Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Gio Aplon is tackled by Benetton's Marco Zanon

Benetton stun Bulls to win Rainbow Cup final

Benetton capped a remarkable Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup campaign by upsetting the odds to thump the Bulls 35-8 in the final.

Rugby • 19 Jun 21

Jordan Larmour, Josh van der Flier and Devin Toner acknowledge the fans at the RDS

Leinster defeat Dragons to delight of returning fans

Retiring duo Scott Fardy and Michael Bent bowed out on a winning note as Leinster closed out the Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup with a 38-7 bonus-point victory over the Dragons at the RDS.

Rugby • 11 Jun 21

Gavin Coombes crashes over the line for a try in Parma

Coombes cousins bag tries in Munster victory

Gavin Coombes scored four tries and Liam Coombes also crossed the whitewash as Munster secured second place in the northern section of the Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup with a convincing 54-11 victory over Zebre in Parma.

Rugby • 11 Jun 21

Benetton qualify for Rainbow final after game cancelled

Irish interest in the Guinness Pro 14 Rainbow Cup has ended after the cancellation of the upcoming match between Ospreys and Benetton, handing the Italian side a place in the final.

Rugby • 09 Jun 21

'I look forward to having people in the stadium and having a real atmosphere'

Fardy glad Leinster goodbye will be in front of fans

As his retirement looms, Scott Fardy is grateful that his final run-out for Leinster this weekend against Dragons will take place in an RDS with a limited number of spectators returning.

Rugby • 08 Jun 21

Ulster ring changes for Edinburgh encounter

The Ulster side to face Edinburgh at Murrayfield in the Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup on Saturday shows seven changes from the one that travelled to the RDS to play Leinster three weeks ago.

Rugby • 04 Jun 21

Ulster are missing a number of players for their final Rainbow Cup match

Ulster missing host of players for Edinburgh clash

Ulster will be without a host of players for Saturday's Rainbow Cup trip to Edinburgh.

Rugby • 01 Jun 21

Connacht scrum-half Kieran Marmion is tackled by Toa Halafihi

Connacht crash to Benetton defeat

Connacht's hopes of reaching the Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup final were ended by a 20-12 defeat away to Benetton.

Rugby • 29 May 21

Denis Buckley is set to win cap 200 for Connacht

Aki and Buckley named in Connacht team

Denis Buckley will become just the third Connacht player to reach 200 caps tomorrow after he was named in the starting XV to face Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup leaders Benetton.

Rugby • 28 May 21

Munster go top of Rainbow with bonus victory

Munster gave retiring duo CJ Stander and Tommy O'Donnell a winning Thomond Park send-off with a dramatic Rainbow Cup bonus-point victory over Cardiff.

Rugby • 28 May 21

CJ Stander captains the side for the final Munster home game of the season

Stander set for Thomond goodbye as Munster ring changes

CJ Stander, Tommy O'Donnell and James Cronin will make their final appearances at Thomond Park for Munster as Johann van Graan made seven changes for the Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup clash against Cardiff Blues on Friday.

Rugby • 27 May 21

Leinster in action at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo in Treviso in January 2020

Treviso to host Rainbow Cup 'North v South' final

The Italian city of Treviso has been confirmed as host venue for this season's Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup 'North v South' final.

Rugby • 27 May 21

Denis Buckley is set to make his 200th Connacht appearance in Italy this weekend

Buckley's journey from mascot to double centurion

A decade on from making his Connacht debut away to Benetton, Denis Buckley returns to Stadio di Monigo this weekend in what would be his 200th appearance for the province.

Rugby • 26 May 21

Bundee Aki is expected to make his first appearance for Connacht since March

Connacht coach Wilkins wary of Benetton banana skin

Connacht attack coach Pete Wilkins has warned his players that they will need to maintain the standards set in their win over Munster to avoid slipping up against Benetton this weekend.

Rugby • 25 May 21

Conor Murray tackled by Ulster counterpart Alby Mathewson on 7 May

Conor Murray ruled out of Munster's Cardiff clash

Conor Murray will miss Munster's Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup clash against Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park on Friday due to a "low-grade leg injury".

Rugby • 25 May 21

Ravenhill will host 500 spectators for next weekend's clash with Scarlets

Ulster to welcome back fans for home finale

Ulster will play their final home fixture of the Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup in front of 500 spectators at Kingspan Stadium.

Rugby • 21 May 21

RTÉ Rugby podcast: Connacht form and refs' performance

The panel review the weekend's Rainbow Cup action.

Rugby • 19 May 21

Is familiarity starting to bread contempt in the Rainbow Cup?

Error-strewn interpros a consequence of long season

The Rainbow Cup delved further into the unpredictable last weekend in the third of three interprovincial rounds in a row.

Rugby • 18 May 21

Munster currently lead the Rainbow Cup standings in Europe

Rainbow Cup to be decided by 'North v South' final

The winner of the Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup is set to be decided by a 'North v South' final on 19 June.

Rugby • 14 May 21

Leinster celebrate their third try of the evening

Henshaw stars as Leinster edge Ulster at RDS

Tries from Lions duo Jack Conan and Robbie Henshaw did the damage for Leinster in a 21-17 win over Ulster at the RDS Arena.

Rugby • 14 May 21

Connacht hang tight for Thomond win over Munster

Conor Fitzgerald came back to haunt his home province as his 14-point haul helped Connacht beat Munster 24-20 and claim only their second win at Thomond Park since 1986.

Rugby • 14 May 21

"In both games, discipline dictated a lot of the exchanges."

It's meaningless but teams can still use Rainbow Cup

It was another weekend of interprovincial action in the season-extending Rainbow Cup and while the results mean nothing, the lack of pressure could see teams develop new approaches for next season.

Rugby • 11 May 21

Jarrad Butler lines out for Connacht in Saturday evening's clash

Butler back for Connacht as Leinster pick three Lions

Jarrad Butler returns for Connacht as they host Leinster in the Rainbow Cup.

Connacht • 07 May 21

Angus Curtis is back in the squad for Ulster

Ulster and Munster ring the changes for Rainbow Cup

Ulster have made nine changes from the side that lost to Leicester in the Challenge Cup last week, for their Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup clash with Munster on Friday.

Rugby • 06 May 21

Lizo Gqoboka of the Bulls in action against the Lions

Lancaster: South African beef can't come quickly enough

The Rainbow Cup got off to a false start this year but the introduction of the South African teams can't come soon enough for Leinster, according to Stuart Lancaster.

Rugby • 04 May 21