Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Ryan Baird's try just after half time was the turning point in the game

Cullen: Second-half start key in win over La Rochelle

Leo Cullen says his side rose to the occasion, as they ended La Rochelle's reign as European Champions at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 15 Apr 24

Leinster's battle with La Rochelle kicks off at 5.30pm

Leinster braced for La Rochelle and a 'Cork bandwagon'

Leinster and La Rochelle are preparing for the latest installment of what has become the best rivalry in Europe.

Rugby • 13 Apr 24

Liam Turner (right) celebrates Leinster's seventh and final try

Cullen: 'Overall, it's a great win for us'

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen was thrilled with what he called the "perfect" result for his side, as they cemented their place at the top of the BKT United Rugby Championship with a comprehensive 47-14 win against the Bulls.

Rugby • 30 Mar 24

Luke McGrath (right) scored one of Leinster's seven tries

Second-half composure pleases Leinster boss Cullen

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen praised his side's composure as they avoided a potential banana skin to go back to the top of the BKT United Rugby Championship table.

Rugby • 17 Feb 24

Harry Byrne is back from an ankle injury to start

Cullen: 'Great opportunity' ahead for Byrne v Leicester

Leinster coach Leo Cullen believes Harry Byrne has a "great opportunity" to show what he's capable of, with Byrne set to start at out-half for the province in their Investec Champions Cup Pool 4 meeting with Leicester Tigers tomorrow.

Rugby • 19 Jan 24

John Cooney (c) celebrates at the end of the game

'Gutsy' win pleases McFarland as Ulster do double

Ulster coach Dan McFarland hailed his side's "gutsy" win over Leinster, just the team's third win in 22 games at the RDS.

Rugby • 01 Jan 24

Joe McCarthy excelled in the victory over Munster

McCarthy: Snyman competition will 'bring out the best'

Leinster lock Joe McCarthy insists he is relishing the arrival of RG Snyman from Munster, saying the addition of the double World Cup winner can only improve his game.

Rugby • 28 Dec 23

Jordan Larmour scored a crucial try when the teams met at the end of last month

Cullen warns Leinster must 'respect' festive fixture

Ahead of Leinster's St Stephen's Day trip to Munster, Leo Cullen has warned his players that they must "respect the fixture".

Rugby • 20 Dec 23

Robbie Henshaw, centre, scored the third of Leinster's five tries

Second half start pleases Cullen in win against Sale

Leo Cullen was keen to stress the positives, after Leinster made it two wins from two in the Investec Champions Cup with a sloppy 37-27 win against Sale Sharks at the RDS.

Rugby • 16 Dec 23

James Ryan (l) and Garry Ringrose (c) talk to referee Matthew Carley

Cullen happy to continue with Leinster co-captains

Leo Cullen is happy to continue with Garry Ringrose and James Ryan as Leinster co-captains despite a run-in with the referee in last weekend's Champions Cup win over La Rochelle.

Rugby • 16 Dec 23

RG Snyman (l) and Leo Cullen pictured at a URC game in 2022

Leinster's Cullen bats away questions about Snyman move

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen refused to rule out a potential move for Munster's RG Snyman but said "out of respect for all different parties", he would not comment further.

Rugby • 15 Dec 23

Mack back with a bang as Connacht take silver linings

Pete Wilkins was loath to look for silver linings in the immediate aftermath of an agonising URC derby defeat to Leinster but Mack Hansen's stunning return to action pleased the Connacht boss.

Rugby • 04 Dec 23

Cullen: Great advert for URC but 'a bit too exciting'

It was another great advert for the United Rugby Championship, said Leo Cullen, but Leinster's dramatic win over Connacht was a "bit too exciting" for comfort.

Rugby • 03 Dec 23

Blade: Connacht have 'no one to blame but ourselves'

Captain Caolin Blade said that Connacht have "no one to blame but ourselves" following their last-gasp defeat to Leinster.

Rugby • 02 Dec 23

Ciarán Frawley stepped in for Ross Byrne

Cullen pleased with win, hails 'excellent' Frawley

Leo Cullen hailed Ciarán Frawley's influence after the replacement steered Leinster to victory over Munster.

Rugby • 26 Nov 23

Leinster host old rivals Munster on Saturday

Cullen: This game takes on a life of its own

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says he expects Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship inter-pro against Munster to be as ferocious as ever, as the pair meet for the first time this season.

Rugby • 25 Nov 23

Hugo Keenan played for Ireland's Seven team for two years

Leinster 'open-minded' about Sevens switches

Leinster remain "open-minded" about the possibility of some of their players joining Ireland's Sevens programme and will facilitate it where they can.

Rugby • 19 Nov 23

Cullen: Little bit flat but we won, we got five points

Leo Cullen admitted Leinster lost their way for a spell during the eight-try win over Scarlets at the RDS.

Rugby • 18 Nov 23

Josh van der Flier is one of nine Ireland internationals to return for Leinster

Cullen: Internationals 'keen to get back' after RWC

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says he doesn't expect a World Cup hangover from his returning internationals in Saturday's URC meeting with Scarlets.

Rugby • 18 Nov 23

Jacques Nienaber celebrates with the World Cup

No regrets, no rush back for Nienaber, says Cullen

Jacques Nienaber will be given all the time he needs to celebrate South Africa's monumental achievement before he takes up duties at Leinster, says Leo Cullen.

Rugby • 30 Oct 23

Rob Russell came off the bench to score two tries

Cullen: Win v Sharks 'a step in the right direction'

Leo Cullen says Leinster have taken a "step in the right direction" with their bonus-point win against the Sharks, but admits his side still looked a bit rusty as they picked up their first victory of the season.

Rugby • 30 Oct 23

Leinster led from the opening minute until the 73rd minute at the Aviva Stadium

Latest scars won't heal easily for Leinster

Two seasons in which Leinster have been considerable favourites to win a double have ultimately ended trophyless, and it's hard to think that the scars of that will heal quickly.

Rugby • 22 May 23

Cullen: "It's not like you just turn up and someone's going to hand it to you"

Cullen: 'Quality of people' will bring Leinster back

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says he has no doubt that Leinster's day will come, as they fell to another agonising Heineken Champions Cup final defeat on Saturday.

Rugby • 22 May 23

Leo Cullen is looking to win the title for a second time as head coach

Cullen: 'Pressure is a funny thing, isn't it?'

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admits the pressure is on his side to deliver in tomorrow's Heineken Champions Cup final against La Rochelle, but says it's a challenge they're more that willing to accept.

Rugby • 19 May 23

Leinster have the chance to pick up silverware this weekend

Cullen: Leinster won't dwell on URC disappointment

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says he's confident his side can recover from Saturday's disappointment, as attention now turns to this weekend's Heineken Champions Cup final against La Rochelle.

Rugby • 15 May 23