Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley

Rugby Correspondent

Gerry Thornley is Rugby Correspondent of The Irish Times

Pace can give Ireland an edge in renewal of Club international rivalry with Scotland

Adam Craig’s men out to emulate 2020 Dalriada Cup victory against the Scots

Ireland ring the changes for Six Nations visit of Italy as Josh van der Flier left out of squad

Ulster pair of Robert Baloucoune and Cormac Izuchukwu will start as Andy Farrell makes six switches from France defeat

Bobby Sheehan to follow in brother Dan’s footsteps by representing Ireland in Clubs game

Eight days after the elder Sheehan took the field in Paris, Lansdowne man takes on Scots in front of a home crowd

Ireland v Italy: Ulster pair set to start with Sam Prendergast to be retained

Andy Farrell set to make five or six changes, with James Lowe likely to return

We could be witnessing the start of Irish rugby’s decline

Defeat in Paris was mirrored by struggles of the Ireland XV and under-20 teams, possibly pointing to bigger issues

Ireland try-scoring debutant Michael Milne shines in gloomy defeat to France

First man from Birr RFC to play for country pays tribute to ‘great club and community' in Co Offaly

AIL wrap: Perfect day for St Mary’s as they beat Terenure to go top of Division 1A

Clontarf dropped to second after Cork Constitution got revenge for defeats in last season’s final and at home in November

Italy look to confirm they are no longer Six Nations whipping boys with a victory over Ireland

After win over Scotland, Italian side will fancy an upset for first win in Ireland since 1997

Andy Farrell may give most of his Paris starters a chance to right the wrong

‘Italy are not the Italy of old,’ said Ireland head coach as he looked to immediately move on from France loss

St Mary’s and local rivals Terenure clash in AIL feature fixture

After six years apart this Dublin 6W derby set to be tightly fought contest

Gerry Thornley’s Six Nations verdict: Sobering night shows how far Ireland’s star has fallen

The Counter Ruck: The stats might have made for decent reading but France were superior in every facet of play at the Stade de France

Andy Farrell disappointed with Ireland’s ‘lack of intent’ in Six Nations opener

‘If you are lacking that you’re not going to win any international game, never mind one in Paris’

Six Nations: Whirlwind France remind Ireland of the bad old days with punishing win

Passages of broken play suited the instinctiveness of the French backs as Ireland looked way off the pace

Garry Ringrose calls for Ireland to have ‘all-court’ defence to deal with France threat

Ringrose praises centre partner McCloskey for being 'brilliant with ball in hand'

‘A big threat, the heart of their attack’: Caelan Doris on France captain Antoine Dupont

Ireland star sees Six Nations opener in Paris as ‘exciting opportunity’ against tournament favourites

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