Month: November 2022

IT’S BEEN A frustrating few months for Leinster lock Ross Molony. He last played for his province 12 weeks ago, having suffered with a niggling back injury in recent times – one that looked like clearing up several times only for Molony to be ruled out of games again. Having turned 25 this month, Molony…

“CAN I JUST say, that’s for Dad.” A moment of class from Devin Toner as he accepted his man-of-the-match award from host broadcaster SuperSport after Ireland’s historic 26-20 win over South Africa in Cape Town. The Leinster lock missed out on the Pro12 final after the passing of his father but returned to the pitch with…

THE INJURIES CONTINUE to mount for Ireland during the punishing World Rugby U20 Championship. Dynamic Munster back row John Hodnett (knee) and Ulster centre Stewart Moore (shoulder) are the latest to depart Noel McNamara’s camp in Argentina. Moore, who scored a terrific individual try as Ireland threatened an upset against Australia on Saturday, will be…

WHY THE HELL did Joe Schmidt pick Quinn Roux? What does he do? Those were some of the questions buzzing around Irish rugby circles last week when the Ireland coach named the South African-born lock in his starting XV to face the Springboks. Roux made his Ireland debut last weekend. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO Schmidt pointed…

IRFU CEO PHILIP Browne is among those patiently awaiting word from Joe Schmidt amid intensifying reports linking him with coaching roles in his native New Zealand. The Ireland head coach’s current contract will expire in June 2017 and, after a brief dip, the double Six Nations-winner’s stock rose again this summer after presiding over Ireland’s…

JACK CONAN WILL captain Leinster from number eight in tomorrow’s pre-season friendly against Ulster at Navan RFC [3pm]. The Ireland international is joined by Dan Leavy and Dominic Ryan in a dynamic back row, while Hayden Triggs and Ross Molony link up in the engine room of the pack. Ross Byrne starts at 10. Source:…

CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT of injuries in the Leinster camp at the moment Leo Cullen has received a welcome boost with news that he will have a vastly experienced trio available for selection in the province’s Pro12 opener. Leinster begin their Pro12 campaign on Friday night (7.35) at the RDS against last season’s bottom side, Benetton…

MUNSTER WILL HAVE Ireland internationals Conor Murray and Keith Earls available for Saturday’s visit to the Dragons in the Guinness Pro12, while new signing Jaco Taute is around two weeks away from his debut. Murray and Earls missed the opening two rounds of the Pro12, including Friday night’s 24-23 defeat to Cardiff in Cork, due…

CHARLES PIUTAU HAS already been making quite an impact at Ulster and the statistics certainly back that up. The New Zealander features prominently in two key areas after three rounds of the Guinness Pro12 following his big-money move to Ulster. Piutau has racked up eight offloads in Ulster’s games against Newport Gwent Dragons and the…

Robbie Henshaw was keen to mark National Tree Week 2019 at Leinster training… Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO Superman! Clontarf’s Jack Power and Patrick Thorntan of Terenure in AIL action  Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO Jockey David Simmonson took a break between rides at Leopardstown on Saturday with three-year-old Fia and two-year-old Mark Simmonson Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO The Ireland…