This Saturday Dublin hosts its third Heineken Cup final and its first since 2003. Two French teams competed for European rugby’s most coveted trophy that day and ten years later we have a similar scenario. Clermont Auvergne take on Toulon at the Aviva stadium, a first time final appearance for both clubs. Come seven o’clock Saturday evening the Heineken Cup will have a new name etched ... »
Pau took on La Rochelle in the semi-final of Pro D2 league yesterday and after a few early clashes between the two teams, a bizarre four minutes resulted in three red cards. Pau ran out 30-16 winners but it’s not the rugby that grabbed the headlines after this one. »
Leinster enter a crucial two week period when they play a RaboPro12 semi final, the Amlin Challenge Cup final and a possible Pro12 final should they overcome Glasgow. With Joe Schmidt taking over the Irish hot seat, Jonny Sexton upping stakes to Racing Metro, Ica Nacewa calling it a day and doubts still over Brian O’Driscoll’s future, this season defining two weeks marks the end of one... »
As the curtain was drawn on Munster’s season in Parma last Friday night, we take a look back at some of the highs and the lows of Rob Penney’s maiden season in charge of the province. A season that has ultimately ended without a trophy but with plenty of positives in looking ahead to next season. Rabo Pro 12 Unfortunately there weren’t too many positives to be taken from a campai... »
The Lions Squad announcement is nearly upon us, ending months of predicted selections. At 11am tomorrow morning, Warren Gatland will announce his 37 man squad to travel down under to take on the Wallabies. Cian Tracey took a stab at tomorrow at what that squad could look like. Full Backs: Halfpenny, Kearney Leigh Halfpenny looks to have usurped Rob Kearney for the starting full back slot after a b... »
We sent a man to the Aviva last night. These are some thoughts that he came back with. »
On the face of it, given only three players that began the Euro 2012 nightmare also begin tonight’s game against Sweden, you’d be forgiven to think that Giovanni Trapattoni had made some positive changes since June. And he has. But as is usually the case with the 74 year-old Italian, the negatives far out weigh the positives. The defensive selection isn’t too far off what the maj... »
Paul O’Connell continued his return from a back injury when he played his first eighty minutes of rugby since October for his club side Young Munster on Saturday afternoon. The Munster second-row made his comeback in an interpro friendly for Munster A against their Leinster counterparts last Tuesday and continued his recovery in his side’s injury time defeat against Cork Constitution. ... »
Limerick made a welcome return to the Airtricty Premier Division after a nineteen year absence with a scoreless draw with Cork City. Limerick went into the game with six of new manager Stuart Taylor’s signings. With former Cork City player, Joe Gamble and man of the match Dave O’Leary operating in the middle of the park, it was Limerick who had the upper hand throughout. The new player... »
Yes, you read correctly. There’s always one nut. Police are urging Nottinghamshire residents to think before they dial after a football fan, so disgusted with the referee’s decision to send-off a player in last night’s Champions League clash, rang 999. The 18-year-old Manchester United supporter was watching the second-leg tie against Real Madrid from his home in a village near Bingham at ar... »
It says a lot for how tactically astute United were when it took a controversial decision from the referee to tip the balance of the tie in Real Madrid’s favour. A lot was made of Ferguson’s decision not to invest in a central midfielder last summer after his side were largely out played by the top European sides in recent years. For 146 minutes of play against arguably the second best... »
Taken at the 2013 BNP Paribas event in New York, Rafael Nadal first invites Ben Stiller from the crowd to join him in a game of doubles during his game with Juan Martin Del Potro. Del Potro responds by getting a little girl who looks no older than 8 years-old to join him. The game doesn’t go very well for Nadal or Stiller as the young girls’ fore arm smash is unstoppable! »
Life after Johnathan Sexton has began at Leinster as they today announced the signing of New Zealend born fly half, Jimmy Gopperth. Gopperth who currently plays for Championship runaway leaders, Newcastle Falcons has signed on a two-year deal. Leisnter have just released an official statement regarding the announcement. Commenting on the move, Leinster Head Coach Joe Schmidt said: “We are delighte... »
We all knew it was coming. Having to watch Ronan O’Gara’s steady decline over the few couple of months has been difficult to stomach. The fact is, O’Gara should never have been in the Six Nations squad to begin with. O’Gara is an Irish legend in his own right, but the majority of rugby fans knew that this was simply one tournament too far. In many ways, you could argue that... »
