Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Head of women's performance and pathways Gillian McDarby at the IRFU's Women In Rugby Report

Additional €1m for women's game pledged by IRFU

The IRFU have pledged an additional €1m of annual funding to women's rugby in Ireland, after launching their Women's Rugby in Ireland report this morning.

Rugby • 08 Dec 22

'We need to find the right model that works for Ireland' - IRFU CEO Kevin Potts

Talk of professionalism 'premature' - IRFU CEO Potts

IRFU chief executive Kevin Potts says talk of making Irish women's rugby a professional game is "premature".

Rugby • 05 Mar 22

'The women's game, we have to be able to sell ourselves too'

Steed: I don't see Irish women's rugby ever going pro

Former Ireland captain Fiona Steed says she cannot see the Irish women's game going fully professional in the near future in the current financial climate.

Rugby • 30 Sep 20

Spare a thought then for the players, some of whom were trolled on social media, where comments were far from acceptable from keyboard warriors behind a Twitter or Facebook handle.

Delays a shame, but I met match in 2001 due to no game

All three Ireland sides would love to be in action against their Italian counterparts next week, but our columnist can recall one upside to the last disrupted Six Nations back in 2001

Rugby • 01 Mar 20

"The thing is that England are likely to have the ball quite a lot and defending a team with the perfect mix of power and pace is extremely tiring both mentally and physically and eventually holes will come"

Groundwork in the provinces should bear fruit

There are reasons to be more hopeful for the women's game in Ireland as the skills of talented teenagers are being honed.

Six Nations • 22 Feb 20

'On Sunday the opening 20 minutes certainly spoke volumes and backed up the talk. It was evident that the skillset had improved considerably, the team showing increased efficiencies in all aspects of the game'

Winning back-row battles the key to building momentum

It was an encouraging if hard-fought opening weekend for the men and women, but our columnist believes this weekend will bring a real test for both sides' back-rows.

Rugby • 08 Feb 20

'Anything less than a comprehensive victory over Scotland this afternoon will have the warning bells ringing. I'm hoping that there will be no bells rung for quite a while'

Anything other than Ireland win will sound alarm bells

Fiona Steed is looking forward to a family day out at the Aviva Stadium where she expects Ireland to see off the challenge of Scotland.

Rugby • 01 Feb 20

Presenters Daire O'Brien and Fiona Coghlan with Ireland players Lindsay Peat, left, and Eimear Considine in attendance during the launch of RTÉ's Six Nations coverage

Fiona Coghlan: Ireland's evolution needs to accelerate

Former Ireland rugby captain Fiona Coghlan looks ahead to the 2020 Women's Six Nations and discusses the strides required structurally so that Irish rugby can keep pace with the trendsetters

Rugby • 29 Jan 20

If we were playing Japan tomorrow we might lose

Warning signs were there but hope took over

Beauden Barrett is the new hero in the Steed household as the kids reach for the stars.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 25 Oct 19

'Well boys, now is the time; this can be the defining moment of many careers and it needs to be'

All Blacks will have doubts and Ireland can beat them

All Blacks will have doubts and Ireland can beat them, writes Fiona Steed.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 18 Oct 19

'If we play New Zealand or South Africa in the quarter-finals and beat them, playing poorly with one dimensional rugby, will it matter? Will we care?'

Russia was tough but I foresee four tries versus Samoa

Nobody is kidding themselves that Ireland impressed against Russia, but qualification is the name of the game and our columnist is positive Ireland can secure a bonus-point in over Samoa.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 11 Oct 19

'The analysis carried out by Mervin Murphy and his team will be as brutal and as unforgiving as if it was a loss'

Scotland win gives breathing space but focus remains

Our columnist spent the morning of the Scotland match in the company of young fans who expect Ireland to always win, but Joe Schmidt will ensure focus and competition with the squad remains high

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 27 Sep 19

'Now it is about each moment as it happens, each tackle, each line break, each scrum and lineout. It is about living in the now, for the now is a World Cup'

Wallcharts primed for glorious 7 weeks for 7-year-olds

The excitement in our columnist's house on the eve of the Rugby World Cup brought back memories of 2007, as well as happier times!

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 20 Sep 19

Ireland's defeat to Wales in 2017 means they must qualify for the 2021 World Cup

Qualifying path an opportunity for Ireland, says Steed

Ireland must qualify for the 2021 World Cup but Fiona Steed says it's an opportunity for the team to get their house in order.

Rugby • 07 Apr 19

"The world and its mother knows the stories of Joe's ruthless, clinical, bordering-on-obsessive attention to detail. The thing is, he is a winner and now - again - so are we."

Ireland should savour this - the world is at their feet

Fiona Steed reflects on an emotional and glorious day at Twickenham, and asks where Ireland - and England can go next.

Rugby • 23 Mar 18

"I fully expect Ireland to win tomorrow and by a two score margin"

Ireland have to be wary of Scotland's running game

If you, like me, are a true sports fan and manic Irish rugby supporter then this weekend will excite and worry you in equal measure.

Rugby • 10 Mar 18

Sonia O'Sullivan "represented Ireland so well... and was an inspiration to all of us young girls who wanted to make a name for themselves in sport"

Celebrating female role models who inspire our heroes

To mark International Women's Day 2018, RTÉ Sport asked some of our greatest female athletes to name the women who inspired them to excel in their chosen field.

Other sport • 08 Mar 18

Ireland Women still have to up it a few gears

The win over Italy was a welcome boost for the Irish Women, but much improvement will still be needed when Wales come to town next weekend, writes Fiona Steed.

Rugby • 17 Feb 18

Schmidt may regret not unleashing Carbery's talent

Joe Schmidt could be repeating the mistakes of 2015 but not giving Joey Carbery enough game time ahead of next year's World Cup, writes Fiona Steed.

Rugby • 10 Feb 18

Fiona Steed won 62 caps for Ireland in a 10-year international career

Schmidt to lead Ireland to title, Women need progress

In the first of her weekly columns during the Six Nations Championship, Fiona Steed remembers her own Paris in the springtime memories and what she hopes and expects for the three Irish teams in the competition.

Rugby • 01 Feb 18

Ireland's players are none the wiser about their new head coach's position

Steed: Irish players deserve certainty and stability

Ireland's women's international rugby players need certainty over the role of their future head coach.

Rugby • 17 Oct 17

Ireland lost three of their five World Cup games

Ireland's fall: who's to blame for World Cup disaster?

Fiona Steed and Philip Doyle have their say on a massively disappointing campaign.

Rugby • 29 Aug 17

Ireland have failed to fire at the World Cup

Steed & Cantwell question Irish prep for World Cup

Ireland's World Cup dream has been in tatters since the Pool C defeat France last week, and the post mortem has started even before their tournament has ended.

Rugby • 23 Aug 17

LIVE - Watch Ireland v France

Tom Tierney's Ireland team are one game away from a World Cup semi-final, but must overcome the formidable French in the UCD Bowl. Watch the match here, with analysis from Lynn Cantwell and Fiona Steed, and commentary from Ryle Nugent and Fiona Coghlan.

Rugby • 17 Aug 17

President Michael D Higgins was on hand to present the Ireland team with their jerseys

Steed expects a winning World Cup start for Ireland

Former Ireland international and RTÉ Rugby analyst Fiona Steed expects to see Ireland make a winning start to their World Cup campaign when they take on Australia this evening.

Rugby • 09 Aug 17