Sponsored by Tonybet Test your footballing knowledge, and don’t be afraid to spread the word if you score well. Our latest, testing football quiz has a lovely mix of questions sprinkled across time, space, trophy cabinets, record books and pitches. All the very best with the quiz. Remember to let us know how you fared. Try […]

1 year ago

“It’s pretty funny. Bit of craic out of the lads, Mack and Jacob, about it.” Over the past four years, Jamison Gibson-Park has ascended and ascended, yet he remains the same, laid-back guy that arrived in Dublin, in 2016. He is arguably second to only Antoine Dupont when it comes to ranking the world’s best […]

1 year ago

“We were a bit thin on the deck, there, with injuries.” For the second season running, Munster have been given a shot in the arm by getting well clear of Ireland and enjoying some time together in the South African sun. There are outstanding issues, such as a long-term Jean Kleyn injury, but business is […]

1 year ago

Eileen Gleeson will be delighted to have more players mixing it in the English top flight. This Sunday, Crystal Palace face Sunderland in the Women’s Championship (WSL 2) having all but clinched promotion to the Women’s Super League with a game to spare. Three Ireland internationals have helped Palace on their way, with Hayley Nolan […]

1 year ago

We have a new number one. When we first sat down, back in March 2021, to compile our Top 20 of most the important rugby players in Irish rugby, Johnny Sexton was top dog. Following the World Cup, and the retirement of Sexton, we had a new player atop the standings. The idea was simple – to […]

1 year ago

Some bark left in these dogs, yet. Munster head coach Graham Rowntree may soon start lobbying for more of their games to be played in South Africa. Conor Murray grabbed a late try in the right-hand corner to down the Bulls, on Saturday, and give some oomph to Munster’s title retention push. A virus that […]

1 year ago

“Fair play – letting their girlfriends do the fighting for them!” You can see with Mack Hansen that he sometimes pauses a slight beat before deciding, ‘F**k it, I’ll say what I’m thinking’. For rugby reporters, and for many Irish fans served up with ‘Ah, sure, look’ and ‘next game focus’ fare, over the years, […]

1 year ago

The Clifford brothers may be following Down’s Charlie Smyth to the NFL, if they’re not careful! The fear regarding David Clifford, whenever he burst onto the wider GAA scene as a star of the Kerry minors, was that an Aussie Rules side might come to lure him Down Under. Judging by a latest skills challenge […]

1 year ago

16 is the score to beat in this week’s Friday sports pub quiz. Welcome to the SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz. There are 20 questions and four different categories. This week there is a round looking back on the past week in sport, a round on FA Cup records, one on famous semi-finals, a rugby round and a general knowledge round, […]

1 year ago

When the end came, for La Rochelle, it was prolonged and brutal. The past four seasons have seen Stade Rochelais, with Ronan O’Gara to the fore, turn a lot of good and great teams over. An ambitious and growing, but not storied, team from the West of France embarked on a mission to bring silverware […]

1 year ago

“We’ve got the likes of Dan Carter here, this weekend, which is raising the stakes of beauty a little bit higher!” It is dreary in Ireland as we connect for a Friday Zoom with Springboks legend Bryan Habana, but he brings the Hong Kong sun, and a heap of good vibes with him. The last […]

1 year ago

“This young lad tells me he wants to be the next Marcus Rashford.” I thought my son had settled on Kylian Mbappè, closely followed by Cristiano Ronaldo, but it took Stephen Bradley to find out the truth. As he waited for Aaron Greene to wrap up his chat with some hard-working reporters, the Shamrock Rovers […]

1 year ago

“The Irish bloody love it!” Ronan O’Gara has flown in with his entire La Rochelle playing squad and backroom staff for a week of preparations on Irish soil, ahead of this Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter final against Leinster. O’Gara and La Rochelle hold a 3-1 advantage over Leinster, in their meetings over the past four […]

1 year ago

“Look, people get sick. That’s part of life.” Munster captain Tadhg Beirne was not in great shape as he coughed and wheezed through a post-match press briefing, underneath the stand at Franklin’s Gardens. He was certainly under the weather, but not keen to use illness as an excuse on a disappointing day for the province. […]

1 year ago

It’s their second points deduction this season Everton have been handed a second points deduction by the Premier League for breaching profit and sustainability rules. The Athletic reports that an independent commission have been docked the Toffees another two points for breaches relating to the three-year accounting period ending in the 2022-23 season. The second penalty drops […]

1 year ago

NORTHAMPTON 24-14 MUNSTER Peter O’Mahony may have played his last European Cup game for Munster as his side were knocked out of the Champions Cup at the Last 16 stage. The Ireland captain is mulling over his playing future and has still not signed a new contract for next season. He left the pitch midway […]

1 year ago

“We’re not going to let you do the great teammates thing!” Craig Doyle was wide to Jamison Gibson-Park as he sought to play down a 17-minute hat-trick against Leicester Tigers by name-checking the lads that teed him up for each of his scores. The Leinster scrumhalf was key for his side’s 36-22 victory against a […]

1 year ago

LEINSTER 36-22 LEICESTER Leicester Tigers came flying out of the gates, at Aviva Stadium, but Jamison Gibson-Park, Dan Sheehan and Joe McCarthy had some swift, painful responses for them. Handré Pollard crashed over for a try after only five minutes of play, in Dublin. Ross Byrne responded with a penalty but Leinster were far from […]

1 year ago

STORMERS 21-22 LA ROCHELLE Ronan O’Gara made a point of seeking out Springbok star Mannie Libbok after his La Rochelle side survived a wild finish in Cape Town. Stormers, the 2022 URC champions, went into a 16-0 lead against the reigning, back-to-back Champions Cup title-holders. Injuries plagued them throughout, however, and the French side rallied […]

1 year ago

Some serious rejigging to be done. Munster have been pressed into three late changes ahead of their Last 16 clash against Northampton Saints, in the Champions Cup. Graham Rowntree was already processing the fact that prop John Ryan would miss out on Sunday’s game away to Northampton Saints (12.30pm, live on TNT Sports & ITV). […]

1 year ago

Sponsored by Tonybet Test your footballing knowledge ahead of another huge week of action and undoubted drama. Our latest, tricky football quiz will leave you with a sense of achievement and with something to boast about… if you hold your nerve! All the very best with the quiz. Do remember to let us know how […]

1 year ago

A Munster and Ireland legend is not letting him lose sight of his Test dreams. Gavin Coombes missed out on the 2024 Six Nations, and the title-winning celebrations that ensued, but is hoping another strong finish to a Munster season can give him a chance of touring South Africa. The 26-year-old made his two Test […]

1 year ago

“I have a serious issue with it.” Back in February, Jarlath Burns was voted in as Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael (President of the GAA) during the Annual Congress, at Croke Park. The Armagh native has been a popular figure in the game for a number of years and, at his second run at the presidency […]

1 year ago

“That didn’t happen.” Rio Ferdinand and David Moyes did not exactly see eye-to-eye during the Scots’ short tenure as manager of Manchester United. On the latest Stick To Football, though, the former United and England defender went out of his way to try settle some myths and a couple of “white lies” about Moyes’ time […]

1 year ago

The summer shopping lists are being put together. In the past few days, Manchester United have been linked with Jarrad Branthwaite, Baylee Dipepa, Aaron Anselmino and Mikayil Faye. All decent prospects but no house-hold names. You can now add Wolves defender Max Kilman to the list. It has been reported by The Times that United […]

1 year ago

The Washington native played 10 seasons in the NFL. Vontae Davis, a former NFL star and two-time Pro Bowl player, has died in Florida, aged just 35. The former Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills cornerback was found unresponsive by his personal assistant in his Florida home. No cause of death has yet been announced. […]

1 year ago

The show goes on for Conor Murray. Munster has announced a one-year contract extension for scrumhalf Conor Murray, keeping him with the province until the end of the 2024/25 season, at least. The reigning United Rugby Championship title-holders confirmed contract extensions for three squad players, this afternoon (April 3). A statement from Munster reads: ‘Munster […]

1 year ago

This is now crisis mode for Manchester United and their patched-together defence. United have conceded the most amount of shots, from all Premier League clubs, since the turn of the year. Defensive matters are set to continue on shaky ground, though, as Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelöf have both been ruled out of action ‘for […]

1 year ago

“Their memory disappears quickly.” Pep Guardiola has launched a passionate defence of Erling Haaland, and fired a broadside at former players like Roy Keane making disparaging remarks about current stars. Keane has professed, on numerous occasions in the past, to be a big fan of Haaland, saying he loves watching him play. The former Manchester […]

1 year ago

The INEOS era starting to take effect at Old Trafford. Man United have already brought in Omar Berrada from Manchester City, have Dan Ashworth (former Newcastle United) lined up for a big role and have irked Southampton by circling around director of football Jason Wilcox. Jim Ratcliffe, David Brailsford and the INEOS group are making […]

1 year ago

“I got a little bit of a nasty one.” James Lowe has spoken about a foot injury he played on with during the 2023 World Cup, and which saw him miss three months of action, following the tournament. The Leinster winger only featured in one of Ireland’s World Cup warm-ups, last summer, but did enough […]

1 year ago

“Now we can make it very, very personal.” Everyone that has watched episode two of the Springbok documentary on their World Cup win – Super Sport’s ‘Chasing the Sun 2’ – will be eagerly circling two big dates in the summer Test window. South Africa successfully defended their World Cup title in France, late last […]

1 year ago

Some huge matches on the weekend slate. After the latest international break wrapped – with Conor Bradley scoring his first goal for Northern Ireland, Jude Bellingham coming to England’s rescue, Ireland looked after by interim boss John O’Shea, Scotland stuttering and Wales missing out on Euro 2024 – the Premier League is back. Here are […]

1 year ago

“I said, ‘Nothing stupid early on, lads’… and then, 90 seconds later, I’d a fella punched in the stomach, myself!” Although it came at a price, Sean O’Brien was fortunate that this was missed by the match officials at the time. Ireland’s 2015 World Cup campaign ranks up there with 2011 as the most frustrating […]

1 year ago

The international audience sided with the England star. Bundee Aki and Ben Earl are the frontrunners for 2024 Men’s Six Nations Player of the Tournament, with the winner due to be announced in the middle of next week. Aki and Earl are nominated for the accolade, along with Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe and […]

1 year ago

The bigger debates would be what flanker to select with them, or who gets the 8 jersey. In researching a recent article on the most effective back row combinations in world rugby, over the past two years, I pored over some Opta stats and two names kept cropping up – Ardie Savea and Caelan Doris. […]

1 year ago

“We have nine fierce drag queens taking to the stage to take home the crown.” In May, the Emerald Warriors will send four teams to Rome, Italy to take part in The Bingham Cup – an international gay rugby union tournament that has been taking place since 2001. To raise funds for the bi-annual event, […]

1 year ago

Took a fair bit of attention away from John O’Shea, and another match in which Ireland struggled in front of goal. On the night John O’Shea hoped to get a win over Switzerland to further press his claims to stay involved with the Ireland team, FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill and board member Packie Bonner […]

1 year ago

“It has been a joy to see this incredibly talented cast and crew bring it to life.” Ardal O’Hanlon made an appearance on our House of Football show, last year, and spoke warmly about his life-long love of the game, supporting Leeds United and living through the raucous Jack Charlton era with the national team. […]

1 year ago

IRELAND 0-1 SWITZERLAND After a weekend draw with Belgium, the world No.19 side came to town. Our live hub of the Ireland vs. Switzerland match (above) had all the biggest moments, talking points, best scores and full Ireland player ratings. Xherdan Shaqiri was the match-winner with a first-half free that left Gavin Bazunu flummoxed. Mikey […]

1 year ago

You could see O’Driscoll wince as he recalled who hit him the hardest. Brian O’Driscoll name-checked a former Saracens and England forward, but picked an outhalf as the player that truly rattled his cage. O’Driscoll played 133 times for Ireland, eight times for the British & Irish Lions and 186 times for Leinster. It is […]

1 year ago

‘Our family feels a sense of comfort to know you are both united again.’ The Branagan family from County Down has been left reeling after the death of a talented, young GAA player in Australia. The body of Lorcán Branagan was recovered in New South Wales on Monday (March 25). He was reported to police […]

1 year ago

“I was proper f**ked!” Mack Hansen is still on the road to recovery and will hope Connacht are still dicing for silverware, as they were last season, by the time he returns from his shoulder injury. Hansen missed out on this year’s Six Nations after dislocating his shoulder while on Connacht duty, in the United […]

1 year ago

Can be very few complaints with this – he was a quality operator. Ashley Cole has become the first 2024 inductee to the Premier League Hall of Fame, and the 20th overall since it was launched in 2021. The former Arsenal and Chelsea stars becomes only the fourth defender to make it to the league’s […]

1 year ago

GAA headquarters could host the United Rugby Championship Final, and a Champions Cup semi-final. Croke Park is in line to host some potentially huge Leinster games before the end of this 2023/24 season. The Aviva Stadium is to undergo upgrade works, over the coming months, meaning Leinster must make contingency plans as they pursue trophies […]

1 year ago

“She’s laughing at me, and I’m being nice!” Abbie Larkin and Izzy Atkinson are not long in from the training field and have each other for back-up in our midweek chat, over Zoom. The Ireland internationals are relatively new recruits at Crystal Palace and are already eyeing a leap to the Women’s Super League. Palace […]

1 year ago

“It’s good to have a fight with some people.” Roy Keane mocked his former Manchester United teammate, Gary Neville for falling back on a much-used phrase when discussing the current England squad under Gareth Southgate. Keane and Neville were discussing Kobbie Mainoo’s England call-up with Ian Wright and Jill Scott, on Stick to Football, when […]

1 year ago

Four changes from the XV that started the Six Nations finale. Andy Farrell is taking his Ireland team to take on the world champion Springboks in a two-Test series, this summer, and it will have the rugby world rapt. Before they came a cropper against England, many pundits and current players – such as Sam […]

1 year ago

“The Mac is back.” Conor McGregor has confirmed an agreement has been made with the Ultimate Fighting Championship for his next bout. The full details, he said, will soon be announced by the promotion but Michael Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champion, is the confirmed opponent. It is likely that the fight would headline UFC […]

1 year ago

Looking back on the championship, the final tally shows a clear winner. Bundee Aki is one of four players included on the 2024 shortlist for Six Nations Player of the Tournament. There were certainly a few Irish contenders, but Aki’s high performance levels see him a deserving nominee. Andy Farrell’s side got their Six Nations defence off […]

1 year ago