Person: Nick Williams

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

rugby

Van Graan happy as youthful Munster come of age in Cardiff

Munster were ruthless and clinical as they ended a two-year wait for a win at the Arms Park by putting Cardiff Blues to the sword to leave the Welsh capital with a priceless bonus-point.

rugby

A first start for Keynan Knox among 11 Munster changes

Jack O’Donoghue, the only forward to be retained from the victory over the Ospreys, captains the side for the second time in his career.

rugby

Bradley hails Connacht’s new statement of intent

Michael Bradley spent most of his seven years at the Sportsground not just wondering if he would be in a job at the end of the season, but rather whether the Connacht team he was coaching would still be in existence.

rugby

Van Graan: Let’s keep winning habit

rugby

Andy Friend: Fringe Connacht players missed their opportunity

rugby

John Cooney inspires Ulster to victory over Cardiff Blues

Munster begin preparations for a Zebo-less future

Munster’s planning for a Zebo-less future has solidified with new contracts for Andrew Conway and Stephen Fitzgerald confirmed and a first start of the season for the latter in this evening’s Guinness PRO14 trip to Cardiff Blues.

Sat, 17 Feb, 2018

Bristol De Mai out to show Gold Cup class at Cheltenham

Nigel Twiston-Davies has refuted suggestions Bristol De Mai is not as effective at Cheltenham ahead of the BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase at the venue today.

Sat, 27 Jan, 2018

Connacht fail to triumph in error-ridden game with Cardiff Blues

Connacht's five-match winning run came to an end as Cardiff Blues triumphed 36-30 at Arms Park.

Fri, 24 Nov, 2017

CJ Stander return timely boost for Munster

CJ Stander is relishing his return to action against a big and physical Cardiff Blues back row at Thomond Park tomorrow when Munster look to bounce back from their first defeat of the Guinness PRO14 season last weekend.

Fri, 29 Sep, 2017

Keane ‘gut’ reaction to defeat

Connacht lacked so much ‘attitude and commitment’ according to coach Kieran Keane who bristled with frustration as his side lost for the third time in four PRO14 games on Saturday.

Mon, 25 Sep, 2017

Connacht get beat at home as Cardiff get their first win of the season

Jarrod Evans nailed the match-winning conversion in windy conditions as Cardiff Blues edged out Connacht 17-15 for their first win at the Sportsground since May 2014.

Sat, 23 Sep, 2017

No distractions for Leinster ahead of second round of Guinness PRO14

Leo Cullen has warned that Leinster cannot allow their upcoming South African trip to distract them from the business at hand tonight when they face Cardiff Blues at the RDS in the second round of the Guinness PRO14.

Fri, 08 Sep, 2017

No distractions for Leinster ahead of second round of Guinness PRO14

Fri, 08 Sep, 2017

Ulster v Bordeaux-Begles - European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 5 Round 6

Rory Best to double up as Ulster skipper against Cardiff

Ireland skipper Rory Best will lead Ulster for the first time this season when they face a strong Cardiff outfit at the Kingspan Stadium this evening (kick-off 7.35pm).

Fri, 07 Apr, 2017

Barry Geraghty must wait to discover Aintree fate

Barry Geraghty will have to wait a few more days before finding out whether he will be given the all-clear to return to action in time for next week’s Randox Health Grand National meeting.

Wed, 29 Mar, 2017

Munster can’t afford another setback

Munster and Cardiff Blues won’t be lacking incentives when they clash at the Arms Park this evening in a Guinness PRO12 encounter that could play an important part in their seasons.

Sat, 04 Mar, 2017

Connacht stun the Blues

Guinness PRO12

Mon, 13 Feb, 2017

Noel Meade to make late call with Road To Riches

Road To Riches is “50-50” to take his up his engagement in the 32Red King George VI Chase, according to trainer Noel Meade.

Wed, 21 Dec, 2016

Cardiff Blues v Leinster - Guinness PRO12 Round 5

Leinster tune up for big battles in quest for Champions Cup

Cardiff Blues 13 Leinster 16 

Mon, 03 Oct, 2016

Leinster come from 10 points behind to beat Cardiff

Cardiff Blues lost their unbeaten record in the Guinness PRO12 as Leinster came from 10 points behind to win 16-13 at the Arms Park.

Sat, 01 Oct, 2016

Rob Kearney: Jury out on astro pitches

Rob Kearney is in no doubt that the new breed of artificial turf makes for a better spectacle, but he remains to be convinced it is not coming at the cost of an increased injury toll.

Sat, 01 Oct, 2016

No home comforts as Munster disappoint in Cork

Munster 23 Cardiff Blues 24: Munster lost their opening home game of the Guinness PRO12 campaign in Cork last night and although it was a narrow defeat the failure to win on their own territory will have quickly eradicated the feelgood factor that had permeated through the province this summer.

Sat, 10 Sep, 2016

Joe Barakat sleight just the ammunition 'predictable' Leinster need against Ulster

Pre-match press conferences rarely elicit much in the way of insight or emotion, but Isa Nacewa needed just one syllable to communicate both at the RDS yesterday.

Fri, 20 May, 2016

John Muldoon: Eric Elwood key to Connacht rise

If Connacht manage to finish what they have started this season, by defeating Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground in Galway in eight days’ time, and then beat either Leinster or Ulster in the Pro12 final at Murrayfield a week later, there will be few who could begrudge John Muldoon his moment of glory

Fri, 13 May, 2016

Nick Williams has played last game for Ulster, says Les Kiss

Ulster’s wrecking ball No.8 Nick Williams, who will move to Cardiff next season, has played his last game for the province.

Wed, 27 Apr, 2016

Les Kiss: Time to show real Ulster

Les Kiss, Ulster’s Director of Rugby, was asked yesterday if his targets for his side had changed, given the slide from table-toppers to fifth in the Guinness Pro12.

Fri, 01 Apr, 2016

Paddy Jackson chalks up century for Ulster in crunch with Glasgow

Ireland’s Paddy Jackson will chalk up a century of appearances for Ulster in tonight’s Guinness Pro12 clash with champions Glasgow, (Scotstoun Stadium, 7.45pm, TG4).

Fri, 25 Mar, 2016

Ulster grab bonus point at the death

Ulster 32 Zebre 0: Ulster huffed and puffed their way to turgid, but bonus-point win over Zebre in a low-key game last night at the Kingspan Stadium where a very subdued crowd had little to really get their vocal cord juicing flowing.

Sun, 06 Mar, 2016

Cheltenham Countdown: Blazer clearly better than his Betfair Hurdle run suggests

Although plenty of punters who got their fingers burnt on Blazer in last weekend’s Betfair Hurdle, at Newbury, it is far too soon to write off the beaten favourite.

Wed, 17 Feb, 2016

Stuart Olding returns as Ulster reshuffle for Treviso clash

Emerging Ireland star Stuart Olding returns to the Ulster line-up for the first time in 10 months when he wears the number 12 jersey against Benetton Treviso at Stadio Monigo this afternoon.

Sat, 30 Jan, 2016

Rory Best on bench as Ulster battle for bonus point

Newly-appointed Ireland skipper Rory Best will sit out the Champions Cup lunch-time date with Oyonnax as Ulster attempt to claim a bonus-point win at the Kingspan Stadium as they bid to keep their quarter-final hopes alive. Also absent are influential scrum-half Ruan Pienaar and flanker Chris Henry. Pienaar is sidelined with a virus while Henry is still suffering from the shoulder problem which ruled him out of Ireland’s Six Nations squad.

Sun, 24 Jan, 2016

Saracens v Ulster - European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 1 Round 5

Ulster won’t be sidetracked by Champions Cup permutations

Ulster coach Neil Doak insists his side will not be sidetracked by permutations ahead of their final Champions Cup pool game.

Wed, 20 Jan, 2016

Niall Malone says Rory Best should be ‘shoe-in’ for captaincy

Ulster’s analyst and skills coach Niall Malone is in no doubt that Rory Best should be the next Ireland captain.

Thu, 14 Jan, 2016

Oyonnax v Ulster - European Rugby Champions Cup - Pool 1 Round 1 Refixture

Kyle McCall jubilant as gutsy Ulster pull off great escape

Oyonnax 23 Ulster 24: Kyle McCall thanked his team-mates for paving the way for his first Ulster try as the Ireland Under 20 loosehead prop picked up the plaudits for playing his part in an amazing second-half fightback.

Mon, 11 Jan, 2016

Gilroy back for changed Ulster clash with Oyonnax

Ireland wing Craig Gilroy returns to a much-changed Ulster side for tomorrow’s re-arranged Championship Cup clash away to Oyonnax.

Sat, 09 Jan, 2016

Willie Mullins: Trip no issue for Yorkhill

Willie Mullins is confident a return to two miles will not inconvenience Yorkhill in the 32Red Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown today.

Sat, 02 Jan, 2016

Pat Lam: Long way to go but Connacht must be more clinical

Not a season-defining game, said Connacht’s Pat Lam of his side’s first defeat at home this season.

Mon, 28 Dec, 2015

Lizzie Kelly makes history on ‘awesome’ Tea For Two

Hayley Turner was among those to offer their congratulations to Lizzie Kelly after she rode into the history books when Tea For Two jumped immaculately to win the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Saturday.

Mon, 28 Dec, 2015

Connacht v Ulster - Guinness PRO12 Round 10

Nick Williams try ensures festive derby spoils for in-form Ulster

Connacht 3 Ulster 10: Ulster’s European winning form continued in the Guinness Pro12 when they took the spoils in a tight festive derby at the Galway Sportsgound on St Stephen’s night.

Mon, 28 Dec, 2015

Connachtss Eoghan Masterson refusing to give up on Ireland chance

Connacht’s Eoghan Masterson is the perfect endorsement of a player who is reaping the rewards for his indefatigable determination to play for Ireland.

Sat, 26 Dec, 2015

Ulster v Toulouse - European Rugby Champions Cup - Pool 1 Round 3

Nick Williams set for new challenges with Cardiff Blues

Cardiff Blues have signed Ulster number eight Nick Williams for the 2016/17 season.

Thu, 24 Dec, 2015

Seabass to have another crack at Grand National

Another crack at the Crabbie’s Grand National is the dream for connections of Seabass after the 12-year-old rolled back the years with victory at Thurles on Sunday.

Tue, 22 Dec, 2015