Organisation: Newport Gwent Dragons

Rory Best to captain Lions against Chiefs

Rory Best is set to captain the British & Irish Lions against the Chiefs on Tuesday after Warren Gatland named a matchday squad missing tour skipper Sam Warburton in the final game before Saturday’s first Test with the All Blacks.

Sun, 18 Jun, 2017

Here's how the sides ended up after the final round of Pro 12 games

The final round of Pro 12 games brought plenty of drama today.

Sat, 06 May, 2017

Lights out, but Leinster shines in face of Glasgow Warriors' fightback

Leinster 31 Glasgow Warriers 30: A youthful Leinster side had to deal with a second-half Glasgow power surge and a floodlight failure, the latter coming only 90 seconds out from the final whistle, before securing a 10th straight Guinness PRO12 win last night.

Sat, 29 Apr, 2017

PRO12 Round-up: Scarlets close in on play-off spot with victory against Dragons

The Scarlets strengthened their position in the race for the Guinness PRO12 play-offs by beating Newport Gwent Dragons 21-16 in a low-quality clash on Saturday.

Sat, 15 Apr, 2017

Leinster go top with big win over Dragons

Leinster moved to the top of the Guinness PRO12 table after hammering Newport Gwent Dragons 54-22.

Fri, 24 Feb, 2017

George North returns from leg injury to Wales' team for Scotland clash

George North will return to Wales' starting line-up for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Wed, 22 Feb, 2017

Racing 92 v Munster - European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1 Round 1 Refixture

Peter O’Mahony not in reckoning for Munster's Ospreys clash

Peter O’Mahony will not feature for Munster in Saturday’s Guinness PRO12 clash against Ospreys, according to the province’s Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus.

Tue, 14 Feb, 2017

Jaco Taute scores a second try 10/2/2017

More mighty Munster magic slays Dragons

Munster 45 Newport Gwent Dragons 17: Without a full deck, this was a very impressive Munster performance in last night’s Guinness PRO12 clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park. The bonus point was in the bag at half time and it was enough to maintain their position at the top of the table.

Sat, 11 Feb, 2017

Jaco Taute stars as Munster get six tries past the Dragons

Munster centre Jaco Taute registered two first-half tries to put the Guinness PRO12 leaders on their way to 14 wins in 15 games following a bonus-point 45-17 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Irish Independent Park.

Fri, 10 Feb, 2017

Darren Sweetnam back to bolster Munster

The competition for places in the Munster back division is ramped up still further this week with the return of Darren Sweetnam for tonight’s Guinness PRO12 game against Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park.

Fri, 10 Feb, 2017

Glasgow Warriors v Munster - European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1 Round 5

Future uncertain but Francis Saili still giving his all for Munster

The name of Francis Saili was significant by its absence when a whole raft of contract extensions was announced by Munster recently, leaving the New Zealander to admit he still doesn’t know if this is his last year with the province.

Thu, 09 Feb, 2017

Ambitious Conor Oliver ready to stake his claim at Munster

When you star in a Blackrock College side that wins the Leinster Schools Senior Cup and become a stand-out selection in Ireland teams at underage levels, a glittering rugby career is virtually assured.

Wed, 08 Feb, 2017

Munster relieved as Rassie Erasmus shoots down Springbok link

“Not in the mix”. That was the definitive reaction of Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus at UL yesterday to reports emanating from back home in South Africa he was in the running to become the next Springbok coach.

Tue, 07 Feb, 2017

Steve Shingler scores his side's first try 26/12/2016

Sold-out Arms Park sees Steven Shingler steer Cardiff to win over Dragons

Seventeen points from Steven Shingler ensured Cardiff Blues won the keenly contested Guinness PRO12 derby clash.

Mon, 26 Dec, 2016

Munster's Boris shows he’s not too dainty for front row rough and tumble

On November 12, John Ryan made his international rugby debut. People could be forgiven for thinking he came from nowhere; If you told him in June that this was on the cards, he would have laughed.

Sat, 10 Dec, 2016

Leinster v Newport Gwent Dragons - Guinness PRO12 Round 10

Leo Cullen turns his sights to Northampton Saints

Following his side’s impressive bonus point victory over Newport Gwent Dragons in the Guinness PRO12 on Saturday evening, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen was quick to focus minds on Friday’s crunch Champions Cup encounter with Northampton.

Mon, 05 Dec, 2016

Leinster boosted by Devin Toner's new contract ahead of Dragons clash

Leinster received a timely boost yesterday with the news experienced lock Devin Toner has signed a contract with the IRFU to keep him at the province until at least June 2020.

Fri, 02 Dec, 2016

Leinster targeting Northampton Saints clash for Johnny Sexton return

Leinster hope Jonathan Sexton will be available to face Northampton in the Champions Cup on December 9, despite Ireland coach Joe Schmidt’s calls for the fly-half to be given an extended period of rest to recover fully from his ongoing injury problems.

Tue, 29 Nov, 2016

Autumn International previews

Here’s the lowdown on four big games across Europe...

Sat, 26 Nov, 2016

Michael Cheika rests Wallaby big guns

Australia coach Michael Cheika has rested most of his top names for tomorrow’s clash with France as the test is the only one on the tour that is not part of the Wallabies’ grand slam bid.

Fri, 18 Nov, 2016

Flag-bearer Joy Neville ‘never had an issue as a female’

Joy Neville has made a habit out of being a trailblazer.

Tue, 25 Oct, 2016

Leinster v Munster - Guinness PRO12 Round 6

CJ Stander: Munster must up the ante big time

CJ Stander is under no illusions he and Munster will need a major step up in class if they are to hold their own against French Top 14 champions Racing 92 in Paris on Sunday.

Tue, 11 Oct, 2016

Munster braced for bruising battle

Rassie Erasmus may still be learning the ropes as far as Munster’s Guinness PRO12 opponents are concerned but when it comes to today’s visitors to Thomond Park, the South African knows exactly what to expect from Edinburgh and his old coach Alan Solomons.

Sat, 24 Sep, 2016

CJ Stander feeling the Rassie Erasmus effect

CJ Stander has already participated in one home defeat at the start of this new Guinness PRO12 campaign and the Munster back row does not intend to add another when the province makes its seasonal debut at Thomond Park against Edinburgh on Saturday.

Thu, 22 Sep, 2016

Keith Earls ‘touch and go’ for clash with Edinburgh

Munster will wait anxiously on the recovery of Keith Earls from a hamstring strain as director of rugby Rassie Erasmus tries to figure out his centre options for Saturday’s first outing of the Pro12 campaign at Thomond Park against Edinburgh.

Wed, 21 Sep, 2016

Newport Gwent Dragons v Munster - Guinness PRO12 Round 3

John Ryan says Rassie Erasmus taking Munster back to their roots

Dragons 16 Munster 20: John Ryan believes Munster are going back to their roots under Rassie Erasmus following their hard-fought win over the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Mon, 19 Sep, 2016

Munster hold on for win at Dragons thanks to lucky try

Munster recorded their second Guinness PRO12 victory of the season on Welsh soil after edging out Newport Gwent Dragons 20-16 in a fierce contest at Rodney Parade.

Sat, 17 Sep, 2016

Munster aim to right the wrongs of last week

Defeat is painful and Munster have been hurting all week as they prepare to right the wrongs of last weekend’s home stumble to Cardiff Blues in their Guinness Pro12 trip to Newport Gwent Dragons today (5:15pm).

Sat, 17 Sep, 2016

Catch-up with what you've missed today with our evening briefing

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Fri, 16 Sep, 2016

Andrew Conway vows Munster will respond to wake-up call

Andrew Conway is confident Munster’s home defeat to Cardiff Blues has served as an ideal kick in the behind ahead of tomorrow’s Guinness Pro12 trip to Newport Gwent Dragons.

Fri, 16 Sep, 2016

Keith Earls back on centre stage

Just when he thought it was safe to go back onto the wing, Keith Earls could be pressed into service in Munster’s injury-hit midfield.

Thu, 15 Sep, 2016

Billy Holland: Positivity is key for Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus

Munster players have spent all summer adapting to life under new director of rugby Rassie Erasmus but with the season now underway there is still room for the odd surprise, not least in the parties’ opposing reactions to the weekend home defeat.

Tue, 13 Sep, 2016

Rassie Erasmus keen on keeping perspective

Witnessing Rassie Erasmus’s reaction to defeat last Friday night was as instructive as it was surprising.

Mon, 12 Sep, 2016

Ireland v Scotland - Rugby World Cup Warm-Up Match

Shane Horgan hails Connacht Pro12 effect and lays down challenge to Munster and Leinster

Shane Horgan has challenged both Munster and Leinster to follow the example of Guinness Pro12 champions Connacht and attack the new season with a more exciting brand of ball-in-hand rugby.

Fri, 02 Sep, 2016

Ankle operation ends season for Leinster’s Josh van der Flier

Leinster and Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier will miss the PRO12 play-offs as well as Ireland’s summer tour to South Africa, after he was ruled out of action for the next eight weeks.

Thu, 12 May, 2016

Anthony Foley drives Munster on to sign off with vital victory

with high stakes in every game and tension etched across head coaches’ brows from Galway to Parma ahead of today’s 22nd and final round of the Guinness Pro12 league campaign, you would wonder why the men in suits had to be dragged kicking and screaming into a brave new word of meritocracy.

Sat, 07 May, 2016

Johnny Holland wants to be part of European adventure

Munster rising star Johnny Holland may be new to the rough and tumble of top-flight professional rugby but he is wise enough about the way things are done in his native province to understand qualifying for next season’s Champions Cup is not “non-negotiable”.

Tue, 03 May, 2016

Scarlets pip Dragons to keep pressure on Ulster

The Scarlets won at the third time of asking in the Guinness Pro12 as they grabbed a try bonus point to do the double over Newport Gwent Dragons with a 34-20 victory.

Sat, 30 Apr, 2016