FELIPE CONTEPOMI TODAY moved to back up comments made by Leo Cullen over the weekend as Leinster insist Johnny Sexton was not dropped for Saturday’s Pro14 semi-final win over Munster. The Leinster head coach expressed his frustration at what he perceived to be ‘nasty’ headlines suggesting Sexton had been left out of the province’s starting […]
YOU FEEL LIKE you’re opening yourself like a flower. You’re becoming you and you’re allowed to. Gay or straight, it doesn’t make a difference. Everyone’s on the same team playing rugby. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Emerald Warriors players Richie Fagan, John Noone and Oran Sweeney. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO Listening to three of the […]
TWO-TIME EUROPEAN Cup winners Leicester Tigers this morning announced their intention to sell the club, with a price of £60 million reportedly tagged to the club. The English midlands club say the move comes after a full strategic review with ‘plans to reclaim (their) status as a dominant force in English and European rugby’. The […]
FORMER ULSTER SCRUM-HALF Ruan Pienaar is in line for a return to Kingspan Stadium next season after signing a two-year contract with Guinness Pro14 outfit the Cheetahs. The 35-year-old has joined the South African side ahead of the 2019/20 season after a two-year spell in France with Montpellier. Pienaar will be back playing in the […]
STAR ALL BLACKS centre Sonny Bill Williams has bristled at suggestions he is under pressure to make New Zealand’s World Cup squad after being told to sit out next week’s Test against Australia. The 33-year-old has endured an injury-plagued Super Rugby season as rivals for a midfield spot have flourished, raising doubts about whether he […]
FINLAY BEALHAM AND Ultan Dillane will have little time to dwell on the disappointment of being cut from Ireland’s World Cup training squad, as the pair travel to France as part of Connacht’s pre-season preparations. Bealham was yesterday confirmed as one of three players to be dropped from Joe Schmidt’s plans, while second row Dillane […]
BELIEF, TRUST and outright stubbornness. These are the fundamentals on which Connacht’s astounding Guinness Pro12 grand final victory were built on. The accepted logic in across all team sports is that you can’t just breeze into a final as an underdog and look comfortable. Every once in a while the less fancied side might sneak […]
Chris Jericho has purchased a new home in Tampa, Florida for just over $3 million. The Tampa Bey Business Journal reports that Jericho bought a 8,569 square foot home that was built in 1998 for $3.255 million. The home has six acres of land, five bedrooms, six full bathroom, and three half baths. The sale […]
“He’s certainly done that, taken the jersey and he’s reluctant to let go of it.” A centre by trade, O’Loughlin has been making his name on Leinster’s wing of late. His debut and run of 11 appearances so far this campaign are thanks to some excellent summer form that forced him into Cullen’s thoughts. “He’s […]
RACING 92 COACHES Laurent Travers and Laurent Labit certainly aren’t afraid to delegate or share power. ‘Les deux Laurents’ made their name as a duo in charge of Castres before taking their double act to Racing in 2013. With their Champions Cup hopes for this season long extinguished, they could have gone through the motions […]