Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

19 July 2025; Joe McCarthy of British & Irish Lions leaves the pitch upon being substituted during the first test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

McCarthy and Hansen sit out training in Melbourne

Joe McCarthy and Mack Hansen both sat out training in Melbourne on Monday, but the British and Irish Lions are hopeful both players will be available for Saturday's second Test against Australia.

British and Irish Lions • 21 Jul

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Blair Kinghorn of the British & Irish Lions looks dejected and is replaced during the tour match between ACT Brumbies and the British & Irish Lions at GIO Stadium on July 09, 2025 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by David Roge

Lions still hopeful of Kinghorn involvement v Wallabies

Blair Kinghorn faces a race against time to be fit for the British and Irish Lions' first Test against Australia because of the sprained knee sustained on Wednesday.

Rugby • 11 Jul

Andrew Goodman, Simon Easterby and John Fogarty have all been added to the Lions coaching staff

Easterby, Goodman and Fogarty added to Lions ticket

Andy Farrell has included Simon Easterby, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty on his coaching group for this summer's British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, with Paul O'Connell now expected to take charge of Ireland for their summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal.

Rugby • 26 Mar

Easterby looks set to continue has Ireland interim boss

Easterby plays down link to vacant Wales hotseat

Simon Easterby said he has not been contacted regarding the Wales job and is committed to his role with Ireland.

Rugby • 17 Mar

Ireland head coach Simon Easterby speaks to his players after the win against Italy

Easterby: 'We left a few scores out there'

Simon Easterby insists that Ireland have moved forward in this Guinness Six Nations campaign, despite his side now looking likely to finish third in the table.

Rugby • 15 Mar

Mack Hansen is held up over the tryline against Wales, one of five times it's happened Ireland in the last four games

Ireland's tryline woes part of a frustrating trend

If you think you've seen Irish players being held up over the tryline a lot in this Guinness Six Nations, then you are not alone.

Rugby • 14 Mar

Jack Crowley will win his 24th cap on Saturday

IRFU 'confident' Crowley will remain in Ireland

Simon Easterby has given his backing to Jack Crowley to make an impact at out-half this week, while he remains "confident" the Munster man will stay in Ireland next season.

Rugby • 13 Mar

Two young Ireland fans cheer on the team ahead of the clash with Italy in Rome back in 2007

'We might get a bit of luck with it being Paddy's'

Simon Easterby is hoping that his team get the luck of the Irish against Italy with the destiny of the Six Nations title out of their hands.

Rugby • 14 Mar

Ireland's players react after the final whistle

Easterby: 'We need to make sure we're better at that'

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby will look back with frustration on Ireland's third-quarter collapse against France.

Rugby • 10 Mar

Paul Boudehent scores France's second try

Easterby laments awarding of crucial second French try

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby insist his side were better than the scoreline suggested in their 42-27 defeat to France at Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 08 Mar

Sam Prendergast starts at out-half for Ireland on Saturday

Easterby expects Prendergast to step up on defence

Simon Easterby is backing Sam Prendergast to step up to the physicality that France will bring in tomorrow's Guinness Six Nations meeting at Aviva Stadium (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

Rugby • 07 Mar

Jamie Osborne starts on the right wing for Ireland against France

Easterby backs 'versatile' Osborne to fill wing role

Simon Easterby says Jamie Osborne's versatility is a key reason for the 23-year-old's inclusion on the wing for Saturday's crucial Guinness Six Nations meeting with France.

Rugby • 06 Mar

Caelan Doris earns his 50th cap on Saturday

Doris passed fit but Hansen misses out on France clash

Ireland captain Caelan Doris has been passed fit to start Saturday's Guinness Six Nations meeting with France, but Mack Hansen has been ruled out of the crucial meeting at Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 06 Mar

Simon Easterby reckons Welsh fans will back their team despite recent woes

Home crowd will lift Wales spirits, warns Easterby

There are few people better placed to assess the mood of the Welsh rugby public than Simon Easterby and the Ireland boss will have his side prepared to face a Cardiff cauldron.

Rugby • 21 Feb

Simon Easterby: 'I'm not in control of that. I love what I do here'

Easterby dismisses Wales link with focus on Ireland

Simon Easterby says his full focus is preparing Ireland to beat Wales on Saturday but didn't definitively rule himself out of contention for the vacant head coach role down the line.

Rugby • 20 Feb

Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has some decisions to make

Change for change's sake not in Ireland make-up

Given Ireland's plain sailing to round three, and the woes of Wales, there are calls to make Saturday's trip to Cardiff the rotation game.

Rugby • 17 Feb

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby

Jackman would be 'shocked' if Wales land Easterby

While many in Wales have called for their union to headhunt Simon Easterby to become their next head coach, Bernard Jackman says he would be "absolutely shocked" to see the Ireland interim boss leave the IRFU.

Rugby • 12 Feb

Simon Easterby (l) has taken the reigns from Andy Farrell

Farrell-Easterby transition so far so good for Ireland

Simon Easterby has overseen a seamless transition following Andy Farrell's switch to Lions duty.

Rugby • 10 Feb

Simon Easterby won't be lulled into a false sense of security

Easterby won't fall into complacency camp for Wales

Simon Easterby has seen enough Six Nations upsets in his time to know that taking Wales lightly is a folly.

Rugby • 11 Feb

Easterby won't fall into complacency camp for Wales

Simon Easterby has seen enough Six Nations upsets in his time to know that taking Wales lightly is a folly.

Rugby • 10 Feb

Farrell-Easterby transition so far so good for Ireland

Simon Easterby has overseen a seamless transition following Andy Farrell's switch to Lions duty.

Rugby • 10 Feb

Andrew Porter celebrates Ireland's second try

Easterby pleased by 'clinical' Irish performance

Simon Easterby hailed his side's composure as they maintained their perfect start to the Guinness Six Nations.

Rugby • 10 Feb

Peter O'Mahony starts in the back row for Ireland

Ireland turn to 'lineout expert' O'Mahony in Edinburgh

While we were all busy talking the Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley rivalry, or gushing at the incredible return of Dan Sheehan, there wasn't a word all week for Peter O'Mahony.

Rugby • 08 Feb

Easterby: Scots will make us pay for another slow start

Simon Easterby believes Ireland can't afford to start as slow as they did against England, when they take on Scotland at Murrayfield this Sunday.

Rugby • 08 Feb

Bench impact gives Easterby big decisions to make

Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby has some big calls to make between now and when he names his matchday squad on Friday morning.

Rugby • 05 Feb