Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

John Ryan is off to New Zealand at the end of January

Lenihan: Munster's poor planning on Ryan will cost them

Bernard Jackman believes that Munster have made a serious misjudgement in allowing John Ryan to join New Zealand's Chiefs in January, while Donal Lenihan says the move will come back to bite the Irish province.

Rugby • 14 Dec 22

Mixed start for provinces and Munster's Ryan blunder

Neil Treacy is joined by Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman to look back on a mixed start to the Champions Cup for the Irish provinces.

Rugby • 14 Dec 22

Australia suffered a first ever defeat to Italy last weekend

Lenihan: Australia to be more competitive than expected

Donal Lenihan believes Ireland will get the better of Australia in their Test on Saturday but that it will be "more competitive than people realise".

Rugby • 18 Nov 22

Lenihan: Big chance for 'A' players to stake claim

Donal Lenihan says Ireland's rising talents and fringe stars must put their hand up against a strong All Blacks XV tonight with the clock ticking for World Cup selection.

Rugby • 04 Nov 22

Peter O'Mahony was one of the standout players in last Saturday's second Test

Test series decider the ideal World Cup prep - Lenihan

Donal Lenihan believes this Saturday's series decider between Ireland and New Zealand is the ideal testing ground for Andy Farrell's side ahead of next year's World Cup.

Rugby • 13 Jul 22

Ireland stand for the Haka ahead of the game

'Power and physicality' the problem for Ireland

Ireland simply didn't have the power to deal with the threat of the All Blacks, according to Donal Lenihan.

Rugby • 02 Jul 22

RTÉ Rugby pod: Ireland team named for All Blacks Test

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman, Donal Lenihan and Michael Corcoran, as Ireland head coach Andy Farrell names his team for Saturday's first Test with New Zealand at Eden Park.

Rugby • 30 Jun 22

Lenihan: Leinster bound to win if Furlong starts final

Donal Lenihan believes Tadhg Furlong's fitness will be a decisive factor in whether Leinster can win the Heineken Champions Cup final.

Rugby • 27 May 22

Munster face Toulouse in the Aviva on Saturday

Donal Lenihan's Champions Cup verdict

The Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals arrive this weekend, Munster displaced to the Aviva Stadium to face reigning champions Toulouse, while Leinster travel to Welford Road to face a rejuvenated Leicester Tigers.

Rugby • 06 May 22

Ireland are hoping for a favour from England this weekend

Triple Crown not just a consolation prize, says Lenihan

RTÉ rugby analyst Donal Lenihan believes that France will win the Six Nations Championship tomorrow but insists that the Triple Crown, which Ireland can claim with a victory over Scotland, is no mere consolation prize.

Rugby • 18 Mar 22

The RTÉ Rugby podcast panel are expecting France to seal the Grand Slam on Saturday

Jackman and Lenihan back France to finish 'in style'

Bernard Jackman and Donal Lenihan are both expecting Ireland to claim Triple Crown success this Saturday, but don't believe England will be able help Andy Farrell's side win the Six Nations title.

Rugby • 16 Mar 22

Ireland are 'red-hot favourites' according to England coach Eddie Jones

Donal Lenihan's England v Ireland verdict

The former Irish skipper believes the visitors can match the whatever physicality England bring to the clash at Twickenham.

Rugby • 11 Mar 22

Carbery scored nine points off the tee in the 30-24 defeat to France

'Start Carbery and bring Sexton on for the last 30'

Joey Carbery should be rewarded with a starting place for Ireland against Italy on Sunday, according to Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman.

Rugby • 23 Feb 22

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

Carbery will make his first Six Nations start against France

Prendergast and Lenihan 'excited' by Carbery inclusion

Johnny Sexton's injury absence tips the scale in favour of France, but also provides Ireland with an exciting opportunity to put Joey Carbery back in at the deep end.

Rugby • 10 Feb 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

Scott Robertson could be the man for Munster, says Donal Lenihan

Robertson a 'perfect fit' for Munster

With Munster on the look-out for yet another head coach, their fifth in ten years, Donal Lenihan reckons Scott Robertson would be the "perfect fit".

Rugby • 16 Dec 21

Munster were one of four teams in the United Rugby Championship that were due to play in South Africa for the last two weekends before the imposition of fresh travel restrictions saw the fixtures postponed

Lenihan: Forward cover Munster's biggest concern

Munster's primary area of concern will be among the forwards for this weekend's Heineken Champions Cup opener with Wasps that has been thrown into chaos by positive Covid-19 tests.

Rugby • 06 Dec 21

Munster head coach Johann van Graan (right) and senior coach Stephen Larkham

Crucial that Munster act quickly on coaches - Lenihan

Munster must act without delay to sort out their coaching ticket, says Donal Lenihan.

Rugby • 25 Nov 21

Harry Byrne, Nick Timoney and Tom O'Toole during the national anthem before the win over Argentina

Lenihan identifies areas to grow Irish squad depth

While the evolution in style of play has received plenty of attention during a fruitful November, Donal Lenihan believes Andy Farrell deserves credit for adding to Ireland's squad depth, although one or two areas remain with potential for more additions.

Rugby • 22 Nov 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

Ireland will play a senior women's international at the RDS for the first time tonight

Donal Lenihan on Ireland v USA, New Zealand

Donal Lenihan looks ahead to big games for both the men's and women's Irish teams in Dublin.

Rugby • 12 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

The four Irish provinces are in action over Friday and Saturday

Lenihan: Competitive URC will help Irish in Europe

Despite the increased competition for Champions Cup places, Donal Lenihan believes a tougher domestic league will be an advantage to the Irish provinces in Europe.

Rugby • 24 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