Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Sean O'Brien (l) says Simon Zebo is a vital part of the Ireland set-up

'X-factor' Zebo must stay in Ireland frame - O'Brien

Sean O'Brien believes that Simon Zebo still has a future with Ireland despite announcing his departure from Munster at the end of the season.

Rugby • 26 Oct 17

O'Brien has featured just once for Leinster this season

O'Brien set for Ulster return, Nacewa out for 6 weeks

Leinster's Seán O'Brien looks set to make a playing return for this weekend's Pro14 interprovincial derby against Ulster, while club captain Isa Naewa is likely to face six weeks on the sidelines.

Rugby • 23 Oct 17

Sean O'Brien in action during last summer's first Test

O'Brien clears the air with Gatland

Seán O'Brien says he had a "relaxed" conversation with Lions head coach Warren Gatland following his recent criticism and insists the issue has been put to bed.

Rugby • 17 Oct 17

Leinster waiting on Sexton and O'Brien progress

Leinster will not make a decision on Johnny Sexton and Seán O'Brien's availability for this weekend's Champions Cup tie against Glasgow until later in the week.

Rugby • 16 Oct 17

Sean O'Brien: 'I think we should have won the tour and we probably should have won it comfortably.'

Sean O'Brien says Gatland to blame for Lions failure

Sean O'Brien has blamed Warren Gatland and his coaching staff for the Lions' failure to win their three-Test series with New Zealand this summer.

Rugby • 21 Sep 17

Sean O'Brien and Peter O'Mahony impressed greatly against the All Blacks last year

O'Brien and O'Mahony will scare All Blacks - Haskell

Sean O'Brien and Peter O'Mahony boast the qualities to rattle the All Blacks for the British and Irish Lions, according to James Haskell.

Rugby • 19 Jun 17

Jonathan Sexton in action against Crusaders

O'Brien: 'Sharp' Sexton ready to step up for Lions

Sean O'Brien has tipped Johnny Sexton to fill the void if Owen Farrell misses the British and Irish Lions' first Test through injury.

Rugby • 16 Jun 17

George North wants to see a big improvement from the Lions this weekend

North tell Lions players - it's time to step up

George North believes it is up to the British and Irish Lions players to conjure the magic that boss Warren Gatland is searching for.

Rugby • 09 Jun 17

Sean O'Brien heads out on the pitch for his first Lions training session in New Zealand

Sean O'Brien could feature for Lions on Saturday

Ireland back-row Sean O'Brien trained with the British and Irish Lions for the first time since arriving in New Zealand and could feature in Saturday's game against Crusaders.

Rugby • 06 Jun 17

Seán O'Brien on the exercise bike at Carton House

Gatland has no worries over O'Brien and McGrath fitness

Lions head coach Warren Gatland has allayed fitness concerns surrounding Sean O'Brien and Jack McGrath, insisting the pair are fully fit for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand.

Rugby • 23 May 17

A hamstring injury has ruled Seán O'Brien out of the clash in Lyon

O'Brien ruled out of semi-final clash with Clermont

Leinster will be without Seán O'Brien for Sunday's Champions Cup semi-final against Clermont Auvergne in one of two changes to the side that defeated Wasps in the last eight.

Rugby • 21 Apr 17

England secured back-to-back Six Nations titles

What we learned from the 2017 Six Nations

England have a way to go to emulate past achievements, Ireland's embarrassment of riches in the back row and just how good are Scotland?

Rugby • 19 Mar 17

Ireland welcome France to the Aviva Stadium on 25 February

Six Nations: stats suggest French flair is back

Ireland and France meet on Saturday week in Dublin, so what have we learned from the opening two rounds of the RBS 6 Nations?

Rugby • 15 Feb 17

O'Brien is hoping Ireland can quickly learn the lessons from the Murrayfield defeat

'Lethargic' Ireland need quick upswing – O'Brien

Flanker Seán O'Brien has predicted a brutal review session on Monday when Ireland will pick apart the problems of their 27-22 RBS 6 Nations loss to Scotland in Edinburgh.

Rugby • 05 Feb 17

Laidlaw savours the final penalty kick in the defeat of Ireland

Where it went wrong for Ireland at Murrayfield

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has six days to try and put right the disappointments of Murrayfield. Here are four areas that cost Ireland dearly in the defeat to Scotland

Rugby • 05 Feb 17

Sean O'Brien has recovered from a calf injury to take his place

O'Brien calls for patience in Murrayfield

Sean O'Brien believes Ireland will have to show patience in order to break down the expected formidable challenge from Scotland in Saturday's Six Nations opener at Murrayfield.

Rugby • 03 Feb 17

Ian Henderson handed a start for the Murrayfield game

Henderson, O'Brien start for Ireland against Scots

Ulster second row Iain Henderson has been named in the Ireland side to play Scotland on Saturday, while flanker Sean O'Brien has been passed fit for action.

Six Nations • 03 Feb 17

Ireland rocked by Sexton and O'Mahony injuries

Joe Schmidt has been dealt a big blow ahead of Saturday's Six Nations clash with Scotland with the news that both Johnny Sexton and Peter O'Mahony will not be available for selection at Murrayfield.

Six Nations • 31 Jan 17

Sexton will take part in tomorrow's training session and is expected to be fit to face Scotland

Sexton 'looking good' for Scotland, Conway out

Andrew Conway has been ruled of Ireland's opening Six Nations match with Scotland this weekend, but Johnny Sexton, Seán O'Brien and Keith Earls are expected to be fit for the Murrayfield clash.

Rugby • 30 Jan 17

Ward: Best in three-way battle for Lions captaincy

Tony Ward believes the Lions captaincy will come down to a three-way shoot-out between Rory Best, Alun Wyn-Jones and Dylan Hartley.

Rugby • 26 Jan 17

Johnny Sexton and Seán O'Brien should return to full training next week

Schmidt confident over Sexton and O'Brien fitness

Joe Schmidt has every confidence Johnny Sexton and Sean O'Brien will be fit for Ireland's RBS 6 Nations opener in Scotland.

Rugby • 26 Jan 17

Cullen hopeful on 'minor' O'Brien injury

Leinster boss Leo Cullen doesn't expect that Sean O'Brien's calf injury will keep him out of Ireland's Six Nations campaign, which starts in 16 days.

Rugby • 19 Jan 17

Sexton is available for the final pool game away to Castres

Lancaster: Sexton fit and 'raring to go'

Leinster senior coach Stuart Lancaster insists that Johnny Sexton has shown no ill-effects from the high tackle suffered against Montpellier, and believes the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) protocols are sufficiently robust.

Rugby • 17 Jan 17

Dan Baker celebrates for Ospreys after scoring their first try

Injury-ravaged Connacht beaten by Ospreys

An injury depleted Connacht side suffered a comprehensive Pro12 defeat to Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium, going down 29-7 to their Welsh opponents.

Rugby • 08 Jan 17

Hartley gets six-week ban for O'Brien clash

Dylan Hartley will be available for England's Six Nations title defence after receiving a six-week suspension for landing a swinging arm on the head of Sean O'Brien.

Rugby • 14 Dec 16

Seán OBrien