Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

17 July 2025; David Porecki arrives for an Australia rugby squad training session at the National Rugby training centre in Ballymore, Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Australia's Porecki announces his retirement from rugby

Australia hooker Dave Porecki has retired from professional rugby at the age of 32 only weeks after reviving his Test career.

Rugby • 05 Aug

Brodie McAlister of New Zealand dives towards the try line to score against France - July 2019

New Zealand defeat France to complete series sweep

Replacement hooker Brodie McAlister scored a late try in a memorable test debut for New Zealand to seal a 29-19 win over France in Hamilton and complete a 3-0 series sweep.

Rugby • 19 Jul

12 July 2025; Ireland interim head coach Paul O'Connell with supporters after the International Rugby Test match between Portugal and Ireland at Estádio Nacional do Jamor in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

'I feel sorry for Portugal' - O'Connell

Ireland interim head coach Paul O'Connell admitted he felt sorry for Portugal after his side's record-breaking 106-7 win in Lisbon.

Rugby • 12 Jul

Tbilisi , Georgia - 5 July 2025; Ireland head coach Paul O'Connell before the International Rugby Test match between Georgia and Ireland at at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ireland 'intent' in win over Georgia pleases O'Connell

Paul O'Connell praised the efforts of his makeshift Ireland team after they registered an impressive 34-5 victory over Georgia in Tbilisi.

Rugby • 05 Jul

5 July 2025; Tommy O'Brien of Ireland, left, celebrates with teammate Gus McCarthy after scoring their side's first try during the International Rugby Test match between Georgia and Ireland at at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo by Brenda

Summer Test recap: Georgia 5-34 Ireland

Relive all the action from Tbilisi as Ireland, minus their Lions contingent, took on Georgia.

Rugby • 05 Jul

4 July 2025; Captain Craig Casey during an Ireland rugby captain's run at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Georgia clash 'huge opportunity' for Ireland players

Craig Casey has challenged his side to lay down a marker as he prepares to captain Ireland for the first time in Saturday's Test against Georgia in Tbilisi.

Rugby • 04 Jul

Owen Farrell has returned to Saracens after a trying season with Racing 92

Lions' pride behind call-up of 'class' Farrell

Luke Cowan-Dickie declared "you don't lose class" as he welcomed Owen Farrell's bombshell call-up by the British and Irish Lions.

Rugby • 04 Jul

Beirne to captain the Lions against the Waratahs

Tadhg Beirne will captain the British and Irish Lions when they play the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.

Rugby • 03 Jul

1 July 2025; Tommy O’Brien during Ireland rugby squad training at the IRFU High Performance Centre at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Ireland debuts for O'Brien and Murray against Georgia

Tommy O'Brien and Darragh Murray will make their Ireland debuts in Saturday's Test against Georgia in Tbilisi, with Craig Casey set to captain the side for the first time.

Rugby • 03 Jul

20 December 2024; Will Wootton of Ireland during the U20 international friendly match between Ireland and Italy at Templeville Road in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Wootton and Usanov named in Ireland Under-20 side

Ireland coach Neil Doak has made two changes to his starting line-up for Friday's clash against Italy at the World Rugby U20 Championship, with scrum-half Will Wootton and prop Alex Usanov both set to face the hosts at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana.

Rugby • 02 Jul

Paul O'Connell overseeing a squad session at the IRFU High Performance Centre at the Sport Ireland Campus

Leamy hails O'Connell as great leader and communicator

Denis Leamy hailed interim Irish coach Paul O'Connell as "brilliant leader" as the national team prepare for a Summer Tour series against Georgia and Portugal.

Rugby • 01 Jul

British and Irish Lions pair Fin Smith, left, and Finlay Bealham, react after defeat to Argentina

Early Lions setback as Argentina claim win in Dublin

The British and Irish Lions were beaten by Argentina for the first time as their tour to Australia encountered an early setback with a 28-24 loss in Dublin.

Rugby • 21 Jun

30 January 2025; Éanna McCarthy of Ireland during the U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and England at Virgin Media Park in Cork. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ireland squad named for World Rugby U20 Championship

Head coach Neil Doak has named a 30-player squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy.

Rugby • 18 Jun

Savea to spend season in Japan after November Tests

All Blacks star back row Ardie Savea will skip Super Rugby with Moana Pasifika next year and take a sabbatical in Japan at the Kobe Steelers club, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced.

Rugby • 17 Jun

Les Kiss will become Australia's fifth coach in seven years

Kiss to succeed Schmidt as Australia coach in 2026

Former Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss will succeed Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach, but will not take charge until next year after the New Zealander agreed to extend his reign by another nine months.

Rugby • 30 Apr

Abby Dow (l) scored two of England's tries

England retain Grand Slam crown after France thriller

England claimed a seventh successive Guinness Women's Six Nations title but only after edging to a 43-42 victory over France.

Rugby • 26 Apr

Ireland will hope that there are some twists and turns on Super Saturday

Italy v Ireland: All you need to know

Ireland round off their 2025 Guinness Six Nations championship with a trip to Rome to face Italy. Find out all you need to know here.

Rugby • 14 Mar

Jack Crowley has reportedly been offered a deal by Leicester Tigers

Crowley holds all the cards in contract negotiation

Jack Crowley has had to play in the shadows of Sam Prendergast in this Guinness Six Nations championship, but a hefty offer from the Leicester Tigers has now put the out-half in a healthy bargaining position with the IRFU.

Rugby • 12 Mar

Antoine Dupont suffered a season-ending knee injury on Saturday

Porter's conscience clear after Dupont injury incident

Andrew Porter says he has a clear conscience over the incident which saw Antoine Dupont suffer a serious knee injury in Saturday's Guinness Six Nations meeting with France.

Rugby • 12 Mar

Antoine Dupont lies stricken on the turf at Aviva Stadium

Dupont confirms cruciate ligament injury

France captain Antoine Dupont is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after rupturing his cruciate ligaments during Saturday's Six Nations match against Ireland.

Rugby • 09 Mar

Doris: 'I felt we had applied a lot of pressure and didn't convert early on'

Doris rues failure to capitalise on early pressure

Caelan Doris said Ireland's failure to convert their early pressure into points came back to hurt them as the French backs took wing in a rampant second half display.

Rugby • 09 Mar

'We were in a good position at half-time'

Conan: We shot ourselves in the foot

Ireland back-row Jack Conan said discipline issues and shaky defence cost the home side after their Grand Slam ambitions went up in smoke against a ravenous France at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 09 Mar

Dan Sheehan is set to become the 111th player to captain Ireland

Sheehan: Ireland not underestimating Wales

Dan Sheehan says Ireland will "knuckle down to basics" when they continue their Guinness Six Nations title quest against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

Rugby • 22 Feb

Josh van der Flier: 'I'll be expecting nothing short of a big performance'

Van der Flier: Ireland preparing for 'different' Wales

Josh van der Flier says Ireland will prepare to face a "different" Wales when the sides clash in Cardiff on Saturday week.

Rugby • 13 Feb

'Hard to know what vibe I'm giving off' - Prendergast

Ireland out-half Sam Prendergast wasn't one bit surprised that he came in for extra attention during yesterday's victory over England.

Rugby • 02 Feb

international rugby

Australia's Porecki announces his retirement from rugby

New Zealand defeat France to complete series sweep

'I feel sorry for Portugal' - O'Connell

Ireland 'intent' in win over Georgia pleases O'Connell

Summer Test recap: Georgia 5-34 Ireland

Georgia clash 'huge opportunity' for Ireland players

Lions' pride behind call-up of 'class' Farrell

Beirne to captain the Lions against the Waratahs

Ireland debuts for O'Brien and Murray against Georgia

Wootton and Usanov named in Ireland Under-20 side

Leamy hails O'Connell as great leader and communicator

Early Lions setback as Argentina claim win in Dublin

Ireland squad named for World Rugby U20 Championship

Savea to spend season in Japan after November Tests

Kiss to succeed Schmidt as Australia coach in 2026

England retain Grand Slam crown after France thriller

Italy v Ireland: All you need to know

Crowley holds all the cards in contract negotiation

Porter's conscience clear after Dupont injury incident

Dupont confirms cruciate ligament injury

Doris rues failure to capitalise on early pressure

Conan: We shot ourselves in the foot

Sheehan: Ireland not underestimating Wales

Van der Flier: Ireland preparing for 'different' Wales

'Hard to know what vibe I'm giving off' - Prendergast