Rugby | Latest League & Union News & Opinions

15 March 2025; Caelan Doris of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Italy and Ireland at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Doris fit to make seasonal bow against All Blacks

Caelan Doris is expected to lead Ireland against the All Blacks in Chicago on Saturday after being confirmed as fit for the Soldier Field fixture, which would be his first appearance of the season.

Rugby • 21 mins

Joey Carbery is in his second season at Bordeaux-Begles

Jackman: IRFU should help Connacht sign Carbery

Bernard Jackman believes Connacht should do everything they can to bring Joey Carbery back to Irish rugby, and has called on the IRFU to support the move financially.

United Rugby Championship • 5 hrs

Ford starts as Marcus Smith left out for Wallabies

George Ford has edged Fin Smith in their battle for England fly-half duties against Australia, with Marcus Smith missing the Allianz Stadium showdown altogether.

Rugby • 8 hrs

Ireland All Blacks selection calls far from simple

Andy Farrell returns as head coach of Ireland almost a year on from his last victory in green and has an interesting selection conundrum on the cards.

Rugby • 14 hrs

Provincial temperature check as attention turns to NZ

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Gareth Steenson on this week's RTÉ Rugby podcast, as we recap Round 5 of the URC, and begin to look ahead at Ireland's meeting with the All Blacks in Chicago.

United Rugby Championship • 5 hrs

12 July 2025; Tommy O'Brien 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

Days of putting All Blacks on 'pedestal' long gone

Ireland still have plenty of respect for New Zealand but the days of putting them on a pedestal are long gone, says winger Tommy O'Brien ahead of the teams' clash in Chicago on Saturday.

Rugby • 27 Oct

BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Noah Caluori warms up during the England training session at Pennyhill Park on October 27, 2025 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

England call up Caluori for autumn internationals

Teenage winger Noah Caluori has been included in the England squad for their upcoming Quilter Nations Series.

Rugby • 27 Oct

25 October 2025; Ciarán Mangan of Leinster is presented with his first cap by teammate and brother Diarmuid Mangan, left, after the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Zebre Parma at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Spo

Leinster to 'reflect' on shock opening block

The November international break will give Leinster boss Leo Cullen time to "reflect" on his side's opening block in which the defending URC champions won just two out of five games.

Rugby • 27 Oct

25 October 2025; Paul Doyle of Connacht reacts after his side's defeat in the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Connacht at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Effort trumped accuracy and discipline - McMillan

Munster head coach Clayton McMillan was delighted with his side's effort as they dug out a fifth win in a row, despite being far from perfect in the 17-15 victory over Connacht.

Rugby • 26 Oct

25 October 2025; Jack O'Donoghue of Munster celebrates with teammate Dan Kelly, right, after scoring their side's first try during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Connacht at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfil

Munster outmuscle Connacht to remain unbeaten in URC

Munster beat Connacht 17-15 at Thomond Park to record their fifth win in a row at the start of the United Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 25 Oct

Ireland's King open to PWR move but R360 not on radar

Ireland star Erin King is open to the idea of a move to England ahead of the British and Irish Lions Women's tour in 2027 but hasn't had her head turned by the proposed R360 league yet.

Rugby • 27 Oct

25 October 2025; Alex Soroka of Leinster celebrates after scoring his side's second try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Zebre Parma at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Leinster shake off lively Zebre challenge for bonus win

Leinster, without 22 Ireland internationals, returned to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship with a 50-26 victory over Zebre at Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 25 Oct

25 October 2025; Robert Baloucoune of Ulster dives over to score his second try during the United Rugby Championship match between Emirates Lions and Ulster at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile

Baloucoune hat-trick helps Ulster to bonus in defeat

Ulster lost their first game of the URC season but came away with a try-bonus point from their 49-31 defeat to the Lions in Ellis Park, with Robert Baloucoune scoring a hat-trick.

Rugby • 25 Oct

25 October 2025; Players of both sides tussle during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Connacht at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

URC recap: Munster 17-15 Connacht

Relive all the action from Thomond Park as unbeaten Munster hosted Connacht in round five of the BKT United Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 25 Oct

CARDIFF, WALES - APRIL 10: <<enter caption here>> during the Women's Six Nations match between Wales and Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park on April 10, 2021 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the

Welsh Rugby Union to cut one regional side by 2028

The Welsh Rugby Union has announced that it is to cut from four regions down to three by 2028, with the Ospreys and Scarlets in the most danger of facing the chop.

Rugby • 24 Oct

29 August 2021; Harry West of Connacht misses a conversion to draw the game during the IRFU U19 Men’s Clubs Interprovincial Championship Round 2 match between Leinster and Connacht at Energia Park in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

West debuts as Connacht make nine changes for Munster

Connacht have made nine changes, including handing a debut to Harry West, to the side that lost to Bulls to take on Munster in the URC.

Rugby • 24 Oct

21 September 2024; Munster players celebrate as teammate Gavin Coombes scores their side's fourth try during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Connacht at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Munster aware Connacht out to dampen mood

Munster are on the verge of a flawless start to the BKT United Rugby Championship but are well aware that Connacht are out to dampen the mood at Thomond Park this evening.

Rugby • 25 Oct

Provinces looking to end contrasting starts on a high

With the opening block of BKT United Rugby Championship action drawing to a close this weekend, a win would do wonders for both Leinster and Ulster's seasons.

Rugby • 25 Oct

28 September 2024; Werner Kok of Ulster in action during the United Rugby Championship match between Emirates Lions and Ulster at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile

United Rugby Championship Round 5: All You Need to Know

It's round five of the BKT United Rugby Championship - find out all you need to know here about the last games in the opening block.

Rugby • 24 Oct

18 October 2025; Caspar Gabriel of Leinster during the Interprovincial "A" Rugby Championship match between Leinster A and Munster A at Ollie Campbell Park in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Gabriel and Sheehan set for first Leinster caps

Leinster look set to hand senior caps to out-half Caspar Gabriel and Bobby Sheehan, brother of Ireland hooker Dan, against Zebre at Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

Rugby • 24 Oct

29 March 2025; Munster players, including Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes, Jack Crowley and John Hodnett, celebrate their side's first try, scored by Tom Ahern, right, during the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Munster at Hastings Insuranc

Donal Lenihan's URC verdicts as Munster host Connacht

Donal Lenihan assess the province's weekend tasks in the United Rugby Championship, including the meeting of Munster and Connacht in Thomond Park.

Rugby • 24 Oct

SYDNEY , AUSTRALIA - 2 August 2025; James Ryan, Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan of British & Irish Lions after the third test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via

Look at Beirne - Conan dismisses Lions malaise theory

Jack Conan has dismissed the theory that the Ireland players could be suffering from a post-British and Lions malaise following Leinster's underwhelming display against Munster.

Rugby • 24 Oct

18 October 2025; Jack Crowley of Munster and Sam Prendergast of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Munster at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

McMillan: Crowley 'deserves' shot against All Blacks

Munster head coach Clayton McMillan believes Jack Crowley couldn't have done any more to further his claims on the Ireland out-half jersey in Saturday's "audition" against Leinster.

Rugby • 24 Oct

SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA - SEPTEMBER 20: Jan-Hendrik Wessels of South Africa during the South Africa national men's rugby team captain's run at Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades on September 20, 2024 in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. (Photo by Luis S

Banned Wessels misses Ireland game after gruesome foul

Jan-Hendrik Wessels has received a nine-match suspension after the Bulls player was cited for a rule relating to "grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals" of Connacht's Josh Murphy, who has had his own red card following the incident rescinded.

Rugby • 24 Oct

Nine internationals included in Ireland XV squad

Nine senior internationals have been included in the Ireland XV squad for their upcoming game with Spain in Leganes, with Ulster hooker Tom Stewart set to captain the side.

Rugby • 23 Oct