Person: Will Skelton

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

RUGBY RETURNS: Asafo Aumua and Reed Prinsep take part in a drill during a Hurricanes Super Rugby training session at Rugby League Park in Wellington, New Zealand. The global game, says Donal Lenihan, will suffer irreparable damage if the Wallabies and the All Blacks find it impossible to keep their best players at home and become a diluted force on the international stage, something that has already happened to Australia. Picture: Hagen Hopkins

columnists

Donal Lenihan: Around the world, rugby was never in greater need of progressive people

With no rugby action for the foreseeable future, I’m about to park my pen for the summer. With the professional game facing its biggest financial crisis since the decision to go open in August 1995, one wonders what the landscape will look like when I return to these pages in September.

other

Donal Lenihan: Saracens may break up squad, but players’ mettle is beyond question

other

Peter Jackson: Leinster will be more wary than usual

rugby

Jumping Jack has rediscovered his spring

rugby

Peter O’Mahony touches down as Munster see off Sarries

rugby

Sarries’ woes offer golden chance to Munster

Cullen entitled to fire shots of his own

There will be a strange dynamic surrounding Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 semi-final between Leinster and Munster at the RDS. It’s been a difficult ten days for both Irish provinces but for different reasons.

Wed, 15 May, 2019

Player Ratings: Leinster V Saracens

Steffan Thomas rates the players of both sides of the Heinken Champions Cup final.

Sat, 11 May, 2019

Cullen: Leinster selection process far from easy

Leinster boss Leo Cullen named an unchanged starting line-up from the semi-final win over Toulouse for Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup final showdown with Saracens but insisted it was a far from straightforward selection process.

Fri, 10 May, 2019

Leinster name unchanged side to face Saracens

A fifth win for Leinster tomorrow will make them the most successful side in the history of the competition.

Fri, 10 May, 2019

Tyler Bleyendaal's refusal to throw in towel will stand to him now

Donal Lenihan runs the rule over the Heineken Cup semi-finalists

Fri, 19 Apr, 2019

'Terminator' Brad Barritt is back in time for Leinster showdown

IT is with good reason that Saracens winger Sean Maitland has started calling his captain Brad Barritt ‘The Terminator’.

Thu, 29 Mar, 2018

Owen Farrell in race for fitness ahead of Leinster quarter-final

Owen Farrell will be given until Friday to prove his fitness for Saracens' Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster but Billy Vunipola has been ruled out of the trip to Dublin.

Wed, 28 Mar, 2018

Late penalty gives Clermont win over Saracens

A late penalty from full-back Scott Spedding made it back-to-back victories for Clermont over Saracens in the Champions Cup.

Sun, 17 Dec, 2017

Billy Vunipola to miss first month of Saracens' season with injury

Saracens back-rower Billy Vunipola could miss the first month of the Aviva Premiership season in England as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery.

Mon, 21 Aug, 2017

5 forwards to keep an eye on at the RWC

Steve Neville looks at 5 forwards who could make a difference to their sides at the RWC

Wed, 16 Sep, 2015

Richie McCaw warns All Blacks must up their game

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has declared there can be no excuses for his side in this morning’s Rugby Championship decider against Australia and warns they’re in for a tough game if they don’t improve.

Sat, 08 Aug, 2015

Wallabies lose to England

England held their nerve in the face of a second-half fightback by Australia to end a frustrating autumn with a vital 26-17 victory at Twickenham.

Sat, 29 Nov, 2014

Don’t expect any more McCaw gifts

The Scots went to some trouble to make Richie McCaw feel at home at Murrayfield, unearthing evidence placing his ancestors from the same county as Robbie Burns, Bill Shankly and Robert the Bruce.

Mon, 17 Nov, 2014

Australia make it three from three against France

Australia wrapped up a series whitewash over France with a comprehensive 39-13 victory in the third and final Test at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Sat, 21 Jun, 2014

O’Connell ready to hit Test intensity

New Waratahs 17 British and Irish lions 47

Mon, 17 Jun, 2013