Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

New Connacht defence coach Peter Wilkins (Pic: @connachtrugby)

Connacht appoint Peter Wilkins as defence coach

Connacht have announced that former Queensland Reds and Edinburgh defence coach Peter Wilkins will join new head coach Kieran Keane's team next season.

Rugby • 09 May 17

Who will lift the Pro12 trophy in Dublin on 27 May?

Final four braced for Pro12 play-off push

Munster, Leinster, Scarlets and Ospreys are gearing up for an almighty Pro12 play-off dog fight.

Rugby • 09 May 17

The Against The Head panel (l-r) Eddie O'Sullivan, Bernard Jackman and Donal Lenihan

What went wrong for Connacht this season?

The Against The Head panel discuss a difficult campaign for the Westerners.

Rugby • 09 May 17

Ruan Pienaar played his last game for Ulster on Saturday

No point moaning & groaning over Pienaar exit - Lenihan

Donal Lenihan has said Ulster's "moaning and groaning" over Ruan Pienaar's impending exit damaged their performances, and believes the IRFU made the right call over talented South African.

Rugby • 09 May 17

Piutau was named the Pro12 Players' Player of the Year

Piutau and Carbery honoured at Pro12 awards

Irish provinces swept the board of the major prizes at the Pro12 awards ceremony in Dublin, with Ulster superstar Charles Piutau, Leinster tyro Joey Carbery and Munster head coach Rassie Erasmus the big winners.

Rugby • 07 May 17

Ruan Pienaar said an emotional goodbye to the Ulster fans

Kiss says day of tears & farewells fuelled Ulster win

Les Kiss said Ulster used the emotion of a day of farewells to fuel their slaying of Leinster at the Kingspan Stadium.

Rugby • 07 May 17

Cullen wasn't happy with Leinster's performance

Cullen frustrated by disappointing Leinster display

Leo Cullen says he and his Leinster squad will be having "a hard look at ourselves" after a frustrating day at the office in Ravenhill.

Rugby • 07 May 17

Leinster's Joey Carbery (L) is tackled by Ulster's Ruan Pienaar

Ulster edge Leinster but miss out on play-offs

Ulster ended the season on a high with an emotional victory over Leinster but were unable to rack up the huge score they needed to reach the Pro12 play-offs.

Rugby • 06 May 17

Andrew Conway finished well for Munster's third try

Munster seal Pro12 top spot with rout of Connacht

Munster turned on the style as they claimed top spot in the final Pro12 table with a seven-try showing against Connacht at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 07 May 17

Conor Murray could play his first game since March 10

Pro 12 teams: Conor Murray on Munster bench

Conor Murray is among the Munster replacements to face Connacht while Roger Wilson and Ruan Pienaar will both make their final Ulster appearances against Leinster.

Rugby • 06 May 17

Munster's Jaco Taute and Dave Kilcoyne are on the 'Dream Team'

Munster dominate Pro 12 Team of Season

Munster make up the bulk of the Pro12 team of the season with six players, evenly divided between their backs and forwards, three times as many as other side.

Rugby • 05 May 17

Conor Murray has declared himself fully fit for Munster's end-of-season run-in

Murray: I'm fit and ready for Munster and the Lions

Conor Murray says his recent injury has been the most frustrating of his career, but is ready to return to action for Munster with the Lions tour on the horizon.

Rugby • 04 May 17

Ian McKinley lost the sight in his left eye after a freak accident

Ian McKinley gets Italy call-up

Ian McKinley's remarkable return to competitive rugby has been rewarded with a call-up to the Italy training squad for their June Test series - six years after losing the sight in his left eye.

Rugby • 03 May 17

Conor Murray was injured in the Six Nations defeat to Wales

'Slowly' progressing Murray may play against Connacht

Rassie Erasmus admits that Conor Murray's return to full fitness has been slower than Munster had hoped, and will not feature against Connacht this weekend unless he is fully match fit.

Rugby • 02 May 17

Liam Williams is tackled by Marnitz Boshoff

Sloppy Connacht well beaten at home by Scarlets

Scarlets sauntered into the Guinness Pro12 play-offs with a 30-8 bonus point victory over error-strewn Connacht at the Sportsground.

Rugby • 29 Apr 17

Simon Zebo brushes past the Treviso defence

Munster ease past Treviso to book home semi-final

Munster beat Treviso 34-14 at Stadio Monigo to secure a home semi-final in the Guinness PRO12.

Rugby • 29 Apr 17

Kieron Fonotia offloads to Dan Biggar despite the attentions of Paddy Jackson

Ulster's play-off hopes all but ended by Ospreys

Ulster will require a highly unlikely sequence of results on the final weekend of the Guinness Pro12 season after falling to defeat away to Ospreys that moves the Welsh club into play-off contention.

Rugby • 29 Apr 17

A 20-minute floodlight failure held up the Pro12 encounter at the RDS.

Leinster overcome lights failure to edge past Glasgow

Leinster squashed Glasgow's faint Guinness PRO12 play-off bid as Joey Carbery's 74th-minute penalty saw the hosts triumph 31-30 in thrilling fashion.

Rugby • 28 Apr 17

Conor Oliver starts for Munster against Treviso

Pro12 teams: Erasmus calls on A Team for Italian job

Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus makes ten changes for Munster's return to Pro12 action as the province take on Treviso at Stadio Mongio on Saturday.

Rugby • 28 Apr 17

Pro12 team news: Molony to skipper Leinster

Ross Molony will captain Leinster for the first time in a competitive game for the Pro12 game with Glasgow at the RDS on Friday, kick-off 7.35pm.

Rugby • 28 Apr 17

Connacht duo McKeown and Leader extend Connacht stay

Connacht have announced contract extensions for local players Eoin McKeown and Daragh Leader.

Rugby • 25 Apr 17

Munster's Andrew Conway and Isa Nacewa of Leinster battle for possesion in the sides' December meeting

Lenihan: Future still bright for Leinster and Munster

Donal Lenihan believes that Munster and Leinster will bounce back to meet in the Pro12 final despite both exiting European competition last weekend.

Rugby • 25 Apr 17

Former Ireland Under-20 star Gavin Thornbury has joined Connacht

Connacht sign Irish youngster Gavin Thornbury

Connacht have started their rebuilding process for next season with the signing of Irish second row Gavin Thornbury on a two-year deal.

Rugby • 24 Apr 17

Leinster fans will make the trip to Lyon hoping for a famous victory

Ruddock calls on fans to bring Lansdowne roar to France

Rhys Ruddock wants Leinster fans to bring the Lansdowne roar to Lyon on Sunday and give their team the extra lift they'll need to pull off a daunting Champions Cup mission.

Rugby • 18 Apr 17

Dave Kearney leaves the field at the Sportsground

Lancaster 'gutted' for Dave Kearney after fresh setback

Stuart Lancaster has said he's "gutted" for Dave Kearney after it was confirmed the winger will miss the trip to Lyon for the Champions Cup semi-final showdown against Clermont this Sunday (3pm).

Rugby • 17 Apr 17