rugby

Sport Top Picks
Jack Crowley during the warm up ahead of the match 16/5/2026
Big blow for Munster as Jack Crowley to miss URC quarter-final
There is some good news for Munster head coach Clayton McMillan with Fineen Wycherley and Alex Nankivell returning to training after missing the win against the Lions

Mon, 25 May, 2026

Ian Flanagan 4/10/2025
Exclusive: Munster CEO rejects badly run claims, warns club rugby is 'fragile'
Ian Flanagan defended cost-cutting measures at Munster, including redundancies saying "the numbers involved are very small, very limited."

Mon, 25 May, 2026

Tommy O'Brien, Jamison Gibson-Park, Harry Byrne during a water break 23/5/2026
Old-school Leinster in real danger of stasis
Cullen has been at the helm for over a decade now. It’s a phenomenally long time for any manager in any sport and a few of the players still on deck were saluting him when he came on board. Others have spent the bones of a career on his watch.

Mon, 25 May, 2026

Noel McNamara celebrates after the match 23/5/2026
Ceiling 'a long, long way away' yet for breathtaking Bordeaux
The French outfit had too much for Leinster in Bilbao on Saturday. 

Mon, 25 May, 2026

Clayton McMillan arrives ahead of the match 16/5/2026
Exclusive: Munster will back McMillan transfer plans but focus is on home talent
Munster CEO Ian Flanagan has been speaking, in-depth, to Simon Lewis. 

Mon, 25 May, 2026

Tommy O'Brien, Jamison Gibson-Park, Harry Byrne during a water break 23/5/2026
S Donal Lenihan: Leinster didn't know what hit them in Bilbao blitz
Overall it proved a thoroughly demoralising weekend of action from an Irish perspective.

Sun, 24 May, 2026

Leinster v Union Bordeaux Bégles - Investec Champions Cup Final
Leinster's Tommy O'Brien learning just how hard it is to win a Champions Cup
Bordeaux-Begles had way too much for the Irish side at the San Mames.

Sun, 24 May, 2026

Joe McCarthy, Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter dejected after the match 23/5/2026
'Not a million miles away' - Cullen's Leinster lament an all-too familiar post-Final verdict
Step away from all the minutiae and it’s hard not to suspect that Leinster are further away from a fifth star now than they have at any point since their fourth was won here in Bilbao in 2018.

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Rieko Ioane dejected after the match 23/5/2026
Leinster Champions Cup Final ratings: Keenan blunder and Ioane found wanting on dark day
Man by man verdicts as Leinster come to terms with being the bridesmaids again after a Bordeaux blitz

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Cameron Woki celebrates with the Champions Cup Trophy and teammates after the match 23/5/2026
Blistering Bordeaux humiliate helpless Leinster to retain Champions Cup 
A fifth losing final since their last tournament win here in the Basque Country in 2018, this will cut Leo Cullen's men deeper than any of the agonisingly tight reversals that preceded it. This was a landslide.

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Ian Flanagan 30/7/2023
S Munster chief Ian Flanagan: 'I'm sorry. This situation won't arise again on my watch'
Exclusive: Munster Rugby's chief executive is speaking for the first time since his organisation was plunged into controversy during the abandoned appointment of Roger Randle

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Damian Penaud capitalises on Jamison Gibson-Park miss handling the ball 23/5/2026
As it happened: Bordeaux Begles brush Leinster aside to go back-to-back in Champions Cup
Can Leo Cullen's side get the job done at the San Mames in Bilbao?

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Munster referees cycle from Virgin Media Park to Thomond for Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland
Munster referees cycle from Virgin Media Park to Thomond for Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland
The cycle may even have highlight the human side of referees but the main objective was to break the €10,000 barrier through their fundraising efforts and they did that in style.

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Leo Cullen 22/5/2026
S Donal Lenihan in Bilbao: Something tells me that Leinster's time has arrived
While they are in the box seat to retain their URC crown next month, finally securing a coveted fifth Champions Cup is the goal driving everything in Leinster right now

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Arthur Vincent scores their ninth try late in the game 22/5/2026
Ulster blown away by dominant Montpellier in Challenge Cup final
Montpellier's victory means that Connacht will play in next season's Champions Cup. 

Fri, 22 May, 2026

Leinster Rugby Captain's Run
Three key battles as Leinster take on Union Bordeaux Bègles in the Champions Cup final
The sides face off in the San Mames on Saturday afternoon.

Fri, 22 May, 2026

Leinster Rugby Captain's Run
Leinster look to end Champions Cup drought beneath familiar Basque sun
Leo Cullen spoke passionately on Friday about a tournament that has unspooled to a point where he was sitting in the bowels of the magnificent San Mames stadium ahead of his province’s latest attempt at bagging a fifth title.

Fri, 22 May, 2026

Ian Flanagan 4/10/2025
Exclusive: Munster Rugby chief apologises over failed Roger Randle coaching appointment
Munster Rugby says it aims to rebuild trust after criticism surrounding its handling of a senior coaching recruitment process

Fri, 22 May, 2026

Union Bordeaux Begles Captain's Run
'A great leader': Clare man Noel McNamara plotting Leinster downfall
Noel McNamara knows the Leinster players well. Now he's plotting how Bordeaux-Begles can defeat the Irish side in the Champions Cup final

Fri, 22 May, 2026

Leinster Rugby Captain's Run
Leinster will need their best to beat Bordeaux in Bilbao says Leo Cullen as team named for final
The sides face off in the San Mames on Saturday afternoon. 

Fri, 22 May, 2026

Michael Lowry walks past the European Rugby Challenge Cup trophy 21/5/2026
Challenge Cup final: Ulster Rugby ready to step into spotlight against Montpellier
It’s 20 years since the northern province won silverware. That was a Celtic League title that feels very much like 'old money' at this stage

Thu, 21 May, 2026

Robert Baloucoune leaves the field 14/3/2026
Baloucoune to make first Ulster start since Six Nations in Bilbao final
Baloucoune picked up an injury in Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations Triple Crown clinching test against Scotland in March.

Thu, 21 May, 2026

Garry Ringrose 18/5/2026
Garry Ringrose's case for the defence crucial when Leinster face Bordeaux's best
Saturday’s Champions Cup final opponents are always one to catch the eye.

Thu, 21 May, 2026

Stuart McCloskey is presented with the Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort Moment of the Year award on behalf of the Ireland's Tripl
Stuart McCloskey and Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald claim top prizes at rugby awards
For both winners, the recognition they received from the representative body for Ireland’s professional rugby players marked the completion of their individual career journeys.

Wed, 20 May, 2026

Max Clein 1/5/2026
Hooker Max Clein promoted to Munster senior squad on one-year deal
The converted back row won his first Munster cap against an Argentina XV in November

Wed, 20 May, 2026

Peter O'Mahony celebrates after the game 23/9/2023
Dial 10 for advice: O'Mahony on setting up Crowley call to legend Sexton
The young Munster out-half was the first pretender to ask for the Leinster talisman's advice, he said.

Wed, 20 May, 2026

Billy Vunipola 11/4/2026
Billy Vunipola: Ulster have nothing to lose and everything to gain in Challenge Cup final
"For us when we look at Ulster, we see a team that's very well organised, but can also play in the chaos," said Vunipola, whose Montpellier side play Ulster in Friday's Challenge Cup final

Wed, 20 May, 2026

Leinster Rugby Squad Training
Leinster will look to mix of the old and the 'new' in bid to change Champions Cup script
Saturday in Bilbao will be their fourth stab at a decider in just five years.

Tue, 19 May, 2026

Clayton McMillan during the warm up ahead of the match 16/5/2026
Munster to host Glasgow Warriors in opener as next season's URC fixture list announced
Leinster are set to host Munster in Dublin on Saturday, October 24 with the return fixture taking place on Sunday, December 27 in Limerick.

Tue, 19 May, 2026

Leinster Rugby Squad Training
Leinster urged to 'live in the moment' as they return to final action in Bilbao
The Champions Cup final between Leinster and Bordeaux will be the first meeting of the two teams. If ‘UBB’ bring something unique to the table this time then Leinster’s past experiences against big French clubs with lightning backs and behemoth packs will surely stand to them.

Tue, 19 May, 2026

Ulster v Glasgow Warriors - United Rugby Championship
Richie Murphy: Ulster have 'unfinished business' in Challenge Cup final
Rob Baloucoune could offer Ulster a timely boost ahead of Friday's Challenge Cup final against Montpellier in Bilbao

Mon, 18 May, 2026

TOPSHOT-RUGBYU-FRA-TOP14-LA ROCHELLE-BORDEAUX
After season from hell, finally Ronan O'Gara and La Rochelle control their own playoff destiny
Seven wins from their last eight have catapulted Stade Rochelais back into the play off mix. Meanwhile, Bordeaux Begles have Louis Bielle-Biarrey concerns ahead of Champions Cup final against Leinster

Mon, 18 May, 2026

RUGBYU-FRA-TOP14-LA ROCHELLE-TOULOUSE
Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle keep Top 14 play-off dream alive with Toulouse rout
La Rochelle defeated Toulouse 38-10 to close the gap on the play-off places

Mon, 18 May, 2026

Ireland v Scotland - Women's 6 Nations Rugby Championship
'There's only more to come' - Ireland Women's rugby road to redemption continues through the Aviva
That 31,294 raised the Aviva Stadium roof on Sunday afternoon because their team delivered in their first standalone game at the Dublin venue is a testament to the steep trajectory Ireland have taken under head coach Scott Bemand

Mon, 18 May, 2026

Erin King celebrates after the match 17/5/2026
'I think we're going to be back here next year' - Erin King confident of Aviva return
Ireland blew Scotland away 54-5 in front of a home record 31,294 to secure third place in the final standings after claiming three victories in the championship for the first time since 2020.

Mon, 18 May, 2026

Jack Crowley during the warm up ahead of the match 16/5/2026
McMillan hedging bets on Bulls return for Crowley and Beirne
Ireland fly-half Crowley was pulled from the starting line-up to face the Lions four minutes before kick-off i

Mon, 18 May, 2026

Doddie Weir Launches the Ireland v England Rugby Legends Match
Scotland rugby great Scott Hastings dies, aged 61
Hastings announced in 2022 that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Sun, 17 May, 2026

Erin King celebrates with her niece after the match 17/5/2026
'This is just the beginning' - Erin King delighted as Ireland end Women's Six Nations campaign in style
Ireland recorded three wins in the Six Nations for the first year since 2020 to claim third place behind world champions England and France.

Sun, 17 May, 2026

Aoife Wafer runs in a try 17/5/2026
Ireland women hit Scotland for 54 on historic day
Ireland recorded their third win of the championship following victories over Italy and Wales

Sun, 17 May, 2026

Clayton McMillan during the warm up ahead of the match 16/5/2026
'Relief more than anything' - Clayton McMillan sums up mood after Munster save season
Securing Champions Cup rugby for next season was just as important for McMillan.

Sun, 17 May, 2026

RUGBYU-FRA-TOP14-RACING92-LA ROCHELLE
Ronan O’Gara retains double-playmaker option for La Rochelle’s must win clash with Toulouse
Elsewhere, Jules Favre replaces Dillyn Leyds, whose season was ended by injury last weekend, Levani Botia comes in for the unfortunate Matthias Haddad-Victor, while Reda Wardi and Joel Sclavi prop Talu Latu in the front row.

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Sean O'Brien celebrates a try that was later disallowed with Brian Gleeson 16/5/2026
Munster edge Lions but now head to Pretoria to face Bulls in URC play offs
As Thomond Park saluted veteran front-rowers Niall Scannell and John Ryan on their final home appearances, Munster’s nervy win was enough to extend their goodbyes for at least another two weeks

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Joe McCarthy runs in his side's seventh try 16/5/2026
Leinster bag home route to final as McCarthy grabs Aviva hat-trick
The Champions Cup finalists went over for ten tries in facile victory over Ospreys

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Clayton McMillan 12/5/2026
Clayton McMillan: Just making URC play-offs would not satisfy Munster
Munster need a victory over the Lions at Thomond Park to finally secure a spot in both the play-offs and next term’s Champions Cup

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Niall Scannell 12/5/2026
'We could do without some of the drama' but Niall Scannell just focussed on winning end to Munster career
Scannell, 34, will leave the province in the grips of drama on and off the field.

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Tom Stewart dejected after the game 15/5/2026
Ulster face anxious play-offs wait after defeat to Glasgow
Ulster will be sweating on how Munster do against the Lions on Saturday

Fri, 15 May, 2026