There will be a time, hopefully in the not too distant future when rugby’s administrators will look back on the decision to shut down their sport due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic as the easy part, writes Simon Lewis.

Through uncertain times and unprecedented personal restrictions, golf is proving one of the few remaining outlets for sporting participation, at the grassroots at least, writes Simon Lewis.

Stuart Hogg’s cock-up at a crucial moment was in stark contrast to Ireland’s new skipper Johnny Sexton, writes Simon Lewis.

Simon Lewis identifies the three biggest talking points after new Ireland boss Any Farrell named his team to face Scotland on Saturday.

Our writers select 10 sports books for your Christmas list.

Simon Lewis Munster’s injury problems at fly-half look set to be replicated at loosehead prop after Jeremy Loughman joined Dave Kilcoyne on the casualty list during the draw with Racing 92.

Since rugby history was made when Romania’s Farul Constanta played eventual winners Toulouse in the first ever pool match, the Heineken Cup has produced some of the most breathtaking moments in the sport. Simon Lewis gives us his top 25

What is the defining moment in the history of the Heineken European Champions Cup?

Simon Lewis previews the 20 teams aiming for glory as the Champions Cup kicks off this weekend.

Simon Lewis Rory Scannell embarks on his fifth European campaign this weekend confident that the value new attack guru Stephen Larkham can add to Munster’s arsenal could be the missing ingredient to

While monitoring the fortunes of the Irish rugby team over the past month — indeed, the past year and a half — my mind has often thought back to something that came up at the inaugural Movement and Skill Acquisition Ireland conference in Cork IT in April 2018.

England’s build-up to their World Cup semi-final against New Zealand took a theatrical turn yesterday after Eddie Jones claimed that their training session was spied upon.

Irish Examiner rugby writers Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis look back at where it all went wrong for Ireland.

Irish Examiner rugby writers Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis look ahead to the World Cup quarter-final meeting with New Zealand.

“You either go into the history books or I go home to my wife and kids, and everyone's healthy.”

Irish Examiner rugby writers Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis look ahead to the World Cup quarter-finals.

Simon Lewis provides an on-the-whistle report of the main talking points from Ireland's win over Samoa.

Irish Examiner rugby writers Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis on a World Cup weekend in disarray.

Irish Examiner rugby writers Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis try hard to extract the positives from Ireland's scrappy World Cup win over Russia.

Not that Ireland haven’t enough to be getting on with, but there was little evidence in Scotland’s 34-0 defeat of Samoa in Kobe today that Gregor Townsend’s men are ready to rain on Japan’s World Cup parade come their decisive Pool A clash at the World Cup on Sunday October 13th.

Irish Examiner rugby writers Brendan O'Brien and Simon Lewis pick the bones out of Ireland's World Cup meeting with Japan. And we hear from CJ Stander on Ireland's options and stadium humidity.

Simon Lewis reports from Shizuoka

Simon Lewis reports from Yokohama.

Here's a preview of our Rugby World Cup daily newsletter, delivered direct to you mailbox every day at 4pm.

Here's a preview of our Rugby World Cup daily newsletter, delivered direct to you mailbox every day at 4pm.

We’d been warned about the trains. Or, to be more accurate, the stations. People with experience of Japan looked on us with pity, like raw recruits being sent over the top to impending doom. Ominous warnings were sounded and tales told of underground labyrinths teeming with commuters and the odd tourist rooted to the spot in awe and confusion.

The Rugby World Cup is fast approaching, with Ireland set to kick off their campaign against Scotland on Sunday 22 September.

Simon Lewis looks at how Wales and Ireland shape up ahead of their World Cup warm-up.

Simon Lewis Tadhg Beirne’s role as a potential replacement flanker against Italy at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon underlines how this game is just as important for the bench as it is for Ireland’s starters.

Simon Lewis Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler may not have had the outcomes they wanted

Simon Lewis,

Simon Lewis The Munster exit door kept revolving yesterday as exciting young fly-half Bill Johnston left for Ulster in search of more game time and Heineken Cup-winning legend Doug Howlett decided to return to his native New Zealand.

Simon Lewis There is only so much credit you can give the winning team before turning the page and focusing on becoming the better team yourself.

Simon Lewis Munster Rugby has pledged to further investigate an incident at the end of their Champions Cup semi-final at the Ricoh Arena when a supporter appeared to confront Saracens player Billy Vunipola on the field.

In a statement, European Professional Club Rugby said: “EPCR does not condone the entry of a spectator to the field of play.

Simon Lewis Ireland may have collected five points following a 26-16 bonus-point victory over Italy, but the post-match dressing room described by Dave Kilcoyne spoke of a disappointment akin to defeat.

Simon Lewis Dragons coach Bernard Jackman is under no illusions about the size of the task his side face when they welcome Guinness PRO14 champions Leinster to Rodney Parade this evening.

Simon Lewis picks out three players who put their hands up...

Simon Lewis This is why he came home.

Some of the world’s biggest names in Hollywood are currently filming on these shores as a wave of movie and TV productions get underway.

Simon Lewis For the second summer in succession, Pádraig Harrington is returning to the scene of a major championship triumph and just as he did at Birkdale 12 months ago, he will be sure to smell the roses as he makes his way around the famous links at Carnoustie.

Joe Schmidt will start Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony at openside flanker for his 50th Test cap in Saturday’s series-decider against Australia after shuffling his options to deal with injuries.

IRFU performance director David Nucifora has not ruled out a return to the Ireland team for sacked internationals Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, should they return home to play for a province in the future.

Simon Lewis looks at the areas where Ireland improved in the second test against Australia.