Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Lancaster (left) is departing at the end of the season, with Cullen (right) also in a contract year

Leinster's future is uncertain after years of stability

With plenty of changes both on and off the pitch at Leinster in the next year, the province have some crucial decisions to make about their future, writes Neil Treacy.

Rugby • 27 Sep 22

Dan Sheehan scored four of Leinster's six tries

Cullen pleased after more 'consistent' performance

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says the attitude of his players was the most pleasing aspect of this evening's 42-10 win against Benetton in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 23 Sep 22

Lancaster (right) has been with Leinster since 2016

Updated Leo Cullen quiet on Stuart Lancaster exit rumours

Leo Cullen says speculation around the future of senior coach Stuart Lancaster is just "part and parcel" of rugby. Reports in the French media suggest Lancaster is set to join Top14 giants Racing 92 this summer.

Rugby • 22 Sep 22

Jimmy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw and Josh van der Flier are among those to return for Leinster

Internationals return as Leinster make 11 changes

Leinster will be close to full strength for tomorrow's BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with Benetton, with some frontline Ireland internationals among 11 changes to the starting team.

Rugby • 22 Sep 22

'Some pretty ugly things took place in the second half'

'Physically second best' Blues have work to do - Cullen

Leo Cullen admitted his Leinster side were physically second best in the latter stages of their URC opener in Zebre on Saturday, but the Blues boss was still happy to dust off the cobwebs with a bonus-point win.

Rugby • 17 Sep 22

Leo Cullen with Luke McGrath during training on Monday

Cullen: Last season's near misses have sharpened focus

Leinster were left with a hollow feeling following the disappointing conclusion to last season but Leo Cullen said it has "sharpened the focus" as they prepare to return to competitive action.

Rugby • 16 Sep 22

Leinster's season ended with a URC semi-final defeat to the Bulls

Leinster looking to bounce back after trophyless season

It says a lot about the standards Leinster have set for themselves that a Champions Cup final appearance and a URC semi-final simply doesn't cut it, writes Neil Treacy in our fourth provincial preview.

Rugby • 16 Sep 22

Sean O'Brien spent three seasons at London Irish before returning to coach Leinster

O'Brien 'in the thick of it the whole time' - Cullen

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says new coaches Sean O'Brien and Andrew Goodman have settled in well, as they prepare for the start of the new United Rugby Championship campaign.

Rugby • 26 Aug 22

Leo Cullen was voted in by his fellow coaches

Leinster's Cullen voted URC coach of the season

Leinster's Leo Cullen has won the United Rugby Championship's coach of the season award.

Rugby • 14 Jun 22

Andrew Goodman in action for Leinster back in 2013

Goodman to replace Contepomi as Leinster assistant

New Zealander Andrew Goodman has been confirmed as Leinster's new assistant coach.

Rugby • 14 Jun 22

The Leinster conveyor belt of talent continues to roll, and it's hard to see past the four-time European champions being outside of title contention on both fronts again next year

'Painful lessons' for Leinster after trophyless season

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admitted his side have to learn some "painful lessons" after they finished the season without a trophy for the first time since 2017.

Rugby • 13 Jun 22

The Bulls celebrate after scoring a second half penalty try

Leinster's URC title hopes ended by rampaging Bulls

Leinster's reign as URC champions has been ended after a 27-26 semi-final defeat to the Bulls at the RDS.

Rugby • 10 Jun 22

Leinster held their final run-through at the RDS yesterday morning

Leinster looking to feed off 'nervous energy' - Cullen

Leinster will look to move one step closer to a fifth URC title in a row, when they welcome the Bulls to the RDS this evening.

Rugby • 10 Jun 22

Johnny Sexton returns from injury to take his place on the bench

Leinster banking on stamina against physical Bulls unit

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen believes his side still have plenty of fuel in the tank as they look to cap off their season with silverware.

Rugby • 09 Jun 22

Cullen says Bulls director of rugby Jake White gave him valuable advice early in his coaching career

Cullen looking to lock horns with mentor Jake White

While Leinster were able to release some steam from the valve in Saturday's United Rugby Championship quarter-final win against the Glasgow Warriors, it would be foolish to suggest they got anything more than a 40 minute contest.

Rugby • 06 Jun 22

Leinster players gather together after their 76-14 win, joined by Sean Cronin's children Finn, Cillian and Saoirse

Cullen pleased with ruthless streak after 12-try win

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admits he briefly wondered whether his side were heading towards another afternoon of disappointment, before they went on to hammer a dreadful Glasgow Warriors side in the United Rugby Championship quarter-final.

Rugby • 04 Jun 22

Cullen: 'You have to keep working hard in the background. We're competing at the top end, you are coming up against the best teams in Europe'

'The group is as motivated as it has ever been'

Last week's Heineken Champions Cup final defeat will hurt for a while yet, but Leo Cullen is doing everything to refocus minds and lift morale.

Rugby • 04 Jun 22

Leinster trained at the RDS this afternoon ahead of their quarter-final with Glasgow tomorrow

Leinster looking to 'park' La Rochelle defeat - Cullen

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admits the pain of last week's Champions Cup final defeat to La Rochelle may still be playing on the minds of his players as they return to URC action tomorrow.

Rugby • 03 Jun 22

Sexton has been struggling with an ankle injury since last week's Champions Cup final

No Sexton or Lowe as Leinster make seven changes

Johnny Sexton and James Lowe are among those who drop out for Leinster, as Leo Cullen makes seven changes to his side for tomorrow's United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Glasgow Warriors at the RDS.

Rugby • 03 Jun 22

Leinster didn't touch the ball in the final 11 minutes

Sense of deja vu will haunt beaten Leinster the most

Leinster will have many regrets from their Champions Cup defeat to La Rochelle, writes Neil Treacy.

Rugby • 30 May 22

A dejected Johnny Sexton walks past the Champions Cup trophy after Leinster's defeat to La Rochelle.

'Everyone is pretty devastated in there' - Sexton

Johnny Sexton put on a brave face, but it was hard to mask the dejection in the aftermath of their Heineken Champions Cup final defeat to La Rochelle.

Rugby • 28 May 22

La Rochelle players celebrate with the Champions Cup trophy

Leinster heartbreak as La Rochelle win dramatic final

Arthur Retiere scored a 79th minute try as Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle defeated Leinster 24-21 in the Champions Cup final in Marseille.

Rugby • 29 May 22

Leo Cullen cut a calm figure at Friday afternoon's press conference

'Maybe Kerr-Barlow will play, I don't know' - Cullen

Leo Cullen says Leinster won't be surprised if La Rochelle's squad tomorrow is different to the official panel named today.

Rugby • 27 May 22

Johnny Sexton, Cian Healy and Devin Toner have played in all five of Leinster's previous finals

Preview: Leinster can count on their five-star veterans

Leinster go in search of their fifth Champions Cup title, and so too do Johnny Sexton and Cian Healy

Rugby • 28 May 22

RTÉ Rugby podcast: The Champions Cup final preview show

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Donal Lenihan as we preview this Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup final between Leinster and La Rochelle.

Rugby • 25 May 22