Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

13 January 2026; A general view of action during an Ireland Women's Rugby squad training at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

IRFU to hold combines to identify new female talent

The IRFU is to hold a series of combines to identify high-potential female athletes from other sporting backgrounds and introduce them to the elite rugby performance pathway.

Rugby • 02 Mar

Saracens reject Farrell contact reports

Saracens have issued a statement claiming reports linking Ireland boss Andy Farrell with a return to the English club are "disrespectful" to the head coach and the IRFU.

Rugby • 27 Feb

14 February 2026; Edwin Edogbo of Ireland after the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

IRFU investigating 'cowardly' racist abuse of Edogbo

The IRFU is investigating "cowardly" racist abuse directed at Edwin Edogbo following his international debut.

Rugby • 16 Feb

Niamh O'Dowd of Ireland during the Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up match between Ireland and Canada at Affidea Stadium in Belfast.

IRFU confirm O'Dowd and Hogan are moving to Premiership

Ireland internationals Niamh O'Dowd and Brittany Hogan have left the IRFU's central contract system to join Gloucester Hartpury and Sale Sharks respectively.

Rugby • 26 Nov 25

28 October 2014; The international Rugby Grand Slam title which got away from Ireland in 1972 was recalled with varying degrees of pride and pain when members of the team coached by Ronnie Dawson, regrouped for the first time in 42 years in Dublin today,

IRFU pay tribute to McGann and Lane following deaths

The IRFU have paid tribute to former players Barry McGann and Mick Lane.

Rugby • 11 Nov 25

24 June 2025; Head of women's strategy for Irish Rugby Lynne Cantwell poses for a portait after an Ireland rugby media conference at the IRFU High Performance Centre at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Cantwell aiming to 'leverage' World Cup goodwill

The IRFU's head of Women's strategy Lynne Cantwell became a World Rugby Hall of Famer last night but the Dubliner has been set the task of building on the 'Green Wave'.

Rugby • 27 Sep 25

24 August 2025; Anna McGann of Ireland with supporters after her side's victory in the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool C match between Ireland and Japan at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

How to keep the 'green wave' rolling

Ireland fell at the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final stage but the big question is, how does the IRFU build on the team's progress and popularity?

Rugby • 21 Sep 25

Northern Ireland , United Kingdom - 9 August 2025; Ireland head coach Scott Bemand and Dannah O'Brien before the Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up match between Ireland and Canada at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Im

Caplice: Ireland should target a World Cup semi-final

On the day Scott Bemand named his squad to for the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup, former Ireland flanker Anna Caplice has predicted a glorious run to the competition's semi-finals for the Irish team.

Rugby • 13 Aug 25

O'Driscoll appointed IRFU president

The Irish Rugby Football Union held its annual council meeting on Friday, where Dr John O'Driscoll was elected the 136th president of the union.

Rugby • 08 Aug 25

The IRFU have decided to keep legal tackle height below the sternum

IRFU to keep tackle height below sternum

The Irish Rugby Football Union will keep the legal tackle height below the sternum in the 2025-26 season after preliminary data showed a reduction in overall injury rates during the last two seasons.

Irfu • 07 Aug 25

David Nucifora was the main driver behind the elite Sevens programme in Ireland

Nucifora hits out at 'nonsense' IRFU move on Sevens

Former IRFU high performance director David Nucifora has hit out at the union's decision to axe the men's Sevens programme, calling it "short sighted nonsense".

Rugby • 21 May 25

Ireland participated in the men's Sevens tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Players face 'huge challenge' after men's Sevens axing

The decision to end the Irish men's rugby Sevens programme will leave players with a "huge challenge" in trying to maintain careers in the game, the CEO of Rugby Players Ireland Simon Keogh has said.

Rugby • 15 May 25

Easterby looks set to continue has Ireland interim boss

Easterby plays down link to vacant Wales hotseat

Simon Easterby said he has not been contacted regarding the Wales job and is committed to his role with Ireland.

Rugby • 17 Mar 25

Furlong and Porter pen new two-year deals with IRFU

Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter have signed two-year contract extensions with the IRFU that will keep them at Leinster until the end of the 2026/27 season.

Rugby • 16 Dec 24

IRFU Chief Financial Officer Thelma O'Driscoll (l), CEO Kevin Potts (c) and chief commercial officer Padraig Power at the briefing

World Cup costs lead to €18.4m IRFU deficit

The IRFU has recorded a deficit of €18.4m in its latest accounts, largely due to World Cup costs and the loss of November internationals.

Rugby • 28 Nov 24

Bundee Aki was recently linked to a move to the Top14

IRFU confident of keeping top players despite losses

The IRFU is confident that Irish rugby will retain its top talent despite warning that current levels of investment will not be sustainable without additional revenue streams.

Rugby • 28 Nov 24

IRFU confident of keeping top players despite losses

The IRFU is confident that Irish rugby will retain its top talent despite warning that current levels of investment will not be sustainable without additional revenue streams.

Rugby • 29 Nov 24

Lynne Cantwell is a board member with Sport Ireland

IRFU appoints Cantwell as head of women's strategy

Former Ireland international Lynne Cantwell has been appointed as the IRFU's head of women's strategy.

Rugby • 25 Oct 24

IRFU appoints Cantwell as head of women's strategy

Former Ireland international Lynne Cantwell has been appointed as the IRFU's head of women's strategy.

Rugby • 25 Oct 24

The IRFU celebrates its 150th anniversary later this year

Women's game 'major priority' in new IRFU strategy

Growing the women's game in Irish rugby is a "major priority" for the IRFU, says the union as it published its 2024-2028 strategy document.

Rugby • 13 Jun 24

IRFU announces details of new funding model

The four Irish provinces are to contribute up to 30% of the cost of their players' national contracts from next season, the Irish Rugby Football Union has announced.

Rugby • 22 May 24

Kevin Potts: 'We are really pleased with the three candidates we have brought on board'

IRFU reaches gender-balance targets at board level

The IRFU has reached its gender-balanced board target of 40% after the addition of three co-opted delegates, it has announced.

Rugby • 14 Dec 23

The latest figures show that the 40% target has not yet been met by the three bodies

GAA, IRFU & FAI below target for female board members

The three biggest sporting organisations in the country have yet to meet the recommended target of female representation on the boards of funded National Governing Bodies of Sport.

Soccer • 01 Dec 23

Could Munster-Northampton clashes become an annual event?

Tentative talks taking place for Irish-British league

The English Rugby Football Union (RFU) has confirmed that tentative talks are taking place investigating the potential of a British and Irish team competition.

Rugby • 25 Oct 23

Former international Fiona Steed, current member of the IRFU Committee, alongside chief executive Kevin Potts

IRFU agree rule changes to achieve 40% gender quota

The IRFU has hailed "an important milestone" after endorsing a proposal to achieve 40% female representation on the IRFU Committee by the end of the year.

Rugby • 28 Jul 23