Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

A dejected Tiernan O'Halloran leaves the field last night

O'Halloran turns Connacht attention to play-offs

Connacht's Tiernan O'Halloran is keen to take the positives out the Pro12 defeat to Leinster on Saturday with the Champions Cup play-offs now coming into focus.

Rugby • 16 Apr 17

Leinster players congratulate Rhys Ruddock after his try against Connacht

Leo Cullen welcomes Leinster selection headache

Leinster ensured they will look forward to at least two semi-finals in the coming weeks, and head coach Leo Cullen admits he has some difficult decisions ahead with team selection.

Rugby • 16 Apr 17

Recap: Pro12 - Connacht v Leinster

Leinster came out on top in an absorbing seven try interprovincial derby at the Sportsground. Here's how the visitors secured a home semi-final in the Pro12.

Rugby • 15 Apr 17

Barry Daly scores Leinster's fifth and final try against Connacht

Leinster book home semi-final in seven-try thriller

Leinster secured a home semi-final in the Guinness Pro12 after a thrilling 37-24 victory over Connacht at the Sportsground.

Rugby • 15 Apr 17

Erasmus takes heart from Munster's guts & brains

Rassie Erasmus said Munster showed guts and brains to beat Ulster on Saturday - qualities he believes they must bring to the table against Saracens in next weekend's Champions Cup semi-final to have any hope of glory.

Rugby • 15 Apr 17

Angus Lloyd crosses the line for Munster

Munster battle past Ulster to book play-off slot

Man-of-the-match Keith Earls was among the try scorers as Munster edged out Ulster 22-20 in a closely-fought Guinness Pro12 derby at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 15 Apr 17

Recap: Munster edge Ulster at Thomond Park

Munster cemented their semi-final place in the Guinness Pro12 with a hard-fought win over Ulster.

Rugby • 15 Apr 17

Pro12: Leinster rest key men for Connacht clash

Leinster have made 11 changes to their side for the Pro12 clash with Connacht at the Sportsground on Saturday.

Rugby • 14 Apr 17

Munster's Donnacha Ryan (L) starts, but Tyler Bleyendaal is relegated to the bench

Pro12: Late changes see Munster pair drop out

Munster have made a total of 11 changes to their side for this afternoon's Pro12 derby game against Ulster, but second row Donnacha Ryan has been cleared to play.

Rugby • 15 Apr 17

Davy Fitzgerald will look to keep the good times coming in Wexford

On the box: your guide to sport on TV this weekend

A couple of Allianz Hurling League semi-finals, another grudge match for Jose, Fergal O'Brien heads for the Crucible and John Muldoon prepares to hit a huge milestone - it's the sporting highlights of the weekend and your comprehensive guide on where to watch them.

Other sport • 15 Apr 17

Andrew Trimble is expecting a physical encounter against Munster

Trimble: Frustrated Ulster can win at Thomond Park

Andrew Trimble hopes Ulster will take out the frustration of failing to extend their winning run on Munster when they travel to Thomond Park for Saturday's high-stakes Pro12 derby.

Rugby • 12 Apr 17

John Muldoon leaves the RDS field after Connacht lost there in October

Muldoon doubted he would reach Connacht 300 mark

Connacht captain John Muldoon is proud to reach 300 appearances for the province, although he didn't think he would do so at the start of the season.

Rugby • 12 Apr 17

Lam and Muldoon celebrate last year's Pro12 title

Lam hails Muldoon ahead of 300th Connacht appearance

Connacht head coach Pat Lam has lauded the contribution of captain John Muldoon ahead of his 300th appearance for the province, adding we won't see the likes of his achievements again.

Rugby • 11 Apr 17

Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss (L) and Rory Best

Kiss confident Ulster can secure play-off place

Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss admits that beating Munster in the Pro12 derby on Saturday could help to salvage a disappointing season.

Rugby • 11 Apr 17

Bleyendaal, Ryan & Stander worries for Munster

Munster are sweating on the availability of Tyler Bleyendaal and Donnacha Ryan for the Champions Cup semi-final showdown with Saracens in two weeks' time.

Rugby • 10 Apr 17

Jack O'Donoghue: 'There's a lot of things that we need to build on'

O'Donoghue: Munster getting perfect Champions Cup prep

Jack O'Donoghue believes Munster are getting the perfect run-in to their Champions Cup semi-final.

Rugby • 09 Apr 17

Munster have measure of Glasgow once again

Munster defeated Glasgow Warriors for the fourth time this season as James Cronin's early try guided them to a 10-7 win in Cork.

Rugby • 08 Apr 17

Sean Cronin scored a stunning try for the visitors

Leinster hang on for Pro12 win over Ospreys

Dan Biggar missed a late penalty as Leinster came away with the points in a hard-fought battle with the Ospreys.

Rugby • 08 Apr 17

Paddy Jackson was among the try scorers for Ulster

Ulster drop vital points in Pro12 play-off push

Ulster's hopes of making the Guinness PRO12 play-offs suffered what could prove to be a fatal setback after they drew 24-24 with Cardiff Blues at the Kingspan Stadium which ended the province's run of six straight wins.

Rugby • 08 Apr 17

Connacht hold their nerve to repel Edinburgh

Reigning Guinness PRO12 champions Connacht bounced back from their shock defeat to Zebre by holding off an Edinburgh fightback to win 22-19 at Myreside.

Rugby • 07 Apr 17

Joey Carbery starts at out-half for Leinster

Pro12 teams: Leinster and Munster rest front-liners

Leinster coach Leo Cullen has decided to rest a number of front-line players for tomorrow's Pro12 clash with Ospreys in Wales.

Rugby • 07 Apr 17

Ireland captain Rory Best is back to captain Ulster

Pro12 news: Best returns to lead Ulster against Cardiff

Rory Best returns to captain Ulster for the visit of Cardiff Blues at Kingspan Stadium on Friday night as Ulster aim for a seventh consecutive Guinness PRO12 win.

Rugby • 06 Apr 17

It was Zebre's first home Pro12 win of the season

Connacht fall to defeat in Italy

Connacht fell to a 25-22 defeat at the hands of Zebre in their rearranged round-three Pro12 clash at Stadio Lanfranchi.

Rugby • 01 Apr 17

Josh Rowland starts his first game for Connacht

Connacht make five changes for trip to Zebre

Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made five changes to his starting XV to face Zebre in Italy tomorrow afternoon, including handing Josh Rowland a first start.

Rugby • 31 Mar 17

Swinson to miss Saracens clash following Connacht red

Glasgow lock Tim Swinson will miss Sunday's European Champions Cup quarter-final against Saracens after his red card against Connacht was upheld.

Rugby • 30 Mar 17