Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Jack McGrath announces retirement from rugby

Former Ireland prop Jack McGrath has announced his retirement from rugby due to injury at the age of 33.

Reidy and McGrath will depart Ulster along with David O'Connor, Ross Kane and Mick Kearney

McGrath and Reidy among five Ulster departures

Ulster have confirmed that Ireland internationals Jack McGrath and Sean Reidy are among five senior players departing at the end of the season.

Rugby • 26 May 22

Jack McGrath will spend at least one more season with Ulster.

McGrath and Gilroy sign new Ulster deals

Jack McGrath, Craig Gilroy, Marcus Rea and Greg Jones have all signed one-year contract extensions with Ulster.

Rugby • 27 Jan 22

Robert Baloucoune starts on the right wing for Ulster

Baloucoune returns for Ulster ahead of Ospreys trip

Robert Baloucone is among seven changes made by Ulster, for their United Rugby Championship meeting with the Ospreys in Swansea tomorrow.

Rugby • 03 Dec 21

Jack McGrath will play for Ulster until at least 2022

Jack McGrath signs new two-year Ulster contract

Jack McGrath has committed his future to Ulster by signing a new two-year contract with the province, keeping him at Ravenhill until 2022.

Rugby • 11 Mar 20

Jack McGrath is facing surgery on his thumb

Jack McGrath facing surgery as Ulster injuries mount

Ulster will be without Jack McGrath, Sam Carter and Rob Lyttle for their Heineken Champions Cup showdown against Clermont on Friday night, with Ireland prop McGrath facing surgery on an injured thumb.

Rugby • 20 Nov 19

Jean Kleyn won his first cap for Ireland against Italy

Schmidt hails Munster's Kleyn after Ireland debut

Jean Kleyn has gotten off to a "good start", according to Joe Schmidt who handed the South African-born lock his Ireland debut against Italy.

Rugby • 10 Aug 19

Rory Best wants to play again this season

Best aims to be back this season and hails McGrath move

Rory Best is hoping to return to action with Ulster before the end of the season, after suffering an ankle injury in Saturday's Champions Cup defeat against Leinster.

Rugby • 03 Apr 19

Jack McGrath makes the move north after nine years with Leinster

Jack McGrath to make Ulster switch

IRFU contracted international player Jack McGrath has decided to switch from Leinster to Ulster from the start of next season.

Rugby • 03 Apr 19

Dave Kilcoyne (L) with John Cooney, Keith Earls and Jordan Larmour before the England clash

Kilcoyne hungry for more after 'bittersweet' cameo

Dave Kilcoyne got his first taste of Six Nations action in six years during last weekend's defeat to England. Now, he's desperate for more.

Rugby • 05 Feb 19

Rob Kearney is back in the reckoning for Leinster

Leinster to welcome back Kearney, McGrath and Daly

Leinster have been handed a timely injury boost with the news that Rob Kearney and Jack McGrath are in contention to face Ulster in the Guinness Pro14 on Saturday.

Rugby • 31 Dec 18

Jack McGrath will miss the next few weeks

McGrath injury blow for Leinster

Jack McGrath has been ruled out for "the next few weeks" after picking up a knee injury.

Rugby • 10 Sep 18

Jack McGrath: "We were under the cosh for the last 20 minutes"

McGrath: Victory down under shows how far team has come

Ireland prop Jack McGrath said that surviving the fraught final quarter to hang on for a series win in Australia showed how far the Irish team has come.

Rugby • 23 Jun 18

Jack McGrath: 'It's just one more step for us as a squad.'

'These days don't come around too often'

Jack McGrath has urged his Leinster team-mates to "cherish and enjoy" Saturday's Pro14 final as the province go in search of a historic double at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 24 May 18

(L to R): Ireland's Rory Best, Dan Leavy, James Ryan, Jacob Stockdale and Andrew Porter

Calm, assured Irish ready for Twickenham test of nerve

Keeping their cool in the white heat of a Twickenham battle is the ultimate test for this confident Ireland team.

Rugby • 13 Mar 18

Jack McGrath is battling with Cian Healy for a starting berth against England

Jack McGrath takes edge from 'knowing the enemy'

Jack McGrath believes Ireland have a major advantage for their mouthwatering Twickenham battle this Saturday afternoon: "knowing the enemy"

Rugby • 13 Mar 18

Jack McGrath will lead Leinster out at the RDS

Jack McGrath working hard for Leinster, says Cullen

Jack McGrath has overcome a "difficult" time and is fully focussed on regaining his place in Leinster's front line, according to Leo Cullen.

Rugby • 06 Jan 18

Jack McGrath has started six games for Leinster so far this season

McGrath looking forward after November's 'bad memories'

After "bad memories" from a disappointing November Series, Leinster prop Jack McGrath is very much looking forward for club and country.

Rugby • 03 Jan 18

Jack McGrath is relishing Leinster's derby clash with Munster

'We know their tricks and they know ours'

Jack McGrath has a lot of good friends in the Munster camp, but when he squares off against them at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon, the Leinster prop will be pumped up even more than usual.

Rugby • 07 Oct 17

Jack McGrath played 53 minutes against The Blues

Jack McGrath: Lions willing to lose to improve

Jack McGrath insists the British and Irish Lions would stomach more losses in New Zealand if that meant toppling the All Blacks.

Rugby • 07 Jun 17

Jack McGrath will make his British and Irish Lions debut

Four Irish to start for Lions against the Blues

Ireland's Jared Payne, Robbie Henshaw, Jack McGrath and CJ Stander will all start for the British and Irish Lions against the Blues on Wednesday in New Zealand.

Rugby • 05 Jun 17

McGrath says Lions already singing from same hymnsheet

Jack McGrath says the Lions are eagerly looking ahead to getting their tour of New Zealand up and running, despite only having a couple of days to acclimatise before facing a Provincial XV.

Rugby • 31 May 17

Seán O'Brien on the exercise bike at Carton House

Gatland has no worries over O'Brien and McGrath fitness

Lions head coach Warren Gatland has allayed fitness concerns surrounding Sean O'Brien and Jack McGrath, insisting the pair are fully fit for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand.

Rugby • 23 May 17

Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best and Jack McGrath are all on the plane to New Zealand for the Lions tour

Pumped-up Rowntree singles out Irish pair for praise

Graham Rowntree said he's already getting "wound up" just thinking about the summer battle with the All Blacks, as he talked up the "warriors" in the Lions forward division.

Rugby • 19 Apr 17

Jack McGrath: 'Once they get on the front foot they are a very difficult team to play against.'

McGrath warns slow start will kill title dreams

It's a crime Ireland have been guilty of in the past and Jack McGrath knows that a slow start against Wales on Friday would be a cardinal sin.

Rugby • 07 Mar 17