Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Saracens have given Pau a walkover following a Covid-19 outbreak at the club

Saracens give Pau walkover following Covid outbreak

Saracens have forfeited their European Challenge Cup game against Pau following a Covid-19 outbreak at the Gallagher Premiership club.

Rugby • 15 Dec 21

Koch was part of South Africa's famed 'Bomb Squad' at the 2019 Rugby World Cup

Vincent Koch to join Wasps from Saracens

Wasps have announced the signing of World Cup-winning prop Vincent Koch from their Gallagher Premiership rivals Saracens.

Rugby • 09 Dec 21

Saracens are targeting a return to the top

Consortium including Pienaar takes control of Saracens

Saracens owner Nigel Wray has agreed to sell a controlling stake to a consortium which plans to invest £32m (€37.4m) in the Gallagher Premiership club.

Rugby • 02 Oct 21

Jamie George, Billy Vunipola and Mako Vunipola have all been dropped

Eddie Jones insists door remains open for dropped stars

England head coach Eddie Jones insists he hasn't given up on Mako Vunipola, Billy Vunipola and Jamie George after all three were left out of 45-man training squad.

Rugby • 21 Sep 21

Saracens' Tom Woolstencroft is awarded a try

Saracens back in top tier after easing clear of Ealing

Saracens rubber-stamped their return to the Gallagher Premiership with a 57-15 victory over Ealing after successfully hitting the reset button on a poor first half at StoneX Stadium.

Rugby • 20 Jun 21

Juan Figallo in action in his final match against England at last year's World Cup

Figallo hangs up his boots due to head injury

Saracens and Argentina prop Juan Figallo has retired from rugby on medical advice at the age of 32 due to a head injury.

Rugby • 12 Nov 20

Racing have slight edge after English & French lessons

Racing 92 and Exeter will have learned a lot about each other from the similar sides they defeated in the Champions Cup finals but the French side's experience might be key.

Rugby • 29 Sep 20

Simon Zebo helped Racing 92 reach their third final

Scintillating try sends Racing into Champions Cup final

Simon Zebo and Donnacha Ryan are bound for the Heineken Champions Cup final after Racing 92 beat Saracens 19-15.

Rugby • 26 Sep 20

Sean Cronin of Leinster is tackled by Jamie George and Duncan Taylor of Saracens

Why Leinster front five selection 'backfired' - Jackman

Bernard Jackman joins the RTÉ Rugby Podcast to explain why Leinster struggled in the front five against Saracens during Saturday's Champions Cup quarter-final defeat.

Rugby • 23 Sep 20

Andy Farrell watched on as Leinster were out-muscled by Saracens

'Farrell fully aware Ireland must move on' - Lenihan

Andy Farrell realises that Ireland must have a different approach if they are to become competitive against the heavy-hitters of international rugby, according to Donal Lenihan.

Rugby • 23 Sep 20

RTÉ Rugby Podcast: Ireland's power game vulnerability?

Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman join Hugh Cahill and Wes Liddy on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast to discuss the fallout from Leinster and Ulster's Heineken Champions Cup exits and what Irish rugby can learn from the setbacks.

Rugby • 23 Sep 20

Michael Rhodes tackles Leinster's Ryan Baird

Citing complaint against Saracens' Rhodes dismissed

A citing complaint against Saracens' Michael Rhodes arising from Leinster's Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against the English side has been dismissed.

Rugby • 22 Sep 20

Maro Itoje gets to grips with James Ryan

Leinster's fate familiar when Irish and English collide

Leinster's Champions Cup loss to Saracens was further evidence of a damaging recent pattern against English sides for Irish teams.

Rugby • 21 Sep 20

Mark McCall's side will face Racing 92 in the Champions Cup semi-finals

McCall left in awe after Saracens overcome Leinster

Mark McCall heaped praise on his Saracens squad after they advanced to the semi-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup with a superb victory over Leinster.

Rugby • 19 Sep 20

Leo Cullen said Leinster dug themselves into a hole with their first-half display

Cullen: Leinster got a little bit spooked

Leo Cullen felt Leinster got "spooked" by their poor start against Saracens as their double hopes were shattered by the Champions Cup holders.

Rugby • 19 Sep 20

Leinster players react to Alex Goode's first-half try

Leinster comeback falls short as Saracens march on

Leinster's season ended in defeat as a second-half comeback fell short in a 25-17 loss to Saracens in their Champions Cup quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 19 Sep 20

Cronin recalled as Leinster and Ulster name teams

Johnny Sexton returns to Leinster's starting XV for Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Saracens, with hooker Seán Cronin recalled.

Rugby • 18 Sep 20

Jonathan Sexton at the final whistle of the Guinness Pro14 Final

All you need to know: Champions Cup quarter-finals

Leinster host Saracens and Ulster visit Toulouse in the Heineken Champions Cup this weekend. Here's all you need to know about the Irish provinces' European tasks.

Rugby • 18 Sep 20

Saracens were worthy winners when defeating Leinster in last season's Champions Cup final

Preview: Donal Lenihan on Champions Cup quarter-finals

The RTÉ analyst casts an eye over Leinster's date with Saracens and Toulouse welcoming Ulster to the Stade Ernest-Wallon.

Rugby • 18 Sep 20

RTÉ Rugby podcast: Leinster gear up for Saracens battle

A review of Leinster's Pro14 final win over Ulster and a look ahead to the clash with Saracens.

Rugby • 17 Sep 20

Saracens may have been impacted by events on and off the field since the sides last met but for Donal Lenihan, they remain dangerous opponents for Leo Cullen's squad

Lenihan: Saracens still pose a threat to Leinster

Donal Lenihan explains the threat Saracens pose to Leinster in Heineken Champions Cup clash on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast and assesses the strengths and weaknesses they bring to the table.

Rugby • 17 Sep 20

Maitland scored a try in last year's 20-10 Champions Cup final win against Leinster

All or nothing - Saracens gunning for Leinster scalp

Sean Maitland says Saracens will come at Leinster with "nothing to lose" when the sides clash in Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final.

Rugby • 16 Sep 20

Owen Farrell will miss Saracens' clash with Leinster

Suspended Farrell helping Saracens build for Leinster

Owen Farrell is suspended for Saracens' Champions Cup match against Leinster on Saturday but the 28-year-old is helping his team mates prepare by orchestrating the opposition attack in training, head coach Mark McCall has said.

Rugby • 15 Sep 20

James Ryan is tackled by George Kruis during last season's Champions Cup final

Ryan anticipates potent threat from united Saracens

James Ryan has told his Leinster team-mates only their best will do against a potentially galvanised Saracens in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday.

Rugby • 15 Sep 20

Manu Vunipola could start at out-half for Saracens on Saturday

Manu Vunipola poised to fill Farrell's shoes at Aviva

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has praised Manu Vunipola, with the young out-half an option to replace the suspended Owen Farrell for the huge European tie at Leinster on Saturday.

Rugby • 14 Sep 20