Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Wales' head coach Steve Tandy watches his players as they warm-up

Lenihan: Welsh pride unlikely to upset Ireland

Donal Lenihan anticipates plenty of Welsh pride on show against Ireland at Aviva Stadium, but that trait is unlikely to yield a first Six Nations win in 15 games for Steve Tandy's side.

Rugby • 10 hrs

Wales make three personnel changes for Ireland clash

Wales have made three changes as they bid to end their Guinness Six Nations losing streak against Ireland on Friday, with James Botham, Dan Edwards and Ellis Mee all set to start.

Rugby • 04 Mar

CARDIFF, WALES - FEBRUARY 21: Eddie James of Wales looks dejected after George Turner of Scotland (obscured) scores his team's fourth try during the Guinness Six Nations 2026 match between Wales and Scotland at Principality Stadium on February 21, 2026 in

Underdogs Wales ready to 'have a go' - James

Eddie James says Wales will take a front-foot approach against Ireland, despite being Guinness Six Nations underdogs.

Rugby • 03 Mar

5 July 2025; Jack Crowley of Ireland during the International Rugby Test match between Georgia and Ireland at at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Six Nations: England v Ireland - All you need to know

Ireland and England meet at Twickenham as they both look to keep their Six Nations championship hopes alive. Here's everything you need to know about the clash.

Rugby • 21 Feb

England's Maro Itoje competes for possession against Ireland's Cian Prendergast in 2023. The Lions captain will become his country's ninth centurion on Saturday

Itoje targets 'dominant' win on 100th England outing

England captain Maro Itoje is hoping for a "dominant" win against Ireland on what will be his 100th cap, an occasion that will be somewhat bittersweet for the Lions captain.

Rugby • 20 Feb

Jack Conan charges down Italy's Martin Page-Relo during last year's Six Nations encounter

'Nonsense' – Conan dismisses Lions excuse for Ireland

Jack Conan believes the 'Lions effect' is not a factor in Ireland's recent run of defeats and expects a big performance against Italy this afternoon.

Rugby • 14 Feb

5 February 2026; Ireland head coach Andy Farrell before the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between France and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Farrell questions 'fight' as Ireland flounder in France

Andy Farrell admitted that a fast start from France left him questioning his side's "fight" at the Stade de France, with the Ireland head coach also conceding that the reigning Six Nations champions were operating at a "different level" at times during the 36-14 bonus-point win for the hosts.

Rugby • 06 Feb

Antoine Dupont hobbles off after the injury he suffered against Ireland last March

Dupont raring to go and holds no Ireland grudges

France captain Antoine Dupont holds no grudges over the incident in which he suffered a serious knee injury as he prepares to make his long-awaited international comeback in Thursday's Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland.

Rugby • 04 Feb

Ciarán Frawley (l) and Max Deegan are among the senior capped players to line out in Thomond Park on Friday

Six senior caps in Ireland XV to face England 'A'

Leinster's Max Deegan will captain the Ireland XV side to face England 'A' as one of six senior capped Test internationals in the starting team.

Rugby • 04 Feb

8 March 2025; Antoine Dupont of France during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and France at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Partisan Paris crowd can spur France on - Dupont

Antoine Dupont hopes playing three matches in front of a partisan home support can help France in their quest to retain the Guinness Six Nations title.

Rugby • 26 Jan

PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 08: Rassie Erasmus, the South Africa head coach, looks on during the Autumn Nations Series 2025 match between France and South Africa at the Stade de France on November 08, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Image

Erasmus signs contract extension with South Africa

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has extended his contract for a further four years.

Rugby • 05 Dec 25

3 December 2025; Head coach Andy Farrell during an Ireland Rugby media conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Farrell: We don't want to just get past a quarter-final

Given Ireland's tortured history at the Rugby World Cup, Andy Farrell knew well enough to avoid getting sucked in by the permutations of Ireland's draw when he spoke to the media on Wednesday.

Rugby • 04 Dec 25

Brett Robinson, World Rugby Chair and former Australian international, James Slipper, Morgan Turinui and Phil Waugh pose at the broadcast desk during the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw at Channel Nine Studios on December 03, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.

2027 RWC pool draw recap: Ireland to face Scotland

Andy Farrell and his Ireland team have been drawn against Scotland, Uruguay and Portugal in Pool D of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Rugby • 03 Dec 25

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus shakes hands with Ireland coach Johnny Sexton before the Quilter Nations Series match

Erasmus relieved to get Irish monkey off SA backs

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus was pleased his team could get a monkey off their back by winning in Dublin for the first time in 13 years and start to tip the scales of the sides' recent rivalry away from Ireland.

Rugby • 22 Nov 25

22 November 2025; Ireland captain Caelan Doris, left, remonstrates with referee Matthew Carley after he shows a yellow card to Andrew Porter of Ireland, hidden, during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Sta

Farrell proud despite 'stupid errors' against Boks

Andy Farrell said "stupid errors" cost his side in Saturday's 24-13 defeat to South Africa, but the Irish head coach insisted his main emotion was pride despite the humbling defeat to the world champions.

Rugby • 23 Nov 25

22 November 2025; Garry Ringrose of Ireland and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu of South Africa tussle during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Ireland count cost of cards as Springboks power to win

South Africa's 13-year wait for a win in Dublin is over, with the world champions proving their credentials with a 24-13 win against Ireland after a remarkable game at Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 22 Nov 25

CARDIFF, WALES - NOVEMBER 22: Tom Rogers of Wales takes on Damian McKenzie of New Zealand to go on and scores his team's third try during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between Wales and New Zealand at the Principality Stadium on November 22, 2025

All Blacks trounce Wales despite historic Rogers treble

Tom Rogers became the first Wales player to score a hat-trick against New Zealand as the All Blacks maintained their dominance in the fixture with a 52-26 victory in Cardiff.

Rugby • 22 Nov 25

23 August 2017; Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and CJ Stander at the Guinness PRO14 season launch at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

'Rassie really wants this' - Stander expects a bruiser

Former Ireland international CJ Stander feels Andy Farrell's side are getting up to speed after a sluggish start to the Autumn Nations Series, but he is "nervous" as to their prospects against his native South Africa tomorrow.

Rugby • 21 Nov 25

13 July 2024; Siya Kolisi of South Africa is tackled by Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris and Jack Crowley during the second test between South Africa and Ireland at Kings Park in Durban, South Africa. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Ireland must produce year's best against Springboks

The final game of a November series will always dictate the Christmas mood, given the two-month layoff until the Six Nations rolls around in February. This year, it feels even more defining.

Rugby • 22 Nov 25

21 November 2025; Caelan Doris during an Ireland Rugby captain's run at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

November success 'hinges' on Springboks game - Doris

Caelan Doris reckons Ireland's performance against South Africa tomorrow will determine the success or failure of the November window, while injury concerns about Mack Hansen have abated.

Rugby • 21 Nov 25

Caelan Doris of Ireland during the second test between South Africa and Ireland at Kings Park in Durban in 2024

Lenihan: Irish have no inhibitions playing South Africa

Donal Lenihan looks ahead to Ireland's clash with back-to-back World Cup champions South Africa in Dublin on Saturday.

Rugby • 21 Nov 25

20 November 2025; Head coach Andy Farrell during an Ireland Rugby media conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Farrell: Ireland 'more up to speed' as Boks arrive

This is week five of Ireland's camp, and Andy Farrell says he always believed their performances would come together.

Rugby • 21 Nov 25

PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 8: Jasper Wiese of South Africa during the Autumn Nations Series 2025 rugby match between France and South Africa (Springboks) at Stade de France on November 8, 2025 in Saint-Denis near Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty

Springboks 'a lot more than just brutes running at you'

Dan Sheehan believes Ireland will face a South Africa side with no significant weaknesses and has urged his team to match up when the sides clash in tomorrow's Test at Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 21 Nov 25

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 21: South Africa Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus talks to South Africa Head Coach Jacques Nienaber during the pre match warm up ahead of the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between England and South Africa at Stade de France on

Erasmus open to Nienaber return for Rugby World Cup

Rassie Erasmus says he is open to the idea of welcoming Jacques Nienaber back into his coaching team for the Rugby World Cup in 2027.

Rugby • 20 Nov 25

TURIN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 15: Franco Mostert (L) of South Africa has an altercation with Ross Vintcent of Italy during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between Italy and South Africa at Allianz Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Ti

No place for Mostert distraction in South Africa team

Franco Mostert has been left out of South Africa's matchday squad for Saturday's showdown with Ireland at Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 20 Nov 25

international rugby

Lenihan: Welsh pride unlikely to upset Ireland

Wales make three personnel changes for Ireland clash

Underdogs Wales ready to 'have a go' - James

Six Nations: England v Ireland - All you need to know

Itoje targets 'dominant' win on 100th England outing

'Nonsense' – Conan dismisses Lions excuse for Ireland

Farrell questions 'fight' as Ireland flounder in France

Dupont raring to go and holds no Ireland grudges

Six senior caps in Ireland XV to face England 'A'

Partisan Paris crowd can spur France on - Dupont

Erasmus signs contract extension with South Africa

Farrell: We don't want to just get past a quarter-final

2027 RWC pool draw recap: Ireland to face Scotland

Erasmus relieved to get Irish monkey off SA backs

Farrell proud despite 'stupid errors' against Boks

Ireland count cost of cards as Springboks power to win

All Blacks trounce Wales despite historic Rogers treble

'Rassie really wants this' - Stander expects a bruiser

Ireland must produce year's best against Springboks

November success 'hinges' on Springboks game - Doris

Lenihan: Irish have no inhibitions playing South Africa

Farrell: Ireland 'more up to speed' as Boks arrive

Springboks 'a lot more than just brutes running at you'

Erasmus open to Nienaber return for Rugby World Cup

No place for Mostert distraction in South Africa team