Ulster still more streetwiseLeinster beat the European champions in the scrums, they beat them in the line-outs, they beat them on the ruck count, they beat…Sat Aug 14 1999 - 01:00
Goliath should be too strongThe weather should be good, there will be 19 internationals on the pitch, the World Cup is just around the corner, the surface…Fri Aug 13 1999 - 01:00
Double blow for ConnachtComing hard on the heels of their near record defeat by Ulster last week, Connacht have been hit with a double injury blow for…Fri Aug 13 1999 - 01:00
Ruddock shows faith despite lossOn one of the more momentous days in recent times, the news from the respective Leinster and Munster camps in advance of this…Thu Aug 12 1999 - 01:00
Gatland dangles selection carrotThe first significant pointer towards the make-up of Ireland's 30-man squad for the World Cup will be revealed on Sunday when…Wed Aug 11 1999 - 01:00
Cooke set to replace RavenhillThe Interprovincial Championship match on September 3rd between Ulster and Munster, the two sides who hauled in maximum points…Tue Aug 10 1999 - 01:00
Munster hammer their way throughIt ebbed, even if it didn't always flow, and ultimately it panned out pretty much as expectedMon Aug 09 1999 - 01:00
Ulster deserve to startThere was a time when the vagaries of a winter day might have kept an interpro crowd down to the proverbial two men and a dog…Sat Aug 07 1999 - 01:00
Ulster can up the paceIt says everything about the unpredictable nature of the interprovincials that before launching their unforgettable European …Sat Aug 07 1999 - 01:00
Munster may have the edgeAlthough there have been a few duds along the way, consistently this fixture has provided the highlights of the interprovincial…Sat Aug 07 1999 - 01:00
Ulster team fortifiedAmid the celebratory singing, back-slapping, high fives and tears around the Ulster dressing-room, the most poignant observations…Fri Aug 06 1999 - 01:00
Wood buttresses hardy Munster packMunster have unveiled their opening hand for the Inter-provincial Championship, at home to Leinster at Temple Hill on Saturday…Thu Aug 05 1999 - 01:00
Irish could play 14 gamesThe fourth World Cup dominates the northern hemisphere rugby calendar this year, and coupled with Ireland's four warm-up games…Thu Aug 05 1999 - 01:00
Jackman gets Connacht call at flankerThe wintergreen has yet to replace the suntan oil but already Connacht coach Glenn Ross has sprung the first surprise of the …Wed Aug 04 1999 - 01:00
Ulster bid to continue their roll by recruiting heavilyThe list of contracted provincial players released by the IRFU yesterday (all but complete now) shows that Ulster - buoyed financially…Sat Jul 31 1999 - 01:00
End of line for ClarkeCiaran Clarke, the former Irish international full back who won the last of his five caps against England last year, has been…Fri Jul 30 1999 - 01:00
Langford signs for MunsterCurrent inter-provincial champions, Munster, have confirmed that former Australian international, John Langford, is to join them…Thu Jul 29 1999 - 01:00
Irish have come a long wayAt times during the past month, the touring Irish made their coach, and other regular observers, feel like the sane man in the…Mon Jun 21 1999 - 01:00
The best of the Gatland eraThe mood was subdued yet sprinkled with smiles, reflecting the post-match mixed emotionsMon Jun 21 1999 - 01:00
Last chance for Gatland's menOutside of the touring party itself Irish optimism won't exactly be bountiful prior to today's second Test in PerthSat Jun 19 1999 - 01:00
Bell may replace injured MostynMatt Mostyn's knee injury again prevented the Irish winger from taking part in the squad's last full-scale run-out in Perth yesterday…Fri Jun 18 1999 - 01:00
Manning turns back the clockDonal Manning turned back the clock when partnering Juneson to take the opening Kill Maiden at Naas yesterday eveningThu Jun 17 1999 - 01:00
O'Kelly raring to goThe three changes in the Irish starting line-up to face Australia in Perth this Saturday all tell the tales of comeback kidsThu Jun 17 1999 - 01:00
Ireland think Australian, ruck AustralianThe lessons of the first Test now well digested, the Irish undertook their first serious work-out since then in Perth yesterday…Wed Jun 16 1999 - 01:00
Storm brews around Irish campAnother blue Monday in Australia but there the comparisons with previous weeks endedTue Jun 15 1999 - 01:00
O'Shea out with broken jawAmid the ambulance load of bumps and bruises, Conor O'Shea was the major casualty from Ireland's record-breaking defeat by Australia…Mon Jun 14 1999 - 01:00
Wallabies deliver sharp shockIn the far corner of the uncovered, seated stand behind the goal which Ireland had been attacking in the second half, a cluster…Mon Jun 14 1999 - 01:00
Plenty of hope for Gatland's men in first TestThe current definition of an Irish optimist hereabouts is someone who is willing to back Ireland against Australia in Ballymore…Sat Jun 12 1999 - 01:00
Irish hope the Campese curse strikes hostsCampo has struck. Never far from the limelight even still, David Campese remains as outspoken and brash as everFri Jun 11 1999 - 01:00
Captain to play at blindside in TestVictor Costello was yesterday named at number eight in Ireland's starting lineup for this Saturday's first test against Australia…Thu Jun 10 1999 - 01:00
Tierney in as selectors plump for form sideThree new caps, seven changes in personnel and one positional switch since the last day, as well as a couple of vacancies in …Wed Jun 09 1999 - 01:00
New boys up for it Down UnderThe team room at the end of the second floor of the Brisbane Parkroyal is barely any bigger than the verandah which adjoins it…Wed Jun 09 1999 - 01:00
Pack suffers as Irish punish themselvesFour inches of overnight rain meant the Irish squad had to get down and dirty for the first time on tour in this surfer's paradise…Tue Jun 08 1999 - 01:00
Irish defence gets an early wake-up callDion O'cuinneagain stood shirtless in the tunnel underneath the main stand of the Sydney Football StadiumMon Jun 07 1999 - 01:00
Hope yet for injured O'DriscollObeying doctor's orders and resting up in his room for Saturday evening, Brian O'Driscoll's dead leg improved significantly overnight…Mon Jun 07 1999 - 01:00
Players face tour fatigueDue to regulations from the International Board whereby countries must play the same number of away games as home games, annual…Sat Jun 05 1999 - 01:00
Weekend win the key to pre-Test optimismNow it's starting to get a little scaryFri Jun 04 1999 - 01:00
Irish well remember crash of '94The contrasts with the none-too-successful mission in Oz in 1994 are varied and almost dailyThu Jun 03 1999 - 01:00
Run-down New South Wales may now prove vulnerableWith a spring in their step, the Irish squad yesterday returned from sunny and sandy Terrigal to the seedy side of SydneyWed Jun 02 1999 - 01:00
Gatland's men `unbelievable'Standing outside the home dressing-room, jersey still on and kit bag slung over his shoulder, the ex-Wallaby scrum-half Steve…Tue Jun 01 1999 - 01:00
Omens looking good as fluid Irish run riotIt's hard not to get excited about this tour opener, even if we perhaps shouldn'tTue Jun 01 1999 - 01:00
Uncapped Casey a major injury worry for openerIt's a disparate Irish team, it's an experimental and hence exciting looking team, and by Monday evening in the Woy Woy Oval, …Fri May 28 1999 - 01:00
Australia deprived of influential trio for TestInterest in the Irish tour has been heightened by the early selection of the Wallabies' team for the first TestThu May 27 1999 - 01:00
Gatland to give new boys a testFive uncapped players are set to be included in Ireland's first team selection today in advance of next Monday's tour opener …Thu May 27 1999 - 01:00
Big two fail to lift troubled cupConfirmation, were it needed, that the provincial cups have died a slow death as the traditional curtain call to the season, …Mon May 17 1999 - 01:00
Munster contest lacks lustreTime was when the Munster Senior Cup ruled the roost during the end-of-season provincial cup fest, but now even it appears to…Sat May 15 1999 - 01:00
Tierney added to Australian tour as O'Meara is ruled outAdding to the impression that something of a curse hangs over the Irish scrum-half slot, Brian O'Meara yesterday withdrew from…Wed May 12 1999 - 01:00
Pope confirmed as St Mary's coachThe silly season of summer transfers involving coaches and players was kicked off yesterday when St Mary's confirmed the long…Tue May 11 1999 - 01:00
