Person: Zane Kirchner

Leinster coach Lancaster says Wasps are better than last year

Stuart Lancaster is emphatic when he declares that the Wasps team facing Leinster in Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final are a better outfit than the one that hit the province for 84 points and nine tries last season.

Tue, 28 Mar, 2017

Blow for Leinster as Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip out for Wasps clash

Leinster v Cardiff Blues: Leo Cullen must plan without Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip for next week’s Champions Cup quarter-final against Wasps, after the pair underwent surgery last week.

Sat, 25 Mar, 2017

Joey Carbery to make first start at full-back for Leinster

Joey Carbery will make his first start at full-back for Leinster in their Guinness PRO12 visit to Dragons tonight.

Fri, 24 Feb, 2017

Joey Carbery marks return with two tries as Leinster secure bonus point

Leinster 39 - Edinburgh 10: Joey Carbery crowned his first start since December with a couple of tries but that bit of good news for Joe Schmidt was offset by a shoulder injury to Josh van der Flier early in the game.

Sat, 18 Feb, 2017

Eight changes for Leinster, Carbery makes first start since December injury

Leo Cullen has made eight changes for Leinster's Pro12 clash with Edinburgh tomorrow evening in the RDS.

Thu, 16 Feb, 2017

Erasmus clears air on Jaco Taute deal

Rassie Erasmus yesterday insisted a six month extension of Jaco Taute’s contract has still not been agreed between Munster, the IRFU and Western Province. The deal must be struck by midnight on Saturday, but it looks a near certainty to be completed.

Sun, 01 Jan, 2017

Christmas bonus for record crowd as Munster see off Leinster in style

Munster 29, Leinster 17: Munster laid down a marker over their Guinness Pro12 title rivals as they saw off old enemies Leinster in style at Thomond Park.

Tue, 27 Dec, 2016

Both camps can take positives from Thomond Park duel

Except for the very few Leinster supporters who made the long journey to Limerick, the record 26,200 crowd enjoyed their time at Thomond Park last night. It was a truly stirring encounter from the kick-off with Munster initially and then Leinster enjoying periods of supremacy.

Tue, 27 Dec, 2016

Dylan Hartley's six-week ban ‘about right’ says Leo Cullen

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has described the six-week ban handed down to Dylan Hartley this week as “about right”.

Sat, 17 Dec, 2016

Joey Carbery a joy to watch, says boss Cullen

No Johnny Sexton. But no panic either.

Fri, 09 Dec, 2016

Peter O’Mahony makes grand entrance

As if biggest game of the weekend needed any further spice, Munster head into the Aviva Stadium cauldron to face their fiercest rivals with the abrasive presence of captain Peter O’Mahony.

Sat, 08 Oct, 2016

Ruan Pienaar hopes IRFU ruling won’t deter other foreigners

Ruan Pienaar hopes his treatment by the IRFU won’t put off other foreign imports from moving to Ireland to play rugby.

Fri, 07 Oct, 2016

Catch-up with what you've missed with our morning briefing

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Wed, 28 Sep, 2016

Zane Kirchner: Leaving Ulster will break Ruan Pienaar’s heart

Leinster’s South African star Zane Kirchner says Ruan Pienaar has been left “heartbroken” by the IRFU decision to block Ulster’s plans to re-sign the star.

Wed, 28 Sep, 2016

Leinster keen to make amends for miserable run in Scotland

Edinburgh isn’t exactly the scene of last week’s crime but it should be close enough to concentrate minds as Leinster seek to atone for the manner in which they coughed up a winning lead down the M8 in Glasgow last time out.

Fri, 16 Sep, 2016

Glasgow Warriors v Leinster - Guinness PRO12 Round 2

Harsh lessons for Leinster in shock defeat

Glasgow Warriors 33 Leinster 25: Leinster return to Scotland to face Edinburgh on Friday night bidding to erase the memories of Saturday’s shock defeat to Glasgow.

Mon, 12 Sep, 2016

Leinster beaten by four tries from Glasgow's Tommy Seymour

Winger Tommy Seymour ran in four tries for Glasgow in a 33-25 victory over Leinster on Scotstoun's new artificial pitch.

Sat, 10 Sep, 2016

Resurgent Rob Kearney ‘like a new player’ to Leinster

Girvan Dempsey believes Rob Kearney is poised to return to something like the form of old now that the Leinster and Ireland full-back finally appears to have put a prolonged period of injury frustration behind him.

Fri, 02 Sep, 2016

Leo Cullen wary of Glasgow Warriors threat

Leinster coach Leo Cullen has made eight changes for tonight’s Guinness Pro 12 fixtures against Glasgow Warriors (Scotstoun Stadium, 7.35pm).

Fri, 18 Mar, 2016

Leinster earn bonus point with Dan Leavy try

Zebre 10 Leinster 27: Dan Leavy scored the bonus-point-clinching try two minutes from time as Leinster closed the gap on Guinness Pro12 leaders Connacht to a point with a 27-10 win over Zebre.

Mon, 29 Feb, 2016

Leinster ring the changes for Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade

With more than 30 players missing through international duty and injury, Leinster have made 12 changes to their starting line-up for tonight’s Guinness Pro12 encounter with Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade (7.05pm).

Fri, 29 Jan, 2016

Leo Cullen makes 12 changes to Leinster team for Dragons encounter

With most of the province’s established stars in the Ireland camp preparing for the Six Nations, a number of younger players are being given a chance to shine in tomorrow’s PRO12 game.

Thu, 28 Jan, 2016

Wasps v Leinster - European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 5 Round 6

Johnny Sexton in race to be fit for Six Nations opener with Wales

Wasps 51 Leinster 10: Johnny Sexton’s claim he and Leinster had turned a corner ahead of this clash with Wasps came back to haunt him in the most cruel of fashions.

Mon, 25 Jan, 2016

Leinster v Bath - European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 5 Round 5

Leinster rookies revel in Bath European baptism

Leinster 25 Bath 11: It’s not meant to be this easy. Not with kids.

Mon, 18 Jan, 2016

Leinster’s Garry Ringrose ‘one for the future’, says Zane Kirchner

Leinster’s South African international Zane Kirchner has heaped praise on the province’s young star, Garry Ringrose.

Wed, 06 Jan, 2016

Garry Ringrose set for Leinster centre stage against Connacht

Following a five-day turnaround from their morale-boosting Guinness Pro12 victory over Munster at Thomond Park, head coach Leo Cullen has made wholesale changes to his starting line-up for Leinster’s latest interprovincial clash with Connacht at the RDS this evening (5pm kick-off).

Fri, 01 Jan, 2016

Munster v Leinster - Guinness PRO12 Round 10

Another night of the blues for ragged Munster

Munster 7 Leinster 24: No booing, not even an ironic cheer, just a quiet, frustrated resignation from Thomond Park regulars that things are getting worse rather than better for Munster.

Mon, 28 Dec, 2015

Leinster grind out spoils in dour derby

Leinster 8 Ulster 3: Not exactly the kind of evening to restore one’s faith in Irish provincial rugby.

Sat, 28 Nov, 2015

Irish provinces digging in to keep up with deep European pockets

QUITE how Ireland’s World Cup hangover will be reflected in the upcoming rounds of the Champions Cup remains to be seen.

Wed, 11 Nov, 2015

Cullen utilises squad against Scarlets

Change is the order of the day for Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, who has chosen a completely new starting line-up for his side’s latest Guinness Pro12 encounter against Scarlets at the RDS this evening.

Fri, 06 Nov, 2015

Cullen utilises squad against Scarlets

Change is the order of the day for Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, who has chosen a completely new starting line-up for his side’s latest Guinness Pro12 encounter against Scarlets at the RDS this evening.

Fri, 06 Nov, 2015

Leo Cullen rings the changes for Warriors clash

Ahead of the visit of Pro12 champions Glasgow Warriors to the RDS tonight, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made seven changes to the side that suffered a 25-14 reversal away to Scarlets last week.

Fri, 23 Oct, 2015

Depleted Leinster can still call on experienced squad for Edinburgh

Despite being short 17 players following World Cup squad announcements, Leo Cullen is able to call on plenty of experience for his opening Guinness Pro12 encounter as head coach of Leinster against Edinburgh in Meggetland tonight (7.35pm).

Fri, 04 Sep, 2015

Scottish Rugby Union shows faith in Vern Cotter ahead of RWC as coach gets contract until 2017

Vern Cotter has extended his Scotland contract until 2017 in a major show of faith from the Scottish Rugby Union ahead of the World Cup.

Thu, 13 Aug, 2015

VIDEO: Defeat leaves Schmidt much to ponder ahead of World Cup

Irish coach Joe Schmidt insisted during the week that places in the World Cup squad were still up for grabs. After yet another defeat to the Barbarians at Thomond Park last night, he will go home for another re-think after a performance he described as “a bit inaccurate.”

Fri, 29 May, 2015

Shane Jennings leads Barbarians into battle

The retiring Shane Jennings is set to go out on a high when captaining the Barbarians against Ireland at Thomond Park tomorrow night.

Wed, 27 May, 2015

Leinster kill off Edinburgh’s European hopes

Edinburgh 23 Leinster 36

Mon, 18 May, 2015

Ulster bring curtain down on Leinster ambitions

Guinness Pro12

Sat, 25 Apr, 2015

Kingspan showdown a game-changer Guinness PRO12

An enormous game for both teams. So said Tommy Bowe earlier this week of tonight’s Guinness PRO12 meeting in Belfast between Ulster and Leinster.

Fri, 24 Apr, 2015

Why overburdened Leinster need helping hand from IRFU

Leinster will be burdened by massive regrets this week as they somehow attempt to patch themselves up for an unforgiving five-day turnaround with the season-defining outing against Ulster in Belfast on Friday night.

Wed, 22 Apr, 2015

Proud in defeat but Leinster fans fear for the future

Leinster salvaged real pride despite losing after extra time at the Velodrome in Marseille yesterday. 

Mon, 20 Apr, 2015

Leinster opt to keep star men under wraps

With their European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon just eight days away, Leinster coach Matt O’Connor has opted to wrap his star players in cotton wool for the province’s Guinness Pro12 encounter with Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade tomorrow.

Sat, 11 Apr, 2015

Leinster star Jack McGrath happy to be back in blue

Over the past two seasons, Leinster prop Jack McGrath had made a rapid progression on both club and international stages.

Fri, 10 Apr, 2015

Matt O’Connor: Leinster still a major force

Leinster 18 Bath 15: Hardly the sort of performance to put the fear of God into the other three remaining Rugby Champions Cup semi-finalists, but Leinster coach Matt O’Connor insists his side are still a difficult nut to crack.

Mon, 06 Apr, 2015