Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Paul O'Connell captained the last Lions team to tour South Africa, in 2009

Lions sticking with 2021 dates despite Olympic overlap

The British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa in July 2021 will not be shifted despite a direct overlap with the new dates for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Rugby • 30 Mar 20

The Lions could have a preparation game on more familiar soil

Lions game could be played in Ireland before tour

The British and Irish Lions could make an appearance in Ireland, Scotland or Wales ahead of next year's South Africa tour.

Rugby • 05 Feb 20

Alun Wyn Jones: "The losses still hurt but they inspire you to go on as well."

Alun Wyn Jones using World Cup pain to fuel Lions drive

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones admits that World Cup pain is spurring him on to make a fourth Lions tour.

Rugby • 11 Dec 19

Warren Gatland: 'I am absolutely thrilled with how this schedule looks.'

Premiership headache for Lions as schedule unveiled

The Lions' 2021 South Africa tour will kick off in Cape Town just seven days after the Gallagher Premiership final.

Rugby • 04 Dec 19

Warren Gatland: 'I am really excited about the opportunity to come back home'

Gatland agrees deal to take over Chiefs after World Cup

Warren Gatland has signed a four-year deal to become head coach of the Chiefs.

Rugby • 28 Jun 19

Gatland crushes England talk & takes swipe at Jones

Warren Gatland has ruled out coaching England, with the 2021 British and Irish Lions boss unable to resist having a dig at Eddie Jones.

Rugby • 12 Jun 19

Warren Gatland has been named Lions head coach for the third time

Warren Gatland named Lions head coach again

Warren Gatland has been confirmed as the Lions head coach for 2021 tour of South Africa.

Rugby • 12 Jun 19

Warren Gatland is widely expected to be named the Lions head coach

Gatland set to been named Lions coach for third time

The British and Irish Lions will name their head coach for 2021 tour of South Africa on Wednesday, with Warren Gatland widely expected to be given the honour for the third time.

Rugby • 10 Jun 19

The Sunday Telegraph has said Warren Gatland is set to take charge of a Lions tour for the third time in 2021

Report: Gatland set to be named Lions coach for 2021

Warren Gatland is set to be reappointed as British and Irish Lions head coach for the 2021 South Africa tour, according to a report.

Rugby • 21 Apr 19

It appears that Eddie Jones doesn't think much of the Lions position that Warren Gatland held on the last two tours

'That's an ambassador job' - Jones mocks Lions post

Eddie Jones has dismissed the role of Lions head coach as an "ambassador job" while refusing to rule out the possibility of succeeding Michael Cheika as Australia boss.

Rugby • 26 Mar 19

Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt at the Six Nations 2019 launch

Schmidt plays down prospect of coaching Lions in 2021

Joe Schmidt says he "certainly" won't be involved in a coaching role for a year after departing Irish rugby, and "quite likely" for longer in order to spend more time with his family.

Rugby • 23 Jan 19

Warren Gatland: "I've had a couple of informal conversations and that's all it's been at the moment."

Gatland has 'informal' talks about taking Lions again

Warren Gatland has revealed he has held "informal conversations" over coaching the Lions again in 2021.

Rugby • 17 Jan 19

Best: Schmidt would be a success as Lions head coach

Ireland captain Rory Best insists Joe Schmidt could yet lead the British and Irish Lions to success in 2021.

Rugby • 17 Dec 18

Rob Kearney and Rory Best with the 2018 Six Nations and Triple Crown trophies

Six Nations could be condensed for Lions, suggests RFU

Interim England rugby CEO Nigel Melville has called on the Six Nations to condense by one week once every four years to safeguard the British and Irish Lions' future.

Rugby • 06 Dec 18

The Lions face down the All Blacks' haka in 2017

Erasmus: Nothing should threaten future of the Lions

Rassie Erasmus has challenged the rugby world to fight to support the Lions' future.

Rugby • 29 Oct 18

Sam Warburton has not played since leading the 2017 Lions to a drawn series against New Zealand last summer

Injury forces Lions captain Warburton to retire

British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has retired from rugby union at the age of 29 after failing to overcome persistent injury problems.

Rugby • 18 Jul 18

The Lions are unlikely to get extra time for their 2021 tour

Premiership chief rubbishes changing season for Lions

Curtailing English top-flight rugby's season to give the British and Irish Lions more time to prepare for their tour of South Africa in 2021 would be "suicide" for the domestic competition, Premiership Rugby Chief Executive Mark McCafferty has said.

Rugby • 05 Jun 18

Former Wales prop Jones to retire at end of the season

Former Wales and Lions prop Adam Jones has announced that he will retire at the end of the season.

Rugby • 25 Mar 18

'You could look down at the gym though, and see at times, he was getting frustrated.'

Heaslip was very close to making a comeback - Dempsey

Jamie Heaslip came 'very close' to overcoming his injury woes and resuming his rugby career, according to Leinster backs coach Girvan Dempsey.

Rugby • 27 Feb 18

Jared Payne hasn't played since last June

'I haven't been right' - Payne opens up on injury woes

Ulster and Ireland back Jared Payne has opened up on his struggles to recover from the head injury which has kept him sidelined since lats summer's Lions tour to New Zealand.

Rugby • 21 Feb 18

Warburton could be out for up to six months following knee surgery.

Warburton set to miss rest of the season

Wales captain Sam Warburton could be ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing a second operation in three months.

Six Nations • 08 Dec 17

Warren Gatland and Sean O'Brien pictured during the Lions tour

Warren Gatland has 'no issues' with Sean O'Brien

Former Lions head coach Warren Gatland says he has cleared the air with Sean O'Brien following the Irish flanker's criticism of the coaching on last summer's tour to New Zealand.

Rugby • 22 Nov 17

'Disappointed' Gatland takes swipe at Sean O'Brien

Warren Gatland has responded to Sean O'Brien's stinging attack on the Lions coaching team in New Zealand, as he appeared to question the Leinster man's approach to the tour.

Rugby • 29 Oct 17

Donncha O'Callaghan will hang up his boots at the end of the season

O'Callaghan set to bring the curtain down on his career

Former Ireland and Munster lock Donncha O'Callaghan has announced that he will retire from rugby at the end of the current season.

Rugby • 24 Oct 17

Sean O'Brien in action during last summer's first Test

O'Brien clears the air with Gatland

Seán O'Brien says he had a "relaxed" conversation with Lions head coach Warren Gatland following his recent criticism and insists the issue has been put to bed.

Rugby • 17 Oct 17