The Union of Students in Ireland expect up to 5,000 students to join their national demonstration march this Wednesday, October, 19.

Figures released by the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) yesterday indicate as many as eight of their members would not encourage their children to take up the game now or at some point in the future.

Rob Kearney has confronted the atmosphere of doom and gloom that has descended on Irish rugby in recent weeks and countered talk of players being earmarked for lucrative moves abroad by stressing the benefits of staying loyal to the provinces.

Rob Kearney has rejected suggestions that Paul O’Connell’s switch from Munster to Toulon will kickstart a trend of senior Ireland internationals ending their careers in the financially flush Top 14.

A 24-hour support helpline for rugby players past and present will be launched tomorrow by Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) who are concerned by the results of two recent studies.

Paul O’Connell was lifting trophies again last night as the Ireland captain was voted the Hibernia College IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year 2015 by his fellow professionals.

I think a relationship between the player and employer of mutual respect will not only benefit our players but benefit the game. The proof is in the pudding.

As it stands, the provinces enjoy limited access to those players who are regular members of Joe Schmidt’s squad and, though this has been the case for some time now, calls for more flexibility have been louder this year.

The Diageo-funded ‘Stop Out Of Control Drinking Campaign’ is like the time when Shell got involved in environmental campaigning - it’s hypocritical, writes Ruairí McKiernan

For about 12 years my life had a routine and every September I would take stock and decide what I wanted for the following 12 months, writes Derval O'Rourke.

Retired Irish athlete Derval O’Rourke has been given the role of player development manager, working with the Munster rugby team.

Some of the country’s top rugby stars are being trained in how to prevent suicide and raise awareness of mental health issues through a joint initiative between the rugby players association and the charity Console.

Simon Best will become the 14th player to be inducted into the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) Hall of Fame next week.

Marcus Horan enjoyed a phenomenal playing career with Munster and Ireland, winning two Heineken Cups and a Grand Slam. But retiring from professional rugby was something the Clare native didn’t find so easy.

Your career will last seven to ten years. If you’re lucky. There is a fair chance that you will struggle to adapt to the ‘real world’ once the boots are hung up and then there will quite possibly be physical repercussions too.

Rory Best is confident Ireland’s younger generation of rugby stars will have no difficulty coping with life without Brian O’Driscoll who has all but admitted the 2013 Six Nations will be the last campaign in which he wears the green jersey.

Convention tells us that, for 80 minutes at Lansdowne Road this evening, men who are good friends and teammates on international weeks will put aside their friendships and substitute them with animosities born of blood.

Ulster Director of Rugby David Humphries has said the death of Nevin Spence will leave a huge hole in the Ulster squad.

Irish sports organisations are coming together today to raise awareness about mental illness.

IRISH Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) boss Omar Hassanein believes the latest findings in the English game that professional players do not run a greater risk of injury now than previously will be echoed in this country.

THE trophies kept coming Leinster’s way last night as back row star Sean O’Brien was named as the ERC European Player of the Year for 2011.

A RUNNING start?

NIALL WOODS of the Irish Rugby Union Players Association has called for players suffering head injuries in rugby games to be sent to ‘brain bins’ for their own protection.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne has declared that the union will not bankrupt itself in its attempts to persuade the country’s top-shelf internationals to ignore the lure of lucrative contracts from abroad.

The IRFU is defending its decision to hike the price of rugby tickets for the new Aviva stadium.

TONY BUCKLEY might have a bright rugby future following some fine displays on Ireland’s recent tour of Australia and New Zealand, but he is no closer to nailing down an alternative job once his playing days are over.

WITH four Top 14 sides in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, this is shaping up to be the ‘Year of the French’ and it’s a surge sourced by economics off the pitch as much as élan or elbow grease on it.

THE organisation representing Ireland’s professional players is seeking an urgent International Rugby Board review of the sport’s disciplinary process.

The Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) has "grown exceedingly frustrated and disappointed with the continued inconsistencies in the application of disciplinary sanctions to players".

Ulster and Ireland winger Tommy Bowe has been voted the 2008 Irish Rugby Union Players' Player of the Year by his fellow players at the sixth annual IRUPA Rugby Players Awards, hosted at UCD's O'Reilly Hall tonight.

THE Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) announced their nominations for Irish rugby’s ultimate accolade, the BT Players’ Player of the Year.

THE Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) announced their nominations for Irish rugby’s BT sponsored Players Player of the Year.

IRUPA (The Irish Rugby Union Players Association) today announced its nominations for the BT IRUPA Players’ Player of the Year.

RUGBY legend Jonathan Davies has backed claims by Wales coach Mike Ruddock that England are better off without Jonny Wilkinson.

Connacht and Ireland full-back Mark McHugh has been voted chairman of the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA).

THE Irish Rugby Football Union is on a collision course with player representatives IRUPA.

The Irish Mortgage Corporation has announced a sponsorship partnership with the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) for the 2004/2005 season.

Irish rugby players today accused the IRFU of showing a ‘lack of respect’ in an escalation of the dispute over match fees.

THE IRFU and the Irish Rugby Union Players Association will meet tomorrow to thrash out the issues of match fees and win bonuses which have cast a doubt over Ireland’s summer tour to South Africa.

The Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) has announced that the second O2 IRUPA Rugby Players Awards ceremony will again take place at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on May 19.

FRANKIE SHEAHAN could make a sensational return to representative rugby in Dublin on Friday, thereby opening the way to winning a place in the Ireland World Cup squad.

THE IRFU and Frankie Sheahan’s club Cork Constitution have both welcomed the decision to reduce the Munster hooker’s ban.

THE Irish Rugby Union Players Association has issued its “full and unconditional support” for Frankie Sheahan in his bid to overturn a two-year suspension imposed by ERC for a doping offence.

MALCOLM O’KELLY last night scooped the inaugural IRUPA Mira Players’ Player of the Year award.