Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

12 July 2025; Craig Casey of Ireland during the International Rugby Test match between Portugal and Ireland at Estádio Nacional do Jamor in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Casey hopes Irish 'mentality' impresses Lions coaches

Craig Casey suggested that the chance of a late call-up to the British and Irish Lions squad was part of the motivation for Ireland's ruthless demolition job against Portugal.

Rugby • 13 Jul

10 July 2025; Interim head coach Paul O'Connell speaks to the press during an Ireland rugby media conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

'I like what I see' - O'Connell impressed by Portugal

While Saturday in Lisbon will be the first Test meeting of Ireland and Portugal, the two sides are already well-versed with each other.

Rugby • 10 Jul

5 July 2025; Jack Crowley of Ireland during the International Rugby Test match between Georgia and Ireland at at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Updated Crowley starts as Ireland change six for Portugal

Ireland interim head coach Paul O'Connell has made six changes to his side for Saturday's second tour match against Portugal in Lisbon, with Jack Crowley starting at out-half and three debutants in the first XV.

Rugby • 10 Jul

Paul O'Connell overseeing a squad session at the IRFU High Performance Centre at the Sport Ireland Campus

Leamy hails O'Connell as great leader and communicator

Denis Leamy hailed interim Irish coach Paul O'Connell as "brilliant leader" as the national team prepare for a Summer Tour series against Georgia and Portugal.

Rugby • 01 Jul

25 January 2025; James McNabney during an Ireland Rugby squad training session at The Campus in Quinta da Lago, Portugal. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Munster trio train with Ireland after McNabney ACL

Munster trio Diarmuid Kilgallen, Brian Gleeson and Evan O'Connell have all linked up with the Ireland squad as additional training panellists ahead of the upcoming summer tour games against Georgia and Portugal.

Rugby • 19 Jun

Paul O'Connell is the new Ireland interim head coach

O'Connell to take charge of Ireland for summer tour

The IRFU has confirmed that forwards coach Paul O'Connell will take over as the next interim head coach of Ireland for summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal.

Rugby • 26 Mar

France scored 11 tries against Italy in round three

O'Connell wary of 'unstructured' France

France's "unstructured game" will be the biggest threat to Ireland when the sides meet in a Six Nations showdown on Saturday week, according to Paul O'Connell.

Six Nations • 28 Feb

O'Connell dismisses Leinster favouritism in selection

Paul O'Connell says he understands the frustrations of some supporters that Ireland's squad is too heavily populated by Leinster players, but insists that he and the Ireland management will never pick a player based on who they play for.

Rugby • 25 Jan

O'Connell and Ireland enjoy calm away from eye of storm

If Simon Easterby and his management team wanted any justification for a Guinness Six Nations warm-weather training camp in Portugal, then this week certainly is their perfect example.

Rugby • 24 Jan

O'Connell: Ireland won't be distracted by mind games

The irony was lost on nobody yesterday as the Paul O'Connell sat down for a Test week media session in a large exam hall.

Rugby • 03 Jul 24

South Africa disrupted the Ireland lineout when the sides last met

O'Connell expecting big lineout challenge from the Boks

Paul O'Connell expects Ireland's lineout will hold the key for Saturday's first Test against world champions South Africa against Pretoria.

Rugby • 02 Jul 24

Paul O'Connell (L) has backed Ryan Baird and Co to return seamlessly to Leinster ranks

O'Connell expects Leinster's Ireland core to beat Bulls

Paul O'Connell has backed Leinster's returning Six Nations winners to hit the ground running in the United Rugby Championship tonight as the province welcome the Bulls to the RDS.

Rugby • 29 Mar 24

Ireland trained in Dublin on Thursday ahead of next week's meeting with Wales

Paul O'Connell not surprised by Ireland's fast start

Ireland's fast start to the Six Nations hasn't come as a surprise to Paul O'Connell.

Rugby • 16 Feb 24

Evan O'Connell: 'I'd like to think I'd be very approachable as a captain'

Peter O'Mahony the role model for Evan O'Connell

Evan O'Connell may have had an obvious role model in his youth but it's the new senior Ireland captain that the U20s skipper most looked up to.

Rugby • 29 Jan 24

Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell was speaking from the team's base in Tours

O'Connell: Emotional intelligence key to winning run

Paul O'Connell says Ireland are relying less on emotion than ever, as they look to book their place in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup this weekend.

Rugby • 04 Oct 23

Garry Ringrose looks to break through a South Africa gap between Jaden Hendrikse and Kurt-Lee Arendse when the sides met last November

Jackman: 'Kamikaze' defence will present Irish chances

South Africa's "kamikaze" defensive system along with a regimental lineout strategy will present Ireland with opportunities if they can execute their own gameplan correctly, according to Bernard Jackman.

Rugby • 18 Sep 23

Peter O'Mahony goes on the charge against Tonga. The flanker was sent to the sin-bin in the first half, Ireland's first yellow card in 14 months

O'Connell wary of Ireland's high penalty count

Putting 59 points on a side of the calibre of Tonga was no mean feat says Paul O'Connell, but the Ireland forwards coach is hopeful some ill-discipline in victory was nothing more than a blip.

Rugby • 17 Sep 23

Dan Sheehan suffered a foot injury in the warm-up win against England

Ireland without Sheehan, Conan and Kilcoyne for opener

Dan Sheehan, Jack Conan and Dave Kilcoyne will all sit out Ireland's Rugby World Cup opener against Romania on Saturday, but Irish management are confident the trio could be available for the second Pool B game against Tonga next week.

Rugby • 05 Sep 23

Jean Kleyn will win his second cap for South Africa against Argentina on Saturday

Kleyn 'was very close' to Ireland recall - O'Connell

Paul O'Connell says Munster's Jean Kleyn was close to being called up for the Irish Rugby World Cup training squad, before the second row switched international allegiance to play for South Africa.

Rugby • 02 Aug 23

Sexton won't be available for selection until the opening game of the Rugby World Cup

O'Connell on Sexton ban: 'I'd say it's a worry for him'

Paul O'Connell says he doesn't doubt Johnny Sexton's ability to quickly find his form at the Rugby World Cup, but admits the Ireland captain will be feeling the pressure to hit the ground running.

Rugby • 01 Aug 23

O'Connell: 'There is no fear of guys slacking off, with our lads, your only fear is that they maybe do too much'

O'Connell: We can't be 'sometimes players'

Paul O'Connell says he doesn't expect Ireland's squad to be "cramming", as they prepare to test their Grand Slam credentials against Scotland and England in the coming weeks.

Rugby • 03 Mar 23

James Lowe sat out Ireland training with a calf issue

O'Connell allays fears over Lowe and Ringrose fitness

James Lowe and Garry Ringrose both sat out Ireland's open training session with the U20s at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon, but coach Paul O'Connell is confident both will be available for selection in next weekend's Six Nations trip to Scotland.

Rugby • 02 Mar 23

Paul O'Connell was disappointed with Ireland's overall lineout return

O'Connell frustrated and disappointed by Ireland defeat

Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell admitted that Saturday's comprehensive 42-19 defeat to New Zealand was both frustrating and disappointing.

Rugby • 03 Jul 22

Ireland must prepare for a unique atmosphere in London

O'Connell: Ireland must react in 'hostile' Twickenham

Ireland will have to learn by doing when they face England and there's little that can prepare them for the cacophony of noise when the home side hit a purple patch, says Paul O'Connell.

Rugby • 04 Mar 22

Robbie Henshaw at Ireland's training session this morning

Henshaw good to go for Ireland's Twickenham trip

Robbie Henshaw has passed his head injury assessment return-to-play protocols and will be available for Ireland's Guinness Six Nations clash against England on Saturday week.

Rugby • 03 Mar 22

Paul OConnell