Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Leinster have an assailable 20-point lead at the top of COnference B

Rennie: Leinster the yardstick for Glasgow

Glasgow head coach Dave Rennie says Saturday's showdown with Leinster is the perfect yardstick to measure his team's play-off chances against.

Rugby • 12 Apr 19

Connacht host Cardiff Blues this weekend in a crucial game with regards to the play-off berths

Resolute Connacht primed for Cardiff showdown

Connacht head coach Andy Friend is hopeful home advantage will prove crucial in their final home game of the regular season against Cardiff with a play-off berth there for the taking.

Rugby • 10 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

Ulster currently occupy second position in Conference B

Jackman: Ulster's preparation mainly in the head

Bernard Jackman believes Ulster will find it difficult to bounce back from their disappointing European exit when they travel to Glasgow this weekend as they resume Guinness Pro14 action.

Rugby • 06 Apr 19

Ross Byrne will start at out-half against Ulster

Sexton ruled out for Leinster-Ulster clash

Jordan Larmour has been selected ahead of Rob Kearney while Johnny Sexton is ruled out through injury for Leinster and Ulster's Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final meeting on Saturday evening.

Rugby • 29 Mar 19

'It's very interesting to watch how players develop at different times. It's something that I would have been conscious of in my own situation too because I was never someone that stormed through the academy and straight into the senior side'

Jacks the lads who show perseverance key in this game

Jack Carty and Jack O'Donoghue are showing the importance of resilience and patience in the development of most professional rugby careers.

Rugby • 27 Mar 19

CJ Stander will lead the team into battle against Zebre

Pro14 team news: Stander captains much changed Munster

CJ Stander will captain a much-changed Munster team for Saturday night's Guinness Pro 14 clash against Zebre at Thomond Park (kick-off 7.45pm).

Rugby • 22 Mar 19

The proposed merger of Scarlets and Ospreys is being shelved

Scarlets reveal merger with Ospreys is 'off the table'

The Scarlets have revealed that any planned merger with their Welsh regional rivals Ospreys is "off the table."

Rugby • 06 Mar 19

Ulster name Dave Shananhan at scrum-half

Shanahan in for Ulster ahead of meeting with Zebre

Ulster have named a new-look half-back partnership with Dave Shanahan and Peter Nelson lining up at 9 and 10 respectively for Saturday's home Pro 14 clash against Zebre.

Rugby • 22 Feb 19

Jarrad Butler scores the insurance score with two minutes left against Cheetahs in the Sportsground

Late surge carries Connacht to victory against Cheetahs

Ireland scrum half Kieran Marmion made a timely return following ankle surgery as Connacht saw off the Cheetahs 25-17 in an entertaining Guinness PRO14 encounter at the Sportsground.

Rugby • 16 Feb 19

Neil Cronin celebrates his first-half try

Seven-try Munster crush feeble Southern Kings

Munster ran in seven tries to run out comprehensive 43-0 winners Southern Kings in their Guinness Pro 14 clash at Irish Independent Park.

Rugby • 15 Feb 19

Rob Kearney has been passed fit to start for Leinster on Saturday

Kearney returns for Leinster; Lyttle named in Ulster XV

Rob Kearney returns from injury to lead Leinster into Saturday's Guinness Pro 14 clash against Ulster at the RDS on Saturday.

Rugby • 04 Jan 19

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

Scott Fardy slides over for Leinster's third try in Rodney Parade

Leinster run riot in merciless rout of Dragons

Leinster secured their ninth win from 10 Guinness PRO14 Conference B games this season by hammering the Dragons 59-10.

Rugby • 01 Dec 18

The Connacht bench celebrate victory in Bloemfontein

Connacht hold off Cheetahs in heat of Bloemfontein

After a blistering start, Connacht held off a spirited challenge from the Cheetahs to grind out a win in the sweltering conditions of Bloemfontein.

Rugby • 01 Dec 18

Conor Murray and Chris Farrell will make their first starts of the season against Edinburgh

Murray and Farrell return as Munster make 11 changes

Conor Murray and Chris Farrell will make their first starts of the season as Munster head coach Johann van Graan makes 11 changes to his team for Friday's visit of Edinburgh in the Guinness Pro14.

Rugby • 29 Nov 18

Rory Scannell's long-range penalty that sealed a one-point win over Glasgow Warriors

'Billy wanted to hit the corner... I said I'd kick it'

Munster match-winner Rory Scannell said it was a team decision to take the kick at goals that ensured a dramatic win over Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 27 Oct 18

Rory Scannell is mobbed after his match-winning kick

Scannell's last-gasp 55m penalty snatches Munster win

Rory Scannell was the Munster hero as Johann van Graan's side fought back to snatch victory with the final act of the game in a thrilling 25-24 Guinness Pro14 win at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 27 Oct 18

Rory Scannell kicks his last-gasp penalty

Recap: Munster v Glasgow Warriors live updates

Munster snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with Rory Scannell's 55-metre penalty at the death.

Rugby • 27 Oct 18

Keith Earls has been named on the left wing for the visit of Glasgow Warriors to Thomond Park

Earls returns as Munster go for new half-back pairing

Johann van Graan has made seven changes in personnel as his Munster team host high-flying Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park tomorrow (kick-off 5.15pm).

Rugby • 26 Oct 18

Jean Kleyn said he was "ecstatic" to sign a new deal with Munster

Kleyn enjoys 'healthy competition' with new man Beirne

Munster second row Jean Kleyn is enjoying playing alongside new signing Tadhg Beirne as the province have made an encouraging start to the 2018-19 season.

Rugby • 11 Oct 18

Van Graan hoping to 'fire on all cylinders' at Exeter

Munster head coach Johann Van Graan says that Munster face a "massive task" as they travel to face Exeter in their opening Champions Cup game of the season.

Rugby • 08 Oct 18

Connacht are to redevelop the Sportsground into a 12,000 capacity stadium

Connacht unveil €30m Sportsground redevelopment plan

Connacht Rugby CEO Willie Ruane says the €30m Sportsground redevelopment plan is a "significant statement" for both the team and the region as a whole.

Rugby • 08 Oct 18

James Lowe tormented Munster on Saturday night

Star of the interpro, Lowe not assured of European spot

James Lowe proved once again a thorn in Munster's side and Johann van Graan could offer nothing but praise for the New Zealander, who may have so sit out the Wasps clash on Friday night.

Rugby • 07 Oct 18

Andy Friend praised his side's gutsiness against Ulster

Connacht coach Friend: We weren't focused on history

Connacht coach Andy Friend said that while his side weren't clinical, it was their gutsiness that hauled them over the line against Ulster in Kingspan Stadium.

Rugby • 06 Oct 18