Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Connacht and Ulster do battle at 4.30pm on Sunday at the Aviva

Connacht hand wingers debuts for Ulster clash

Ireland star Bundee Aki will make his 100th appearance for Connacht on Sunday in the Guinness Pro14 clash against Ulster at the Aviva Stadium, with wingers Alex Wootton and Peter Sullivan set to make their debuts.

Rugby • 21 Aug 20

'There won't be much time for teams to feel their way in to the game. The semi-finals are only a few weeks away. Whoever adapts quickest will have a good chance of going all the way in this competition'

Prepare for ring rust and ruck rule confusion on return

After watching lots of Super Rugby and Premiership rugby, Jonny Holland expects teams to adopt a cautious approach to combat new interpretations and lack of match practice.

Rugby • 18 Aug 20

Munster pictured at training in the University of Limerick last February

Munster players asymptomatic as training resumes

Munster returned to training today following a positive Covid-19 test among their wider squad last week.

Rugby • 17 Aug 20

The game kicks off at 7.35pm and is live on RTÉ Radio 1

Anti-racism gestures planned for Irish Pro14 fixtures

Players from Ireland's four provinces will make an anti-racism gesture ahead of this weekend's Guinness Pro14 derbies at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 17 Aug 20

McFadden ruled out for six weeks with calf injury

Fergus McFadden has been ruled out of the restart of Leinster's Guinness Pro14 campaign with a calf injury.

Rugby • 17 Aug 20

Munster didn't train today as a precaution

Munster cancel training and players in self-isolation

One senior Munster player is in self-isolation after being identified as a close contact of an academy player who has tested positive for Covid-19, the province has announced.

Rugby • 13 Aug 20

Leinster may have players involved on three fronts over the next 12 months

Cullen happy Leinster's Irish Lions can handle schedule

Some Leinster players may face a 12-month season but Leo Cullen feels his squad are well-placed to deal with a busy calendar.

Rugby • 09 Aug 20

'Backs can step and dance around all day in non-contact training'

Full contact training needed whether you like it or not

Return to play means a return to contact training, unfortunately for some, writes Jonny Holland.

Rugby • 07 Aug 20

Connacht welcome recovered quartet back to training

Connacht have confirmed that Jonny Murphy, Matthew Burke, Finlay Bealham and Kieran Marmion have all returned to training after recovering from injury.

Rugby • 24 Jul 20

Cian Healy (L) and Garry Ringrose with the Pro14 trophy last year

Ringrose and Healy back in training for Leinster

Garry Ringrose and Cian Healy are back in full training with Leinster after recovering from injuries sustained during the Six Nations.

Rugby • 23 Jun 20

Tom McCartney spent six years with Connacht

McCartney and Adeolokun among Connacht departees

Connacht have confirmed a number of departures from their playing ranks, including Pro12 winners Tom McCartney, Niyi Adeolokun and Eoin McKeon.

Rugby • 29 May 20

Leinster are the current Guinnes Pro14 champions

Pro14 confirms sale of 28% stake to CVC, August restart

Private equity firm CVC has bought a 28% share of the Guinness Pro14, which the IRFU says will be worth over €30 million to the union over the next three years.

Rugby • 22 May 20

Leinster may not get a chance to defend their Pro14 crown

Pro14 cancel plans for final, IRFU end domestic season

Organisers of the Guinness Pro14 league have moved to cancel the competition's final, after the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, while the IRFU have announced the immediate end of the domestic rugby season.

Rugby • 19 Mar 20

Rugby season in doubt as Pro14 suspended indefinitely

The 2019-20 rugby season is in serious doubt after the Guinness Pro14 was suspended indefinitely in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Rugby • 12 Mar 20

Wales wing Amos to miss rest of Six Nations

Wales wing Hallam Amos will miss the rest of the Six Nations due to a knee injury.

Rugby • 03 Mar 20

Ryan Baird starred in Leinster's landslide win

Baird and Kearney score hat-tricks in Leinster rout

Leinster academy lock Ryan Baird and Dave Kearney helped themselves to hat-tricks in their 55-19 bonus-point win over Glasgow at the RDS.

Rugby • 28 Feb 20

Leinster are the current Pro14 champions

Pro14 games to 'take place as scheduled '

Guinness Pro14 organisers have confirmed that all scheduled fixtures, except the two cancelled matches this weekend, are to go ahead as planned, as it stands.

Rugby • 28 Feb 20

'The other three provinces keep an eye on anybody that is not afforded game time in Leinster to pounce on an opportunity to sign them up but the reality is that there is loads of talent at home if we use them when the chances arise'

Munster must follow Leinster and give youth a chance

Munster's decision not to pick John Hodnett for the Pro14 match against Zebre was a strange call after the youngster had starred against Southern Kings, writes Jonny Holland.

Rugby • 25 Feb 20

Updated Pro14 teams news: Changes rung by Irish provinces

Leo Cullen, Andy Friend and Johann van Graan have rung the changes for Leinster, Connacht and Munster this weekend ahead of their clashes with Ospreys, Edinburgh and Zebre respectively.

Rugby • 21 Feb 20

Healy and Blade commit to Connacht with new contracts

Caolin Blade and Matt Healy have both signed two-year contract extensions with Connacht, which will see both remaining at the Sportsground until the summer of 2022.

Rugby • 18 Feb 20

'There are some subtle changes playing into the wind like having to hold on to the ball for long periods and finding a way to take the pace out of the game'

Finding the right tactics key in poor weather

Poor weather conditions require tactical changes and how teams adapt to the challenge is key to the winning and losing of th egame

Rugby • 18 Feb 20

Kyle Godwin glides in to score Connacht's fourth and final try in their one-sided win over Cardiff Blues

Connacht breeze by Cardiff in emphatic home win

Connacht completed a shut-out of Cardiff Blues as they registered an emphatic 29-0 win over the Welsh region in the Sportsground this evening.

Rugby • 15 Feb 20

Ulster fell short despite a late surge in Liberty Stadium

Ulster slump to away defeat against struggling Ospreys

A late penalty from Ospreys Luke Price denied Ulster a comeback victory in Liberty Stadium as they fell to defeat to the struggling Welsh region on Saturday evening.

Rugby • 15 Feb 20

13 players released by Farrell during Six Nations break

Ireland coach Andy Farrell has released 13 players back to their provinces ahead of a gap weekend in the Six Nations.

Rugby • 10 Feb 20

Leinster have won every game they've played in 2019-20

What does future hold for the Pro14?

The competition originally known as the Celtic League will mark its 20th campaign next year. Unless there's a shift in public mood, it will not be the happiest of anniversaries.

Rugby • 07 Jan 20

Guinness pro14

Connacht hand wingers debuts for Ulster clash

Prepare for ring rust and ruck rule confusion on return

Munster players asymptomatic as training resumes

Anti-racism gestures planned for Irish Pro14 fixtures

McFadden ruled out for six weeks with calf injury

Munster cancel training and players in self-isolation

Cullen happy Leinster's Irish Lions can handle schedule

Full contact training needed whether you like it or not

Connacht welcome recovered quartet back to training

Ringrose and Healy back in training for Leinster

McCartney and Adeolokun among Connacht departees

Pro14 confirms sale of 28% stake to CVC, August restart

Pro14 cancel plans for final, IRFU end domestic season

Rugby season in doubt as Pro14 suspended indefinitely

Wales wing Amos to miss rest of Six Nations

Baird and Kearney score hat-tricks in Leinster rout

Pro14 games to 'take place as scheduled '

Munster must follow Leinster and give youth a chance

Updated Pro14 teams news: Changes rung by Irish provinces

Healy and Blade commit to Connacht with new contracts

Finding the right tactics key in poor weather

Connacht breeze by Cardiff in emphatic home win

Ulster slump to away defeat against struggling Ospreys

13 players released by Farrell during Six Nations break

What does future hold for the Pro14?