Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Alun Wyn Jones retires as the most capped player in international rugby

Welsh legends Jones and Tipuric announce retirements

Alun Wyn Jones, the world's most capped rugby union player, has announced his retirement from the international game.

Linda Djougang has started at both tighthead and loosehead prop for Ireland during this championship

Djougang: 'Sometimes you have to lose to get better'

Linda Djougang says the short-term pain of this year's Six Nations will make way for some long-term gains for the Ireland women's side.

Rugby • 13 Apr 23

'If Irish rugby can fund everything below the professional game, the international game will be better for it'

IRFU missing a trick as women's team lose ground

The heavy defeat in Wales suggests Ireland are losing ground as the game goes professional and while the IRFU are making progress, Jonny Holland believes greater investment at all levels is crucial.

Rugby • 28 Mar 23

Ireland prop Linda Djougang wins her 25th cap on Saturday

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

Ireland travel to the Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday looking to atone for last year's defeat to Wales in their Women's Six Nations opener.

Rugby • 24 Mar 23

Freddie Steward sees red at the Aviva Stadium

Steward red card rescinded

England full-back Freddie Steward has been cleared to play after his red card for a dangerous challenge on Hugo Keenan in Saturday's Six Nations defeat by Ireland was overturned.

Rugby • 22 Mar 23

Briggs says Ireland have no injury concerns ahead of their opening fixture with Wales

Briggs: Sevens stars won't come in during Six Nations

Ireland backs coach Niamh Briggs say there are no plans to bring their Sevens contingent back into the squad in the second half of the TikTok Women's Six Nations.

Rugby • 21 Mar 23

Scott Robertson has led Canterbury Crusaders through the most dominant period of their history

Scott Robertson to take over All Blacks after World Cup

Scott Robertson will become the New Zealand head coach when Ian Foster departs after this year's Rugby World Cup, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) confirmed.

Rugby • 21 Mar 23

Josh van der Flier won his 50th Ireland cap against England

Van der Flier enjoyed 'special moments' as Slam secured

World player of the year Josh van der Flier admitted he couldn't help but revel in the midst of a hard-fought battle against England when the Fields of Athenry echoed around Lansdowne Road.

Rugby • 19 Mar 23

'Drink, drink, drink, drink... no, we'll enjoy it!'

Ireland had confidence that they would be able to overcome a nervy first-half display because of how they dealt with previous setbacks, according to a delighted Mack Hansen.

Rugby • 18 Mar 23

Sexton became the Six Nations all-time leading scorer after kicking three conversions and a penalty

Farrell hails captain Sexton as Ireland's best ever

Andy Farrell declared Johnny Sexton as the best to ever play for Ireland, as they capped off a dominant Six Nations campaign with a Grand Slam title.

Rugby • 18 Mar 23

Johnny Sexton leads the celebrations after Dan Sheehan crossed for Ireland's opening try against England

Route to the title: How Ireland won the Grand Slam

Take a look back at how Ireland were crowned Grand Slam champions for just the fourth time in their history.

Rugby • 18 Mar 23

Johnny Sexton enjoyed a winning finale in the Six Nations

Sexton: Dream come true but Ireland must keep building

Johnny Sexton said it was a "dream come true" to win a home Grand Slam on his final Six Nations appearance but stressed Ireland need to keep building as attention turns towards the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby • 18 Mar 23

Gael Fickou (13) is congratulated after scoring France's fourth try

France see off Wales to keep title hopes alive

Wales' poor Guinness Six Nations campaign ended in predictable fashion as France inflicted a 41-28 defeat on Warren Gatland's team.

Rugby • 18 Mar 23

Ireland head coach Richie Murphy address the U20s following their dramatic win over France

McCarthy hails special calibre ahead of Slam clash

Ireland are on the verge of a second U20s Six Nations Grand Slam in a row.

Rugby • 19 Mar 23

'France kicked the ball 41 times and destroyed England. It's not a sin to kick the ball, it's a sin to kick the ball poorly'

Ireland display versatility in the face of adversity

Ireland beat Scotland in Murrayfield last weekend but the final score would suggest that it was much more comfortable than it really was.

Rugby • 14 Mar 23

Marcus Smith grimaces during the England horror show against France

Punch-drunk England ready for 'free swing' at Ireland

Marcus Smith insists England are ready to climb off the canvas for their shot to nothing in Dublin as they look to avoid another Guinness Six Nations mismatch.

Rugby • 13 Mar 23

Andy Farrell oversees the captain's run at Murrayfield yesterday

Preview: Murrayfield mission next test for Ireland

Ireland make the trip to Murrayfield today bidding to keep their Grand Slam ambitions alive.

Rugby • 12 Mar 23

'The biggest learning watching Ireland at the weekend is that two inside-centres don't make a centre partnership'

Aki's defensive lapses evident in win over Italy

Jonny Holland runs a coach's eye over Ireland's Six Nations win against Italy and looks forward to the clash with Scotland on Sunday week.

Rugby • 28 Feb 23

Manu Tuilagi's elbow connects with Tommy Freeman

Reduced suspension means Tuilagi can face Ireland

Manu Tuilagi will be available for England's final Guinness Six Nations match against Ireland after being given a reduced three-match ban for dangerous play.

Rugby • 21 Feb 23

Wales players have threatened to strike, putting their Six Nations game with England in doubt

Wales rugby board sorry for 'stress' caused by dispute

Professional Rugby Board chair Malcom Wall has apologised unreservedly to Welsh players for the "stress and real discomfort" caused by the current contract dispute.

Rugby • 20 Feb 23

Andy Farrell's Ireland side next travel to Rome to face Italy in two weeks' time

Farrell: 'Heroic' Ireland have more to offer

Ireland coach Andy Farrell hailed his side's 32-19 bonus-point win over France in the Guinness Six Nations as "heroic", but believes the winning margin should have been even more emphatic.

Rugby • 11 Feb 23

James Ryan will win his 50th cap against France

Ryanaissance - James is back to best as he hits 50 caps

As James Ryan prepares to win his 50th Test cap against France, Neil Treacy looks back on the second row's career which has produced several ups and downs, but appears to be heading back in the right direction.

Rugby • 11 Feb 23

David Humphreys kicked the winning points when Ireland beat France in 2000

David Humphreys: More at stake than Six Nations points

RTÉ Rugby analyst David Humphreys casts his eye over Ireland's match with France.

Rugby • 11 Feb 23

Ben Youngs will not be adding to his 117 England caps on Sunday

Youngs not included in England squad

England have dropped their most capped men's player for Sunday's clash with Italy after Ben Youngs was left out of a reduced training squad.

Rugby • 08 Feb 23

Johnny Sexton has recovered from a dead leg and will face France on Saturday

France scare not ideal but Sexton raring to go

Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton concedes that France's scare against Italy wasn't all that welcome in the home camp but says Saturday's Six Nations clash will take on a life of its own.

Rugby • 08 Feb 23

international rugby

Welsh legends Jones and Tipuric announce retirements

Djougang: 'Sometimes you have to lose to get better'

IRFU missing a trick as women's team lose ground

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

Steward red card rescinded

Briggs: Sevens stars won't come in during Six Nations

Scott Robertson to take over All Blacks after World Cup

Van der Flier enjoyed 'special moments' as Slam secured

'Drink, drink, drink, drink... no, we'll enjoy it!'

Farrell hails captain Sexton as Ireland's best ever

Route to the title: How Ireland won the Grand Slam

Sexton: Dream come true but Ireland must keep building

France see off Wales to keep title hopes alive

McCarthy hails special calibre ahead of Slam clash

Ireland display versatility in the face of adversity

Punch-drunk England ready for 'free swing' at Ireland

Preview: Murrayfield mission next test for Ireland

Aki's defensive lapses evident in win over Italy

Reduced suspension means Tuilagi can face Ireland

Wales rugby board sorry for 'stress' caused by dispute

Farrell: 'Heroic' Ireland have more to offer

Ryanaissance - James is back to best as he hits 50 caps

David Humphreys: More at stake than Six Nations points

Youngs not included in England squad

France scare not ideal but Sexton raring to go

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