URC final day playoff permutations and Champions Cup qualification explainer All four Irish provinces cannot make the URC playoffs but all four could yet qualify for Champions Cup next season Sat May 16 2026 - 14:17
Gerry Thornley: Repeating top-eight URC feat would be an even bigger outcome for Irish gameThree of last season’s top eight will not reach the playoffs - all of which makes for a very fluid and competitive leagueTue May 12 2026 - 06:00
Winning farewell from Connacht stalwart Jack Carty marks URC victory over Munster Connacht’s all-time leading scorer with 1,260 points has seen considerable change since his home debut against Leinster in January 2013 Mon May 11 2026 - 06:00
Connacht’s win over Munster brings province within single point of URC playoffs After victory over Munster, a tricky fixture awaits next Friday away to Edinburgh Mon May 11 2026 - 06:00
Bonus-point win over Munster keeps Connacht in top-eight huntStrong opening half for Connacht leaves Munster with too much to do after the breakSat May 09 2026 - 22:09
Stakes are high as Connacht host Munster with Champions Cup spots in sightProvince have turned Dexcom Stadium into something of a fortress in recent weeksSat May 09 2026 - 06:00
‘We’re here to really compete at the top level’: Harry West living his dream with Connacht Ballina man setting his sights on silverware as he lines out with his friends and heroesSat May 09 2026 - 06:00
Clayton McMillan staying on as Munster head coach is in the interest of both partiesAt a time of instability, changing coaches is not ideal for MunsterFri May 08 2026 - 20:05
Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster pays tribute to departing playersPlayers will take part in a ceremony at the Dexcom Stadium following Munster gameFri May 08 2026 - 20:03
James Lowe sits out URC clash against Lions, leaving his Champions Cup final hopes in doubtLeo Cullen retains just three of the Leinster XV that beat Toulon for ‘proper bloody test’ against South African Shield winnersFri May 08 2026 - 15:51
Connacht make nine changes for interpro showdown with MunsterJames Ryan to lead a much-changed Leinster side for home game against the LionsFri May 08 2026 - 12:55
Gerry Thornley: Leinster and Ulster prepare for European finals from very different perspectivesHistory and expectation conspire to ensure provinces head to Bilbao in sharply contrasting fashionTue May 05 2026 - 06:00
Denis Buckley announces Connacht departure after 17 years35-year-old loosehead prop is ‘still exploring potential opportunities’ for next seasonMon May 04 2026 - 18:28
Irish rugby fans prepare to descend on Bilbao as Leinster and Ulster chase gloryLeinster will face Bordeaux-Bègles in Champions Cup final after Ulster duel with Montpellier for the Challenge Cup Mon May 04 2026 - 06:00
Joe McCarthy says memories of past defeats help motivate Leinster in Champions Cup questVictory over Toulon underlined team’s capacity to dig deepMon May 04 2026 - 06:00
Leo Cullen praises players and vents frustration at perceived anti-Leinster agendaHead coach also credits Toulon for staying in the game to the finish at the Aviva StadiumSat May 02 2026 - 19:33
Champions Cup: Leinster book ticket to Bilbao after holding off Toulon’s daring late comebackRelief the main emotion as Leo Cullen’s side exorcise a few demons to make a record-extending ninth finalSat May 02 2026 - 18:24
Leinster have opportunity to purge Champions Cup demons against ToulonLosing successive home semi-finals seems unthinkable, so the pressure is on the Irish provinceSat May 02 2026 - 06:00
Harry Byrne: ‘All I wanted to do was come back and compete, have a fair crack’The 27-year-old discusses his bond with his brother Ross, his loan spell in Bristol and his determination to earn the opportunity coming his way on Saturday, when he is to start for Leinster against Toulon Sat May 02 2026 - 06:00
Daniel Brennan has made a circuitous route to the top level of European rugbyThe son of Trevor, the Irish-born prop was named on the bench against LeinsterFri May 01 2026 - 20:22
Munster confirm Roger Randle will not join province as attack coachRandle’s appointment had provoked disquiet among Munster supporters and activists due to an allegation of rape against Randle in 1997Thu Apr 30 2026 - 21:46
Gerry Thornley: A powerful new force has emerged in Irish club rugbyHaving ended seven years in Division 1B and flirted with relegation, they claimed their first AIL crown since 2012Tue Apr 28 2026 - 06:00
All-Ireland League: UCD secure place in Division 1A with win over old rivals TrinityUCD’s powerful young pack, littered with Irish Under-20s, laid the foundationsSun Apr 26 2026 - 14:27
UCC v Shannon promotion playoff abandoned due to medical emergencyUCC captain Sam O’Sullivan underwent CPR on the pitch before being taken to hospital for treatmentSun Apr 26 2026 - 11:45
Munster likely to remain the IRFU’s problem child no matter how they behave on the pitch Even if they finish the season strongly and reach the Champions Cup, a reboot is needed after years of mismanagement at the provinceSat Apr 25 2026 - 06:00
AIL Division 1A final preview: St Mary’s ready to give everything to upset Clontarf’s back-to-back pushWin for Clontarf would make them the first side in 20 years to retain the titleFri Apr 24 2026 - 20:30
UCD and rivals Trinity prepare to do battle for AIL top-flight statusThousands expected at UCD Bowl to see ‘colours match’ promotion/relegation deciderFri Apr 24 2026 - 14:48
Clontarf’s Daniel Hawkshaw looks for redemption in AIL final against St Mary’sUnused in 2022 final and released by Connacht last year, centre is now regular starter for ’TarfFri Apr 24 2026 - 06:00
Love of rugby, not the paycheque, is all the motivation Greg Jones needs ahead of AIL finalFormer underage international hasn’t looked back since joining St Mary’s at the end of seven-year Ulster stintThu Apr 23 2026 - 06:00
Jordan Coghlan chasing full-circle moment with hometown team Clontarf in AIL finalFormer Leinster and Munster man yet to decide on his future, but reckons he has at least one more season in the tankWed Apr 22 2026 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Victory for the ages a ringing endorsement of Connacht projectStuart Lancaster’s emphasis on youth was rewarded with an improbable Cape Town win that keeps their URC hopes aliveTue Apr 21 2026 - 06:00
St Mary’s captain Conor Dean aims to cap ‘incredibly exciting’ week with AIL final victoryFormer Connacht player expecting the stiffest of challenges in Aviva Stadium showdown against ClontarfMon Apr 20 2026 - 20:49
Connacht appoint the experienced Trevor Woodman as scrum coachFormer World Cup winner Woodman succeeds Cullie Tucker in roleMon Apr 20 2026 - 12:43
Ireland looking for revenge against France in Six Nations, says Erin KingBerating France away for the first time in 13 attempts and ending a run of nine losses in a row is this team’s breakthrough targetMon Apr 20 2026 - 06:00
Gerry Thornley: Ireland head to France ready to put World Cup lessons into actionScott Bemand’s side searching for first away win to FranceMon Apr 20 2026 - 06:00
St Mary’s and Clontarf dispatch Terenure and Lansdowne to set up AIL final showdownClontarf look to become first club to retain the title since 2006Sun Apr 19 2026 - 14:10
‘We came out the blocks firing’: Erin King happy with Ireland’s quick start against ItalyScott Bemand praises impressive start at the DexcomSat Apr 18 2026 - 21:49
Nine-try Ireland cut loose to win maiden Six Nations clash in GalwayRecord crowd turns out at the Dexcom Stadium to see Ireland defeat ItalySat Apr 18 2026 - 20:18
Leo Cullen commends Sam Prendergast’s patience on return to Leinster starting foldOuthalf put in a man-of-the-match performance in away win over UlsterSat Apr 18 2026 - 18:22
AIL preview: Four Leinster teams contest Division 1A playoffs for first timeSt Mary’s play Terenure, while Clontarf play LansdowneSat Apr 18 2026 - 06:00
Expectations rising around Ireland as organised Italy come to GalwayDexcom Stadium to host first Six Nations fixture on SaturdaySat Apr 18 2026 - 06:00
Leinster leapfrog Ulster in table after fending off late fight back by hostsUlster scored three tries in 10 minutes to threaten the comeback of the seasonFri Apr 17 2026 - 22:12
Sellout crowd for St Mary’s and Terenure D6W derby in AIL knockout stagesThe match has morphed into the biggest club rivalry in the countryFri Apr 17 2026 - 06:00
Roger Randle fallout raises serious questions over governance of MunsterRoger Randle’s appointment as attack coach has led to disquiet and three resignationsThu Apr 16 2026 - 20:28
Munster make eight changes for URC clash against BenettonClayton McMillan names strong side which is captained by Tadhg BeirneThu Apr 16 2026 - 19:54
Clayton McMillan defends Munster’s appointment of Roger Randle as attack coachRandle was accused of raping a woman in Durban, South Africa in 1997Thu Apr 16 2026 - 16:27
Munster finalise deal to appoint former All Black Roger Randle as new attack coachRandle, who will replace Bath-bound Mike Prendergast, links back up with head coach Clayton McMillanTue Apr 14 2026 - 19:54
Leinster are dreaming of a final, but 2025 should remind them not to dream too hardHome advantage presents Leo Cullen’s men with a big opportunity but Toulon will also fancy their chancesTue Apr 14 2026 - 06:00
‘We feel good out there’: Leinster looking forward to Saturday special against ToulonBlues hope recent improvements in attack will bear fruit in plum Champions Cup semi at AvivaMon Apr 13 2026 - 06:00
Leinster to face Toulon in Champions Cup semi-final on May 2ndUlster at home to Exeter in Challenge Cup final fourSun Apr 12 2026 - 20:09
