Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Ahsee Tuala of Northampton Saints scores a try

Northampton grab Champions Cup rugby spot

Northampton fought back from being 22-6 down and having Tom Wood sent off to secure a thrilling 23-22 win over Stade Francais and secure European Champions Cup rugby next season.

Rugby • 26 May 17

Wales winger George North has a history of head injuries in rugby

World Rugby to contact RFU about North injury

World Rugby will seek further information from England's Rugby Football Union about an "apparent non-compliance" with its protocols over the handling of George North's recent head injury.

Rugby • 23 Dec 16

George North controversially passed a head-injury assessment earlier while playing for Northampton this month

Rugby authorities face flak over North decision

Former Saracens captain Alistair Hargreaves says the failure by the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby to sanction Northampton for their handling of George North's latest head injury a "disgrace".

Rugby • 22 Dec 16

Jack McGrath and Josh Van der Flier celebrate afterwards

Cullen praise for 'clinical' Leinster players

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen was delighted to see his side show their clinical edge in the comprehensive 60-13 Champions Cup victory over Northampton Saints at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 18 Dec 16

Recap: Leinster v Northampton

Munster and Connacht came out on different sides of dramatic encounters but Leinster simply steamrolled Northampton at the Aviva Stadium. Here is how the games unfolded

Rugby • 17 Dec 16

Nacewa powers over for his second-half try

Nine-try Leinster trounce sorry Saints

Ruthless Leinster made it a week to forget for Northampton after inflicting a 60-13 Champions Cup defeat on the former European champions at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 17 Dec 16

Dylan Hartley watches from the stands as Leinster defeat Northampton

Northampton director: Hartley has let us down

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder insists Dylan Hartley has let the club down after receiving a six-week ban after being sent off against Leinster.

Rugby • 15 Dec 16

George North has a history of concussion

North concussion case could be landmark - Ritchie

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie believes the investigation into the latest concussion to have seen George North stood down from play could prove a landmark moment in dealing with head trauma.

Rugby • 14 Dec 16

Van der Flier gives chase to JJ Hanrahan in the 37-10 win over Northampton

Van der Flier hoping history doesn't repeat itself

When it comes to atoning for disappointment, Josh van der Flier is acutely aware that Saturday's opponents Northampton have history when it comes to the back-to-back European games.

Rugby • 13 Dec 16

Joey Carbery injured his ankle in the Champions Cup win over Northampton

O'Brien and Byrne poised for starts, Sexton update

Ross Byrne looks certain to replace Joey Carbery for Saturday's return clash with Northampton as Leinster's out-half injury crisis deepens, while there was positive news for Seán O'Brien.

Rugby • 12 Dec 16

Referee Jérôme Garcès shows a red card to Dylan Hartley

Saints boss has no sympathy for sinner Hartley

Jim Mallinder offered no consolation to Dylan Hartley after the England captain lasted just six minutes off the bench as Northampton were dominated 37-10 by Leinster at Franklin's Gardens.

Rugby • 10 Dec 16

Rory O'Loughlin scores a try for Leinster after latching on to a kick from fellow European Rugby Champions Cup debutant Ross Byrne

Leinster's young guns overwhelm Northampton

A youthful Leinster side recorded an emphatic 37-10 win over Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens in the European Rugby Champions Cup on a night when England captain Dylan Hartley, on as a second-half substitute, was punished with a red card for a swinging arm tackle on Sean O'Brien.

Rugby • 10 Dec 16

George North struggled with concussion last season

George North stood down by Northampton

Northampton Saints will not allow winger George North to play again until he undergoes an independent medical assessment on the head injury he suffered against Leicester Tigers on Saturday.

Rugby • 06 Dec 16

Man United end losing streak at Northampton

Jose Mourinho's Manchester United ended a three-match losing streak and reached the EFL Cup fourth round with a timely, if at times uncomfortable, win at Northampton.

Soccer • 22 Sep 16

Luke Shaw in possession against Watford last Sunday

Disappointed Shaw to miss cup clash

Luke Shaw was disappointed with Jose Mourinho's criticism of him in the defeat to Watford and will not get the chance to make amends in Manchester United's EFL Cup match at Northampton due to a slight groin tear.

Soccer • 20 Sep 16

Dylan Hartley is named on the replacements' bench

Dylan Hartley set for Northampton return

England captain Dylan Hartley is set to make his comeback in Northampton's Aviva Premiership clash against Gloucester on Saturday.

Rugby • 06 May 16

George North's head injury in March was the Northampton and Wales player's third major concussion in five months

George North plays down concussion risk

George North insists he will be "at no greater risk" of concussion than any other player after his enforced lay-off as he pinpoints a World Cup return.

Rugby • 02 Jun 15

Dylan Hartley has been banned for 50 weeks of his career

Northampton's Dylan Hartley cited again

England and Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley will face a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing on Wednesday after being cited for foul play.

Rugby • 26 May 15

Clermont cruise past Northampton into semis

Clermont eased into the Champions Cup semi-finals with a 37-5 win over Northampton.

Rugby • 05 Apr 15

George North has been knocked unconscious three times in recent months

North won't play for Northampton in Clermont clash

Wales wing George North will not play for Northampton in Saturday's European Champions Cup quarter-final at Clermont Auvergne after his latest head injury.

Rugby • 01 Apr 15

JJ Hanrahan's professional ambitions drove decision to leave his home province

JJ Hanrahan: Saints move is 100% rugby decision

Northampton-bound JJ Hanrahan has says his decision to leave Munster and sign for the English Premiership outfit was a “100% rugby decision”.

Rugby • 22 Jan 15

JJ Hanrahan has struggled to get a foothold in Munster side this season

Munster will do 'level best' to keep Hanrahan

Head coach Anthony Foley has said Munster will do their “level best" to keep JJ Hanrahan after reports that he is set to sign for English Premiership side Northampton.

Rugby • 10 Dec 14

Alex Corbisiero won't play again this year

England's Corbisiero to miss autumn Tests

Alex Corbisiero will miss England's autumn Tests after suffering a shoulder injury.

Rugby • 30 Sep 14

Northampton handed Saracens their second final defeat in a week after their Heineken Cup final defeat to Toulon

Saracens fuming after final loss to Saints

Saracens chief executive has called for a root and branch review of the TMO "shambles" after Owen Farrell's controversial disallowed try in the Aviva Premiership final.

Rugby • 01 Jun 14

Northampton's George North goes over for the game's only try

Saints gain sweet revenge over Leinster

Northampton gained sweet revenge for last week’s hammering by Leinster as they denied their hosts even a losing bonus point with an 18-9 win at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 14 Dec 13