Sports Briefing

The Sports Briefing newsletter. Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Ireland risk offending Wales, but it’s a risk Simon Easterby’s willing to take

Much-changed Ireland side head to Cardiff; Carla Ward kicks off her tenure against Turkey

Fri Feb 21 2025 - 10:06

Dan Sheehan’s remarkable recovery continues with Irish captaincy

Ross Byrne leaves Leinster after 10 years; Shamrock Rovers prepare for massive European game

Thu Feb 20 2025 - 10:30

Ireland will simply have to live with favourites’ tag for Wales game

Gordon D’Arcy on Wales’ woes; Niall Morgan on why goalkeepers must be allowed roam; Sharlene Mawdsley on her Olympic plans

Wed Feb 19 2025 - 11:43

Now is not the time to be stoking the fire in Welsh bellies

Owen Doyle on how rugby can fix its ailments; Denis Walsh on how Gaelic football has

Tue Feb 18 2025 - 11:58

Aviva Stadium proves the perfect stage for the League of Ireland’s coming of age

Bradley has a go at Hallgrímsson; Barrett’s scoring goals; Porter a scrummaging unicorn

Mon Feb 17 2025 - 11:06

Roses are red, violets are blue, oh Michael Noonan, Rovers love you

Shamrock Rovers' brilliant win in Molde; why South Africa should be in the Six Nations; the bloody history of boxing

Fri Feb 14 2025 - 10:53

Beware of the wounded Welsh with a new manager bounce

Calvin Nash playing his part for Ireland; Shamrock Rovers visit Molde; Rory McIlroy in PGA Tour action

Thu Feb 13 2025 - 12:24

Ireland’s form puts Simon Easterby on Wales' radar to replace Warren Gatland

Gordon D’Arcy hails ‘resolute’ Ireland; Finlay Bealham back on top of his game; Mayo need a win; Carla Ward looks to unearth new talent

Wed Feb 12 2025 - 12:28

Scottish boo boys grist to Peter O’Mahony’s mill

Ireland remain on course for Grand Slam; Wexford struggling to cope in Division 1A

Tue Feb 11 2025 - 10:53

Ireland have road to travel but dream of ‘three-peat’ is still alive

Sam Prendergast and Andrew Porter impress; Ken Early on the curious relationship between Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino

Mon Feb 10 2025 - 10:34

Simon Easterby surprises with Ireland team selection

Bundee Aki looks for Ireland to be ‘much more clinical’; prospect of Katie Taylor at Croke Park fades

Fri Feb 07 2025 - 10:20

Could Dan Sheehan be Ireland’s next boxing star? For rugby’s sake, let’s hope not

How Ireland can halt Humble Huw; Hurling ups the stakes; Fintan McCarthy has an eye on the scales

Thu Feb 06 2025 - 10:20

Gordon D’Arcy on Ireland’s perfect start and a Murrayfield history lesson

Maybe it’s time for hurling to start experimenting; goalkeepers refuel for new rules; Million euro Melia breaks record

Wed Feb 05 2025 - 12:54

Credit where it’s due for Ireland’s performance and new Gaelic football rules

Lineout improvement reaps dividends; Ben O’Keeffe’s game of two halves; Ferguson’s Hammers move a boost for Ireland

Tue Feb 04 2025 - 10:15

Simon Easterby sets the tone with Ireland team selection

Josh van der Flier finds calming effects; indiscipline and inaccuracy cost Ireland under-20s; aces wild for Lowry and McIlroy

Fri Jan 31 2025 - 10:57

Rugby has come a long way since Ireland was still being called ‘plucky’

Seán Moran on how new 50m GAA rule should zip some lips; Gordon Manning on TG4’s bid to broadcast Cork Vs Limerick; David Gorman on Storm Éowyn battering golf courses

Wed Jan 29 2025 - 11:33

New football rules arrive ‘about as well as anyone could have hoped’

Maurice Deegan on possible trouble ahead; Gerry Thornley on the big challenge for Ireland; Brian O’Connor on the Dublin Racing Festival

Tue Jan 28 2025 - 10:46

Winds of change blow new Gaelic football rules towards biggest test yet

National Football League to get the FRC treatment; how Division One may pan out; and the not-so sporting side of social media

Fri Jan 24 2025 - 12:12

The Dublin superclubs that aren’t super popular

Ciarán Murphy on the challenges for clubs in the capital; Mayo v Dublin lace them up again; England play the role of underdogs

Thu Jan 23 2025 - 10:31

Ireland’s focus solely on England as Leinster learn to embrace the chaos

National Leagues spring into view as new rule changes in football come under spotlight again

Wed Jan 22 2025 - 11:12

Why Leinster fans should count their blessings, but not their chickens

Sheehan and Lowe on the comeback trail; Owen Doyle on the best referee in the world; Michael Fitzsimons’ phenomenal career

Tue Jan 21 2025 - 10:45

Dublin GAA’s alive, alive-o as Na Fianna and Cuala take All-Ireland glory

Irish provinces learn their fate in Last 16 of European competitions as Six Nations build-up intensifies

Mon Jan 20 2025 - 11:18

FAI manage to snatch defeat from jaws of victory yet again

Appointment of Carla Ward is overshadowed by controversy around exit of Colin Healy; Con O’Callaghan’s medal haul; Errigal Ciaran’s brotherly love

Fri Jan 17 2025 - 10:35

‘Regeneration and evolution’ the touchstone for treble-chasing Ireland

Gerry Thornley looks at the Six Nations squad; Carla Ward to take over WNT; Rory’s McIlroy’s disappointment over McKibbin move

Thu Jan 16 2025 - 10:21

Expectations running high for Ireland ahead of Six Nations

One-dimensional Leinster causing concern; referees speak of experiences; a pair of novel club finals

Wed Jan 15 2025 - 11:29

Injuries start to clear ahead of Six Nations squad announcement

Ronan O’Gara heaps praise on Sam Prendergast; James Ryan on Jacques Nienaber’s defence; Sean Moran talks to Davy Fitzgerald

Tue Jan 14 2025 - 10:29

Leinster win ugly but O’Gara hopeful of getting ‘another crack’

Munster and Leinster impress in Europe; the Canavan brothers set up a clash with King Con; Ken Early on Arteta’s handbrake

Mon Jan 13 2025 - 10:50

Mack Hansen and Connacht left to count the cost of comments

Tom Ahern has international ambitions; Gallagher/Burns story takes a twist; Malachy Clerkin gets things lined up

Fri Jan 10 2025 - 10:50

Messi’s medal, Will’s woes and Ringrose’s rude health

Leinster gear up for crunch game against La Rochelle; Ciarán Murphy reckons the Sigerson Cup organisers missed a trick

Thu Jan 09 2025 - 11:24

It’s shop-window time for Jack Crowley, Sam Prendergast and Ciarán Frawley

Mike Prendergast talks to Gerry Thornley; Jarlath Burns’s intervention gets Malachy Clerkin thinking; and some Republic of Ireland players need a move

Wed Jan 08 2025 - 10:49