Lions tour

Gerry Thornley: It’s staring us in the face, this Ireland team is simply not what it was

Perhaps Ireland’s third place feels more anti-climactic because they also finished behind England

Andy Farrell likely to overlook England coaches for British & Irish Lions staff

England head coach Steve Borthwick urges selection of players for tour, endorsing Maro Itoje for captaincy

Whisper it quietly, but Simon Easterby is the perfect fit for Welsh rugby

Ireland interim head coach the ideal replacement for Warren Gatland

Gerry Thornley: Six Nations presents a chance for Maro Itoje to vie for Lions captaincy

In the absence of a clear pick for this summer’s Lions tour, Maro Itoje might put it up to Caelan Doris

Lions boss Andy Farrell confirms appointment of David Nucifora as GM

IRFU staff members Aled Walters and Vinny Hammond will also join tour to Australia

Owen Doyle: Give the scrum back its purpose or risk damaging the Six Nations - and Australia’s regeneration

Let’s hope the Six Nations is not overly affected by debatable scrum decisions

‘I want to put my mark on things’: Simon Easterby sees chance for he and Ireland to grow together

Warren Gatland says Ireland have benefitted from ‘favourable’ Six Nations draws

Crystal ball 2025: Our team of pundits make their predictions for the sporting year

What teams will claim All-Ireland honours, can the Republic of Ireland make it out of their World Cup group, how many Irish players will make the Lions and Ryder Cup team teams?

Gerry Thornley: This season could see an outhalf bolter make a play for Lions starting shirt

Andy Farrell’s potential choices at outhalf for the Lions tour to Australia look wide open at this stage.

Will Andy Farrell’s Lions sabbatical hurt Ireland’s Six Nations chances?

Andy Farrell won’t return to Ireland coaching duties until August after the Lions’ tour of Australia

Joe Schmidt: ‘I’ve swapped sides again and there’ll be a degree of unpopularity’

Former Leinster and Ireland head coach set for Aviva return with the Wallabies

Lions weigh up rolling dice on Las Vegas fixture for 2029 New Zealand tour

All Blacks have a growing status in the US with match in Los Angeles or Japan also being considered

The Lions are little more than a slick corporate franchise

Gone is the epic nature of the Lions tours that were a challenge of spirit and endurance as much as playing rugby

‘I really enjoy the journey of it all’: Lacken lad Caelan Doris would make ideal Lions king

From feeling ‘a bit of impostor syndrome’ when he first played for Ireland, the Leinster number eight is the prime candidate to become captain of not just his country but also of the British & Irish Lions

Ronnie Dawson: Icon of Irish and international rugby who captained his club, province, country and Lions

Dawson, who has died aged 92, was president of Wanderers, Leinster and the IRFU, and was on first Rugby World Cup organising committee

Matt Williams: The push to select global Wallabies to face Lions is gaining momentum

If Joe Schmidt’s national squad includes the best of those playing overseas, Australia can prove a match for the touring side next summer

Felix Jones would be allowed take up Lions role while working out England notice

Joe El-Abd confirmed as new England defence coach to replace Jones

Rugby fixtures 2024/2025: Ireland matches and major tournament dates for the season

Everything you need to know about the upcoming rugby season

Simon Easterby to lead Ireland’s Six Nations campaign in Farrell’s absence

Experienced assistant coach Simon Easterby will step up to the Irish head coach job as Andy Farrell takes a sabbatical at the start of 2025

England need to break the bank to secure right replacement for Felix Jones

As Steve Borthwick’s backroom staff dwindles almost daily, those in power at Twickenham will likely be trying to come up with another

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