The Irish Times

From the chocolate factory to the gibbet in a West Yorkshire town

Halifax Letter: The legend of the running man gave condemned petty thieves a glimmer of hope

Wed Mar 30 2022 - 01:00

Owen Doyle: IRFU should be encouraging representation for Irish referees

Officials get a very raw deal that no player would accept

Tue Apr 13 2021 - 06:00

Sporting Cathedrals: Fortress Thomond, where the 16th man always gets his game

The Limerick city ground is famed and feared the rugby world over

Wed Jul 22 2020 - 06:00

Men in Black: The referees for Ireland’s Six Nations games

Mathieu Raynal will take charge of Andy Farrell’s first game in charge this Saturday

Tue Jan 28 2020 - 05:00

Formidable home fortress key to Munster conquering the French

Over the years Racing have been one of many French sides to fail the Thomond Park test

Sat Nov 23 2019 - 05:00

Owen Doyle: Referees will be under more scrutiny than ever at this World Cup

The 12 referees have gone through a long and arduous selection process

Sat Sept 14 2019 - 08:30

Ulster are worthy winners over Connacht to reach semi-finals

Rory Best says goodbye to the Kingspan as a player, but his Ulster days aren’t over yet

Sat May 04 2019 - 20:10

Connacht prop Robertson-McCoy gets six-week ban for stamp

New Zealander stamped on the neck of Leinster’s Josh van der Flier

Wed Oct 03 2018 - 18:51

The offload: TG4 pundits need to pitch up

Go for entertainment or cold blooded inquisition. Anything else is painful viewing

Mon Oct 01 2018 - 11:30

Rugby Championship: team news and everything you need to know

New Zealand v Argentina and Australia v South Africa both underway on Saturday

Thu Sept 06 2018 - 10:09

Australia 16 Ireland 20: How the game played out

Gavin Cummiskey looks at the key calls, moments and incidents from Ireland’s win in Sydney

Sat Jun 23 2018 - 14:45

Ruthless All Blacks complete France series whitewash

Rieko Ioane’s second half hat-trick sees New Zealand blow Les Bleus away in Dunedin

Sat Jun 23 2018 - 11:36

Coping with injuries the key for All Blacks and France

Jacques Brunel and Steve Hansen in World Cup planning mode ahead of Test clash

Fri Jun 08 2018 - 01:00

Scarlets time peak to perfection to leave Glasgow in their wake

Defending champions back in Pro 14 final after Scotstoun victory

Fri May 18 2018 - 22:05

Warriors will need to take a clinical approach against Scarlets

Defending Pro14 champions won’t be cowed by hostile venue, but Scots could shade this

Fri May 18 2018 - 06:00

Referees announced for Champions and Challenge Cup

Romain Poite and JP Doyle will be the men in the middle for European semi-finals

Wed Apr 11 2018 - 12:05

Van der Westhuizen replaced by Nigel Owens for Twickenham game

World Rugby take responsibility after assistant referee worked with England at training

Thu Mar 15 2018 - 17:05

Owens and Garcès to ref Irish quarter-finals

Nigel Owens will take charge of Munster’s calsh with Toulon, Owens reffing Leinster

Wed Feb 28 2018 - 14:31

James Lowe’s class ensures Leinster have a bit to spare

Tadhg Beirne impresses for Scarlets as late penalty secures a bonus point for visitors

Mon Feb 19 2018 - 06:00

Lowe puts on another show as Leinster step past Scarlets

Tadhg Beirne again impresses for Welsh side as they claim late bonus point

Sat Feb 17 2018 - 17:36

Holders Belvedere make heavy work of seeing off Gonzaga

Belvedere captain David Hawkshaw suffers arm injury in first-round clash

Sun Jan 28 2018 - 18:03

Leinster dish out a dose of the blues to Ulster

Home side well beaten at the Kingspan Stadium by Leo Cullen’s impressive side

Sat Oct 28 2017 - 21:12

Zebre run in six tries in rout of Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth

Pro 14 round-up: Edinburgh prop Michele Rizzo sent off as Scarlets claim bonus

Sun Sept 24 2017 - 13:24

Scarlets painting right pictures for Nigel Owens this season

Rassie Erasmus’s side have been penalised more than rivals Scarlets by Nigel Owens

Thu May 25 2017 - 07:00

Nigel Owens to referee Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final

French referee Romain Poite will be the man in the middle for Munster versus Saracens

Thu Apr 20 2017 - 16:41

Ross Byrne nails drop-goal to keep Leinster in the driving seat

Dan Biggar fails to land penalty with last kick of the game as Leinster stay top

Sat Apr 08 2017 - 18:16

Leigh Halfpenny accepts ‘mistake’ over penalty against Scotland

Fullback decided not to go for three points at crucial stage of Murrayfield game

Tue Feb 28 2017 - 18:46

Six Nations Countdown: The men in the middle

We take a closer look at the referees for all of the upcoming Six Nations matches

Fri Feb 03 2017 - 21:23

Conor O’Shea hopes Italy can build on recent win over South Africa

Irish head coach knows team will have to impose themselves on Wales for 80 minutes

Fri Feb 03 2017 - 21:21

How high tackle sanctions could impact on Six Nations

Penalties for reckless or accidental hits have increased since guideline was introduced

Mon Jan 30 2017 - 07:40

Gordon D’Arcy: Red cards inevitable until new tackle laws bed in

Zero tolerance on new law will have drawbacks but high tackle needs to be consigned to history

Wed Jan 04 2017 - 08:52

Greig Laidlaw urges Scottish players to forget World Cup pain

Preview: Scotland v Australia, BT Murrayfield Stadium, 2.30pm – BBC 1

Fri Nov 11 2016 - 17:19

The rugby review: Five things we learned from the weekend

Neutral officials would benefit European rugby, Ireland heavyweights make return

Mon Oct 03 2016 - 14:36

Referees appointed for opening Champions Cup rounds

Ireland’s John Lacey to take charge of marquee clash between Toulon and Saracens

Tue Sept 27 2016 - 16:53