Adamant Wood fails to signThe die had already been cast over the weekend and, as expected, when pens were put to paper and the IRFU international contracts…Tue Nov 03 1998 - 00:00
Spirit and resolve the vital qualitiesThey brought the 1978 vintage from Limerick to Cork and, spiritually, they brought the mountain to Mohammed at Musgrave Park …Mon Nov 02 1998 - 00:00
Trio battle to advanceDespite good home wins for Ulster and Munster over the weekend, results elsewhere in Europe did not go all that favourably for…Mon Nov 02 1998 - 00:00
Wood refuses to give wayThere was little or no sign of a ceasefire, never mind a peace treaty, between a rebellious Keith Wood and a resolute IRFU last…Mon Nov 02 1998 - 00:00
Connacht on the brinkConnacht stand on the brink of qualifying for the knockout stages of the European Shield for the second year in a row prior to…Sat Oct 31 1998 - 00:00
Venue shift to hurt MunsterConfirmation yesterday that Thomond Park would not be playable for its putative re-opening on the 20th anniversary of Munster…Sat Oct 31 1998 - 00:00
Irish squad unchangedAn unchanged Irish squad of 29 players has been named for next week's get-together in Cork on Monday and Tuesday, although the…Fri Oct 30 1998 - 00:00
Topping injury casts gloom over Ulster teamDescribing it as akin to a death in the family, Ulster coach Harry Williams yesterday spoke of the "terrible gloom" which hung…Fri Oct 30 1998 - 00:00
Session pleases GatlandBuoyed by last Friday night's grand finale to an interprovincial championship, which both Warren Gatland and Donal Lenihan described…Tue Oct 27 1998 - 00:00
Infuriating Munster's timing is just rightThey can be maddeningly, infuriatingly frustrating, and when they put it together like they did in the first 30 minutes or so…Tue Oct 27 1998 - 00:00
Kidney hails his players' punchDeclan Kidney, coach of the champions, could afford an ironic smile as he reconsidered his initial objections to the inaugural…Sat Oct 24 1998 - 01:00
Munster in control with early blitzMunster had a big one in them all right, and the sense of anti-climax amongst most of the record interpro crowd of 7,000 was …Sat Oct 24 1998 - 01:00
History Makers: Munster's men who beat the All Blacks 12-0 on October 31st, 197815. Larry Moloney (Garryowen).Sat Oct 24 1998 - 01:00
Crunch time as title race reaches climaxAs climaxes go, the ol' interpros have probably never had it so goodFri Oct 23 1998 - 01:00
Miller straining at leashSo much hinges on this one and yet (mobiles at the ready) so much in turn hinges on what happens 110 miles or so southFri Oct 23 1998 - 01:00
Munster wait on HorganInjuries permitting, Munster will field an unchanged side for the first time since mid-August when they face Leinster in tomorrow…Thu Oct 22 1998 - 01:00
Structures yielding fruit on the fieldAfter that week, the last seven days saw what passes for sanity restored in the modern madcap world of rugbyTue Oct 20 1998 - 01:00
Munster get what they deserve after a sluggish showInstead of looking at this in one of two ways - a point dropped or a point gained - Munster viewed Saturday's events at the Gnoll…Mon Oct 19 1998 - 01:00
Connacht's chance to add to the legendConnacht, as they are entitled to do after three initial wins, are starting to dream again, although if they beat their fellow…Sat Oct 17 1998 - 01:00
O'Shea in line to be exceptionThe Irish management will select a squad of no more than 28, to be announced on Monday, after viewing the Ulster and Connacht…Sat Oct 17 1998 - 01:00
Munster to shed travel aversionFor Munster, a trip to the grassy Gnoll in Neath today affords the chance to exorcise some theories about their away-day demons…Sat Oct 17 1998 - 01:00
Leinster seeking French revolutionEstablishing a winning position and being competitive against French champions Stade Francais in Donnybrook was one thing - but…Sat Oct 17 1998 - 01:00
Over-confidence may undo ToulouseAfter three trying weeks on the road, Ulster return home to the prospect of the biggest crowd of the season at Ravenhill buoyed…Fri Oct 16 1998 - 01:00
Ellison back for MunsterHis absence was initially a source of mourning, and although Munster have begun to equip themselves admirably without their midfield…Thu Oct 15 1998 - 01:00
Contracts row will not affect selectionAlthough another annual row is brewing regarding the IRFU's contracts with English-based Irish players, it is unlikely to affect…Thu Oct 15 1998 - 01:00
Clarke and Corrigan earn baptism of fireCiaran Clarke and Reggie Corrigan will both be pitched into the lion's den that is the Stade Jean Bouin this Saturday for Leinster…Wed Oct 14 1998 - 01:00
Miller opts for TerenureTerenure College have captured Irish and Lions number eight Eric Miller, following his decision to take up a two-year Irish international…Tue Oct 13 1998 - 01:00
IRFU adopts passing gameAnd so that was the week that was. Extraordinary, funny, frustrating and depressingTue Oct 13 1998 - 01:00
Third Irish drug case unearthed during `clear the air' briefingAs damage limitation exercises go, yesterday's high noon offering from the IRFU had only limited successSat Oct 10 1998 - 01:00
Brennan shows the way as Leinster stand firmThe Donnybrook experience, live and dangerous every second Friday, with Leinster last night giving their most enhanced performance…Sat Oct 10 1998 - 01:00
Cotton backs LenihanFran Cotton, who managed the Lions party which won the Test series in South Africa two summers ago, has given a ringing endorsement…Fri Oct 09 1998 - 01:00
Leinster run into Bordeaux in the last chance saloonThe visit of French champions Stade Francais a fortnight ago may have carried more lustre but the visit of the less celebrated…Fri Oct 09 1998 - 01:00
IRFU to focus on second caseTwo Irish players, not one, tested positive for prohibited substances last season in drugs tests carried out by the UK Sports…Fri Oct 09 1998 - 01:00
McGowan omittedAlan Mcgowan, the fourth highest scorer in the history of the European Cup with 187 points, has been dropped by Leinster for …Thu Oct 08 1998 - 01:00
IRFU prepare way for `medical grounds' defenceIRFU officials are optimistic that the Irish international player who tested positive for banned substances after a Five Nations…Thu Oct 08 1998 - 01:00
Miller back in IrelandEric Miller will mark his return to domestic Irish rugby when he lines out for Ulster tomorrow week in the final round of the…Thu Oct 08 1998 - 01:00
New revelation fuels drug claimsThe disclosure that an Irish international rugby player tested positive for a banned substance last season is certain to fuel…Wed Oct 07 1998 - 01:00
Home help aids ConnachtIt may not be the most salubrious of surroundings, it may not even be the most atmospheric and it certainly isn't state of the…Wed Oct 07 1998 - 01:00
Irish rugby player in drug test claimIt is believed that an Irish international rugby player tested positive for a banned substance last seasonWed Oct 07 1998 - 01:00
Francis short on facts, game short on testingThe OLD joke goes that when Bob Hope sliced his first tee-shot way off the fairway, Lee Trevino turned to him and said: "are …Tue Oct 06 1998 - 01:00
Rugby rejects drug accusationsA mixture of indignation, surprise and anger within Irish rugby cricles has greeted the claim by former Irish international Neil…Mon Oct 05 1998 - 01:00
Connacht fully rewarded this timeThere's a pattern here and it's becoming remarkably repetitiveMon Oct 05 1998 - 01:00
Munster primed to show their worthCrunch time in Cork? What ever way you look at today's Munster-Ulster clash, it's certain to leave one in the top half and the…Sat Oct 03 1998 - 01:00
Miller's crossing loomsThe likelihood of Eric Miller returning to play his provincial and club rugby in Ireland has increased significantlySat Oct 03 1998 - 01:00
Leinster pack can shunt Connacht aside againThis being the meat of the season, then the next week will go some way toward deciding which provinces will still have more to…Sat Oct 03 1998 - 01:00
Clontarf to kick-off cupThe holders Clontarf will begin their defence of the Smithwick's Old Belvedere rugby Floodlit Cup at Anglesea Road next Tuesday…Wed Sept 30 1998 - 01:00
Simon hearing put backThe European Rugby Cup's (ERC) disciplinary hearing on allegations of foul play against the Stade Francais captain and loose-…Wed Sept 30 1998 - 01:00
Miller on the open marketThe flag will finally be raised on the Eric Miller steeplechase at some time tomorrow when the player's agent emerges from a …Tue Sept 29 1998 - 01:00
Provinces showing signs of progressHow about this for some optimistic crystal ball-gazing? Leinster and Munster to reach the knockout stages of the European Cup…Tue Sept 29 1998 - 01:00
