Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

'The next step for Ireland is to create their identity, and their way of playing'

Ireland management must make mark quickly - Lancaster

Leinster senior coach Stuart Lancaster believes Ireland's new management team, under Andy Farrell, need to put their mark on the national team as soon as possible.

Rugby • 11 Nov 19

Johnny Sexton believes it was just the small things that went wrong during the World Cup

Hurting Sexton maintains company line

In his first interview after Ireland's disappointing World Cup Johnny Sexton points to the small margins.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 07 Nov 19

Joe Schmidt: 'For us to do that on the biggest stage is the biggest disappointment'

Schmidt didn't see New Zealand no-show coming

Joe Schmidt admits he didn't foresee Ireland's dire performance against New Zealand coming down the line despite four sobering defeats in 2019.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 23 Oct 19

Joe Schmidt is greeted by a fan as the squad returned from Japan

Schmidt holds hands up on World Cup failure

Joe Schmidt says he takes responsibility for Ireland's World Cup failure and conceded that things could have been done differently.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 22 Oct 19

Former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt Joe Schmidt

Van Graan salutes Schmidt despite World Cup shocker

Munster coach Johann van Graan has paid tribute to Joe Schmidt despite the Kiwi's tenure as Ireland coach ending in ignominy in Tokyo on Sunday.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 21 Oct 19

'The reality of the Irish performances is that they simply weren't good enough'

Lack of development cost Ireland dearly in the end

Ireland's game didn't develop enough over the last year or two to give Rory Best and Joe Schmidt the send-off that they truly deserved, writes Jonny Holland

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 21 Oct 19

'One criticism coming from camp is that it was probably too structured'

O'Leary: Schmidt's system hurt Irish skill levels

Former Ireland scrum-half Tomas O'Leary has argued the team's regimented structure under the coaching of Joe Schmidt may have negatively impacted upon the players' skill levels.

Rugby • 19 Oct 19

Joe Schmidt oversaw the most successful era in Irish rugby

'It's heartbreaking, I've lived this job for six years'

A heartbroken Joe Schmidt couldn't hide his disappointment in the aftermath of Ireland's latest World Cup quarter-final exit, which spells the end of his time in charge.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 19 Oct 19

Joe Schmidt may make a couple of change to the Ireland team

Possible Ireland team to play New Zealand

Joe Schmidt is unlikely to make too many changes to the Ireland side to face New Zealand on Saturday.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 16 Oct 19

Schmidt has got the better of Hansen twice in recent years

Hansen looking to lay traps for old foe Schmidt

Steve Hansen has ramped up the mind games ahead of New Zealand's World Cup quarter-final with Ireland, pledging to lay false traps for master tactician Joe Schmidt.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 14 Oct 19

Tadhg Furlong carries into Ardie Savea and Kieran Read in Ireland's November 2018 clash with New Zealand

'Hard work' & 'physicality' - Furlong plots NZ downfall

Tadhg Furlong has warned that to switch off even for a second against New Zealand will cost Ireland the chance of a maiden Rugby World Cup semi-final.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 13 Oct 19

Bundee Aki was sent off for a high tackle

Hopeful Schmidt: 'Hard to argue' with Aki red

Joe Schmidt says Bundee Aki's sending off is "hard to argue" with as he prepares a team for a World Cup quarter-final clash with New Zealand or South Africa.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 12 Oct 19

Joe Schmidt, left, IRFU head of operations Ger Carmody and scrum coach Greg Feek examine the playing surface at Hakatanomori Stadium

Irish pitch concerns in Fukuoka ahead of Samoa clash

Ireland have expressed concerns with the state of the Hakatanomori Stadium pitch ahead of Saturday's decisive Pool A World Cup clash with Samoa.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 11 Oct 19

Storm a 'distraction' says Schmidt but players focused

Ireland can't allow themselves to become too distracted by the typhoon threatening the Scotland-Japan match and his team's chances of topping the pool, says Joe Schmidt.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 10 Oct 19

Iain Henderson: "All we can hope for now is that it comes to fruition over the weekend."

'The knockouts have started a week earlier' - Henderson

Ireland's defeat by Japan has thrust Joe Schmidt's men into knockout rugby a week early at the World Cup, admits Iain Henderson.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 09 Oct 19

Ireland have eight days to turn things around

'Confidence-hit' Ireland on World Cup rescue mission

Ireland did little to repair the damage done by defeat to Japan but coach Joe Schmidt has nine days to figure out how the team can rediscover their mojo.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 04 Oct 19

Joe Schmidt: 'I thought we created lots'

Securing bonus point a 'massive relief' says Schmidt

Joe Schmidt cut a relieved figure as he declared himself "delighted" with Ireland's bonus-point win over Russia.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 03 Oct 19

Recap: Ireland 35-0 Russia

The action as it happened from Ireland's third Rugby World Cup pool game against Russia in Kobe

Rugby • 03 Oct 19

Kobe Misaki Stadium has a capacity of 30,132

Roof shut as Ireland set to feel more heat in Japan

Ireland must be ready for more sauna-like conditions when they take on Russia under a closed roof on Thursday, says Joe Schmidt.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 01 Oct 19

'Incredibly proud' Sexton to lead charge against Russia

New Ireland captain Johnny Sexton says he has been thinking about leading his country since he was a child and is "incredibly proud".

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 01 Oct 19

CJ Stander: "This is what you want to do when you're growing up, thinking about being part of a World Cup'

Stander desperate to go again and wipe away the pain

CJ Stander has declared himself ready to play his third World Cup match in 11 days when Ireland face Russia in Kobe on Thursday.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 30 Sep 19

Schmidt: Ireland now in World Cup 'dogfight'

Joe Schmidt admits Ireland are now in a World Cup "dogfight" after the stunning defeat to Japan.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 28 Sep 19

Jamie Joseph: "Yes, at times they are illegal, but at all times they are a very strong scrum."

Jamie Joseph doubles down on Irish scrummaging stance

Jamie Joseph has doubled down on Japan's claims that Ireland scrummage illegally.

Rugby World Cup 2019 • 26 Sep 19

Recap: Your morning sports updates

Read back on all the latest sports news from this September Thursday morning.

Other sport • 26 Sep 19

Japan prop Yusuke Kizu claimed Cian Healy "steps out" and illegally angles in at scrummages

Japan jibe will give Healy extra motivation - Schmidt

Joe Schmidt has tipped Cian Healy to prove a big point in Saturday's World Cup clash against Japan after the hosts accused the Ireland prop of illegal scrummaging.

Rugby • 26 Sep 19