Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Henry Pollock of Northampton Saints receives a yellow card from referee Andrew Brace during the Investec Champions Cup match between Bath Rugby and Northampton Saints at Recreation Ground on April 10, 2026 in Bath, England.

Bath edge Northampton thriller to reach semis

Northampton were denied an Investec Champions Cup semi-final spot for the third successive season after Bath won an all-time tournament classic 43-41 following a late yellow card for Saints' England star Henry Pollock.

Rugby • 10 Apr

Lawes 'officially un-retiring' from England action

Former England captain Courtney Lawes has made himself available for an international comeback after agreeing to join Gallagher Prem club Sale.

Rugby • 08 Apr

BARNET, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Charlie Bracken and
Max Malins of Saracens celebrate after winning the Investec Champions Cup match between Saracens and Stade Toulousain at StoneX Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Barnet, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty

Trouble for Toulouse after second pool defeat

Saracens produced a victory to rescue their season as they overcame Toulouse 20-14 in a heavyweight Champions Cup clash at StoneX Stadium.

Rugby • 11 Jan

22 September 2025; The Leinster team warm up in front of a backdrop of Table Mountain during a squad training session at SACS High School in Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile

Nienaber: 'We're determined, not entitled to trophies'

Jacques Nienaber has reminded Leinster that they must not feel "entitled" to victory ahead of their United Rugby Championship opener against Stormers on Friday night.

Rugby • 23 Sep 25

'Scrum-half Maxime Lucu was the puppet master of the whole game'

Bordeaux's victory based on method behind the flair

Don't be fooled by the brilliance of the Bordeaux flair players, writes Jonny Holland, they thrive off an exceptional structure.

Rugby • 27 May 25

Henry Pollock suggest he had been grabbed by the throat after the final whistle

Grab on Pollock 'out of order', says Saints boss

Northampton boss Phil Dowson described an incident as "uncalled for and out of order" after Henry Pollock appeared to be grabbed by the throat following Saints' Champions Cup final defeat against Bordeaux Begles.

Rugby • 24 May 25

Union Bordeaux Begles were crowned champions of Europe for the first time

Bordeaux edge Saints in classic Champions Cup final

Bordeaux Begles were crowned kings of Europe for the first time when they combined rapier finishing with relentless forward power to beat Northampton 28-20 in a tense and chaotic Champions Cup final at the Principality Stadium.

Rugby • 24 May 25

Champions Cup final recap: Northampton 20-28 Bordeaux

Northampton Saints and Bordeaux Begles met in the Champions Cup final in Cardiff's Principality Stadium. Relive all the action here.

Rugby • 24 May 25

Maxime Lucu at the Principality Stadium on Friday afternoon

Bordeaux star Lucu wary of Pollock threat

Bordeaux Begles captain Maxime Lucu has described English rugby's man of the moment Henry Pollock as a player with "incredible qualities" and "a threat" to their Investec Champions Cup hopes.

Rugby • 23 May 25

Joey Carbery misses out on a Champions Cup final

Carbery left out of Bordeaux squad for Euro final

Joey Carbery has been left out of the Bordeaux Begles squad for tomorrow's Champions Cup final against Northampton Saints.

Rugby • 23 May 25

Bordeaux are appearing in their first final

Preview: Saints and Bordeaux ready for novel Euro final

Northampton Saints and Union Bordeaux Begles look well matched ahead of their Champions Cup final meeting in Cardiff on Saturday afternoon.

Rugby • 24 May 25

Henry Pollock celebrates Northampton's win over Leinster

Pollock 'simply jumps into it and embraces the contest'

Henry Pollock is being backed by England boss Steve Borthwick to continue his startling breakthrough season by becoming a Test British and Irish Lion this summer.

Rugby • 22 May 25

Saints players celebrate their famous semi-final victory

Dowson challenges Saints to reach peak in Euro final

Northampton Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson has challenged his squad to make sure their peak performance of the season comes in the Champions Cup final against Bordeaux on Saturday

Rugby • 21 May 25

Peter O'Mahony scores for Munster in their 38-20 win over Ulster

Munster's URC play-offs margin for error at zero

With one round remaining in the United Rugby Championship, Munster have their fate in their own hands, while Leinster are locked in for a home quarter-final.

Rugby • 12 May 25

Henry Pollock runs past Sam Prendergast to score Saints' third try

Saints learned Leinster lessons in Euro routs

Everyone was impressed with Leinster's huge knock-out wins over Harlequins and Glasgow Warriors, none more so than Northampton's director of rugby Phil Dowson.

Rugby • 07 May 25

Caelan Doris (r) was replaced in the second half

Nienaber fearful Doris injury 'quite serious'

Jacques Nienaber says Leinster will know more about the extent of Caelan Doris' shoulder injury later in the week but the coach believes it could be "quite serious".

Rugby • 05 May 25

'Absolute disaster' - RTÉ Rugby panel on Leinster shock

The RTÉ Rugby panel of Donal Lenihan, Bernard Jackman, Fiona Coghlan and Jamie Heaslip review Leinster's semi-final defeat to Northampton.

Rugby • 05 May 25

Leinster out-half Sam Prendergast reacts to a missed conversion against Northampton Saints

Jackman: Only so many learnings Leinster can take

Bernard Jackman says there are only so many learnings Leinster can take after their latest European heartbreak, this time at the penultimate stage of the Investec Champions Cup.

Rugby • 04 May 25

Northampton players celebrate one of Tommy Freeman's three tries

'They said Leinster by 30, but here we are' - Freeman

Northampton boss Phil Dowson hailed his team's "courage" as they shocked Leinster to claim a first Investec Champions Cup final appearance since 2011.

Rugby • 03 May 25

Leinster are out of Europe after shock defeat to Northampton

Saints stun Leinster in ten-try Euro thriller

Leinster have been knocked out of the Investec Champions Cup after losing a thrilling semi-final clash with Northampton Saints 37-34.

Rugby • 04 May 25

Champions Cup: Leinster 34-37 Northampton - recap

Leinster square up to Northampton Saints with a place in the Champions Cup final up for grabs. Follow the action here.

Rugby • 03 May 25

Jack Conan is among the replacements for this afternoon's visit of Northampton Saints

Conan: Anything but winning is deemed not good enough

Leinster back row Jack Conan speaks to RTÉ Sport's Neil Treacy ahead of Saturday's Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints.

Rugby • 03 May 25

Henry Pollock is on the shortlist for European player of the year

Saints using Red Sox story to inspire against Leinster

Henry Pollock has been taking inspiration from the Boston Red Sox ahead of Northampton's daunting Champions Cup semi-final against mighty Leinster.

Rugby • 02 May 25

Andrew Porter and Jordie Barrett (r) will be among the replacements for Leinster this week

Cullen putting faith in Leinster's bench impact

Leo Cullen says last year's win against Northampton Saints has played a big part in his team selection for tomorrow's Investec Champions Cup semi-final against the Premiership champions.

Rugby • 02 May 25

Jordie Barrett, pictured at the captain's run on Friday is among the replacements for the Champions Cup semi-final

Barrett on the bench as Henshaw starts against Saints

Leinster will hold Jordie Barrett and Andrew Porter back on the bench for Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints.

Rugby • 02 May 25