Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Munster and Leinster players tussle during their meeting at the Aviva Stadium in November 2023

Munster-Leinster rivalry healthier than ever - Rowntree

As of Tuesday lunchtime, more than 75,000 tickets have been sold for Saturday's blockbuster BKT United Rugby Championship meeting of Leinster and Munster at Croke Park.

Rugby • 09 Oct 24

Graham Rowntree was proud of his side after they won in challenging conditions

Rowntree proud as Munster respond in style with shutout

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree spoke of his pride after watching his side bounce back from defeat against Zebre with an impressive win over Ospreys.

Rugby • 05 Oct 24

RG Snyman is the only member of Leinster's starting team who isn't an Ireland international

Star-studded line-up shows Leinster mean business

You'd love to have been a fly on the wall when Benetton head coach Marco Bortolami got a first look at the Leinster team sheet this week.

United Rugby Championship • 05 Oct 24

Finlay Bealham starts for Connacht away to the Scarlets

Experience matters as Bealham and Connacht go to Wales

While Connacht won on their last visit to the Scarlets, Finlay Bealham only knows of defeat in Llanelli.

United Rugby Championship • 04 Oct 24

Connacht face the Scarlets on Friday night

United Rugby Championship Round 3: All You Need to Know

Kick-off details, team news, TV coverage and everything else you need to know ahead of this week's Round 3 games in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 04 Oct 24

United Rugby Championship Round 3: All You Need to Know

Kick-off details, team news, TV coverage and everything else you need to know ahead of this week's Round 3 games in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 03 Oct 24

Jack Conan has captained Leinster in each of their URC games this season

Jackman: Domestic players key to Racing move for Conan

Bernard Jackman has expressed some doubt over Racing 92's reported interest in Leinster number 8 Jack Conan.

United Rugby Championship • 02 Oct 24

Form means nothing after seismic shocks in URC and WXV

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Jonny Holland to recap a busy weekend in the URC, while Hannah O'Connor reacts to Ireland's incredible win against New Zealand in the WXV.

United Rugby Championship • 02 Oct 24

Form means nothing after seismic shocks in URC and WXV

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Jonny Holland to recap a busy weekend in the URC, while Hannah O'Connor reacts to Ireland's incredible win against New Zealand in the WXV.

United Rugby Championship • 03 Oct 24

Munster suffered a shock 42-33 defeat to Zebre

Leamy: O'Callaghan's Munster criticism 'on the money'

Munster assistant Denis Leamy says he's in agreement with Donncha O'Callaghan's scathing assessment of the province's recent defeat to Zebre.

United Rugby Championship • 02 Oct 24

Healy made his 281st Leinster appearance on Friday

Emotional Healy soaks up his 'special moment'

Cian Healy has admitted this season will 'probably' be his last in professional rugby, after he became Leinster's all-time appearance holder last Friday night.

United Rugby Championship • 30 Sep 24

Ulster make their point in Joburg defeat to Lions

Ulster fell to a 35-22 loss to Lions in Johannesburg but could take some encouragement from a bonus point on the road in the United Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 28 Sep 24

Jack Conan scored the first of Leinster's six tries

Cullen upbeat as Leinster hold off plucky Dragons

Leinster very much looked in pre-season form for much of their 34-6 win against the Dragons at the Aviva Stadium, but head coach Leo Cullen declare himself delighted to get in and out with a bonus-point win for the second week in a row.

United Rugby Championship • 28 Sep 24

Piers O'Conor joined Connacht from Bristol Bears

O'Conor the latest to follow the Bristol-Connacht path

We're now seven years into what appears to be an unofficial exchange programme between Connacht and Bristol Bears, and Piers O'Conor is the latest to swap one for the other.

United Rugby Championship • 27 Sep 24

Healy will make his 281st Leinster appearance on Friday

Cullen: Healy deserving of 'phenomenal' milestone

Leo Cullen has hailed the "phenomenal" longevity of Cian Healy, ahead of the loosehead prop's milestone appearance for Leinster at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

United Rugby Championship • 26 Sep 24

Cian Healy will play his 281st game for Leinster

Healy set for record-breaking appearance v Dragons

Cian Healy will become Leinster's record appearance holder this week, with the loosehead set to play his 281st game for the province in Friday night's meeting with the Dragons at the Aviva Stadium.

United Rugby Championship • 26 Sep 24

Tom Farrell had an impressive Munster debut

Farrell could be a 'moneyball' signing for Munster

New Munster centre Tom Farrell could prove to be something of a 'moneyball' signing for the province, according to Johne Murphy and Bernard Jackman.

United Rugby Championship • 25 Sep 24

Licence to play - Wilkins excited by backline potential

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins says he's ready to let his exciting backline off the leash after an exciting display against Munster.

United Rugby Championship • 25 Sep 24

Billy Burns suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday's win against Connacht

Munster to make late call on Burns injury

Munster will make a late call on the fitness of out-half Billy Burns ahead of this Saturday's meeting with Zebre in Parma, but say they have full faith in Tony Butler if he is required to step up.

United Rugby Championship • 24 Sep 24

Finlay Bealham could return for Connacht this week

Connacht confident of Bealham return for Sharks visit

Connacht look set to welcome Finlay Bealham back to their squad for Saturday's visit of the Sharks to Galway.

United Rugby Championship • 24 Sep 24

Charlie Tector, Chay Mullins and Mark Donnelly have all joined the Emerging Ireland squad

Tector, Mullins and Donnelly added to Emerging Ireland

Charlie Tector, Chay Mullins and Mark Donnelly have all been added to the Emerging Ireland squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa after head coach Simon Easterby was forced into a number of changes.

United Rugby Championship • 24 Sep 24

'Saturday's URC opener was a good reminder of what Tector can do'

Tector offers reminder of potential in crucial year

One player that rose to the challenge for Leinster in their URC opener against Edinburgh was Charlie Tector, writes Jonny Holland.

Rugby • 24 Sep 24

URC: Edinburgh 31-33 Leinster recap

Follow our minute by minute coverage as Leinster get their BKT United Rugby Championship campaign up and running away to Edinburgh.

United Rugby Championship • 21 Sep 24

Graham Rowntree is heading into his third season in charge of Munster

Rowntree 'more battle-hardened' ahead of third season

As he begins his third season in charge of Munster, Graham Rowntree looks back on how he's changed as a coach in the last two years.

United Rugby Championship • 21 Sep 24

Rowntree 'more battle-hardened' ahead of third season

As he begins his third season in charge of Munster, Graham Rowntree looks back on how he's changed as a coach in the last two years.

United Rugby Championship • 20 Sep 24