Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Rory Scholes in action for Edinburgh against Connacht

Connacht sign winger Rory Scholes from Edinburgh

Connacht have announced the signing of former Ulster winger Rory Scholes from Edinburgh.

The Cheetahs look set to be lining out in the PRO14 from next season

South African sides set to be unveiled in new Pro14

The addition of South African sides the Cheetahs and Southern Kings to the Guinness PRO12 is expected to be rubber-stamped in the next week when the worst kept secret in rugby is finally revealed.

Rugby • 19 Jul 17

The Cheetahs could be playing Pro 12 rugby in 2018

South African teams edge closer to Pro 12 move

South African Rugby confirmed the exit of the Cheetahs and Southern Kings from Super Rugby in 2018, as the teams revealed they will explore "other international competition opportunities", with a move to the Guinness Pro 12 looking likely now.

Rugby • 07 Jul 17

Recap: Pro12 final round

Munster finished top of the table with a big win over Connacht, but Ulster's win over Leinster wasn't enough to join the Dublin-based side in the semi-finals

Rugby • 07 May 17

Liam Williams is tackled by Marnitz Boshoff

Sloppy Connacht well beaten at home by Scarlets

Scarlets sauntered into the Guinness Pro12 play-offs with a 30-8 bonus point victory over error-strewn Connacht at the Sportsground.

Rugby • 29 Apr 17

Simon Zebo brushes past the Treviso defence

Munster ease past Treviso to book home semi-final

Munster beat Treviso 34-14 at Stadio Monigo to secure a home semi-final in the Guinness PRO12.

Rugby • 29 Apr 17

Kieron Fonotia offloads to Dan Biggar despite the attentions of Paddy Jackson

Ulster's play-off hopes all but ended by Ospreys

Ulster will require a highly unlikely sequence of results on the final weekend of the Guinness Pro12 season after falling to defeat away to Ospreys that moves the Welsh club into play-off contention.

Rugby • 29 Apr 17

A 20-minute floodlight failure held up the Pro12 encounter at the RDS.

Leinster overcome lights failure to edge past Glasgow

Leinster squashed Glasgow's faint Guinness PRO12 play-off bid as Joey Carbery's 74th-minute penalty saw the hosts triumph 31-30 in thrilling fashion.

Rugby • 28 Apr 17

Ireland captain Rory Best is back to captain Ulster

Pro12 news: Best returns to lead Ulster against Cardiff

Rory Best returns to captain Ulster for the visit of Cardiff Blues at Kingspan Stadium on Friday night as Ulster aim for a seventh consecutive Guinness PRO12 win.

Rugby • 06 Apr 17

Glasgow's Finn Russell holds back Bundee Aki of Connacht as tempers flare

Connacht fail to punish 14-man Glasgow

Connacht's hopes of making a late run to earn a place in next season's Champions Cup took a major blow at at Scotstoun, as Glasgow Warriors powered to a 35-24 bonus-point win.

Rugby • 26 Mar 17

Ross Molony emerges from a sea of bodies after his decisive try

Ross Molony edges Leinster to gritty RDS victory

Ross Molony's 66th-minute try saw Leinster squeeze past Cardiff Blues for a nervy 22-21 Guinness Pro12 win at a sunny RDS.

Rugby • 25 Mar 17

Munster crush Zebre to continue Pro12 play-off march

Ronan O'Mahony touched down twice as Munster strengthened their grip on a top-four spot in the Guinness PRO12 with a convincing 50-14 victory at bottom club Zebre.

Rugby • 25 Mar 17

Jared Payne scores the opening try of the game

Ulster fail to secure bonus point in win over Treviso

Ulster's Jared Payne marked his first start for the province since October by scoring a first-half try, but Les Kiss's side failed to claim a bonus point against Treviso in their 19-7 win played in atrocious conditions at the Kingspan Stadium.

Rugby • 04 Mar 17

Les Kiss said there had been interest abroad in Paddy Jackson before he signed his new two-year deal.

In-demand Paddy Jackson signs new Ulster contract

Paddy Jackson has signed a two-year contract extension with Ulster Rugby, with the province revealing they had to fend off interest from European rivals for his signature.

Rugby • 01 Mar 17

Healy is close to a return for Connacht, but will not feature against Zebre

Connacht pair Healy and Heenan out of Zebre visit

Matt Healy and Jake Heenan will not be fit for Friday's visit of Zebre in the Guinness Pro12, but are expected to be available for their next outing away to Glasgow in round 18.

Rugby • 01 Mar 17

Johnny McNicholl is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring at Thomond Park

Munster slump to Scarlets defeat

Scarlets claimed the scalp of Guinness Pro12 leaders Munster with a stunning 30-21 comeback win at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 24 Feb 17

Pro12: Bowe and Rory Scannell in provincial squads

Munster Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has included Darren Sweetnam in his side for Friday night's Guinness PRO12 clash with Dragons at Musgrave Park, while Rory Scannell will also start tomorrow's game.

Rugby • 09 Feb 17

Jack Conan in action against Munster on St Stephens Day

Jack Conan insists Leinster 'don't do weak sides'

Jack Conan has swatted away any suggestion Leinster were on a hiding to nothing heading to Thomond Park on St Stephen's Day with so many front-line players absent, insisting: "We don't do weak sides."

Rugby • 29 Dec 16

Sexton and Kearney in contention for Ulster clash

A decision will be made later in the week whether Rob Kearney and Johnny Sexton will be fit to return to action for Leinster ahead of their interprovincial derby with Ulster on New Year's Eve (KO 3pm).

Rugby • 28 Dec 16

Munster's CJ Stander and Jack Conan of Leinster grapple for possession

Erasmus turns focus to daunting trip out west

Rassie Erasmus savoured a sweet St Stephen's Day slaying of Leinster before immediately turning his attentions to "a hell of a challenge" out west and another blockbusting festive derby.

Rugby • 27 Dec 16

Leo Cullen: 'For the most part we weren't good enough and that's why we didn't get anything from the game.'

Leo Cullen: Uncompromising Munster wore us down

Leo Cullen admitted his side were worn down by a pumped-up, uncompromising Munster as Leinster slumped to a St Stephen's Day derby defeat at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 27 Dec 16

Munster's Jean Kleyn gets in a tussle with Mike McCarthy of Leinster

Recap: Munster down Leinster at Thomond

Munster proved much too strong for rivals Leinster at Thomond Park. Look back at how the match played out in Limerick.

Rugby • 26 Dec 16

Leinster's Robbie Henshaw is tackled by Munster's Rory Scannell at the Aviva Stadium back in October

Thomond braced for record crowd & festive cracker

Thomond Park will have its biggest ever crowd for a Pro12 fixture in this evening's mouthwatering derby showdown between Munster and Leinster [5.30pm], as Rassie Erasmus's men go on the hunt for revenge.

Rugby • 26 Dec 16

Francis Saili could make his first appearance of the season

Saili back in Munster frame ahead of derby clash

Francis Saili will be in the Munster squad for the mouthwatering St Stephen's Day Pro12 derby with Leinster at Thomond park.

Rugby • 21 Dec 16

Pat Lam will head to Bristol next summer

IRFU chief lays out plan to choose Lam successor

A brains trust will analyse exactly the type of figure Connacht require to take the reins from Pat Lam next summer to ensure the province remains on an upward curve, according to IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora.

Rugby • 22 Dec 16

Guiness Pro12

Connacht sign winger Rory Scholes from Edinburgh

South African sides set to be unveiled in new Pro14

South African teams edge closer to Pro 12 move

Recap: Pro12 final round

Sloppy Connacht well beaten at home by Scarlets

Munster ease past Treviso to book home semi-final

Ulster's play-off hopes all but ended by Ospreys

Leinster overcome lights failure to edge past Glasgow

Pro12 news: Best returns to lead Ulster against Cardiff

Connacht fail to punish 14-man Glasgow

Ross Molony edges Leinster to gritty RDS victory

Munster crush Zebre to continue Pro12 play-off march

Ulster fail to secure bonus point in win over Treviso

In-demand Paddy Jackson signs new Ulster contract

Connacht pair Healy and Heenan out of Zebre visit

Munster slump to Scarlets defeat

Pro12: Bowe and Rory Scannell in provincial squads

Jack Conan insists Leinster 'don't do weak sides'

Sexton and Kearney in contention for Ulster clash

Erasmus turns focus to daunting trip out west

Leo Cullen: Uncompromising Munster wore us down

Recap: Munster down Leinster at Thomond

Thomond braced for record crowd & festive cracker

Saili back in Munster frame ahead of derby clash

IRFU chief lays out plan to choose Lam successor