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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Leinster's Gus McCarthy in preseason Pic: INPHO/Grace Halton</p>

rugby

South Africa first stop in a season Gus McCarthy hopes will end in Australia

“It's a very cool feeling, it's a great experience for the group, a great chance as a squad to get to know each other better.”

<p>CHALLENGE: Australia's Taniela Tupou says the Springboks will offer a reliable indicator of where the Wallaby recovery is at. Pic: Alejandro Pagni/Getty Images</p>

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Wallabies ready to test themselves against the best in Springboks clash

<p>Head of Women’s Strategy for Irish Rugby Lynne Cantwell. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho</p>

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'Our bodies shouldn’t really have anything to do with that': Cantwell backs athletes criticising Sweeney's Novigo campaign

Lynne Cantwell 1/7/2025

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Lynne Cantwell says IRFU 'disappointed' by lack of TV coverage for WXV opener

RUGBYU-FRA-TOP14-LA ROCHELLE-TOULOUSE

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Confirmed: Ronan O'Gara to remain with La Rochelle until 2031

Luke McGrath celebrates after the game 18/1/2025

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Ex-Leinster scrum-half Luke McGrath the latest big name to join French rugby ranks

IRFU Ireland Rugby New Jersey Launch

'He's used to it' but Leo Cullen shouldn't be blamed for Leinster's Europe failures says Josh van der Flier

Speaking at the launch of Ireland's new home jersey in Dublin, van der Flier feels that his fellow Wicklow man has been unfairly singled out for Leinster's inability to get over the line in Europe.

Thu, 03 Sep, 2026

Ryan Caldwell 11/10/2008

'I had no love for myself': Ex-Ireland rugby player Ryan Caldwell’s journey back from the edge

Ahead of the publication of his warts 'n all autobiography, the retired Ulster second-row on his recovery from addiction, depression and incarceration to find a new life as a meditation teacher

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Jack Crowley 17/1/2026

Munster and Ireland No 10 Jack Crowley sidelined until January

Munster revealed the prognosis for their first-choice number 10 on Thursday as they prepared for their opening pre-season fixture in France at La Rochelle on Friday evening.

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Connacht v Munster - Vodafone Womens Interprovincial Championship Round 3

Seven uncapped players named in Ireland training squad for WXV series

Ireland face USA and Japan in the series

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

Clodagh O’Halloran celebrates with Aoife Corey after scoring her side's fifth try 15/8/2026

Munster run in 10 tries in demolition of scoreless Ulster

The hosts made it two wins from two on Leeside.

Sat, 15 Aug, 2026

Great Britain v Australia

Brian Carney on Wigan taking on Warrington in Dublin: Rugby League needs an international dimension

The sport has pushed hard to expand beyond its northern English base and Wigan have been in action in Las Vegas and Paris across the last two seasons

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

IRFU New President and Chair Announcement

Tony O’Beirne elected new President of the IRFU

Ulster’s Stephen Black was also appointed Chair of the Management Committee during the meeting

Thu, 30 Jul, 2026

Joe Schmidt 3/7/2026

Joe Schmidt set to take on brief stint with Ulster

Schmidt only recently finished his two-and-a-half-year tenure as Wallabies head coach

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

New Zealand v Ireland - 2026 Nations Championship Round 3

Nations Championship fails to arrest rugby’s ability to get in its own way

On the nasty, over-the-top ruck clear-out by the All Black back-rower Luke Jacobson against Ireland, surely red cards do not come much clearer – so, naturally, he only received a yellow

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

James Ryan during a team huddle 18/7/2026

James Ryan: Ireland are not at the level that we want to be yet

It’s six losses on the bounce now for Andy Farrell’s side against the sides we can safely label for now as The Big Three.

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Ciaran Frawley dejected after the match 18/7/2026

Andy Farrell on defeat to All Blacks: 'We should have given a better account of ourselves'

Ireland's tour came to an end with a loss at Eden Park.

Mon, 20 Jul, 2026

Jamison Gibson-Park with friends and family after the game 18/7/2026

Ireland must find plan B for Gibson-Park ahead of World Cup tilt

If the No 9 were to be injured, Andy Farrel's side would all but certainly be in a hole without him.

Sun, 19 Jul, 2026

Charlie Molony comes up against Luca De Novellis 18/7/2026

Ireland U20s end their World Championship on winning note

Andrew Browne’s men were good value for their win after the disappointing opening losses to England and Argentin

Sat, 18 Jul, 2026

South Africa Wales Rugby

Rugby round-up: Springboks nil Wales, Joe Schmidt leaves Wallabies with a win

There were wins for South Africa, Australia, France and Scotland in the Nations Championship on Saturday

Sat, 18 Jul, 2026

Ciaran Frawley dejected after the match 18/7/2026

Andy Farrell lauds character of Ireland team despite off-day against All Blacks

Ireland’s coach was also left perplexed at some of the officiating, but chose not to publicly criticise Australian referee Nic Berry

Sat, 18 Jul, 2026

Cameron Roigard during a scrum 18/7/2026

Player ratings: Ireland's Joe McCarthy shines in defeat to All Blacks

Andy Farrell's side rounded out their tour with a loss to New Zealand in Auckland.

Sat, 18 Jul, 2026

Joe McCarthy comes up against Asafo Aumua 18/7/2026

Ireland rue mistakes as All Blacks win at Eden Park

The 19-point win extended New Zealand's winning run at the famous venue to 53 Tests.

Sat, 18 Jul, 2026

Joe McCarthy comes up against Fletcher Newell and Ardie Savea 18/7/2026

As it happened: New Zealand v Ireland in the Nations Championship minute-by-minute

Andy Farrell's side look to finish their tour on a high with an historic win at Eden Park.

Sat, 18 Jul, 2026

Tadhg Furlong 14/7/2026

'We had a lot of making up to do': Eden Park looms as Tadhg Furlong and Ireland look to keep building

The countdown is on for Ireland ahead of Saturday’s Nations Championship in Auckland, where Farrell’s men are chasing history as they attempt to do the unthinkable.

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

Ireland Rugby Squad Training

Rob Kearney: 'We still have to improve on a lot of areas if we want to be in with a chance'

What former international Kearney sees still is a squad in the midst of a transitional period, which he is fine with as long as that doesn’t push through into the next calendar year and the fast approaching World Cup in Australia

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

Andy Farrell file photo

Andy Farrell: Eden Park challenge? Where else would you rather be?

Ireland have played at Eden Park on four occasions. The last was four years ago, when they went down 42-19 before going on to win the historic three-Test series 2-1.

Fri, 17 Jul, 2026

Japan v Italy - Nations Championship

World Rugby bans Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada for two games over referee comments

In an interview after Italy's 47-17 thrashing in the Nations Championship, Quesada said referee Luc Ramos was 'super poor'

Thu, 16 Jul, 2026

Ireland Rugby Media Conference

Andy Farrell: Dave Rennie has brought a bit of All Blacks steel back

In total, Farrell has brought in nine new faces, most of whom beat the Wallabies 33-31 in the opening game on tour in Sydney earlier this month, but they have regained the services of Robert Baloucoune.

Thu, 16 Jul, 2026

Dave Rennie 16/7/2026

Dave Rennie: All Blacks 'genuinely respect' Ireland ability

Rennie did his best to talk down the looming nervy Nations Championship fixture.

Thu, 16 Jul, 2026

Ireland Rugby Media Conference

Rob Baloucoune desperate to take All Blacks opportunity with both hands

Ireland have not yet lost a Test in which Baloucoune has been involved. That’s not a bad record given he’s played eight Tests, but just as impressive is his tryscoring rate, including the three tries he scored from four Tests earlier this year

Thu, 16 Jul, 2026

Sean Jansen 14/7/2026

Farrell brings in nine new faces for All Blacks clash, Baloucoune starts while Jansen makes bench

Replacement loose-head prop Jeremy Loughman also returns via the bench after his concussion against the Wallabies

Wed, 15 Jul, 2026

NRL Rd 16 - Roosters v Sharks

Michael Cheika interview: 'I've had no contact from anyone in Rugby Australia'

The former Leinster head coach, now at the NRL's Sydney Roosters, had an old friend from Dublin in for a catch up and some coaching insights

Wed, 15 Jul, 2026

Jamison Gibson-Park 14/7/2026

Jamison Gibson-Park set for ‘massive challenge’ inhome from home

Gibson-Park might now be one of the world’s best halfbacks, but when he left the Shaky Isles following the 2016 Super Rugby season that was by no means the case.

Wed, 15 Jul, 2026

Sean Jansen with his first cap after making his debut for Ireland 11/7/2026

Sean Jansen says playing against birth nation New Zealand 'would be a dream'

Indeed, Jansen has rocketed into contention to face his countrymen after delivering an eye-catching debut for Ireland last weekend in their 36-20 win over Japan in Newcastle

Tue, 14 Jul, 2026

Daniel Ryan celebrates scoring a try with Christopher Barrett 13/7/2026

Ireland dig deep to beat Fiji in Junior World Championship

Daniel Ryan got Ireland off the mark after eleven minutes with a superb kick and chase from the Connacht and former St Michael’s winger to score his fifth try of the tournament

Mon, 13 Jul, 2026

Ireland v New Zealand - 2023 Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final

New Zealand v Ireland in the Nations Championship: Kick-off time, TV details and everything you need to know

But Andy Farrell’s side come into this match with a decent bit of momentum having beaten Japan and Australia recently

Mon, 13 Jul, 2026

Japan v Ireland - 2026 Nations Championship Round 2

'At the time I took it personally': Japan boss Eddie Jones gets a stir out of Ireland newbies

While Sam Illo won’t ever forget his debut, he said he hoped to put himself in the mix to play the All Blacks next week in their season finale.

Mon, 13 Jul, 2026

Jacob Stockdale is tackled by Jack Cornelsen 11/7/2026

Andy Farrell: Let's deliver 'performance of our lives' in Auckland

Farrell admitted he had more than half an eye on the All Blacks’ 47-17 win over Italy.

Mon, 13 Jul, 2026

Ireland v Argentina - World Junior Rugby Championship Pool C

Boost for Irish U20s as red card rescinded ahead of Fiji tie

Winger Charlie Molony was harshly given a second yellow for an aerial contest in the 73-22 win over the USA.

Sun, 12 Jul, 2026

Andy Farrell during the warm up 11/7/2026

Why Andy Farrell should prioritise finding gold over historic All Blacks win

There has to be a bigger picture at play, and that should be doing everything to unearth another Ireland star or two before next year’s World Cup

Sun, 12 Jul, 2026

Andy Farrell during the warm up 11/7/2026

'It flattered us': Andy Farrell 'relieved' as Ireland secure bonus-point win over Japan

Farrell said that regardless of whether they had won or lost, the fact he broadened the Irish base by handing four players their debuts and got more minutes into several others was the most important thing

Sat, 11 Jul, 2026

Harry Hocking tackles Jack Conan 11/7/2026

Ireland player ratings v Japan: Breakdown monster Jack Conan did what he always does

Michael Cleary takes a closer look at how Ireland performed during their victory over Japan

Sat, 11 Jul, 2026

Takuro Matsunaga tackles Jacob Stockdale 11/7/2026

Ireland's second-string overcome Japan to maintain unbeaten start to Nations Championship

“We had to fight hard for that one,” said acting Irish skipper Tadhg Beirne

Sat, 11 Jul, 2026

New Zealand v Italy - Nations Championship

Will Jordan breaks Howlett try-scoring record as All Blacks hammer Italy

Deployed on the right wing rather than fullback under new coach Dave Rennie, the New Zealand finisher has enjoyed a brilliant start to the season.

Sat, 11 Jul, 2026

Australia v Ireland - 2026 Nations Championship Round 1

Rónan Kelleher holds hunger to perform - Japan are next up

Consistent, dogged and deceptively powerful, the 28-year-old has had a ding-dong battle with Dan Sheehan for starting honours for both Leinster and Ireland.

Sat, 11 Jul, 2026

Ireland Rugby Captain's Run

Japan challenge key to Farrell's quest for depth a year out from World Cup

Andy Farrell certainly bought into the need for the selected players, including new faces Sean Jansen, Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward, to impress.

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

Ireland Rugby Squad Training

Farrell urges Frawley to grab opportunity 'with both hands'

The Connacht-bound 10 will line out against Japan on Saturday.

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

Ireland Rugby Squad Training

'Still moving alright for an old man': Stuart McCloskey living the dream in career twilight

Ten years on from his debut against England, there’s no doubt that McCloskey is playing some of the best rugby of his career.

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

David Humphreys 7/7/2026

IRFU may get more involved in coaching recruitment after Munster’s Randle controversy

Randle was announced in mid-May to be linking up with Clayton McMillan at Munster until the deal was called off due to a wave of backlash

Thu, 09 Jul, 2026