Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Peter O'Mahony lies injured on the RDS pitch during the Pro14 final

O'Mahony ruled out as Stander captains Munster

Munster will be without Peter O'Mahony for Saturday's Heineken Cup Cup Round of 16 game against Toulouse at Thomond Park, kick-off, 3pm

Rugby • 02 Apr 21

Leinster are favourites to overcome Toulon

Preview: Donal Lenihan on Champions Cup round of 16

Leinster and Munster both face French opposition in the Champions Cup round of 16, but RTÉ analyst Donal Lenihan believes they will encounter very different challenges.

Rugby • 02 Apr 21

Munster in Champions Cup action: All you need to know

Following the cancellation of the Leinster-Toulon clash because of a positive Covid-19 test in the French side's squad, Munster are now the sole Irish representatives this weekend in the Champions Cup when they face Toulouse.

Rugby • 02 Apr 21

Tadhg Beirne after Munster's latest defeat to Leinster

Munster 'still picking up our mental state' - Larkham

Munster are still hurting "mentally" from defeat to Leinster but attack coach Stephen Larkham denies their performance in the Guinness Pro14 final was flat.

Rugby • 30 Mar 21

Munster came up short once again in a vital clash with Leinster

Moods swing ahead of Munster and Leinster Euro tasks

Munster fell way short against Leinster and now must find something special to beat Toulouse next Saturday.

Rugby • 29 Mar 21

Johnny Sexton leaves the pitch during Leinster's win over Munster

Sexton and O'Mahony concerns for Euro clashes

Johnny Sexton and Peter O'Mahony have emerged as injury concerns ahead of Leinster and Munster's Heineken Champions Cup games next weekend.

Rugby • 27 Mar 21

Ntamack has become a key figure for France

France set to lose Ntamack for Six Nations start

France fly-half Romain Ntamack looks set to miss the start of the Six Nations after suffering a double fracture of the jaw, with Ireland set to face Les Bleus in the second round of action on 14 February.

Rugby • 28 Dec 20

Ronan O'Gara has been head coach of La Rochelle since 2019

ROG's La Rochelle among French trio awarded walkovers

French clubs La Rochelle, Toulouse and Lyon have each been handed a 28-0 victory and five match points in the second round of the Heineken Champions Cup after their games were called off due to Covid-19, European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) said.

Rugby • 18 Dec 20

Exeter Chiefs have reported a number of positive tests for Covid-19

Two Euro games cancelled due to Exeter Covid outbreak

Exeter Chiefs' Heineken Champions Cup clash against Toulouse on Sunday, and Glasgow Warriors' meeting with Lyon 24 hours beforehand, have both been called off.

Rugby • 16 Dec 20

Cheslin Kolbe scores his second try, and Toulouse's fourth, at Kingspan Stadium

Kolbe torments Ulster again as Toulouse claim away win

A brace of tries from Cheslin Kolbe helped Toulouse open their Heineken Champions Cup campaign with a rare win in Belfast, where they defeated Ulster 29-22.

Rugby • 11 Dec 20

Jacob Stockdale in action against Scotland

Team news: Ulster welcome back Ireland contingent

Ireland internationals Jacob Stockdale, Eric O'Sullivan, Stuart McCloskey and Rob Herring will slot straight back into the Ulster starting team for the opening Heineken Champions Cup pool match against Toulouse.

Rugby • 10 Dec 20

Dwayne Peel: "It's been an awesome experience for me."

Ulster coach Dwayne Peel to leave for Cardiff Blues

Ulster assistant coach Dwayne Peel will leave the province in the summer to take up a role at Cardiff Blues.

Rugby • 08 Dec 20

Sean Reidy on Ireland's South Africa tour in 2016

Sean Reidy 'chomping at the bit' for Ireland chance

Ulster's Sean Reidy says he is "chomping at the bit" to get the opportunity to feature for Ireland again, four years on from winning two caps.

Rugby • 29 Sep 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

Joe Simmonds (l) of Exeter Chiefs celebrates with his brother Sam after scoring their fourth try

Exeter see off Toulouse to reach Champions Cup decider

Exeter reached their first Heineken Champions Cup final after flooring French heavyweights Toulouse with a 28-18 victory at Sandy Park to set up a decider against Racing 92.

Rugby • 26 Sep 20

"Maybe it will give the national team a clean slate to build on and implement positive changes"

Provincial hurt may create a new hunger in Irish camp

Irish rugby has hit a low point with the lack of a team in the Champions Cup semi-finals but the players' desire to show they are better than that could help the national side in the coming months.

Rugby • 22 Sep 20

Ulster players dejected following the full-time whistle at Stade Ernest Wallon

McFarland: We didn't look like a quarter-final team

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland admitted his side were outclassed in their heavy Champions Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Toulouse.

Rugby • 20 Sep 20

Toulouse winger Cheslin Kolbe breaks through the Ulster defence

Ulster ripped apart by Kolbe-inspired Toulouse

Ulster's poor end of season form concluded at Stade Ernest Wallon as a Cheslin Kolbe-inspired Toulouse emerged victorious 36-8 in today's Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final.

Rugby • 20 Sep 20

James Hume and Ulster will be looking to cause an upset

All you need to know: Toulouse v Ulster

We set the scene ahead of this afternoon's Champions Cup quarter-final.

Rugby • 20 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

Dan McFarland has launched a stirring defence of his squad

McFarland firmly behind his Leinster-born Ulstermen

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland has spoken passionately about the commitment of his players to their jersey, particularly those born outside the province.

Rugby • 16 Sep 20

Cheslin Kolbe (l) and Rotimi Segun in action for Toulouse and Saracens respectively at the weekend

Kolbe on fire for Toulouse as Sarries rest stars

Leinster and Ulster take on Saracens and Toulouse respectively this weekend with the sides experiencing mixed fortunes ahead of the Champions Cup quarter-finals.

Rugby • 14 Sep 20

Stade Ernest-Wallon will host Toulouse v Ulster

Ulster-Toulouse clash moved to Stade Ernest-Wallon

Ulster's Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulouse will now be played at Stade Ernest-Wallon after the French giants changed the venue due to local public restrictions.

Rugby • 09 Sep 20