Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Brad Shields returns to the Wasps line-up for their clash with Leinster

Shields up to defend Wasps against Leinster

Brad Shields returns to reinforce Wasps in time for the launch of their Champions Cup campaign against Leinster in Dublin on Friday.

Rugby • 11 Oct 18

Leo Cullen has stressed the importance of opening the Heineken Champions Cup with a win

Cullen eager for winning start in European defence

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has stressed the importance of starting the Heineken Champions Cup with a win as his side get this season's campaign underway against Wasps.

Rugby • 10 Oct 18

James Lowe has scored 14 tries in 17 appearances for Leinster

Contepomi happy for Leinster to go the Lowe road

After missing out on the business end of the Champions Cup last season, in-form James Lowe looks set to take on Wasps as Leinster open their European defence at the RDS.

Rugby • 10 Oct 18

The New Zealander rolled his ankle against Munster

Gibson-Park in race to be fit to face Wasps

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park is the main injury worry for Leinster ahead of their Champions Cup opener against Wasps on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

Rugby • 08 Oct 18

Jonny Holland on the implementation of the the high tackle rule: 'Paul O'Connell made a great point when asked his opinion recently. The high tackle law is to protect the tackler as much as the attacker'

The 'game's gone soft' brigade need a rethink

Geordan Murphy's comments regarding Will Spencer's red card for a high tackle were unhelpful, and we must realise these laws are as important for the tackler as the player on the receiving end.

Rugby • 21 Sep 18

Leicester head coach Geordan Murphy lamented the first half decision to send off Will Spencer for a high tackle

Murphy says rugby 'gone too PC' after Spencer red card

Geordan Murphy declared rugby has "gone too PC" in response to the controversial red card shown to lock Will Spencer in Leicester's 41-35 defeat by Wasps.

Rugby • 17 Sep 18

Jimmy Gopperth played for Leinster for two season

ACL injury means Gopperth will miss most of season

Wasps have confirmed fly-half Jimmy Gopperth will miss most of the new Premiership campaign after suffering an ACL injury against Connacht

Rugby • 27 Aug 18

James Haskell missed Wasps' loss to Saracens

Wasps defend James Haskell for attending Royal Wedding

Wasps have defended James Haskell after World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio criticised his absence from their 57-33 Aviva Premiership play-off defeat at Saracens in order to attend the Royal Wedding.

Rugby • 19 May 18

Sam Jones damaged his ankle during a judo session in England training

Wasps' Sam Jones, 26, retires after freak judo accident

Wasps flanker Sam Jones has been forced to retire from rugby after a freak injury he suffered in England training 17 months ago, the Aviva Premiership club have announced.

Rugby • 29 Mar 18

Danny Cipriani: 'Sadness will most likely be the overriding emotion, come the end of May.'

Danny Cipriani to leave Wasps in the summer

Danny Cipriani will leave Wasps at the end of the season, but has yet to determine his next move.

Rugby • 12 Feb 18

Ulster's John Cooney cuts a dejected figure at the Ricoh Arena

Wasps swat Ulster aside as 1/4 final hopes are crushed

Ulster's hopes of progression to the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup fell apart at a wet, cold and muddy Ricoh Arena as Wasps powered to a bonus-point Pool 1 victory.

Rugby • 21 Jan 18

Keith Earls dives over for his first-half try

Champions Cup recap: Munster brush aside Castres

Munster seal a home Champions Cup quarter-final with an emphatic 48-3 victory over Castres, but Ulster bow out after defeat on the road at Wasps

Rugby • 21 Jan 18

Matt Healy will earn his 100th Connacht cap against Oyonnax

Healy returns for Connacht landmark; Cave in for Ulster

Matt Healy returns to the starting team for Connacht's final pool game of the Challenge Cup at home to Oyonnax on Saturday (kick off 2:30pm) in what will be his 100th appearance for the province.

Rugby • 19 Jan 18

James Haskell can't gets a red card for a dangerous tackle

Haskell to miss first two England games

England flanker James Haskell will miss the first two matches of the Six Nations after being banned for four weeks for a dangerous tackle in Wasps' match against Harlequins.

Rugby • 17 Jan 18

Billy Vunipola and James Haskell both failed to finish their respective Champions Cup games on Saturday

Back row headache for England coach ahead of 6 Nations

England coach Eddie Jones must await word on two of his back row options after Billy Vunipola suffered an injury and James Haskell was red-carded just three weeks out from the Six Nations.

Rugby • 14 Jan 18

Jamie Haskell got a red card that may impact on his Six Nations availability

Ulster boosted by Wasps loss, Sarries held by Ospreys

Ulster's Champions Cup hopes received a boost as Wasps collapsed to a dramatic 33-28 defeat to Harlequins.

Rugby • 14 Jan 18

Boost for Ulster hopes as Wasps beat La Rochelle

Ulster's hopes of qualifying for the Champions Cup quarter-finals have received a boost after Wasps beat La Rochelle at the Ricoh Arena.

Rugby • 17 Dec 17

Ulster's Tommy Bowe and Charles Piutau at the full time whistle

Ulster hit back to make winning start in Champions Cup

Quick-fire second-half tries from winger Jacob Stockdale and centre Stuart McCloskey saw Ulster come from behind to open their European Champions Cup campaign with a 19-9 win over Wasps in Pool One at the Kingspan Stadium.

Rugby • 14 Oct 17

Leinster go into their game with Montpellier on the back of a derby win over Munster

Donal Lenihan's Champions Cup preview

RTÉ rugby analyst Donal Lenihan expects tough games for the Irish provinces involved in the Champions Cup this week and warned that Leinster and Munster have plenty to do as they take on French teams.

Rugby • 14 Oct 17

Henderson to skipper Ulster for Wasps visit

Iain Henderson will captain Ulster for the first time on Friday night as Ulster open their Champions Cup campaign against Wasps.

Rugby • 12 Oct 17

Recap: Leinster swarm all over Wasps to make last four

Leinster powered into the last four of the Champions Cup with a classy destruction of Wasps at teh Aviva Stadium. Read how it happened.

Rugby • 01 Apr 17

Stuart Lancaster: 'All these games leading into final selection for the Lions will have a part to play.'

Aviva showdown is a Lions audition - Lancaster

Stuart Lancaster believes Leinster's Champions Cup quarter-final against Wasps will act as an audition for the Lions for a host of players on parade in Dublin.

Rugby • 31 Mar 17

Leinster's Dan Leavy, Tadhg Furlong and Garry Ringrose

Gopperth: Leinster young guns boosted by Six Nations

Jimmy Gopperth reckons that Wasps must be careful not to get stung by a Leinster side boosted by a host of young guns who impressed during the Six Nations.

Rugby • 30 Mar 17

Wasps lead the way in the Aviva Premiership ahead of the Champions Cup quarter-final in Dublin

Leinster tapping into Lancaster's knowledge of Wasps

Stuart Lancaster's detailed knowledge of Wasps and their players is proving valuable in the lead-up to Saturday's Champions Cup quarter-final clash, says Leinster's Robbie Henshaw.

Rugby • 30 Mar 17

Furlong in action against Wasps in last year's Champions Cup

Tadhg Furlong prepared for battle-hardened Wasps

Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong is under no illusions as to the size of the challenge Wasps will present this weekend, with former team-mate Marty Moore giving an insight into their forward-orientated approach.

Rugby • 28 Mar 17