Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Paolo Odogwu will make his first Italy appearance

Odogwu and Lamb to make Italy debuts against Ireland

English-born wing Paolo Odogwu and lock Dino Lamb will make their Test debuts for Italy on Saturday when they take on Ireland in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 03 Aug 23

Eddie Jones has retained Carter Gordon at out-half for Saturday's trip to Dunedin

Jones backs Gordon as he doubles down on youth for NZ

Australia coach Eddie Jones rounded on a reporter who questioned his selection of Carter Gordon at out-half for last week's loss to the All Blacks in Melbourne and again for Saturday's return match in Dunedin.

Rugby • 03 Aug 23

Coombes is looking to win his third Ireland cap this weekend

Jackman: Coombes deserves his chance to impress v Italy

Bernard Jackman believes Munster's Gavin Coombes is one of the fringe players who deserves a shot in the Ireland team in Saturday's opening Bank of Ireland Nations Series game against Italy.

Rugby • 02 Aug 23

Conan suffered a career-threatening injury during the 2019 RWC

Conan hoping to make up for lost time at RWC

Jack Conan says that he has unfinished business with the Rugby World Cup ahead of Ireland's opening warm-up game against Italy on Saturday.

Rugby • 03 Aug 23

Ireland's 2019 Rugby World Cup preparations have not aged well

Scars of 2019 motivating Ireland's RWC warm-up campaign

While we haven't seen Ireland kick a ball in their Rugby World Cup preparations, it's becoming pretty clear that their summer camp has been a break from the past.

Rugby • 02 Aug 23

Jean Kleyn will win his second cap for South Africa against Argentina on Saturday

Kleyn 'was very close' to Ireland recall - O'Connell

Paul O'Connell says Munster's Jean Kleyn was close to being called up for the Irish Rugby World Cup training squad, before the second row switched international allegiance to play for South Africa.

Rugby • 02 Aug 23

Manie Libbok was the South Africa match winner

South Africa edge bruising battle with Argentina

Fly-half Manie Libbok scored a breakaway try against the run of play to secure South Africa a bruising 22-21 victory over Argentina and earn a second-place finish in the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Rugby • 29 Jul 23

New Zealand blow past Australia to win another Rugby Championship

All Blacks pummel Wallabies to win Rugby Championship

The All Blacks stormed to a 38-7 win over a sore and sorry Australia on Saturday to seal a third consecutive Rugby Championship title and enjoy a major boost before the World Cup in France.

Rugby • 29 Jul 23

Australia celebrate winning the Webb Ellis for the second time

The story of the RWC: Aussies party like it's 1999

As we continue on our journey looking back on the history of the Rugby World Cup, the 1999 renewal sees another victory for Australia and another dark day for Ireland.

Rugby • 30 Jul 23

The Lions lost a forgettable series against South Africa in 2021

Schedule announced for 2025 Lions tour of Australia

The British and Irish Lions are set to play in front of a record crowd of around 100,000 at Melbourne Cricket Ground during their 2025 tour of Australia.

Rugby • 19 Jul 23

Johnny Sexton will miss Ireland's warm-up games with Italy, England and Samoa

Ireland captain Sexton slapped with three-match ban

Johnny Sexton has been given a three-match ban which rules him out of Ireland's Rugby World Cup warm-up matches, but he is free to play in their tournament opener against Romania on 9 September.

Rugby • 17 Jul 23

The Pumas celebrate a try by Juan Martin Gonzalez

Argentina stun error-prone Wallabies with late try

Juan Martin Gonzalez scored a late winner as Argentina stunned Australia 34-31 in the Rugby Championship to leave the Wallabies in disarray and without a win two games into the second Eddie Jones era.

Rugby • 15 Jul 23

New Zealand's Richie Mo'unga is congratulated by Finlay Christie on scoring his side's fourth try

South Africa undone by blistering All Blacks start

New Zealand rode another blistering start to a 35-20 victory over South Africa at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday to place one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy.

Rugby • 15 Jul 23

Sam Prendergast (left) consoles a teammate after the final whistle

Murphy proud of U20s despite heavy final defeat

Richie Murphy admitted his Ireland side were "outplayed" by France in their World Rugby U20 Championship final defeat, but says his admiration for his players has grown even on their fun to the decider.

Rugby • 14 Jul 23

Murphy proud of composed Irish U20s as they reach final

Richie Murphy praised the maturity of his Ireland U20 side, as they booked their place in the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship with a 31-12 win against South Africa.

Rugby • 09 Jul 23

Sam Berman (left) celebrates Ireland's fourth try with his team-mates

Ireland power past South Africa to book U20 World final

Ireland are through to the World Rugby U20 Championship final for just the second time after an emphatic 31-12 win against hosts South Africa at Athlone Stadium.

Rugby • 13 Jul 23

Stuart Hogg had previously planned to retire after the Rugby World Cup

Scotland full-back Hogg retires with immediate effect

Scotland international Stuart Hogg has announced his immediate retirement from rugby aged 31.

Rugby • 09 Jul 23

Jordie Barrett of New Zealand crashes over the whitewash despite the best efforts of Argentina's Mateo Carreras

All Blacks explode out of the traps to beat Pumas

A blistering start from New Zealand laid the platform for an impressive 41-12 victory over hosts Argentina in their Rugby Championship opener in Mendoza as fly-half Damian McKenzie made a strong case for Rugby World Cup inclusion.

Rugby • 08 Jul 23

Kurt-Lee Arendse helped himself to a hat-trick

Kleyn enjoys winning start as Boks hammer Australia

Munster lock Jean Kleyn made his South Africa debut as Kurt-Lee Arendse's hat-trick helped them to a 43-12 over Australia in the opening round of the Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 08 Jul 23

Ruadhan Quinn is tackled by Finn Carnduff

Ireland denied by England in thrilling World U20 opener

Ireland let a ten-point lead slip late on as a breathless World Rugby U20 Championship opener against England ended in a 34-34 draw.

Rugby • 24 Jun 23

World U20 Championship: England 34-34 Ireland recap

Look back at all the action from Ireland's opening pool game of the first U20 World Rugby Championship in four years.

Rugby • 24 Jun 23

The WRU said it was 'fully committed' to enacting all of the recommendations of the ongoing review

WRU criticised for 'serious failure of governance'

The Welsh Rugby Union was responsible for a "serious failure of governance" and missed opportunities to act on concerning behaviour within the organisation, a report has found.

Rugby • 16 Jun 23

'I would have liked to have been involved with the Italian national team for the next Rugby World Cup cycle'

Crowley 'sorry' as Italy opt not to renew contract

Italy head coach Kieran Crowley has expressed disappointment after the Italian rugby federation (FIR) announced that they would not be renewing his contract at the end of the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby • 15 Jun 23

Jack Nowell has featured in the last two World Cups for England

'I'm not doing the World Cup' - England winger Nowell

England winger Jack Nowell said he will not put himself forward for selection at the Rugby World Cup in France as he continues to manage his recovery from a knee injury.

Rugby • 24 May 23

Ronan O'Gara celebrates with Quentin Lespiaucq (centre) and Ultan Dillane after La Rochelle's win over Leinster

O'Gara reveals Ireland ambition after latest success

Ronan O'Gara has admitted he wants to coach Ireland after guiding La Rochelle to back-to-back Heineken Champions Cup triumphs.

Rugby • 22 May 23

international rugby

Odogwu and Lamb to make Italy debuts against Ireland

Jones backs Gordon as he doubles down on youth for NZ

Jackman: Coombes deserves his chance to impress v Italy

Conan hoping to make up for lost time at RWC

Scars of 2019 motivating Ireland's RWC warm-up campaign

Kleyn 'was very close' to Ireland recall - O'Connell

South Africa edge bruising battle with Argentina

All Blacks pummel Wallabies to win Rugby Championship

The story of the RWC: Aussies party like it's 1999

Schedule announced for 2025 Lions tour of Australia

Ireland captain Sexton slapped with three-match ban

Argentina stun error-prone Wallabies with late try

South Africa undone by blistering All Blacks start

Murphy proud of U20s despite heavy final defeat

Murphy proud of composed Irish U20s as they reach final

Ireland power past South Africa to book U20 World final

Scotland full-back Hogg retires with immediate effect

All Blacks explode out of the traps to beat Pumas

Kleyn enjoys winning start as Boks hammer Australia

Ireland denied by England in thrilling World U20 opener

World U20 Championship: England 34-34 Ireland recap

WRU criticised for 'serious failure of governance'

Crowley 'sorry' as Italy opt not to renew contract

'I'm not doing the World Cup' - England winger Nowell

O'Gara reveals Ireland ambition after latest success