Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Ireland capable of upset against familiar foe France

Jonny Holland reflects on Ireland's pool defeat to New Zealand as Scott Bemand's side dust themselves down and refocus on the quarter-final against France.

Rugby • 09 Sep

New Zealand's full back Braxton Sorensen-McGee (R) sores a try during the Women’s Rugby World Cup pool C match between New Zealand and Japan at Sandy Park, Exeter, southwest England, on August 31, 2025.

WRWC: Kiwis cruise past Japan ahead of Ireland clash

New Zealand eased into the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after a comprehensive 62-19 victory over Japan in Exeter.

Rugby • 31 Aug

Savea to spend season in Japan after November Tests

All Blacks star back row Ardie Savea will skip Super Rugby with Moana Pasifika next year and take a sabbatical in Japan at the Kobe Steelers club, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced.

Rugby • 17 Jun

New Zealand Rugby accuses INEOS of sponsorship breaches

Manchester United co-owner Ineos has been accused of failing to honour a sponsorship agreement with New Zealand Rugby.

Rugby • 11 Feb

New Zealand winger Caleb Clarke has been explaining his Irish heritage

Clarke exploring Irish roots ahead of blockbuster clash

New Zealand winger Caleb Clarke has used his team's northern tour as a way of exploring his Irish heritage.

Rugby • 05 Nov 24

Jonny Holland: 'You can see with New Zealand that there's a bit of an identity change, with more offloading, different set-piece set-ups and a varied exit strategy'

New-look New Zealand arrive with attacking ambition

Jonny Holland says that while New Zealand's attacking game looks ready to click, their defensive work will need tidying up if they are to defeat Ireland on Friday night.

Rugby • 05 Nov 24

New Zealand are set to host France in a Test series in the summer of 2025

NZ surprised by France player exclusion for Test series

New Zealand's rugby union is seeking more information from global governing body World Rugby following France's unilateral decision to exclude some national squad players from next year's Test series against the All Blacks.

Rugby • 03 Oct 24

Scott Barrett will captain New Zealand in their upcoming Test series against England

Barrett to captain All Blacks as Robertson names squad

Scott Barrett will captain New Zealand in their two-Test series against England as Scott Robertson named his first squad as All Blacks head coach.

Rugby • 24 Jun 24

The players union has come out in strong support of reforms proposed by NZR chair Patsy Reddy

Players threaten split from New Zealand rugby union

New Zealand's players' union has threatened to split with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and set up a new governing body for the professional game if proposed reforms are scuppered by the country's provincial unions later this month.

Rugby • 21 May 24

New Zealand back row Ardie Savea (l) and South Africa captain Siya Kolisi (r)

Preview: Fitting rivalry to decide 2023 Rugby World Cup

Neil Treacy previews the 2023 Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France.

Rugby World Cup • 28 Oct 23

Where will the Rugby World Cup final be won and lost?

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and former All Black hooker James Parsons to look ahead at the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and South Africa.

Rugby • 26 Oct 23

Lenihan: 'It was an extraordinary contest'

Lenihan: Ireland fall short in game fit for the final

Ireland came up just short in an "extraordinary" World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand, according to RTÉ Rugby analyst Donal Lenihan.

Rugby • 14 Oct 23

The defeat was a final game of rugby for the retiring Johnny Sexton

Ireland's RWC dreams ended by clinical New Zealand

Ireland are out of the Rugby World Cup after a 28-24 quarter-final exit to New Zealand.

Rugby • 15 Oct 23

Ireland are out to make history against New Zealand

Ireland v New Zealand: All you need to know

Team news, TV and radio coverage and everything else you need to know ahead of Ireland's crunch Rugby World Cup quarter-final with New Zealand at Stade de France.

Rugby • 13 Oct 23

Dan Sheehan: 'When it comes down to it you've just have to figure out how to win the game'

Sheehan: Grand Slam grit valuable for All Blacks clash

Dan Sheehan believes the nature of Ireland's Grand Slam victory over England will stand to the team when they face the might of New Zealand tomorrow evening in Paris.

Rugby • 13 Oct 23

Sam Cane leading the haka ahead of the second Test against Ireland last year

Captain Cane leading as best he can in McCaw's shadow

Sam Cane is a hard-working openside flanker, but as All Blacks captain he lacks the aura of some who went before him, not least Richie McCaw.

Rugby • 14 Oct 23

Rory Best and Ireland tasted familiar tang of quarter-final defeat to New Zealand four years ago

Walking tightrope of newfound swagger and old baggage

Yet again Ireland face into a World Cup quarter-final, but for once there is genuine confidence that they can reach the last four. Conor Neville tries to marry past horrors with the current mood, which is being perceived as arrogance by some.

Rugby • 14 Oct 23

Dane Coles runs over for New Zealand's 13th try of the night

New Zealand hit Italy with 14-try mauling

New Zealand lit the touchpaper on their Rugby World Cup campaign with a 14-try hammering of Italy.

Rugby • 30 Sep 23

France's scrum-half and captain Antoine Dupont (L) is tackled by New Zealand's scrum-half Aaron Smith

Rugby World Cup recap: France 27-13 New Zealand

The opening game of the 2023 RWC saw hosts France take on the mighty All Blacks at the Stade de France.

Rugby • 08 Sep 23

New Zealand's Richie Mo'unga is congratulated by Finlay Christie on scoring his side's fourth try

South Africa undone by blistering All Blacks start

New Zealand rode another blistering start to a 35-20 victory over South Africa at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday to place one hand on the Rugby Championship trophy.

Rugby • 15 Jul 23

Joe Schmidt will finish up with the All Blacks following the World Cup

Holland among All Black picks but Schmidt out

New Zealand coach-in-waiting Scott Robertson has named former Munster player Jason Holland among his backroom staff but Joe Schmidt is heading out the door.

Rugby • 27 Apr 23

Portia Woodman of the Black Ferns celebrates with fans last year

NZR launches 10-year plan to grow women's game

New Zealand Rugby has launched an ambitious 10-year plan to transform the women's game and tap into the explosion of interest sparked by the Black Ferns triumph on home soil at last year's World Cup.

Rugby • 05 Apr 23

Ian Foster: 'I won't be re-applying for the job'

All Blacks boss Foster unhappy with New Zealand Rugby

New Zealand Rugby will appoint a new All Blacks coach within six weeks to succeed Ian Foster after the World Cup.

Rugby • 01 Mar 23

Bernard Laporte has self-suspended from all positions within World Rugby

WR refers Laporte case to independent ethics officer

World Rugby has referred Bernard Laporte's decision to suspend himself from duty to its independent ethics officer for review after the governing body's vice-chairman was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence on corruption charges.

Rugby • 14 Dec 22

Finn Russell offloads to Sione Tuipulotu for his first try against Argentina

Autumn Nations Series team of the week

It was a mixed bag of matches in round three of the Autumn Nations Series, with players from seven countries represented including Ireland and Georgia.

Rugby • 21 Nov 22