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#Irish Rugby

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Ireland's Rob Carney is tackled against Scotland. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho</p>

S rugby-columnists

Donal Lenihan: Munster’s future may well depend on developing their cohort of emerging talent

While it will take Munster some time to develop a cohort of their emerging talent to be ready to compete at next level, I can’t escape the feeling it will prove a worthwhile investment in the long run.

<p>Jack Crowley of Munster in action during the URC agaisnt the Vodacom Bulls. Pic: Nic Bothma/Sportsfile</p>

rugby

Provinces look to Europe again on back of mixed fortunes

<p>ON THE RADAR: Massimo De Lutiis of the Reds (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)</p>

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IRFU set to up chase for 'Australia’s strongest' rugby prospect

Ireland v Scotland - Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship

rugby

England deny Farrell talks as RFU stops short of delivering full backing for Borthwick

Scott Bemand 25/3/2026

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'Young girls can now dream about playing at the Aviva': Scott Bemand on growth of the women's game

Joe Schmidt 25/7/2025

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‘They call me Grandpa Joe’: Joe Schmidt in a hurry as clock ticks down on Wallabies reign

Leinster Rugby Squad Training

Cullen expresses hope Rónan Kelleher can maintain strong Six Nations form on Leinster return

While he only started once during the spring international window Kelleher saw game time in all five fixtures Ireland played in the 2026 edition of the Championship

Fri, 20 Mar, 2026

Tom Farrell and Craig Casey 10/3/2026

McMillan praises Irish internationals for fronting up to testing two-game South African tour

Lock Tom Ahern, flanker John Hodnett and centre Alex Nankivell have all recovered from injury to start while hooker Diarmuid Barron and Academy flanker Seán Edogbo also come into the starting XV

Thu, 19 Mar, 2026

Robert Baloucoune leaves the field 14/3/2026

Rob Baloucoune set to miss rest of Ulster's season with elbow injury

Meanwhile, Ulster and Connacht have welcomed back several internationals for their URC Interpro clash at Affidea Stadium on Friday night.

Thu, 19 Mar, 2026

Scott Bemand 4/9/2025

Bemand extends stay as Ireland head coach through to 2029 World Cup

Ireland open their Six Nations campaign against England on April 11

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

Edwin Edogbo 14/2/2026

Rugby fans who engage in racial abuse could be denied access to games

Last month, Munster Rugby's Edwin Edogbo made his international debut for Ireland against Italy in the Six Nations rugby clash in Dublin

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

Ireland v Scotland - Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship

S Donal Lenihan: Why this could be Ireland’s best Six Nations never won under Andy Farrell

Ireland’s Six Nations campaign revealed new depth, emerging talent and resilience despite missing out on the title

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

Watch: St Munchin's 'buzzing' to be back in Munster Schools Senior Cup decider

Watch: St Munchin's 'buzzing' to be back in Munster Schools Senior Cup decider

Munchin's head coach Andrew O'Byrne speaks to John Keogh about the challenge of facing Pres in Wednesday's decider.

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

Ireland Rugby Contract Extensions Announcement

Bundee Aki, Dan Sheehan, Jamison Gibson-Park and Josh van der Flier sign IRFU contract extensions

"You cannot underestimate the outstanding contributions of these four players to Irish Rugby over many years," said Andy Farrell.

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

Ireland v Scotland - Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship

The good and the bad from the Six Nations: Best player, breakout star and most ridiculous moment

Simon Lewis and Brendan O'Brien go through the highs and the lows from the 2026 Six Nations.

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

Robert Baloucoune leaves the field 14/3/2026

Andy Farrell's Ireland profits from reduced reliance on Leinster core

What this Six Nations told us is that it may never be too late for a player to wedge his way into World Cup contention.

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

Tommy O'Brien celebrates with Ciaran Frawley, Craig Casey and Ronan Kelleher after he score his sides sixth try of the match 14/

S Ronan O'Gara: The Farrell factor with players is Ireland's point of difference

There is an argument from the Six Nations that everyone left town with something encouraging and maybe France most of all, but they still conceded 96 points in their last two games against Scotland and England

Mon, 16 Mar, 2026

Watch: PBC Cork gearing up for Munster Schools Senior Cup decider with St Munchin's

Watch: PBC Cork gearing up for Munster Schools Senior Cup decider with St Munchin's

Ger Burke will be aiming to add another title to the Pres roll of honour this week.

Mon, 16 Mar, 2026

Bobby O'Callaghan 26/2/2026

Join the Irish Examiner for livestream coverage of Munster senior cup schools rugby finals

Subscribers can access all the boys and girls finals.

Mon, 16 Mar, 2026

Tom Wood celebrates with his father Keith after the game 15/3/2026

'A really good feeling, compared to last year' - Ireland U20s rise from wooden spoon to Triple Crown

Just as Andy Farrell’s senior squad rebounded from a heavy loss in Paris last month, the U20s completed a trophy-winning comeback to make it a second Triple Crown of the weekend with a big victory over their Scottish counterparts aside in a dominant performance at Virgin Media Park.

Mon, 16 Mar, 2026

Caelan Doris lifts the Triple Crown Trophy 14/3/2026

Anything seems possible for Ireland now after stunning Scots display

Andy Farrell can take immense encouragement from the way his team responded to it's nightmarish start to their 2026 campaign.

Mon, 16 Mar, 2026

Tadhg Beirne catches the ball from a lineout 6/3/2026

S Donal Lenihan: Ireland's forwards have the capacity to decide Dublin Six Nations finale

So many contests still come down to the quality of ball delivered by the real heroes — at least in my mind — up front.

Sat, 14 Mar, 2026

Ireland v Wales - U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship

'Strong defence has to be top of the requirement list for Sunday' says Ireland U20 star Daniel Ryan

The Connacht academy wing from Leinster schools heavyweights Blackrock College has been in flying form for his country, scoring tries in each of Ireland’s three consecutive victories since their opening-round loss in France

Sat, 14 Mar, 2026

Johnny Sexton chats with Roy Keane 9/8/2023

The Roy Keane effect: Why Ireland’s rugby greats looked to the Cork football icon

The former Manchester United captain’s relentless standards inspired Munster and Ireland rugby players searching for a competitive edge

Sat, 14 Mar, 2026

Ireland v Wales - Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship

Farrell still getting the very best out of his Ireland veterans

James Lowe, Josh van der Flier and Jamison Gibson-Park, thirtysomethings all, have all been given the Farrell treatment over the past six weeks and bounced back with excellent performances.

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026

Ireland Rugby Captain's Run

Doris declares there are 'no second chances' against Scotland with Triple Crown on the line

The No.8 also believes Ireland will need to reach the same high levels they produced in round three against England if they are to beat Scotland

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026

Zac Lomax Media Opportunity

Suddenly, Australia have the shape of something intriguing

Still raw after their first winless tour of Europe in 67 years last season, the Wallabies suddenly have a host of stars aligning to spark their World Cup quest

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026

Robert Baloucoune 10/3/2026

Baloucoune can look back on Six Nations as massive personal gain - despite Rhys Carré

A try-scoring, man of the match performance at Twickenham as Ireland completed a record away win over England in round three added to a first Six Nations try on his championship debut the previous weekend in the home victory over Italy

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026

Scotland v France - Guinness Men's Six Nations - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium

Andy Farrell: 'Darcy Graham and Scotland feel we're there for taking — and rightly so'

The Scots haven’t beaten Ireland in eleven meetings but they come to Ballsbridge on the back of three straight wins since an opening day loss in Rome

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

Ireland v Wales - Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship

Six Nations: Ryan ruled out as Farrell makes four Ireland changes for Scotland clash

James Ryan has been ruled out of Saturday’s Six Nations battle with Scotland with a calf injury.

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

The Irish team celebrate after Jamie Osborne scores a try 6/3/2026

No Grand Slam (again) no bad thing for a Six Nations alive with possibility

No Triple Crown should be sniffed at, and certainly not a Championship.

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Ireland v South Africa - Quilter Nations Series 2025

Ireland's November Nations Championship fixtures confirmed

Ireland will play Argentina, Fiji and South Africa as part of the Northern Series with another game at the finals weekend in London concluding their November fixtures

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Jack Crowley and Paul O'Connell 10/3/2026

S Donal Lenihan: Something for everyone as six nations jostle for final word

Given the way this crazy championship has evolved, whatever you consider the most unlikely scenario, put your house on that materialising.

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Ireland Rugby Squad Training

'It’s adding to the occasion' - Ireland ready for Triple Crown challenge against confident Scotland

Ireland assistant coach Andrew Goodman admitted there had been Irish roars as events at Murrayfield unfolded last Saturday afternoon.

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Ireland Rugby Media Conference

Andrew Goodman: 'Who knows what's going to happen the way this competition's been going'

Ireland have embraced the cup final vibes around this fifth round Triple Crown decider.

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Dan Sheehan is tackled by Grant Gilchrist 9/2/2025

Ireland v Scotland in the Six Nations: Kick-off time, TV details, permutations and everything you need to know

Ireland have a massive chance of getting their hands back on the Triple Crown. But when it comes to reclaiming the Championship, Andy Farrell’s men are relying on help from elsewhere.

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Ireland v Wales - Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship

S Ronan O'Gara: Jack Crowley has a serious body of work ahead of him. He knows that

Wouldn’t I love the opportunity to get up to Temple Hill with Crowley some morning on our own just to look at and work through his goal-kicking mechanics because it’s just too unpredictable at the moment

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

England v Ireland - Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship

Ireland to host England on opening night of 2027 Six Nations

All details of the five rounds of fixtures, across six weeks, were announced on Monday morning.

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Stuart McCloskey, Nick Timoney and Tom O'Toole during the national anthems 6/3/2026

Versatile Tom O’Toole making his move with Ireland

Ireland’s squeaky win against Wales at the Aviva Stadium three days ago wasn’t just his first start in the No.1 shirt for his country. It was his first in the Six Nations too.

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Thomas Clarkson and Ronan Kelleher celebrate after the match 6/3/2026

Ronan Kelleher: 'We've put ourselves in a good position to win that Triple Crown'

For Ireland, and indeed Scotland, who meet at Aviva Stadium in the final round next weekend with a Triple Crown on the line and perhaps the title itself.

Sun, 08 Mar, 2026

Ireland v Wales - Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship

Six Nations Talking Points: Ireland's ugly win adds to IRFU's coffers, England slayed in Rome

Elsewhere ruthless Scots kill Grand Slam, but France remain in pole position.

Sun, 08 Mar, 2026

Ireland v Wales - Guinness Men's Six Nations - Aviva Stadium

S Comment: Stiff Welsh resistance shows Farrell's Ireland not out of the woods yet

There's a Triple Crown in their sights, but there's still work to do after this tough Wales test in Dublin

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Ireland v Wales - Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship

Ireland player ratings in Six Nations win over Wales: Jamison Gibson-Park shines on landmark night

Elsewhere Jack Crowley was not as polished as he had been at Twickenham.

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Garry Ringrose is tackled by Tomas Francis and Aaron Wainwright 6/3/2026

As it happened: Ireland battle past Wales to secure bonus-point victory

Andy Farrell’s men racked up another bonus-point win and the Triple Crown remains on.

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Ireland v Wales - Guinness Men's Six Nations - Aviva Stadium

Talking points: Defiant Wales show they are on the way back

After this spirited display, the Wales faithful will be back in force to help the team avoid a third successive wooden spoon.

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Ireland v Italy - U20 Six Nations Rugby Championship

Cork homecoming 'one of the proudest moments' for Ireland U20 Barrett

Ireland U20 scrum-half Christopher Barrett is more in love with rugby than ever

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Ireland Rugby Captain's Run

S Donal Lenihan: Ireland have rediscovered their identity - but the bar has been reset

The challenge now is for Ireland to maintain that high level of performance over the next eight days

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Wales v Scotland - Guinness Men's Six Nations - Principality Stadium

Wales encouraged by Scot display - but concerns must lie within camp for Ireland showdown

While elements of the performance against Scotland last time out represented a huge step forward, 'We are at the point where we can go there and be competitive,' Tandy said

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026

Ireland Rugby Squad Training

All about 'continuing to grow' for Caelan Doris and Ireland

The No.8 and captain was one of several Irish players to put in their best performances of the season as the English were put to the sword on home soil.

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026

Andy Farrell 4/3/2026

Rotation not in Andy Farrell's mind despite surgery for Wales

New additions to the squad could bring the total number of players used by Farrell in this window to 33.

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026