Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Warren Gatland is eyeing a winning finale to his Lions coaching career

Jackman: Beating Boks would be Gatland's finest moment

Leading the British and Irish Lions to a series win over South Africa would rank as Warren Gatland's finest achievement as a coach, says Bernard Jackman.

Rugby • 06 Aug 21

Gregor Townsend (left) has come under scrutiny due to the Lions' shortcomings in attack

Townsend in the spotlight for Lions' lack of bite

Bernard Jackman and Donal Lenihan pointed the finger at Gregor Townsend for the British and Irish Lions' lack of attacking spark and warned South Africa will run out comprehensive winners in Saturday's series decider unless Warren Gatland changes tact.

Rugby • 05 Aug 21

'Rassie will feel vindicated and has opened a can of worms with officiating going forward'

Forget the Springboks in red and find new plan, Gatland

Former Munster out-half Jonny Holland outlines the need for the Lions to discover their own way of playing after losing the second Test in Cape Town.

Rugby • 05 Aug 21

'The last thing we need is a war of words and being accused of doing certain things'

War of words not on Gatland agenda ahead of 'cup final'

Warren Gatland says the British and Irish Lions must prepare for a 'cup final' after their 27-9 defeat by South Africa in the second Test set up a series decider next Saturday but was reluctant to comment on Rassie Erasmus' pre-match video.

Rugby • 31 Jul 21

The Lions are on the verge of a first series in in South Africa since 1997

South Africa v Lions second Test: All you need to know

South Africa are in do-or-die territory against the Lions in the second Test. Find out all you need to know here.

Rugby • 30 Jul 21

Conor Murray will win his seventh Lions cap on Saturday

Murray recall a sign Lions expect Springboks blitz

Conor Murray's recall for the Lions is a sign that Warren Gatland is expecting the Springboks to come out firing as they bid to level the series.

Rugby • 27 Jul 21

The Lions lead the series after their 22-17 win

Lions warned to expect Springbok backlash

Warren Gatland has braced his British and Irish Lions for a backlash from South Africa after the tourists seized a 1-0 lead in the series by winning 22-17 at Cape Town Stadium.

Rugby • 24 Jul 21

RTÉ Rugby Podcast: Focus on Gatland's first Test team

Hugh Cahill, Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman are back and raring to preview the first Test between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions.

Rugby • 22 Jul 21

Warren Gatland: "We are going to be in an arm wrestle but we are confident we can work through that."

'We are going to get stronger and stronger' - Gatland

Warren Gatland insists he has selected a dangerous British and Lions team to create and finish the tries needed to topple South Africa in Saturday's critical series opener at Cape Town Stadium.

Rugby • 21 Jul 21

The South Africa director of rugby posted two videos to social media

Erasmus takes to Twitter to question Farrell tackles

Owen Farrell has had two controversial tackles highlighted by Rassie Erasmus as tensions continue to simmer ahead of the British and Irish Lions series against South Africa.

Rugby • 16 Jul 21

Warren Gatland isn't interested in a second match-up with South Africa 'A'

Thanks but no thanks - Lions decline 'A' double-header

Warren Gatland has welcomed South Africa elevating their 'A' clash into an unofficial fourth Test, but the Lions head coach has emphatically ruled out meeting for a second time on Saturday.

Rugby • 12 Jul 21

Warren Gatland will make a decision on Alun Wyn Jones on Tuesday

Alun Wyn Jones could make remarkable Lions return

Alun Wyn Jones could make a sensational return to the British and Irish Lions squad after seeing dramatic progress in his recovery from the dislocated shoulder that appeared to have ended his tour.

Rugby • 13 Jul 21

Warren Gatland: "It's a little bit difficult to plan too far ahead."

Lions face more upheaval as more fixture changes likely

The British and Irish Lions tour faces more upheaval after Warren Gatland revealed that next week's opponents could swap places to give South Africa more time to overcome their outbreak of Covid-19.

Rugby • 09 Jul 21

Gatland still wrestles with 'agony or ecstasy' of games

Warren Gatland admits that even as a veteran coach he is afflicted by nerves on matchdays as he wrestles with the "agony or ecstasy" of competing in the international arena.

Rugby • 02 Jul 21

Murray finally gets chance to prove that he can lead

In a season when his decade-long dominance of Ireland's scrum-half jersey appeared to be waning, Conor Murray now takes centre stage as Lions captain.

Rugby • 28 Jun 21

Ronan O'Gara spent time as an assistant coach for Ireland's game against the USA in 2017

No need for ROG to serve time with province - Nucifora

Ronan O'Gara would not have to serve time in the Irish system before becoming head coach of the national team, according to David Nucifora.

Rugby • 03 Jun 21

Conor Murray pictured at the Lions meeting today

All Lions squad members receive first vaccinations

All members of the British and Irish Lions squad have received their first coronavirus vaccinations ahead of the summer tour to South Africa.

Rugby • 26 May 21

Tadhg Furlong on making the Lions squad: "It's a mad feeling."

'I was absolutely bricking it... it's a mad feeling'

Tadhg Furlong thought he'd been left out of the Lions squad last Thursday.

Rugby • 12 May 21

'Right now, it doesn't make sense, but what I wanted to do was to lead by example and show the kids'

Sinckler on Lions snub - 'Never had such anger in me'

An emotional Kyle Sinckler admitted "I have never had so much anger inside me" after responding to his British and Irish Lions omission in man-of-the-match fashion for Bristol.

Rugby • 08 May 21

Johnny Sexton misses out on a third tour

Sexton victim of 'good welfare programme' - O'Callaghan

Former Ireland and Lions forward Donncha O'Callaghan believes Johnny Sexton has paid the price for being looked after by a "good welfare programme".

Rugby • 07 May 21

The 31-year-old will not now be considered when Warren Gatland names his squad on Thursday

Youngs rules himself out of Lions tour selection

England scrum-half Ben Youngs has ruled himself out of contention for the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa this summer for family reasons.

Rugby • 02 May 21

North may now be sidelined for the rest of this year

Knee injury rules George North out of Lions contention

Wales' George North is out of contention for the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa after confirming he has suffered a serious knee injury.

Rugby • 28 Apr 21

The New Zealander will name his squad in just over three weeks

Gatland on Lions: 'We are going to have a good mix'

British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland feels the competitiveness of this year's Six Nations will only add to his options as he finalises his squad for the trip to South Africa.

Rugby • 13 Apr 21

There are plenty of Irish players who will be hoping to make the Lions squad

Irish players have pushed their Lions' claim - Farrell

Andy Farrell believes Ireland's players have given British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland "one or two more headaches" following their morale-boosting mauling of England.

Rugby • 21 Mar 21

Wales travel to the Aviva Stadium in need of a big performance

Ireland the perfect test for struggling Wales - Pivac

Wayne Pivac believes a clash against Ireland in Dublin is exactly what Wales need after ending their Guinness Six Nations campaign with a whimper.

Rugby • 12 Nov 20