Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Leinster will be hoping to make home advantage count at the Aviva

'Too strong, too smart' - Leinster should beat Toulouse

Donal Lenihan believes that Leinster will be "too strong, too smart and too experienced" for Toulouse when the two sides meet at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Rugby • 13 May 22

Brian O'Driscoll scores against Toulouse in 2011

Fab Four: Classic Leinster Champions Cup semi-finals

As Leinster prepare to host Toulouse in the Aviva Stadium this afternoon, we take a look back at four classic Champions semi-finals involving the Irish side.

Rugby • 13 May 22

Leinster's ruck has been praised across the board

Shock and awe - English duo say Leinster best in Europe

Chris Ashton and Danny Care have heaped praise on Leinster's efficiency ahead of Leo Cullen's side's meeting with Toulouse.

Rugby • 12 May 22

RTÉ Rugby podcast: Munster pain, Leinster drive for 5

The panel look back on last weekend's Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals and ahead to Leinster v Toulouse.

Rugby • 11 May 22

James Lowe: 'I think I can nudge them over from in front'

Lowe volunteers to join shoot-out if called upon

With just two matches in the history of the competition being settled by a shoot-out, Leinster v Toulouse's Champions Cup semi-final is unlikely to go the full distance.

Rugby • 10 May 22

Jimmy O'Brien and Cian Healy (r) are injury doubts for the semi-final

Updated Leinster hopeful on Healy and O'Brien for Toulouse tie

Leinster may be without Cian Healy and Jimmy O'Brien for Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final against Toulouse.

Rugby • 09 May 22

'Goal-kicking is high risk, but high reward'

Finding Zen - The ball, the kicking tee and the posts

While Munster lost out on a place in the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final at the weekend, it reminded me just how addictive an art form goal kicking really is.

Rugby • 10 May 22

Munster players and staff look on during the 'place kick' competition

Jackman: Massive Munster progress despite 'cruel' blow

Bernard Jackman believes Munster are good enough to win silverware in the United Rugby Championship if they can bounce back from the pain of a "cruel" Heineken Champions Cup exit at the hands of Toulouse.

Rugby • 09 May 22

Robbie Henshaw in action against Romain Ntamack during the 2019 semi-final clash in Dublin

Leinster and Toulouse set for Saturday afternoon

Leinster will welcome Toulouse to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday for their Heineken Champions Cup semi-final, with the clash set for a 3pm kick off.

Rugby • 08 May 22

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen pictured at Welford Park

Cullen: I never felt comfortable despite rapid start

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said that he never felt comfortable despite his side's stunning first-half performance in their 23-14 Heineken Champions Cup win over Leicester at Welford Park.

Rugby • 07 May 22

Recap: Toulouse edge Munster after kicking competition

Read how it all unfolded as Toulouse edged out Leinster in a match that went all the way at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 07 May 22

De Allende has scored four tries in his last seven games

Munster hardened by tough mid-season form - De Allende

He was hardly going to down tools, but it speaks to the professionalism of Damian de Allende that his form for Munster continues to improve the closer he gets to departing.

Rugby • 04 May 22

Munster will have more than 30,000 fans at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday

Munster banking on the 'Red Army' to make a difference

Thirteen months ago Munster took their best shot at Toulouse in the Champions Cup, but ultimately came up short.

Rugby • 03 May 22

Munster were 42-21 winners against Cardiff on Friday night

Munster gaining momentum at the right time - Van Graan

Munster's season has had more ups and downs than one of Graham Rowntree's lineout sessions, but in recent weeks their trajectory has been steady and upward.

Rugby • 02 May 22

Kickoff details confirmed for Champions Cup quarters

Munster and Leinster will both play their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals on Saturday 7 May, after the EPCR confirmed details of the last-eight ties.

Rugby • 20 Apr 22

Ulster players gather following their narrow defeat to the French and European champions

'Have a beer, be grumpy and get over it' - McFarland

Dan McFarland and Ulster don't have time to wallow in their Champions Cup loss to Toulouse, but you could easily forgive the group for carrying this defeat for a while.

Rugby • 18 Apr 22

Recap: Ulster 23-30 Toulouse

Relive all the action from the Kingspan Stadium as Ulster hosted holders Toulouse in the Champions Cup.

Rugby • 16 Apr 22

Romain Ntamack of Toulouse celebrates at the final whistle

Ulster come undone to late Toulouse surge

Toulouse turned the tables on Ulster and dramatically booked their place in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals by beating the 14-man Irish province 30-23 at the Kingspan Stadium to seal a 50-49 aggregate win.

Rugby • 16 Apr 22

Vermeulen has played 12 games since his arrival at Ulster in December

Vermeulen hoping to bring winning touch to Ulster

Duane Vermeulen could be the final piece in the puzzle as Ulster look to end a 16-year wait for silverware, writes Neil Treacy.

Rugby • 16 Apr 22

Champions Cup last-16 second legs: All you need to know

All four Irish provinces are still in the hunt for the Champions Cup quarter-finals, find out all you need to know here.

Rugby • 15 Apr 22

O'Mahony and Carbery both missed the 13-8 first leg defeat due to injury

O'Mahony and Carbery passed fit for Munster

Peter O'Mahony, Joey Carbery and Simon Zebo have all been restored to the Munster team for their crunch Heineken Champions Cup last 16 second leg against Exeter Chiefs tomorrow.

Rugby • 15 Apr 22

RTÉ Rugby podcast: Irish win and Euro ties down to wire

The panel review Ireland's win over Italy in the Six Nations and assess the state of affairs after the first legs of the provinces' Champions Cup round-of-16 ties.

Rugby • 13 Apr 22

Ulster were 26-20 winners in last Saturday's first leg against Toulouse

'We've done nothing yet' - Ulster won't rest on laurels

Dan McFarland has warned that Ulster's famous win away to Toulouse on Saturday will count for very little unless they can back it up this weekend.

Rugby • 13 Apr 22

Robert Baloucoune's three tries have handed the advantage to Ulster

Baloucoune signs new deal with Ulster

Robert Baloucoune has signed a new deal with Ulster that will keep the Ireland winger at the province until the summer of 2025.

Rugby • 11 Apr 22

Dan McFarland's team beat the European champions on their own turf

McFarland hails Ulster but warns Toulouse still lethal

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland was understandably delighted with his team's performance in their Champions Cup 26-20 victory over Toulouse but warned his players they would have to improve for the return fixture.

Rugby • 09 Apr 22