Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

10 January 2026; The Leinster team huddle during the Investec Champions Cup match between Leinster and La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Leinster given Easter Sunday date in Champions Cup

Leinster will have a rare Sunday evening kick-off for their Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 meeting with Edinburgh, after dates and times for the first knock-out round were confirmed by the EPCR.

Rugby • 22 Jan

10 January 2026; Caelan Doris of Leinster during the Investec Champions Cup match between Leinster and La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Doris only Irish entry in Player of the Year shortlist

Caelan Doris is the only Irish player in the 10-strong list of nominees for the Investec Champions Cup Player of the Year nominees.

Rugby • 21 Jan

'Did Munster rely too heavily on that psychological factor getting them over the line too?'

Munster placed too much stock in European aura

Things might have fallen in Munster's favour a bit more, although they didn't look after what was in their control, writes Jonny Holland

Rugby • 20 Jan

22 December 2025; Senior coach Jacques Nienaber during a Leinster Rugby squad training at Energia Park in Dublin. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Resolute Leinster bid to bring winning form to URC

Leinster defensive guru Jacques Nienaber hailed his side's resolve and comeback qualities as the immediate focus shifts from the Champions Cup to the URC, with Saturday's trip to Connacht the first in a block of five fixtures in the competition.

Rugby • 19 Jan

20 September 2024; Sam Prendergast of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship match between Edinburgh and Leinster at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Leinster to face Edinburgh; O'Gara's La Rochelle go out

Leinster will play Edinburgh in the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 following the conclusion of the pool stage of the competition this afternoon.

Rugby • 18 Jan

17 January 2026; Brian Gleeson of Munster, right, and teammates after their side's defeat in the Investec Champions Cup match between Munster and Castres Olympique at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

McMillan: Champions Cup exit 'doesn't sit well with me'

The most alarming element of Munster's elimination from the Investec Champions Cup is that it's happened in the tournament's bloated era.

Rugby • 19 Jan

17 January 2026; Craig Casey of Munster reacts during the Investec Champions Cup match between Munster and Castres Olympique at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Munster knocked out after shock defeat to Castres

Munster's Champions Cup campaign is over, the two-time winners crashing out at the pool stage after a dismal 31-29 defeat to Castres at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 17 Jan

17 January 2026; Sam Prendergast of Leinster, right, celebrates with teammates Luke McGrath, centre, and Caelan Doris, left, after scoring their side's second try during the Investec Champions Cup match between Bayonne and Leinster at the Stade Jean Dauge

Leinster dig deep to pass Bayonne test

Leinster needed two late tries to see off Bayonne in their final Champions Cup pool game but Ireland players Tadhg Furlong, Robbie Henshaw and Tommy O'Brien all suffered injuries.

Rugby • 17 Jan

Tadhg Beirne of Munster during the Investec Champions Cup match between Munster and Castres Olympique at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Champions Cup recap: Munster 29-31 Castres

Munster lose at home to Castres to bring their Champions Cup hopes to an end in the pool stage.

Rugby • 17 Jan

17 January 2026; Robbie Henshaw of Leinster during the Investec Champions Cup match between Bayonne and Leinster at the Stade Jean Dauger in Bayonne, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Champions Cup recap: Bayonne 13-22 Leinster

Relive all the action from the Basque Country as Leinster aimed to secure a top seeding for the knockout rounds of the Champions Cup.

Rugby • 17 Jan

10 January 2026; Harry Byrne, right, and Sam Prendergast of Leinster during the Investec Champions Cup match between Leinster and La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Cullen pleased with Leinster's out-half tandem

With a Six Nations squad to be named on Wednesday, Saturday afternoon in Bayonne will serve as a perfect opportunity for Harry Byrne to catch the eye of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell.

Rugby • 16 Jan

13 December 2024; Jack O'Donoghue of Munster is tackled by Andrea Cocagi of Castres Olympique during the Champions Cup Pool 3 match between Castres Olympique and Munster at Stade Pierre Fabre in Castres, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

McMillan ready for his Castres rite of passage

As Munster look to book their place in the knockout stages of the Investec Champions Cup, in a sense they are already there with this must-win Pool 2 meeting with Castres.

Rugby • 17 Jan

Craig Casey of Munster during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park in Limerick.

Team news: Casey boost for Munster, Leinster trio back

Munster have received a huge boost for Saturday's must-win Investec Champions Cup tie with Castres, with Craig Casey passed fit to start after overcoming a shoulder injury.

Rugby • 16 Jan

13 December 2025; Tadhg Beirne of Munster takes the ball in a lineout during the Investec Champions Cup match between Munster and Gloucester at SuperValu Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

O'Connor: Munster can deliver one of those nights

Hannah O'Connor tells RTÉ's Morning Ireland that Leinster and Munster can produce winning performances in the Champions Cup this weekend.

Rugby • 16 Jan

13 December 2024; Peter O'Mahony of Munster and Rémy Baget of Castres Olympique during the Champions Cup Pool 3 match between Castres Olympique and Munster at Stade Pierre Fabre in Castres, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Champions Cup round 4: All You Need To Know

All four Irish provinces round off their Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage campaigns this week. Here's everything you need to know ahead of this weekend's games.

Rugby • 16 Jan

11 January 2025; A general view before the Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 match between Munster and Saracens at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Permutations: What's at stake in the Champions Cup?

Here's how Leinster and Munster are looking heading into the final round of games in the Champions Cup.

Rugby • 14 Jan

11 January 2026; Craig Casey of Munster during the Investec Champions Cup match between RC Toulon and Munster at Stade Felix Mayol in Toulon, France. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

'Big boost' as Casey injury less serious than feared

Craig Casey's shoulder injury appears to be less serious than initially thought and the Ireland scrum-half has not yet been ruled out of Munster's Champions Cup tie with Castres on Saturday.

Rugby • 13 Jan

13 January 2026; Jean Kleyn during Munster Rugby squad training at the University of Limerick in Limerick. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Kleyn to join Gloucester after 10 years with Munster

Munster lock Jean Kleyn is to join Gloucester next season after a 10-year spell with the Irish province.

Rugby • 13 Jan

Leinster-La Rochelle has developed into one of the classic matchups in European rugby

Teams will take note of La Rochelle's attack plan

Leinster edged La Rochelle in a thrilling encounter at Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening, but La Rochelle's attacking strategy is one that future opponents may seek to replicate against Leo Cullen's side.

Rugby • 13 Jan

Jerry Cahir of Leinster during the Investec Champions Cup match between Leinster and La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

McCarthy heaps praise on 'awesome' Cahir after step up

Joe McCarthy has heaped praise on Leinster team-mate Jerry Cahir after the Investec Champions Cup debutant's shift in the nail-biting win over La Rochelle on Saturday.

Rugby • 13 Jan

Andrew Porter of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Connacht at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Porter injury 'didn't look promising' - Bleyendaal

Leinster attack coach Tyler Bleyendaal has admitted that the calf injury Andrew Porter picked up in training last week "didn't look promising" amid a growing front row predicament for Ireland in the build up to the Guinness Six Nations.

Rugby • 12 Jan

Leinster quartet fit to face Bayonne in Champions Cup

Leinster have been boosted by the news that four key players will be available for selection for Saturday's Investec Champions Cup clash away to Bayonne (kick-off 3.15pm).

Rugby • 12 Jan

Munster's Jack O'Donoghue celebrates his try against Toulon at Stade Mayol

Jackman: Rejuvenated Munster should advance to last-16

Munster can take a great deal from their narrow defeat to Toulon and should seal a place in the Champions Cup Round of 16 at home to Castres this weekend, according to Bernard Jackman.

Rugby • 12 Jan

BARNET, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Charlie Bracken and
Max Malins of Saracens celebrate after winning the Investec Champions Cup match between Saracens and Stade Toulousain at StoneX Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Barnet, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty

Trouble for Toulouse after second pool defeat

Saracens produced a victory to rescue their season as they overcame Toulouse 20-14 in a heavyweight Champions Cup clash at StoneX Stadium.

Rugby • 11 Jan

10 January 2026; Joshua Kenny, left, celebrates with Leinster team-mate Rieko Ioane after scoring his side's second try during the Investec Champions Cup match between Leinster and La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Cullen thrilled with Leinster's late bloomers

While Leinster are winning without touching their best, it's worth remembering just how depleted Leo Cullen's side currently are.

Rugby • 12 Jan