By learning from the best, the apprentice has become one of the best. Anyone who fears Leinster and Ireland talent Joey Carbery may get impatient waiting for Johnny Sexton to retire doesn’t appreciate the upside of operating in his shadow.

This is, and remains, a man’s world, a world built on privilege for some and deep injustice for others, writes Fergus Finlay

Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh picks an Irish XV comprising of the 2009 Grand Slam team and the team that will chase that title on Saturday. 

Jerry Flannery was a member of the Irish team which completed the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2009. An outstanding hooker who helped Munster to win the Heineken Cup in 2006 and 2008, he represented Ireland on 41 occasions. Ahead of Ireland’s bid for more Grand Slam glory on Saturday he spoke to Charlie Mulqueen

Rugby Players Ireland has stressed its commitment to supporting Gerbrandt Grobler through the current furore surrounding his served two-year suspension for doping.

There was a time when teams boasting outstanding forward packs brought the All-Ireland League title to Limerick almost as a matter of course.

In the same way that Ireland has always relied on a strong core of Munster players — forwards, in particular — Munster has always been at its belligerent best with a core of influential Limerick forwards on board, writes Donal Lenihan 

It doesn’t take Marcus Horan long to highlight the most notable contrasts between his playing days and the current crop of men proudly wearing the red of Munster.

On November 1, 1995, Richard Wallace touched down at Thomond Park to score Munster's first points in European Cup competition. This Saturday at the much-changed stadium, barring a complete disaster from Johann van Graan's new charges, someone from the province will pop up and grab the 4,000th. We recall some of the landmarks in between.

Tom Hayes is well accustomed to challenges, hopes, and expectations.

Lions rookie Kyle Sinckler feels like he is in rugby heaven on the eve of his debut in the famous red jersey. Yet his thirst for knowledge may be hell for his teammates.

The odds are stacked against them but Munster wouldn’t have it any other way. Donal Lenihan looks at three areas that will shape today’s semi-final.

Few people are better positioned to survey the Munster rugby landscape than Marcus Horan. As IRUPA player development manager for the province, he gets to see and hear the challenges the modern player faces. He was coaching his beloved Shannon until a disappointing departure a few month ago. He’s seen how the club game is nearly dying and he has a keen appreciation of what his ‘big brother’ Anthony Foley did — and continues to do — for Munster.

Like so many of those who knew Anthony Foley, James Downey could not believe the news last October that his former boss had passed away so suddenly.

Munster legend Anthony Foley’s son Tony, 11, lit a special candle for his dad yesterday as crowds flocked to churches in response to his campaign to remember departed loved ones.

As smash hit double acts go, European professional club rugby never saw anything quite like Anthony Foley and Munster.

Shannon head coach Marcus Horan admits he doesn’t believe the Munster Senior Cup is “special anymore” ahead of his side’s quarter-final clash with Young Munster.

From where Munster was 18 months ago, things looked and felt a whole lot more positive from where I was sitting Tuesday night, writes Ronan O’Gara

Cork Constitution 32 Old Belvedere 0: Johnny Holland put a year of pain and uncertainty behind him when helping Constitution to a comprehensive Ulster Bank League victory over Old Belvedere at Temple Hill on Saturday.

Previews of all today’s Division 1A/1B games.

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell marches into his fourth and final World Cup tomorrow in Cardiff. Ahead of the World Cup kick-off against Canada, the second-row legend sat down with rugby correspondent Simon Lewis to share memories of tournaments past — and offer insights into his mindset going into his final tour of duty in green.

Today

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

I know nothing. I really don’t. 130 tests later, if you haven’t it all figured you’re dumb, writes Ronan O'Gara. 

The changing names of those clubs filling out the fixtures and tables are to be welcomed on the basis that change is not to be feared.

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.

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.

Cian Healy could not watch and Mike Ross had his head in his hands as Ireland hung on for the victory that gave them their first medals in Test rugby.

Replacing Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy will be Joe Schmidt’s toughest challenge as Ireland boss, according to Peter Stringer.

While some uncertainty remains about his future, Rob Penney is putting complete faith in his side.

There is a lot to be said for Munster’s developing mental strength.

James Cronin may well have been more aggrieved than many within Munster when he heard Dave Kilcoyne had not been named by Joe Schmidt in Ireland’s squad for the autumn internationals.

What we'll learn from the Heineken Cup.

Having been forced to hang up his rugby boots, due to a recurring injury last year, Ireland and Munster’s Denis Leamy closed the book on a fabulous trophy-winning career.

Former Munster forwards coach Laurie Fisher believes the province’s current game plan under head coach Rob Penney could cause ongoing “angst” at his old club.

As it turned out, Doug Howlett’s last act on a rugby pitch was to do what he did best during an illustrious career for the All Blacks and Munster — scoring a try.

Munster have announced that current squad captain Doug Howlett will retire from professional rugby at the end of this season.

Shannon 0 UCD 42

Shannon 0 UCD 42