Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

RTÉ Rugby Podcast: Ireland's power game vulnerability?

Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman join Hugh Cahill and Wes Liddy on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast to discuss the fallout from Leinster and Ulster's Heineken Champions Cup exits and what Irish rugby can learn from the setbacks.

Rugby • 23 Sep 20

Saracens were worthy winners when defeating Leinster in last season's Champions Cup final

Preview: Donal Lenihan on Champions Cup quarter-finals

The RTÉ analyst casts an eye over Leinster's date with Saracens and Toulouse welcoming Ulster to the Stade Ernest-Wallon.

Rugby • 18 Sep 20

Saracens may have been impacted by events on and off the field since the sides last met but for Donal Lenihan, they remain dangerous opponents for Leo Cullen's squad

Lenihan: Saracens still pose a threat to Leinster

Donal Lenihan explains the threat Saracens pose to Leinster in Heineken Champions Cup clash on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast and assesses the strengths and weaknesses they bring to the table.

Rugby • 17 Sep 20

Leinster cruised to the Pro14 title this season

'Leinster's Tuesdays can be harder than Pro14 games'

Bernard Jackman discusses Leinster's dominance on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast in the wake of their comfortable Guinness Pro14 final win over Ulster.

Rugby • 16 Sep 20

RG Snyman faces up to nine months out with an ACL injury

Lenihan: Snyman injury dents Munster's trophy ambitions

Donal Lenihan says Munster's hopes of ending their trophy drought have been severely dented by RG Snyman's long-term knee injury.

Rugby • 26 Aug 20

'The problem for the IRFU is their model is predicated very much on putting bums on seats'

Donal Lenihan: '10% pay cut for players is reasonable'

Donal Lenihan believes the 10% salary reduction and income deferrals for elite players until the end of the year is a reasonable solution in uncertain financial times for Irish rugby.

Rugby • 14 Jul 20

The Chiefs and Highlanders should be back on the field next month

Lenihan: IRFU can learn lessons from New Zealand

Donal Lenihan tells RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport that Irish provinces can learn from the southern hemisphere, as a potential return to action begins to come into focus over the summer.

Rugby • 17 May 20

The Against The Head panel condemned Joe Marler's action

'Marler acts the village idiot... he needs to cop on'

The Against The Head panel discuss Joe Marler's highly controversial grab on Alun Wyn Jones.

Rugby • 09 Mar 20

Andrew Conway scored Ireland's fourth try of the afternoon

Donal Lenihan: Irish back-three showing 'augurs well'

Donal Lenihan discusses the positives from Ireland's Six Nations victory over Wales with the Irish back three's performance standing out

Rugby • 08 Feb 20

CJ Stander is expected to be targeted by Wales following his performance against the Scots

Ireland must win physical battle with Wales - Lenihan

Ireland must win the physical battle in their Six Nations clash against Wales on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium, according to Donal Lenihan.

Six Nations • 07 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

'A lot of their players will want to make a statement'

Lenihan: Relegation makes Saracens 'dangerous animal'

Donal Lenihan believes Saracens will be like a "dangerous animal" by the time the Heineken Champions Cup clash against Leinster comes around in April after confirmation of their relegation from the English Premiership

Rugby • 20 Jan 20

Billy Holland (c) amongst disappointed Munster players

Lenihan: Munster's squad depth a cause for concern

Munster's progress this season has been hampered by their lack of squad depth, according to RTÉ analyst Donal Lenihan, who speaking on Game On on 2FM.

Rugby • 14 Jan 20

'I think a lot depends on JJ Hanrahan being fit'

Donal Lenihan: Racing game a 'step too far' for Munster

Munster travel to France for their fifth 2019-20 Heineken Champions Cup pool game nursing an injury crisis.

Rugby • 10 Jan 20

Ireland Sevens player Terry Kennedy at the IRFU High Performance Centre.

Abbotstown move just what Ireland need - Donal Lenihan

Donal Lenihan believes Ireland's move to the IRFU's new High Performance Centre at the Sport Campus Ireland in Abbotstown will help Andy Farrell to wipe the slate clean and kick-start a new era.

Rugby • 23 Dec 19

It was a bad night at the office on Friday

Lenihan: Squad depth could be Connacht's achilles' heel

Connacht's lack of squad depth could prove to be costly in their Champions Cup campaign, RTÉ Rugby analyst Donal Lenihan told RTÉ's Game On on Monday.

Rugby • 11 Nov 19

Bundee was sent off for a high tackle on UJ Seuteni in Ireland's 47-5 win over Samoa

Lenihan: Aki will be lucky to have red card rescinded

Bundee Aki will learn his World Cup fate later this morning and Donal Lenihan believes the authorities are likely to side with the red card decision made by referee Nic Berry at the weekend.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 14 Oct 19

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt (L) and Jonathan Sexton during the Captain's Run at Hakatanomori Stadium on Friday

Lenihan: Ireland must hit stride to banish the doubts

Ireland know exactly what they have to do against Samoa on Saturday but just as important is rediscovering the form they showed in their World Cup opener against Scotland, believes Donal Lenihan.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 11 Oct 19

CJ Stander makes a run during Ireland's 27-3 win over Scotland

Lenihan review: Ireland look close to superb 2018 form

Former Ireland captain Donal Lenihan believes Ireland's dominant display in their Rugby World Cup opening game against Scotland has eased fears that the team had declined since winning 11 out of 12 Tests last year.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 23 Sep 19

Leo Cullen is expected to make wholesale changes

Preview: Donal Lenihan on the Pro14 inter-pros

RTÉ Rugby analyst Donal Lenihan previews the inter-provincial games in the Pro14.

Rugby • 26 Apr 19

"Personally, I don't like to see a player get booed from the stands but, that said, he has attracted this" - Donal Lenihan on Vunipola

Lenihan - Vunipola brought trouble on himself

Donal Lenihan condemned the actions of the Munster supporter who confronted Billy Vunipola after Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final in Coventry but said the Saracens number eight had brought much trouble on himself and had to expect some of the hostile reaction.

Rugby • 22 Apr 19

Lenihan: Connacht can qualify for Pro14 knock-out

Andy Friend's team are currently third in Conference A of the Pro14 and a win over Cardiff on Saturday would be good enough to cement a play-off place.

Rugby • 12 Apr 19

Joey Carbery is deemed likely to miss the Champions Cup semi-final

Lenihan - 'Brilliant' Carbery is a massive loss

Monday brought mixed emotions for Munster with the news that Johann Van Graan is committing his future to the province until 2022 being quickly followed by the disclosure that Joey Carbery is likely to miss the Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens.

Rugby • 08 Apr 19

The story of Pat McAuliffe, Mrs Brown and 'TO'D'

RTÉ's Tony O'Donoghue recalls a special night with his friend and colleague Pat McAuliffe and how the affable broadcaster and journalist became a huge part a of the Cork sporting landscape.

Soccer • 07 Apr 19

Lenihan: Manner of Munster win to help against Sarries

Munster face a daunting task against Saracens in the Champions Cup semi-final but will have benefited from the manner of their win against Edinburgh, says Donal Lenihan.

Rugby • 01 Apr 19