Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Action from the 2017 Murrayfield clash of Scotland and Ireland

Donal Lenihan: Ireland to shade game of tight margins

After last week's humbling by England, RTÉ analyst Donal Lenihan is tipping Ireland to getting their Six Nations campaign back on track against Scotland.

Rugby • 08 Feb 19

England celebrated in Dublin at the weekend

Lenihan: Ireland can bounce back and win Six Nations

Despite Saturday's deflating defeat - and flat performance - the former Ireland international believes the title isn't beyond this team.

Rugby • 04 Feb 19

Páirc Uí Chaoimh staged the Liam Miller Tribute match last September

Lenihan: Munster in Páirc Uí Chaoimh a win-win for all

On occasions where Munster have to play home games away from Thomond Park, Donal Lenihan puts forward the case of Páirc Uí Chaoimh hosting such games.

Rugby • 23 Jan 19

Tadhg Beirne rises in the line-out and could replace O'Mahony

Lenihan: Munster can cope without O'Mahony

Inspirational back-row O'Mahony is only rated as 50-50 to make the province's crunch Heineken Champions Cup Pool 2 clash with Exeter Chiefs at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 14 Jan 19

The Cheetahs and the Glasgow Warriors at the end of this season's Pro14 game in Bloemfontein

Donal Lenihan: 'Too many Pro14 dead rubbers'

The Guinness Pro14 currently lacks any real spark, according to Donal Lenihan, who adds that the competition has far too many games where the outcome is known in advance once teams are named.

Rugby • 08 Jan 19

Munster's CJ Stander and Conor Murray in training ahead of Sunday's date with Castres

Donal Lenihan's European verdicts

See who RTÉ's expert rugby analyst is going for in this weekend's European games involving the four Irish teams.

Rugby • 07 Dec 18

Jimmy O'Brien runs in Leinster's final try in their 59-10 hammering of Dragons on Saturday

Lenihan: Mismatches are damaging image of Pro14

Donal Lenihan says the high number of mismatches in the Pro14 are damaging the image of the league following Munster and Leinster's facile victories at the weekend.

Rugby • 03 Dec 18

Tadgh Furlong in action against the All Blacks in 2016

Lenihan: Gauntlet down for fascinating All Blacks clash

Donal Lenihan says he is surprised at some of the references made to the 2016 Dublin encounter as Ireland prepare to host New Zealand again.

Rugby • 16 Nov 18

Devin Toner could be Ireland's key man against the All-Blacks

Toner key to Ireland's hopes, says Lenihan

RTÉ rugby analyst Donal Lenihan believes that Devin Toner has to start for Ireland against New Zealand on Saturday, pointing to his experience and ability in the line-out.

Rugby • 13 Nov 18

Sean O'Brien is a starter for Joe Schmidt again

New Zealand will not be a distraction - Lenihan

RTÉ Rugby analyst Donal Lenihan does not foresee the New Zealand test distracting Ireland in Saturday's match with Argentina at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 09 Nov 18

'The Munster public are doing everything they can to ensure that Joey Carbery feels loved and at home.'

Lenihan: 'Carbery and Beirne can transform Munster'

Donal Lenihan believes Joey Carbery and Tadhg Beirne can transform Munster after both made impressive starts to life with the province.

Munster • 18 Sep 18

Andy Farrell's stock is high with Ireland

Lenihan: England link to Farrell smacks of desperation

Donal Lenihan believes England are wasting their time trying to lure Andy Farrell back into their coaching set-up, and tipped the 43-year-old to eventually replace Joe Schmidt in the Ireland hot seat.

Rugby • 30 Aug 18

Gerbrandt Grobler will join Gloucester this summer

Lenihan: Grobler exit closes chapter on poor decision

Donal Lenihan believes Gerbrandt Grobler's controversial stint with Munster is the last time an overseas player who has served a ban for performance-enhancing drugs will come to play in Ireland.

Rugby • 01 May 18

Leinster are unbeaten in the competition

O'Driscoll: Accuracy key for Leinster in Racing battle

Brian O'Driscoll reckons Leinster must replicate their fine form during wins over Saracens and Scarlets to beat Racing 92 in the Champions Cup final.

Rugby • 23 Apr 18

Munster were lucky to get away with a penalty try according to Donal Lenihan

Luck & unbelievable grit earned Munster glory - Lenihan

RTÉ rugby analyst Donal Lenihan believes that Munster had the benefit of a poor TMO decision and rode their luck at times in their Champions Cup victory over Toulon, but insisted that their win was mostly down to hard work.

Rugby • 03 Apr 18

The IRFU can dictate when Johnny Sexton is and isn't available for Leinster

Central contracts key to Irish success - Lenihan

RTÉ rugby analyst Donal Lenihan believes the IRFU's policy of centrally contracting players gives Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt a major advantage over other teams in the Six Nations.

Rugby • 19 Mar 18

The Against The Head panel of Donal Lenihan, Fiona Coghlan and Eddie O'Sullivan

Will leaky defence cost Ireland the Grand Slam?

There's a Slam on this spring, but Ireland can forget about it unless they solve a glaring weakness, according to the Against The Head panel.

Rugby • 27 Feb 18

Furlong took part in non-contact training on Tuesday.

Lenihan: Start Ryan ahead of Porter if Furlong unfit

Donal Lenihan fears for Ireland if Tadhg Furlong doesn't play against Wales on Saturday.

Rugby • 21 Feb 18

Ireland are just behind England in the betting for this year's championship

Reasons to be optimistic ahead of Paris opener

The general consensus is that Ireland are in good shape ahead of this year's Natwest Six Nations and that an away trip to France next weekend is seen as a not so daunting opener.

Rugby • 31 Jan 18

Leinster will be looking to make it six wins from six away to Montpellier

Lenihan's European preview: Clean sweep for provinces

RTÉ Rugby analyst Donal Lenihan runs the rule over the final weekend of pool action in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.

Rugby • 19 Jan 18

Gerbrandt Grobler has yet to play for Munster's first team

Lenihan: Grobler signing has sent out the wrong message

Donal Lenihan fears that Munster and the IRFU's staunch backing of Gerbrandt Grobler sends out the wrong message to rising talent and questioned why the province felt the need to look overseas for a second-row at all.

Rugby • 18 Jan 18