Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Les Kiss will take on the Lions in Adelaide

Kiss to lead combined Australia-NZ team against Lions

Incoming Australia head coach Les Kiss will take charge of a combined Australia and New Zealand invitational team against the British & Irish Lions in a tour match in July.

Rugby • 19 May

Les Kiss will become Australia's fifth coach in seven years

Kiss to succeed Schmidt as Australia coach in 2026

Former Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss will succeed Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach, but will not take charge until next year after the New Zealander agreed to extend his reign by another nine months.

Rugby • 30 Apr

Queensland Reds head coach Les Kiss was director of rugby at Ulster from 2015 to 2018

Ulster to welcome Queensland Reds and Kiss to Belfast

Ulster Rugby have confirmed a one-off exhibition game against Super Rugby side Queensland Reds next season.

United Rugby Championship • 18 Jun 24

Kiss was an assistant with Ireland for six years before taking charge of Ulster between 2015 and 2018

Kiss returns to Australia with Queensland Reds

Former Ireland and Ulster coach Less Kiss has returned to Ausatralia, where he has been appointed as head coach of the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby.

Rugby • 20 Jul 23

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has indicated he will continue to only select players based in Ireland for his Test squads

Zebo's Irish snub sharpens O'Brien's Premiership focus

Former Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien is hoping to kick-start his own career with London Irish, having made just one appearance for his new club before the suspension of the league.

Rugby • 13 Aug 20

Paddy Jackson will be entrusted with the playmaking duties next season at London Irish after completing a year at Perpignan

Kiss: Majority of London Irish fans support Jackson

London Irish head coach Les Kiss insists the majority of Exiles fans support the decision to sign Paddy Jackson.

Rugby • 10 Jul 19

(L-R) Ollie Hoskins, Ben Meehan, Ben Loader and Ian Keatley celebrate promotion

Joy for Declan Kidney as London Irish seal promotion

Declan Kidney's London Irish secured promotion back to the Gallagher Premiership after recording a 46-7 victory over Richmond.

Rugby • 19 Apr 19

Declan Kidney (l) and Les Kiss have worked together with Ireland

Kidney and Kiss to reunite with London Irish

Ireland's Grand Slam-winning coach Declan Kidney is set to take over at London Irish, according to a report in the Telegraph.

Rugby • 08 Mar 18

Ulster part company with Les Kiss

Les Kiss has left his position as Ulster director of rugby by mutual consent.

Rugby • 31 Jan 18

Kiss gets perfect response after week of soul-searching

The stunning comeback against Munster in the Pro 14 was the perfect response to banish the hurt of the recent defeat to Connacht, according to Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss.

Rugby • 01 Jan 18

Les Kiss must raise his troops ahead of clashes with Munster and Leinster

'We go away with our tail between our legs'

Les Kiss struggled to find any positives from Ulster's 28-point Pro14 loss to Connacht but was hopeful that some of his young guns will learn from the chastening experience.

Rugby • 24 Dec 17

Ulster earned back-to-back wins over the Quins

Kiss takes heart from wrapping up festive bonus

Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss was a happy man after his side's six-try 52-24 bonus-point victory over Harlequins which secured second spot in Pool One of the European Champions Cup.

Rugby • 16 Dec 17

The proposed switch to Ulster should ensure more game time for Jordi Murphy

Jordi Murphy's Ulster switch to be confirmed shortly

Following reports that Jordi Murphy is to make the switch from Leinster to Ulster, RTÉ Sport now understands that a formal announcement on the move will be made before the end of the week.

Rugby • 05 Dec 17

Ulster's Jacob Stockdale celebrates his try with Charles Piutau

Kiss savours 'bizarre moment' of Ulster brilliance

Les Kiss toasted a "bizarre moment" of Ulster brilliance that saw Jacob Stockdale dive over for the winning try in Friday night's Pro14 derby against Connacht.

Rugby • 07 Oct 17

Ravenhill has not been a happy hunting ground for Connacht

Muldoon wants to bury 'graveyard' tag in Belfast

John Muldoon will lead Connacht into the first interpro of the season aiming to bury the idea that Ravenhill is a "graveyard" for his side.

Rugby • 06 Oct 17

Jackman rues running into in-form Ulster

Bernard Jackman reckons that his Dragons side ran into Ulster at the wrong time with the Les Kiss's unbeaten side producing their best performance of the season to date.

Rugby • 23 Sep 17

Jean Deysel has joined Ulster after completing a three-month loan spell with Munster

Ulster snaffle Springbok back row Deysel

Ulster have announced the signing of Springbok back row Jean Deysel on a two-year deal.

Rugby • 30 May 17

Ruan Pienaar said an emotional goodbye to the Ulster fans

Kiss says day of tears & farewells fuelled Ulster win

Les Kiss said Ulster used the emotion of a day of farewells to fuel their slaying of Leinster at the Kingspan Stadium.

Rugby • 07 May 17

Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss (L) and Rory Best

Kiss confident Ulster can secure play-off place

Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss admits that beating Munster in the Pro12 derby on Saturday could help to salvage a disappointing season.

Rugby • 11 Apr 17

Schalk van der Merwe will join Ulster in the summer

Ulster capture Schalk van der Merwe on two-year deal

Ulster have signed South African prop Schalk van der Merwe from Super Rugby outfit Southern Kings on a two-year deal.

Rugby • 08 Mar 17

Craig Gilroy starts at full-back for the first time

Pro12 teams: Gilroy to start at full-back

Ireland backs Andrew Trimble, Craig Gilroy and Jared Payne have been included in the Ulster team for Friday's Guinness Pro12 fixture against Treviso at Kingspan Stadium.

Rugby • 02 Mar 17

Les Kiss said there had been interest abroad in Paddy Jackson before he signed his new two-year deal.

In-demand Paddy Jackson signs new Ulster contract

Paddy Jackson has signed a two-year contract extension with Ulster Rugby, with the province revealing they had to fend off interest from European rivals for his signature.

Rugby • 01 Mar 17

Arno Botha, pictured in action for the Bulls, made his South African debut in 2013

Ulster capture Botha and Cooney in double swoop

South African international backrower Arno Botha and Connacht's John Cooney will join Ulster later this year, it was confirmed this morning.

Rugby • 16 Jan 17

Kiss admits Ulster couldn't handle Exeter pressure

Ulster boss Les Kiss was disappointed after their Champions Cup loss in Exeter without a bonus point effectively ended any hopes of the province advancing.

Rugby • 15 Jan 17

Andrew Trimble has recovered from a foot injury

Trimble back to boost Ulster ahead of derby clash

Andrew Trimble will return to the Ulster fold for their Friday night Pro12 derby clash with Connacht.

Rugby • 19 Dec 16