Tommy Bowe sidelined for up to six weeks with groin injuryMunster have also been hit by injuries for their back-to-back matches against PerpignanWed Dec 4 2013 - 01:00
Southern heavyweights still rule the roostOne win out of a dozen matches underlines the customary gapTue Dec 3 2013 - 01:00
Leinster face losing Martin Moore as French and English clubs circlePromising tighthead prop has attracted interest from Racing Metro, Castres and ExeterTue Dec 3 2013 - 01:00
From ‘perfect start’ to darkest finaleMinutes away from an historic triumph – then all Ireland’s good work came to noughtSat Nov 30 2013 - 01:01
ERC-run Heineken Cup to go ahead next seasonAnglo-French plan for breakaway European club competition looks in tattersFri Nov 29 2013 - 01:00
Sunday’s narrow loss to best team in world showed anything is possibleNigel Owens a key figure in a classic contest and another dramatic endgameTue Nov 26 2013 - 01:00
Irish hearts broken by All Blacks’ last gaspIreland’s epic performance goes unrewarded in a remarkable gameMon Nov 25 2013 - 01:02
Famous victory turns to sickening defeat as Ireland are caught at the death by the All BlacksLast second try and twice taken conversion allow New Zealand to snatch a winMon Nov 25 2013 - 01:00
History suggests Ireland facing a glorious defeatOne chink of light may be that The All Blacks are showing signs of wearinessSun Nov 24 2013 - 13:09
Easy part over as Conor Murray gets set for the hard work after an impressive start to his careerIreland’s scrum-half is eager for the game against the All Blacks to beginSat Nov 23 2013 - 01:00
All Blacks beatable - but Ireland may tackle a glorious defeatShould players even show up? Well, of course they should, for every team is beatableSat Nov 23 2013 - 01:00
Sexton and O’Driscoll on track to startBulk of the side beaten by Australia are set to be given a shot at redemptionFri Nov 22 2013 - 01:00
Five Unions resolve to press ahead with a pan-European tournament next seasonIt’s clearly a statement of intent in their resolution to retain governance of European club rugbyFri Nov 22 2013 - 01:00
Kieran Read all about staying at the topThe number eight and his side have hit new heights in the last yearThu Nov 21 2013 - 01:00
Brian O’Driscoll hopes last clash with New Zealand is the charmDespite 13 defeats, the centre is still excited to face the All BlacksWed Nov 20 2013 - 01:00
Sexton and Kearney will be given every chance face New ZealandMcFadden ruled out while O’Driscoll nurses calf problem for one last crack at the All BlacksWed Nov 20 2013 - 01:00
For Six Nations not to introduce PSCA protocal would be a dereliction of dutyHow can leaving the player on the field of play be preferable to a five-minute concussion assessment?Tue Nov 19 2013 - 12:00
McFadden hand fracture adds to Ireland’s tale of injury woeIreland are already missing three wingers – Simon Zebo, Keith Earls and Craig GilroyTue Nov 19 2013 - 07:49
Unions to meet in Dublin to draw up plans for Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge CupCompetitions will not include English clubsTue Nov 19 2013 - 01:00
Plenty of pain for Ireland and Joe Schmidt with very little gainJonathan Sexton could be out for six weeks with suspected Grade Two hamstring tearMon Nov 18 2013 - 01:02
Irish fault lines well and truly exposed by Australia’s seismic performanceScale of defeat highlights size of task facing Joe SchmidtMon Nov 18 2013 - 01:00
Focused Irish look poised to tie faltering Wallabies downWith two attacking teams going hard at it, the home side’s defensive work will be crucialSat Nov 16 2013 - 01:00
No matter where he plays, Seán O’Brien will have Australia at sixes and sevensHappy anywhere in the backrow, seven is nonetheless his favourite positionSat Nov 16 2013 - 01:00
No untouchables on Joe’s watchCoach seeks to grow the collective against one of the world powers in international rugbyFri Nov 15 2013 - 01:00
Eoin Reddan could be Joe Schmidt’s most surprising selectionCoach likely to make up to six changes to face WallabiesThu Nov 14 2013 - 01:00
Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll to line out together for first time since 2011Cian Healy, Sean O’Brien and Jonathan Sexton expected to return to starting line-upWed Nov 13 2013 - 01:03
Les Kiss can see signs that ‘good mate’ Ewen McKenzie has Australia building nicelyIreland defence coach worked with Aussie supremo for five years at the WaratahsWed Nov 13 2013 - 01:00
Wallabies’ coach with conviction and talismanic outhalf leading way back to topWith McKenzie at the helm and Cooper his chief strategist, Australia are in good handsTue Nov 12 2013 - 12:00
Ewen McKenzie stands tough as Wallabies walk tall in the face of adversityAustralia have to battle All-Blacks, Springboks and the lure of other sports at homeTue Nov 12 2013 - 09:39
Pierre Camou reputedly ready to offer French clubs €2 million to play in HCPresident of FFR is meeting Anglo-French clubs’ drive for a Rugby Champions Cup head onTue Nov 12 2013 - 01:00
Undercooked Ireland needed this warm-upJoe Schmidt says his side have to improve after untidy showing against SamoaMon Nov 11 2013 - 01:02
Ireland prove too powerful for southern hemisphere visitorsPossession kicked away too often by home sideMon Nov 11 2013 - 01:00
New era dawns for Irish rugby as Schmidt takes chargeFitting sense of occasion to mark the onset of the Joe Schmidt eraSat Nov 9 2013 - 17:32
Back to his Best after the worst of daysUlster hooker bounces back from Lions tour with spring in his step for autumn TestsSat Nov 9 2013 - 01:00
Schmidt shows his hand with a balanced selectionHeaslip to lead side with O’Connell on the bench as coach keeps a few aces in reserveFri Nov 8 2013 - 01:00
Jamie Heaslip first among equals when it comes to captaining Ireland against SamoaInjuries mean Leinster man should get the nod as doubts surround Paul O’Connell and Johnny SextonThu Nov 7 2013 - 14:27
Number one at number 10New Zealand outhalf Dan Carter has been the game’s most valuable player in the professional eraWed Nov 6 2013 - 13:58
No shame in close-call defeat to SpringboksFrom the archives: Brian O’Driscoll v South AfricaWed Nov 6 2013 - 13:31
Late heroics earn Ireland a draw at Croke ParkFrom the archives: Brian O’Driscoll v AustraliaWed Nov 6 2013 - 13:26
A first task for no ordinary Joe as Schmidt gears up for November seriesThe arrival of a new coach of undoubted quality has increased Irish expectations, writes Gerry ThornleyWed Nov 6 2013 - 13:25
Spear tackle leaves Lions captain’s tour in tattersFrom the archives: Brian O’Driscoll v New ZealandWed Nov 6 2013 - 13:21
Joe Schmidt’s plans up in the air againJonathan Sexton sits out training while Paul O’Connell has restricted roleWed Nov 6 2013 - 01:00
IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset’s comments look a significant development in riftWell-placed sources maintain Pierre Camou is working assiduously toward saving the ERC-run tournamentTue Nov 5 2013 - 12:00
Paul O’Connell and Johnny Sexton look set to face SamoaEncouraging week for the Irish management as injuries clear upTue Nov 5 2013 - 01:00
Munster look to have enough in reserve for OspreysHard-fought win in Glasgow proves Rob Penney’s men are moving in right directionSat Nov 2 2013 - 00:11
Joe Schmidt optimistic Brian O’Driscoll will play in all three TestsIreland coach will be guided by former captain but says he’s fresh and raring to goFri Nov 1 2013 - 01:00
Les Kiss happy to rise to the challengeIrish defence coach says facing three sides ranked above Ireland in the world is ‘a little scary’Fri Nov 1 2013 - 01:00
Johnny Sexton a racing certainty to miss Samoa gameOuthalf likely to miss first Autumn international as club recall him for Biarritz gameFri Nov 1 2013 - 01:00
IRFU must dig deep to retain top players in brave new world of tournament rugbyThe unions are countering the Anglo-French bluff by conceding to pretty much all their demandsTue Oct 29 2013 - 11:00
O’Connell, O’Brien among eight ruled out of Ireland trainingConcerns expressed by Irish management over Johnny Sexton’s workload in FranceTue Oct 29 2013 - 08:13