All square after roller-coaster rideWho needs the English when you can have this? Ravenhill's European Cup opener was a right roller-coaster of a ride, often loose…Sat Sept 19 1998 - 01:00
This is a winnable match for MunsterPlaced in the group of death two years ago, and what Mick Galwey called "a group worse than death" last season when initial away…Sat Sept 19 1998 - 01:00
Reivers aim for sneak Ulster raidUnloved and unwanted by the English clubs and the top two Welsh clubs, sponsorless and with negligible television coverage, the…Fri Sept 18 1998 - 01:00
McCall out of three internationalsMark McCall, the Ulster captain and incumbent Irish centre, will definitely miss the remainder of his province's European and…Wed Sept 16 1998 - 01:00
Nowlan and Halvey fail to make squadThe Irish management yesterday rounded up many of the usual suspects and quite a few new ones when they named a squad of 47 for…Tue Sept 15 1998 - 01:00
English clubs ruining the gameLast week was to have been a turning point in the salvation of European rugby. Some chanceTue Sept 15 1998 - 01:00
Walsh may take actionYet another New Zealand-born, Irish passport holder has become disaffected with the provincial contracts system although unlike…Sat Sept 12 1998 - 01:00
Powerful Leinster cast Ulster asideA scoreline that takes some reading but is far from misleadingSat Sept 12 1998 - 01:00
Connacht ready for Munster backlashBoth before and immediately after Munster duly beat Connacht on the opening weekend in the Interprovincial Championship, the …Sat Sept 12 1998 - 01:00
Leinster set to give Ulster tougher timeRight from the full-time whistle at the same venue a week ago, tonight's meeting between Ulster and Leinster at Ravenhill has…Fri Sept 11 1998 - 01:00
Miller's position at Leicester unchangedThough speculation concerning Eric Miller's future has mounted, the Irish and Lions number eight's position remains surprisingly…Wed Sept 09 1998 - 01:00
Munster - what's gone wrong?Halfway there and the interim report might read something like this: Ulster - haven't quite fulfilled the promise of a bright…Tue Sept 08 1998 - 01:00
Hogan's future in doubtNiall Hogan, the Irish captain less than two years ago but currently unattached after being summarily let go by London Irish …Sat Sept 05 1998 - 01:00
Ulster keep their heads to add to Munster painWhatever about Ravenhill bringing out the best in Ulster - their best was hardly required for this grim affair - it certainly…Sat Sept 05 1998 - 01:00
Scots ring the changesIn an approach which perhaps both reflects their experimental attitude to their fixtures with the Irish provinces and their inability…Fri Sept 04 1998 - 01:00
Ulster recall Bell to face MunsterJonathan Bell returns to the Ulster side after an absence of over two years for tomorrow evening's crunch Interprovincial match…Thu Sept 03 1998 - 01:00
Cullen to leave over contract confusionIn what is something of an embarrassment for the IRFU, Justin Cullen, the 28-year-old former Otago lock and holder of an Irish…Thu Sept 03 1998 - 01:00
Elwood likely to be back by OctoberIreland out-half Eric Elwood yesterday learnt that he will not require an operation on his injured knee and should be back in…Wed Sept 02 1998 - 01:00
Pyramid structure key to successJust when you think everything in the Irish rugby garden is rosy, or at least getting that way, something happens to remind you…Tue Sept 01 1998 - 01:00
Clubs queue up for MillerLeicester formally circularised all the Premiership clubs in England yesterday to notify them that their Lions and Irish number…Sat Aug 29 1998 - 01:00
Leinster given a frightFor Leinster the spoils, for Connacht the glory? Whatever about that, certainly it took a stirring last quarter comeback from…Sat Aug 29 1998 - 01:00
Miller in home moveEric Miller is set to become the most notable Irish international to return home in the professional era, which, if it comes …Fri Aug 28 1998 - 01:00
Levelling of playing field heralds new orderThere's an edge to this evening's Guinness inteprovincial between Leinster and Connacht which has rarely been there in times …Fri Aug 28 1998 - 01:00
Hickie returns to action after injuryDenis Hickie, Ireland's leading international try scorer last season, makes his seasonal return for the Leinster `A' side against…Thu Aug 27 1998 - 01:00
Connacht make one changeConnacht coach Glenn Ross has made only one change from the side which completed last Saturday's 21-18 win over Ulster for this…Wed Aug 26 1998 - 01:00
Mixed draw for Irish sides belies their supposed seedingAmid a distinct absence of trumpeting and fanfare, European Cup organisers yesterday made public the draw and fixture list for…Wed Aug 26 1998 - 01:00
Five-match tour soughtDespite being drawn against Australia in the World Cup finals in October 1999, the likelihood is that Ireland will undertake …Tue Aug 25 1998 - 01:00
US earn spot in Ireland groupThe United States assured themselves of qualification for next year's World Cup finals and with it a place in Ireland's group…Mon Aug 24 1998 - 01:00
Connacht fightback lights up seriesYou wouldn't have given a quid for Connacht's chances after the first quarter, and scarcely tuppence by the intervalMon Aug 24 1998 - 01:00
Ulster to show up and winIn times past Connacht were pretty much a Leinster `C' team in disguise, Ulster were kingpins and not even Eric Elwood, Noel …Sat Aug 22 1998 - 01:00
Fired-up Leinster find formPut simply, Leinster's need was the greater, and it showedSat Aug 22 1998 - 01:00
Packs to serve up test of muscleThe home and away factor to this year's Guinness Interprovincials means it's less of a sprint and more of a gallopFri Aug 21 1998 - 01:00
Williams keeps the faithThe kick-off time for tomorrow's Guinness Inteprovincial between Connacht and Ulster at the Sportsground has been moved from …Fri Aug 21 1998 - 01:00
Leinster recall Brennan to face MunsterTrevor Brennan has been recalled to the Leinster team for their Inteprovincial Championship match against Munster at Dooradoyle…Thu Aug 20 1998 - 01:00
English rugby stand-off continuesThe endless round of off-field politicking and brinkmanship across the water regarding an oft-mooted British League - or more…Thu Aug 20 1998 - 01:00
Development at TerenureIn what must constitute a unique case of its kind in Irish rugby, Terenure College RFC and the adjoining school are developing…Wed Aug 19 1998 - 01:00
Blow for Munster as Ellison injury is worse than fearedNew Zealander Rhys Ellison's ankle injury is even worse than the player and Munster fearedWed Aug 19 1998 - 01:00
Deadlock remains in WalesEuropean Cup organisers again suspended yesterday's planned release of the draw for this year's troubled competition while discussions…Tue Aug 18 1998 - 01:00
Brennan in line for a recallTrevor Brennan was back in training with his Leinster team-mates yesterday and possibly in line for a recall to the team which…Mon Aug 17 1998 - 01:00
Ellison blow takes shine off Munster celebrationsNot one to set the pulses racing, but then again it was never going to beMon Aug 17 1998 - 01:00
European draw put back againEuropean Cup organisers have again deferred the publication of the draw for this year's competition, due to begin five weeks …Sat Aug 15 1998 - 01:00
Ulster turn tables on dazed foesFive years of Ulster hurt was laid to rest in Donnybrook last night in as commanding a fashion as the scoreline suggestsSat Aug 15 1998 - 01:00
Mental baggage weighs on ConnachtHaving scaled the dizzying heights of double wins over Northampton and Begles/Bord eaux to reach the European Conference quarter…Sat Aug 15 1998 - 01:00
Edge in savvy to reverse trendThere's a neat sense of symmetry about Mike Ruddock and Harry Williams going head-to-head at Donny brook this evening as the …Fri Aug 14 1998 - 01:00
Brennan loses out to O'BrienFollowing his barnstorming, two-cap tour with Ireland in South Africa, Trevor Brennan has returned to domestic fare with a bump…Thu Aug 13 1998 - 01:00
Prospect of a British League quickly recedesNot unexpectedly, the prospect of a half-baked British League all but vanished yesterday when the English RFU chairman, Brian…Wed Aug 12 1998 - 01:00
Munster go with tried and trustedMunster are the only province to reveal their hand so far in advance of this weekend's opening games in the Interprovincial Championship…Wed Aug 12 1998 - 01:00
Unions to meet on British league plansThe Scottish Rugby Football Union will press ahead with their own proposals for a 22team British and Irish League (including …Tue Aug 11 1998 - 01:00
