Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

New Zealand and Australia look to rebound after defeats

New Zealand and Australia will be out to restore some pride with Rugby Championship victories this weekend after chastening reverses at the hands of Argentina and South Africa last Saturday.

Rugby • 15 Aug 24

Kurt-Lee Arendse of the Springboks runs with the ball

Springboks romp to victory in Australia

Winger Kurt-Lee Arendse scored two tries as South Africa matched their biggest ever win over the Wallabies on Australian soil with a 33-7 victory over their error-strewn hosts in the Rugby Championship opener in Brisbane.

Rugby • 10 Aug 24

RG Snyman contests a high ball against Ireland last month

Springboks boosted by Irish battles, says Snyman

The Test series against Ireland last month could prove ideal preparation for South Africa's opening two matches in the Rugby Championship against Australia over the next fortnight, Leinster lock RG Snyman said.

Rugby • 05 Aug 24

Springboks hammer Portugal, All Blacks beat Fiji

Winger Makazole Mapimpi scored a hat-trick of tries as South Africa overwhelmed a gutsy but outgunned Portugal, while New Zealand had a big win over Fiji.

Rugby • 20 Jul 24

Kurtley Beale is back with the Wallabies

Beale named in Australia squad after four years out

Kurtley Beale has been included in Australia's squad for the first time in four years ahead of Tests with Wales and Georgia.

Rugby • 21 Jun 24

Joe Schmidt was appointed head coach of Australia in January

Schmidt calls for patience with 'fragmented' Wallabies

Australia head coach Joe Schmidt has inherited a "fragmented" playing group from predecessor Eddie Jones and says building cohesion in the Wallabies will be a new challenge for him.

Rugby • 10 May 24

Former Leinster and Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is looking ahead to 2024 with new side Australia and getting ready for the visit of the Lions next year

Building consistency a priority for Wallabies - Schmidt

Australia head coach Joe Schmidt believes building consistency and the ability to win close matches will be two of his biggest challenges as he looks to put together a team that can take on the British and Irish Lions next year.

Rugby • 01 May 24

Friday night lights for Ireland-All Blacks blockbuster

Ireland are set for a Friday night lights blockbuster against New Zealand after the IRFU announced details of the Autumn Nations Series.

Rugby • 14 Mar 24

The deal is "essentially done" for Schmidt to take over Wallabies

Schmidt set to be named next Wallabies coach

Former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is set to take over as Wallabies coach, according to reports in Australia.

Rugby • 18 Jan 24

The wing scored six tries in his 11 caps for the Wallabies

Wallabies winger Nawaqanitawase defects to Rugby League

Australia winger Mark Nawaqanitawase will become the first active Wallabies player to cross to rugby league in nearly two decades after signing a two-year deal with the Sydney Roosters, starting in 2025.

Rugby • 07 Dec 23

Australia failed to get out of their World Cup pool

Rugby Australia moves closer to centralised system

Rugby Australia have secured agreement from New South Wales to take over the provincial union's high performance programme as part of a "strategic reset" but have work to do to convince the other states to sign up.

Rugby • 17 Nov 23

Andy Friend led Connacht between 2018 and 2023

Jackman: 'Friend could be just what Wallabies need'

RTÉ rugby analyst Bernard Jackman says that Australian rugby needs a diplomatic, unifying figure who can bring warring factions together and suggested Andy Friend as a possible candidate.

Rugby • 30 Oct 23

Eddie Jones: 'I am not comfortable with the results'

Eddies Jones says his Wallabies future 'up to others'

Eddie Jones says it is "up to others" in terms of deciding his future as Australia head coach.

Rugby • 06 Oct 23

Eddie Jones: 'Who says you have to have eight forwards and seven backs?'

Jones backs Springboks' forwards 'innovation'

Australia are unlikely to copy South Africa's forward-based game plan at the Rugby World Cup, but coach Eddie Jones says the Springboks' "bold and courageous" use of their bench should be viewed as innovation and not a threat to the game.

Rugby • 31 Aug 23

Steve Hansen was in charge of New Zealand when they won the 2015 World Cup

Ex-All Blacks coach Hansen to help prepare Wallabies

Former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has joined Australia in a short-term advisory role in the leadup to the World Cup after accepting an invitation from Wallabies coach Eddie Jones.

Rugby • 21 Aug 23

Eddie Jones lost patience with questions about his World Cup squad named last week and the manner of his communications with long-time captain Michael Hooper and out-half Quade Cooper

Aussie attack coach quits as Jones lashes out at media

Australia boss Eddie Jones has hit out at media criticism that he claims is dragging the country's nation's rugby down with "negativity".

Rugby • 17 Aug 23

The Lions lost a forgettable series against South Africa in 2021

Schedule announced for 2025 Lions tour of Australia

The British and Irish Lions are set to play in front of a record crowd of around 100,000 at Melbourne Cricket Ground during their 2025 tour of Australia.

Rugby • 19 Jul 23

The Pumas celebrate a try by Juan Martin Gonzalez

Argentina stun error-prone Wallabies with late try

Juan Martin Gonzalez scored a late winner as Argentina stunned Australia 34-31 in the Rugby Championship to leave the Wallabies in disarray and without a win two games into the second Eddie Jones era.

Rugby • 15 Jul 23

Mo'unga back but Etzebeth a doubt following bereavement

New Zealand coach Ian Foster has restored Richie Mo'unga to starting fly-half and dropped Damian McKenzie from his matchday 23 for their Rugby Championship game against South Africa on Saturday.

Rugby • 13 Jul 23

Kurt-Lee Arendse helped himself to a hat-trick

Kleyn enjoys winning start as Boks hammer Australia

Munster lock Jean Kleyn made his South Africa debut as Kurt-Lee Arendse's hat-trick helped them to a 43-12 over Australia in the opening round of the Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 08 Jul 23

"If you look at any modern game there is a lot of kicking"

Jones wants Wallabies to drop aversion to kicking game

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has made it quite clear that he does not share the antipathy of many of his compatriots towards tactical kicking and said his team would put boot to ball when circumstances demanded it.

Rugby • 29 Jun 23

Will Skelton is set to feature in the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2016

Skelton impressed by Wallabies set-up as return nears

If Eddie Jones was looking for winners when he started thinking about his Wallabies squad for the World Cup, the call to leviathan lock Will Skelton would have been one of the first he made.

Rugby • 27 Jun 23

Rodda missed all but two games of the Super Rugby Pacific season

Wallabies lock Rodda ruled out of RWC due to injury

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has confirmed that lock Izack Rodda will miss the Rugby Championship and World Cup after aggravating a foot injury in training this week.

Rugby • 23 Jun 23

Wayne Smith believes that Australia can cause a big shock at the World Cup

Smith tips Wallabies to surprise at World Cup

Former All Blacks coach Wayne Smith thinks the Wallabies could spring a surprise at the World Cup in France later this year with Eddie Jones back at the helm since replacing Dave Rennie at the start of the year.

Rugby • 09 May 23

"I think it's really poor how New Zealand Rugby have done it"

'It's really poor' - Jones slams NZ on Foster treatment

Australia coach Eddie Jones has criticised New Zealand for its handling of Scott Robertson's appointment as All Blacks coach, saying the timing was "inappropriate" with Ian Foster still in charge.

Rugby • 24 Mar 23