Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

John Cooney, right, and Conor Murray during the press conference

Cooney and Murray address their battle to start at nine

Ireland scrum-half duo John Cooney and Conor Murray have discussed their battle for the Irish nine jersey as the Six Nations moves towards the second round of games, with the Munster man admitting it "adds a little bit more motivation".

Rugby • 03 Feb 20

'The most important thing was to get the win'

Conor Murray primed for 'tougher test' against Wales

Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray reacts to the win over Scotland but is under no illusion about the step up required against Wales on Saturday in the Six Nations round two fixture

Rugby • 03 Feb 20

John Cooney (L) and Conor Murray are vying for the number nine jersey

Farrell's Murray call hasn't surprised Donal Lenihan

RTÉ Rugby analyst Donal Lenihan gives his take on why Andy Farrell chose Conor Murray to start over John Cooney and runs the rule over the rest of the Irish team to face Scotland in the Six Nations

Rugby • 29 Jan 20

John Cooney (L) and Conor Murray are battling for the Ireland scrum-half position

Picking players on form generates belief - Gavin Duffy

Former Ireland international Gavin Duffy believes Andy Farrell can inject energy and belief into periphery players in all four provinces by picking the men in form to for his fist game as Ireland head coach.

Rugby • 28 Jan 20

John Cooney and Conor Murray are the leading contenders for the scrum-half position against Scotland

O'Sullivan: In-form Cooney should start against Scots

Former Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan believes John Cooney should start at scrum-half against Scotland, but expects Conor Murray to get the nod for the Six Nations opener.

Six Nations • 27 Jan 20

Munster head coach Johann van Graan believes scrum-half Conor Murray has suffered from playing behind a retreating forward unit

Van Graan pleased with Murray's form for Munster

Munster head coach Johann van Graan has talked up the form of experienced scrum-half Conor Murray and expects another big performance this Sunday against Racing 92.

Rugby • 10 Jan 20

Conor Murray: 'Mentally there's just a buzz'

'I know how good this team can be' - Murray

Conor Murray believes Ireland can produce the goods should they qualify for a World Cup quarter-final.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 10 Oct 19

Murray (L) replaces Carbery on the bench

Conor Murray replaces injured Joey Carbery on bench

Joey Carbery is a late withdrawal from the Ireland squad to face Russia in their Rugby World Cup Pool A encounter in Kobe this morning.

Rugby • 03 Oct 19

Murray looks forward to playing beside laid-back Carty

Connacht fly-half Carty only made his international debut in Italy in February, and now the 27-year-old will make his second Test start against the Brave Blossoms.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 26 Sep 19

Andrew Conway was one of the Ireland try scorers against Scotland in Yokohama

Conway: We refused to panic after Twickenham thumping

Andrew Conway has paid tribute to Ireland's resolve in refusing to panic after their record 57-15 loss to England at Twickenham ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 23 Sep 19

Ireland looking to build momentum from Wales clash

Ireland won't be holding back in their final pre-World Cup game against Wales on Saturday, according to scrum-half Conor Murray.

Rugby • 04 Sep 19

The Ireland squad have enough talent to turn things around, according to Murray

Solution lies within Ireland squad, says Murray

Conor Murray believes that the solution to Ireland's Rugby World Cup warm-up stutter lies within the squad and there is no need to call in external help.

Rugby • 29 Aug 19

Murray: Jones capture a 'massive coup' for Springboks

They may be on a World Cup collision course but Conor Murray says South African have pulled off a "massive coup" after recruiting Felix Jones.

Rugby • 28 Aug 19

Conor Murray sat out the second half of Ireland's defeat to England

'I got a bit of a scare' - Conor Murray admits HIA fear

Conor Murray admits that he got a scare in the immediate aftermath of a head collision against England, with the World Cup so close to starting.

Rugby • 28 Aug 19

Conor Murray was not supposed to return to play, said Schmidt

Murray returned after HIA 'slip-up', says Schmidt

Cian Healy hobbled off late in the first half of Ireland's Rugby World Cup warm-up match with England.

Rugby • 24 Aug 19

Conor Murray: 'We've worked hard for nearly seven weeks'

Murray: Thoughts already turning to Japan

Conor Murray admits that Ireland players can't but think of the World Cup in Japan despite having three warm-up games to come.

Rugby • 16 Aug 19

'It was a clash and nothing to do with the intensity of the warm-up'

'Murray incident was an accident' - Lenihan

Donal Lenihan says the incident which forced Conor Murray to withdraw from Munster's team ahead of their Guiness Pro14 meeting with Connacht "was an accident" and "nothing to do with the intensity of the warm-up."

Rugby • 29 Apr 19

Chris Farrell (L) takes his place in the tunnel after injuring himself during the warm-up before last December's game against Castres

Van Graan insists Munster have no warm-up worries

Johann van Graan insisted he has no concerns over Munster's warm-up routine after Conor Murray became the latest player to pull out of a game minutes before kick-off.

Rugby • 29 Apr 19

Murray to train fully ahead of Pro14 quarter-final

Munster have received a timely boost ahead of their Guinness Pro14 quarter-final against Benetton with the news that Conor Murray will train fully today, the club has confirmed.

Rugby • 29 Apr 19

Andrew Conway is tackled over the try line by Connacht's Stephen Fitzgerald

'Not good enough' - Van Graan critical of Conway error

Munster head coach says he was pleased with how Andrew Conway responded to his glaring error against Connacht to play a significant role in the 27-14 victory at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 27 Apr 19

Peter O'Mahony and Tadhg Beirne were the top tacklers in the quarter-final win over Edinburgh

Turnover competition driving O'Mahony and Beirne

Conor Murray says that Munster's dilligent defensive display against Edinburgh was epitomised by the efforts of Peter O'Mahony and Tadhg Beirne.

Rugby • 03 Apr 19

Italy's Dean Budd and Jayden Hayward react following the Six Nations defeat to Ireland

Murphy: Improving Italy are narrowing the gap

Ireland international Jenny Murphy says it was simply a matter of getting the job done against an Italy side that are showing clear signs of improvement.

Rugby • 25 Feb 19

No half measures as Ireland's golden pair feel the heat

One of the most decorated half-back partnerships in Test rugby is coming under pressure from increased competition.

Rugby • 20 Feb 19

Kieran Marmion pictured at Connacht training on Tuesday

Marmion boost for Ireland ahead of Italy clash

Joe Schmidt has been handed a boost ahead of Ireland's Six Nations clash with Italy on Sunday week with the news that Kieran Marmion has returned to Connacht training.

Six Nations • 13 Feb 19

Conor Murray is ready for another big test in Murrayfield

Murray expects another big battle in Murrayfield

Conor Murray is expecting another bruising Six Nations encounter this weekend as Ireland look to recover from their opening defeat against England when they face Scotland in Murraryfield.

Rugby • 08 Feb 19