Six Nations: If you strip away the brassy commerce and vulgar scalping there are storylines aplenty
The Six Nations nurses many suckling calves, the numbers are staggering
IRFU
Drug dealer who planned to sell cocaine at Kinsale 7s rugby tournament avoids jail
Mamadi Sialou (21) sentenced to 120 hours of community service in lieu of four months in prison
Ireland Six Nations squad: Sheehan and Lowe return; biggest calls at backrow and scrumhalf
An opening fixture against England awaits as Ireland bid for a historic three titles in a row
Chris Busby resigning shows Mack Hansen issue has been botched from first to last
Affair raises serious questions for URC and IRFU, and is unlikely to do much for recruitment and retention of referees
Some threw toilet rolls - others, sausages. How it might look if you were a fly on the wall at Mack Hansen’s Media Training
The Connacht and Ireland winger has to sit through a session along with all his team-mates to learn the fine art of boring reporters to tears
Gerry Thornley: The IRFU’s desire to ‘respect our game’ seems somewhat selective
Funny how unlike Connacht and Mack Hansen, no such fine was imposed on Leinster after Sexton’s three-week ban
‘I’ve been involved a lot in turnarounds’: Michael Cheika on his coaching philosophy and career to date
The Counter Ruck Podcast
Ireland v England Six Nations tickets selling for up to €2,480 on resale websites
IRFU says it will liaise with gardaí over issue and that tickets that can be verified as resold will be cancelled
Gerry Thornley: Connacht’s gripes with officials founded in something that feels real
Province have preferred non-Irish referees for interpros, though their grievances with officiating are not limited to Irish referees
‘There were a few offers but it was easy for me to stay’: Robbie Henshaw agrees new Leinster deal
The centre pens deal that will keep him at Leinster until the end of the 2027/28 season at the earliest
Irish women’s rugby: ‘there are loads of structural issues that are really difficult to address’
The Counter Ruck Podcast
Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong sign IRFU contract extensions to 2027
Leinster duo sign two-year contract extensions
Neil Doak appointed as Ireland men’s under-20s head coach
The former Ulster scrumhalf has coached the Ireland under-18s and combined academies in recent seasons
Irish rugby is a good place to be, thanks to people such as Dave Fagan
Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman represent the continuation of an old Irish rugby recipe: home-grown talent spiced up by a sprinkling of top international quality
Clare Daly finds a Dublin Central political address once linked to her ally Mick Wallace
Plus: no sign of the next laureate for fiction; the less-than-diverse membership of Aosdána; and Niall Blaney’s poor attendance record
Sports Books of the Year: Conor Niland’s The Racket the best in a year dominated by autobiographies
Johnny Sexon, Joe Canning and Richie Hogan all have highly readable offerings and Miguel Delaney’s book on the hijacking of modern football is not to be missed
IRFU records a deficit of €18.4 million in annual accounts
Men’s professional game costs the IRFU €43.9 million while revenue generated by the provinces in URC and EPCR tournaments comes in at €9 million
Could Michael D topple Christy from the top of the album charts?
President Michael D Higgins records an LP; the Oireachtas spends more taxpayers’ cash on something it’s not clear we need; and an ex-rugby star encounters some unwanted wingers
IRFU announce return of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
Connacht Eagles will host Leinster ‘A’ on Saturday, November 16th at Creggs RFC
IRFU appoint former Ireland international Lynne Cantwell as head of women’s strategy
Cantwell earned 86 caps for Ireland
Twenty-minute red card undermines World Rugby’s campaign to make the game safer
At a time when rugby was starting to win the battle it is in danger of losing the war
IRFU says they do not support 20-minute red card
Irish rugby organisation joins French Rugby Federation in opposition to proposed rule
Former rugby international Brendan Mullin allegedly stole €500,000 from Bank of Ireland, trial hears
Irish international (60) allegedly stole money while he was managing director of Bank of Ireland Private Bank a decade ago
IRFU ‘still considering’ position on 20-minute red card proposal
World Rugby proposal has been strongly opposed by a combination of ruling and player bodies in France
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