Murray Kinsella reports from Chicago IRELAND FLY HOME from the Windy City in two groups today and there are likely to be mixed feelings about the past week en route to Dublin. For some – Jordan Larmour, take a bow – it was a brilliant experience but others struggled to stand out as they were […]
IRELAND DEFENCE COACH Andy Farrell refused to be drawn on comments from IRFU chief executive Philip Browne suggesting he would be ‘more than capable’ of succeeding Joe Schmidt. The Kiwi will announce if he’ll sign a new contract with the IRFU beyond next year’s World Cup at the end of the current November series, with […]
IT WAS TADHG Furlong’s birthday yesterday and although he had a quiet day at home, he was hoping for a little surprise when he got back to Ireland’s team hotel last night. Wednesdays are down days for Ireland during these big Test windows, meaning players can head home on a Tuesday night and get some […]
MANU TUILAGI MOVED closer to a long-awaited Test comeback after being named on the bench for England’s concluding November international at Twickenham against Australia. Also among the replacements was England co-captain Dylan Hartley — the first time the hooker has been left out of the starting XV by England coach Eddie Jones when available against […]
CONOR MURRAY IS set to make his long-awaited return after being named on the bench for Munster’s trip to Zebre this Sunday [KO 3.30pm, eir Sport]. The Ireland scrum-half hasn’t featured at all for province or country since the tour of Australia this summer, citing a neck injury for keeping him on the sidelines. Click […]
WHEN CONNACHT DEFENCE coach Peter Wilkins is speaking about his area of expertise, he continually comes back to the “behavioural” element of it. Wilkins, an Englishman who broke into top-level coaching in Australia and came to Connacht via a two-year stint with Edinburgh, is passionate about his craft and the western province have been benefitting […]
Updated Dec 4th 2018, 9:12 AM ROB KEARNEY SAYS he will continue to play rugby beyond next year’s World Cup, but faces a decision over whether to remain at Leinster or seek a move elsewhere for the final years of his career. The 32-year-old is out of contract with the IRFU in November 2019 and […]
MICHAEL CHEIKA WILL survive the axe as Wallabies coach but his powers will be curtailed with Scott Johnson appointed as director of rugby above him, according to a report in the Australian media. Cheika has faced a mounting backlash from dismayed fans and former players after winning just four of Australia’s 13 Tests this year. […]
John Fallon reports from Perpignan PADDY JACKSON HAS confirmed he is in talks with a number of clubs about a possible move away from Perpignan if, as expected, the Catalan club is relegated from the Top 14 at the end of the season. Jackson confirmed that he has a release clause in his two-year contract […]
SOUTH AFRICA SCRUM-HALF Faf de Klerk has signed a new deal with Sale Sharks until 2023. The Springboks pivot has been outstanding since joining the Premiership club at the start of last season. De Klerk was shortlisted for the World Player of the Year in November after some exceptional performances for his country following his […]