Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Jack Crowley scored 15 points in Munster's 30-24 win against Connacht

Costello 'confident' Crowley will remain at Munster

Munster interim head coach Ian Costello says he is "confident" that Jack Crowley will remain at the province next season, despite interest from the Leicester Tigers.

United Rugby Championship • 31 Mar

Jack Crowley and Craig Casey celebrate after the game

Costello thrilled with Munster half-back masterclass

Ian Costello praised his side's management of the conditions as they gave their BKT United Rugby Championship season a shot in the arm with a bonus-point 30-24 win at Connacht.

Rugby • 29 Mar

Six-try Ulster shade rollercoaster Stormers battle

Ulster scored six tries on their way to claiming a dramatic 38-34 comeback victory over Stormers to boost their United Rugby Championship play-off hopes after trailing 17-0.

Rugby • 28 Mar

RG Snyman has played 14 games in his first season at Leinster

Snyman staying at Leinster as new deal confirmed

RG Snyman is staying at Leinster for another season, after agreeing a one-year extension at the province.

Rugby • 27 Mar

How will Lions coaching appointments affect Ireland?

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman to react to the Irish-centric coaching appointments by Andy Farrell to his British and Irish Lions team, and what that means for Ireland, who will be without four of their five coaches this summer.

United Rugby Championship • 26 Mar

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins is on sick leave

Updated Wilkins remains absent for Connacht's Castlebar trip

Connacht will once again be operating without head coach Pete Wilkins for this week's BKT United Rugby Championship Interpro against Munster in Castlebar. Wilkins was away from the team in the build-up to last week's defeat to the Ospreys, and the province have confirmed he remains on "sick leave".

United Rugby Championship • 25 Mar

Sam Prendergast has started all four Champions Cup games for Leinster this season

Prendergast agrees new Leinster deal

Sam Prendergast has agreed a new contract with Leinster to remain at the province next season. The 22-year-old's new deal is with the province, rather than a central contract with the IRFU.

United Rugby Championship • 25 Mar

Jeremy Loughman hasn't played since October due to a hip injury

Loughman returns among nine changes for Munster

Jeremy Loughman will make his first appearance since October, as Munster return to BKT United Rugby Championship action against Glasgow Warriors on Friday (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

United Rugby Championship • 20 Mar

Rabah Slimani has signed a one-year extension

Slimani staying with Leinster as he agrees new deal

Rabah Slimani will stay at Leinster for another season, after the province confirmed a new contract for the tighthead prop, while Jordan Larmour and Fintan Gunne have also agreed deals.

United Rugby Championship • 12 Mar

Seib recently worked as head coach of Australia A on their northern hemisphere tour

Connacht appoint Australian Seib as new attack coach

Connacht have confirmed the appointment of Australian Rod Seib as their new attack coach for next season. The 50-year-old will joins from Super Rugby side Brumbies, where he previously coached the province's winger Mack Hansen.

United Rugby Championship • 04 Mar

Connacht started brightly against Benetton but things unravelled with 27 unanswered points before they secured a bonus-point win

Connacht bounce back with bonus-point Benetton win

Connacht started and finished strongly to beat Benetton in a 38-30 bonus-point victory in a topsy-turvy United Rugby Championship clash.

Rugby • 02 Mar

Leinster's Jack Boyle, Ulster's Stuart McCloskey and Connacht's Cathal Forde

Time to win is now as URC turns towards home stretch

The BKT United Rugby Championship may be playing in the shadows of the Guinness Six Nations at this time of year, but a win is no less valuable.

United Rugby Championship • 01 Mar

Munster have won their last five meetings with Edinburgh

United Rugby Championship R12: All you need to know

With the Six Nations on a down week, the provinces return to United Rugby Championship action - find out all you need to know here.

United Rugby Championship • 28 Feb

Alex Nankivell suffered a hamstring injury on 20 December

Nankivell makes welcome return for Munster

Munster have been boosted by the return of Alex Nankivell from injury as they look to pick up their third BKT United Rugby Championship win in a row tomorrow night.

Rugby • 27 Feb

'The only thing Munster and Leinster have in common is a map'

Cave sees gap between Leinster and Munster as cavernous

Munster may be climbing the rungs on the BKT United Rugby Championship league ladder after their 29-8 victory against the Scarlets last Saturday, but RTÉ analyst Darren Cave believes recapturing their glory days and truly rivalling or surpassing Leinster remains a long way off.

Rugby • 18 Feb

Croke Park, Crowley, and a flawed Champions Cup format

Neil Treacy is joined on the RTÉ Rugby podcast by Bernard Jackman and Johne Murphy to recap the final round of pool games in the Investec Champions Cup.

United Rugby Championship • 22 Jan

Crooked throws will no longer be punished if uncontested by the defending team

'Will it open up space?' - Law trials interest Jackman

A new calendar years brings with it new trial laws, four of which will be rolled out for the first time in top-tier northern hemisphere rugby in this weekend's Investec Champions and Challenge Cup games.

United Rugby Championship • 08 Jan

Crooked throws will no longer be punished if the throw is uncontested by the defending team

'Will it open up space?' - Law trials interest Jackman

A new calendar years brings with it new trial laws, four of which will be rolled out for the first time in top-tier northern hemisphere rugby in this weekend's Investec Champions and Challenge Cup games.

United Rugby Championship • 08 Jan

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins is on the hunt for a new attack coach

Sexton departure leaves Connacht in familiar territory

While Connacht have struggled for consistency on the pitch in recent seasons, there has been a similar lack of stability on their coaching ticket.

United Rugby Championship • 09 Jan

Mark Sexton will leave Connacht at the end of the season

Sexton to depart Connacht for 'new opportunity'

Connacht have confirmed that Mark Sexton will leave the province at the end of the season, with the attack coach believed to be joining Ulster.

United Rugby Championship • 07 Jan

Leinster's defence prevents Tadhg Beirne from scoring a try in their 28-7 win against Munster

Jackman: Nienaber's Leinster playing like 'psychos'

Bernard Jackman believes Jacques Nienaber has changed the mentality of Leinster's squad since his arrival 12 months ago, with the province now playing like "psychos" since buying into his defence-first strategy.

United Rugby Championship • 30 Dec 24

United Rugby Championship: Connacht 7-17 Ulster - recap

Connacht welcome Ulster to the Dexcom Stadium for tonight's Interpro derby. Follow the action here.

United Rugby Championship • 28 Dec 24

Friday was Sam Prendergast's first time playing against Munster

Prendergast: 'I enjoyed the crowd getting on top of us'

With his 22nd and final game of 2024, there was still time for another final first for Sam Prendergast, as he played his first big Interpro against Munster.

Rugby • 30 Dec 24