick as Munster host Gloucester

Weekend preview: Miracle memories and trips to France

Ulster and Leinster both travel to France, while Munster host Gloucester at Thomond Park in a game that will stoke up memories of past encounters. In the Challenge Cup, Sale Sharks welcome a youthful Connacht side

Rugby • 20 Oct 18

Godwin bags tries as Connacht see off Bordeaux

Connacht ran in three tries as they began their Challenge Cup with a comfortable 22-10 win over Bordeaux-Begles at the Sportsground.

Rugby • 13 Oct 18

Colm De Buitlear is on the bench for his side's clash with Bordeaux Bégles

Connacht academy players on the bench against Bordeaux

Connacht head coach Andy Friend has named two academy players on the bench for his side's opening Challenge Cup game against Bordeaux Bégles at the Sportsground on Saturday (kick off 3pm).

Rugby • 12 Oct 18