Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Saracens were fined £5.4m and given a 35-point penalty for a breach of the salary cap.

Saracens will not appeal £5.4m fine & points deduction

Saracens are set to drop their planned appeal against a £5.4m fine and a 35-point penalty for a breach of the salary cap.

Rugby • 17 Nov 19

Saracens were soundly beaten in Paris this afternoon

Holders Saracens humbled by Racing 92 in Paris

Holders Saracens suffered defeat in the opening match of their Heineken Champions Cup title defence after going down 30-10 to Racing 92 at the Paris La Defense Arena.

Rugby • 17 Nov 19

'When they read and they hear the club have been found guilty of what they have been found guilty of, you can understand how they feel'

McCall: Saracens salary cap issue 'not black and white'

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall insists not everything is black and white regarding the club's breach of salary cap rules and insisted "all the facts of the case" will come out.

Rugby • 13 Nov 19

'The academy is a jewel in our crown and has been greatly responsible for half the England side that got to the World Cup final'

Saracens won't have to sell stars, insists chairman

Saracens chairman Nigel Wray has insisted the club's all-conquering team will not have to be ripped apart after being deducted 35 points and fined more than £5million for breaching the salary cap.

Rugby • 06 Nov 19

The launch is taking place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff

Saracens a no-show at Champions Cup launch

Champions Cup holders Saracens did not send representatives to the launch of this year's competition in Cardiff this morning following sanctions for breaching salary cap regulations.

Rugby • 06 Nov 19

Sarances are also the European champions

Saracens docked and fined: The burning questions

What are the burning questions arising from the Saracens ruling.

Rugby • 06 Nov 19

Exeter lost last season's final by only three points

Exeter boss feels 'cheated', wants Saracens relegated

Exeter chief executive Tony Rowe suggested Saracens should be relegated from the Premiership as the defending champions vowed to fight their punishment for breaches of salary cap regulations.

Rugby • 06 Nov 19

Sarries to appeal £5m fine and 35-point deduction

Saracens are facing the "devastating" threat of being docked 35 points and fined over £5m for multiple breaches of Premiership Rugby's salary cap regulations.

Rugby • 05 Nov 19

Jonathan Sexton (c) and team-mates cut dejected figured after last season's final defeat to Saracens

Leinster kick off European mission at home to Benetton

Last season's defeated finalists Leinster will begin their Champions Cup campaign at home to Benetton on Saturday 16 November.

Rugby • 23 Aug 19

Saracens and Exeter shared 10 tries in the Premiership final

Saracens complete double after 10-try extravaganza

Saracens completed a memorable European and domestic double after retaining the Premiership title by beating Exeter 37-34 at Twickenham.

Rugby • 02 Jun 19

'It's almost perfect because we've won comfortably and scored some good tries, but still have a frustrated changing room'

'A frustrated changing room' for final-bound Saracens

Mark McCall felt mixed emotions after Saracens overran Gloucester 44-19 to secure their place in Saturday's Gallagher Premiership final at Twickenham.

Rugby • 25 May 19

Leinster lost their European title on Saturday

Leinster want to pay back 'unbelievable' fans

Leinster feel they owe their fans after falling at the final hurdle in the Champions Cup.

Rugby • 14 May 19

The Munster coaching team at work on Monday

Van Graan: 'We are here to do a job'

Munster coach Johann van Graan says they can't afford to waste time thinking about coaching staff departures with a Pro14 semi-final against Leinster coming up.

Rugby • 13 May 19

Billy Vunipola reaches for the line to score the second half's only try

McCall hails Vunipola for 'doing talking on the field'

Saracens boss Mark McCall hailed a towering contribution by Billy Vunipola following a memorable Heineken Champions Cup final victory over holders Leinster.

Rugby • 11 May 19

'I don't blame the decision and what we did. It's all outcome based and it's all in hindsight'

Sexton - Messy end to first half was huge turning point

Leinster outhalf Johnny Sexton said Sean Maitland's try in the final play of the first half represented a major turning point in today's Heineken Champions Cup final in St James's Park.

Rugby • 11 May 19

'We're very gutted that we just couldn't do that bit better'

Leo Cullen rues missteps either side of half-time

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admitted the outcome of the Heineken Champions Cup final "probably" hinged on the period either side of half-time when the reigning champions relinquished their ten-point lead and failed to restore it after the interval.

Rugby • 11 May 19

Saracens players celebrate after Billy Vunipola's second half try

Saracens rule Europe again after powering past Leinster

Saracens were crowned kings of Europe for a third time in four seasons after fighting back to beat Heineken Champions Cup holders Leinster 20-10 at St James' Park.

Rugby • 11 May 19

Recap: Champions Cup final - Leinster 10-20 Saracens

Re-live the action as Leinster fell short against Saracens in the Heineken Champions Cup final in St James's Park in Newcastle.

Rugby • 11 May 19

Alex Goode runs with the ball against Munster

Saracens must be 'next level' to beat Leinster - Goode

Alex Goode insists Saracens must scale new heights if they are to reclaim their Heineken Champions Cup crown from Leinster.

Rugby • 10 May 19

All You Need to Know: Leinster v Saracens

St James' Park is the unique venue for a Heineken Champions Cup final between two very familiar foes.

Rugby • 10 May 19

Sean Cronin was injured during the semi-final victory over Toulouse

Cronin passed fit as Leinster name unchanged team

Leinster have included hooker Sean Cronin in their starting line-up for Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup final against Saracens in an unchanged team from the one that defeated Toulouse last month.

Rugby • 10 May 19

Tadgh Furlong: "Mako is world class in what he does."

Furlong braces himself for titanic Mako Vunipola battle

Leinster's Tadhg Furlong expects a Test-intensity tussle with "world class" Saracens prop Mako Vunipola in Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup final.

Rugby • 09 May 19

Leinster are bidding for a fourth Heineken Champions Cup, with Saracens looking to secure their third title

Preview: Little to separate sides in heavyweight clash

It's Leinster, defending and four-time champions, versus Saracens, winners from the previous two years, in today's Heineken Champions Cup final in Newcastle

Rugby • 11 May 19

Leinster meet Saracens in Newcastle on Saturday evening

Jackman: Whoever wins this is best European team ever

Bernard Jackman believes the victor in Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup decider can rightfully claim to be "the best European team ever".

Rugby • 09 May 19

James Ryan admits anything less that Leinster's best, won't be good enough

Ryan: Saracens are the 'in-form' team in Europe

James Ryan admits that Leinster are facing the form team in Europe in Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup final, but believes that his side's experience can give them an edge.

Rugby • 09 May 19