One wonders whether the 20-year-old will feature for Ireland again in this championship. Ireland took 21 players to Buccaneers RFC, in Athlone, for an intense training session. Jordan Larmour remained with Leinster. Iain Henderson, Tadhg Furlong and James Ryan all sat out the session, in front of 2,000-odd enthusiastic rugby fans. The trio should be […]

8 years ago

He could not quite get his head around it. Cristiano Ronaldo will tell you that he definitely meant to volley home his penalty kick against PSG. He will almost have you convinced too. Real Madrid defeated PSG 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League Last 16 clash. Ronaldo scored a brace and his […]

8 years ago

Two men making a name for themselves abroad and proudly making a home away from home. To mark the 50th episode of The Hard Yards rugby podcast, we spoke with Bundee Aki and Donnacha Ryan, heard from Joe Schmidt and were joined in-studio by James Downey. Ryan is flying it for Racing 92 after injury […]

8 years ago

“We’re good mates as well, but we both know that we’re pushing and competing with each other.” Joey Carbery knows full well how to deal with the inevitable Johnny Sexton questions he gets in every second interview. As good as Carbery has been at fullback, this season and last, his performance against Fiji, last November, […]

8 years ago

The Munster man is a willing warrior but he should be left where he is. Keith Earls is in the type of form, this season, that would normally get a player selected for a Lions Tour. Truth be told, Earls was ripping it up last season too but was extremely unfortunate to miss out on […]

8 years ago

“In the winter-time you’d play rugby and in the summer, well, hurling was my favourite sport.” Tadhg Furlong is a proud son of Wexford and still follows his county’s hurling and footballing exploits. He played GAA for his local club, Horeswood, and at his school, Good Counsel, but demurs when it is suggested that he […]

8 years ago

There is a positive update on Jamie Heaslip too. Ireland are off to Athlone, this week, for a spot of training with the Under 20s squad in the run-in to the Wales game on February 24. Joe Schmidt is set to retain 20 to 22 of his original Six Nations squad and some will only […]

8 years ago

Proper order

8 years ago

Controversy incoming as Joe Schmidt favourite tipped to replace Jordan Larmour. With news that Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan are fit to face Wales – and Robbie Henshaw is out for the championship – Joe Schmidt’s selection choices for the Wales game look clear. Ireland’s backline clicked into gear against Italy and Munster’s Chris Farrell […]

8 years ago

The comment was Donnacha Ryan at his finest. No pretences; just good craic. Munster supporters were gutted, back in January, to witness their side losing to Racing 92 in Paris. Their side looked on for another big away win until former player Donnacha Ryan won his side a late penalty that clinched it for Racing. […]

8 years ago

Three Irishmen make the cut, but no Keith Earls. Another week in the record books with Ireland and England now opening up a gap from the other runners. Ireland brushed Italy aside, England ground out a win over Wales and Scotland made an infuriating French side pay for their baffling indiscipline, at Murrayfield. This is […]

8 years ago

Only Cillian O’Connor himself could tell you what he was thinking here. Mayo lost their fifth straight match to Galway in Salthill, this afternoon, and the game completely ran away from them in the closing stages. Stephen Rochford’s men were well beaten in their Allianz Football League encounter and resorted to some questionable tactics in […]

8 years ago

With throw-in set for 2pm, the game was called off at 12:26. Is there anything more frustrating than making a really long trek to an away game only for it to be cancelled not long after you reach the ground/pitch? Players hate it and fans are not that keen on it either. Matches being scheduled […]

8 years ago

The team we are selecting is based on three players shaking off knocks and strains and Robbie Henshaw missing out completely. Ireland are Six Nations leaders after two rounds of matches. They lead England, the only other team still capable of winning a Grand Slam, by points difference and both sides are not due to […]

8 years ago

A nice touch from one of Liam Miller’s former clubs. Manchester United are to pay their own tribute to former midfielder Liam Miller during their Premier League clash with Newcastle United, at St James’ Park. United will take part in a moments’ observation of Miller, who passed away on Friday after a cancer battle, ahead […]

8 years ago

If even one of these lads was able to come back in decent nick, Ireland would greatly benefit. Some victories exact a higher cost than others. In Paris, Ireland overcame France but lost Josh van der Flier in the process. The flanker is out for the remainder of the season. In Dublin, on Saturday, Ireland […]

8 years ago

Any Kerry fans en-route to Monaghan, either turn around or go sight-seeing. The early February weather has claimed another match as Kerry’s Allianz Football League clash with Monaghan has been postponed. On Saturday, Cavan vs. Meath and Fermanagh vs. Wexford were both postponed due to unplayable pitches. There were reports of the pitch at Inniskeen […]

8 years ago

In late December, Joe Schmidt will have been watching Munster unveil their lineout wrinkle with much interest. One of the high points of Munster’s recent Guinness PRO14 loss to Leinster, at Thomond Park, was the sight of scrumhalf Conor Murray being hoisted into the air for a couple of innovative lineouts. On two occasions Munster […]

8 years ago

Seven months after signing for Munster, Gerbrandt Grobler has made his senior debut for the province. The South African lock, signed from Racing 92 last summer, came on for the final 20 minutes of Munster’s bonus point victory over Zebre at Thomond Park. Replacing Dave O’Callaghan with Munster 26-5 in front, Grobler made a couple […]

8 years ago

Bundee Aki was trying his best to give nothing away. Minutes after Joe Schmidt admitted Robbie Henshaw was “potentially” out of the Wales game, Bundee Aki entered the Aviva Stadium’s ‘Dressing Room 4’ for media duties. The Connacht centre had played a big role in his side’s 56-19 win over Italy, and had crashed over […]

8 years ago

Eddie Jones is not the first person in the sporting world to lump the entire media together as ‘YOU’RE’. Ahead of England’s 12-6 victory over Wales, in the Six Nations, Eddie Jones told Alastair Eykyn of BT that he often uses his press conferences and interviews to speak directly to his players. With that in […]

8 years ago

And then a hero comes along…. You often hear of players and coaches talking about leaving it all out on the field. Of emptying the tank for the cause. Wringing every last effort out. Keith Earls is now the template for that. Show up-and-c0ming players the Munster man’s sprint back and tackle on Mattia Bellini […]

8 years ago

Johnny Sexton expects the highest of standards, all of the time, and he is not shy about letting his teammates know. 26 minutes into Ireland’s victory over Italy and the hosts were 21-0 up. Sexton was not letting up, though. Italy, under pressure again, conceded a penalty and the Ireland out-half wanted a quick-tap penalty […]

8 years ago

Sergio knows the craic. So does Conor O’Shea. “We knew before this competition started,” said O’Shea after his side’s Dublin defeat, “that the first six days would be the hardest.” Beside him, a battered Sergio Parisse nodded his head. Italy had to start against the two sides likely to contest the title on the championship’s […]

8 years ago

The Connacht centre is four games into his Ireland career and off the try-scoring mark. Bundee Aki is well into the groove with Ireland now. Joe Schmidt will perhaps be happier with his post-game comments than the excellent on-field performance of the 27-year-old against Italy. Aki had a first half try and assist two others […]

8 years ago

Ireland won, got the bonus point and scored eight tries. Still, there will be regrets. Joe Schmidt’s men were 42-0 up midway through the second half and on-course to add 60+ points to their difference. Injuries and substitutions saw them get disjointed and it took a dashing Keith Earls cover tackle to prevent Italy getting […]

8 years ago

Peter O’Mahony was putting it on a plate for him too. Rob Kearney has not scored a Test try since October 2015, 16 games ago. The fullback is in a decent run of form and is keeping his teammates and coaches happy but he will be aware of his scoring drought. For a fullback in […]

8 years ago

IRELAND 56-19 ITALY Ireland shredded Italy at the Aviva Stadium to go top of the Six Nations table but their win came at a cost. The try-scoring bonus point was secured after only 35 minutes as Ireland tore into Conor O’Shea’s side but they lost Tadhg Furlong [hamstring] and Robbie Henshaw [shoulder]. The centre scored […]

8 years ago

Brilliantly and poignantly spoken by Ronan O’Gara. News was confirmed late on Friday night of the sad passing of former Ireland international Liam Miller, at the age of 36. The Cork native, who also lined out for Celtic, Manchester United and Cork City, died after a tough battle with cancer. Miller leaves behind a wife, […]

8 years ago

Robbie Henshaw in top form and buzzing to be back in tandem with Bundee Aki. Henshaw made his Ireland debut at the age of 19, back in June 2013, and is now 32 caps deep into his Test career. The 24-year-old may only be a few years older than the likes of Joey Carbery, Andrew […]

8 years ago

Strong response here from the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association. Following an inquest, on Thursday, into the death of Portuguese fighter Joao Carvalho, Minister for Sport, Shane Ross TD was critical of those involved in MMA regulations and safety standards in Ireland. Carvalho died after an MMA bout in Dublin, back in April 2016, and […]

8 years ago

364 days since his hat-trick against Italy, the Ulster winger blazed in another treble. Ulster needed a pick-me-up after their recent issues on and off the pitch, and Craig Gilroy provided three. Jono Gibbes’ side flaked a quite woeful Southern Kings side 59-10 and Gilroy was at the heart of most of their best attacks. […]

8 years ago

The good news, at least, is that David Clifford will get a weekend off. Clifford came off injured in The Kingdom’s victory over Mayo, last Saturday, and this is the second game he will miss. The teenage scoring sensation was also forced to sit out I.T Tralee’s midweek loss to D.I.T in the Siegerson Cup. […]

8 years ago

Mayo have lost their four matches against Galway. They can scarcely afford to lose a fifth. This championship summer will see Galway and Mayo face off in the Connacht Senior Football quarter final. The Tribesmen are on a four-game winning run over their Connacht rivals and have a chance to stretch the streak on Sunday, […]

8 years ago

“What is with CJ Stander’s carrying technique?” So sparked an interesting discussion on the latest episode of The Hard Yards. Looking back on Ireland’s last-ditch victory over France, in Paris, Stander and Peter O’Mahony came in for a lot of praise on their efforts during a dramatic end-game. Neither man had prospered during the previous 78 […]

8 years ago

“Sitting with Tadhg in the stand, all we were saying was give us one more opportunity… “ Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong were as rapt as the rest of us, last Saturday night, as Ireland went through 41 phases before dropping the drop goal hammer on France. Ireland’s Six Nations challenge was close to faltering […]

8 years ago

Glued to the box

8 years ago

This was powerful stuff. Joe Schmidt is a master of the press conference. He has sat through enough of them at this stage to be able to get his message across, plant the odd seed, praise the opposition and, when that is done, chew the clock up. The Ireland coach was in a similar vein […]

8 years ago

“It was all a bit mad.” Dan Leavy is set for only his second start for Ireland, and his first at the Aviva Stadium. The Leinster back-row has replaced the injured Josh van der Flier in the Ireland XV and will face off against Sergio Parisse & Co. this weekend. The 23-year-old, a former Ireland […]

8 years ago

Four changes to the Ireland team for this Saturday’s Six Nations clash. Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has made several changes to his starting XV and his bench for the visit of the Azzurri. Jack McGrath, Devin Toner, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan are all drafted in, while Andrew Porter, Quinn Roux, Kieran Marmion and Jordan […]

8 years ago

Ireland have made four changes to the starting XV that saw off France last weekend. All of the changes are – as predicted on Wednesday – in the Ireland pack, with Jack McGrath, Devin Toner, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan coming in. The backline remains unchanged for this weekend’s visit of Italy but Jordan Larmour […]

8 years ago

“Roy, do you drink tea?” That was the starting point for a conversation that would change Roy Keane’s footballing career. In 2000, Mick Clegg began working with Manchester United as a strength and conditioning coach. He was initially called in as a consultant but Steve McClaren, then assistant to Alex Ferguson, was so impressed with […]

8 years ago

Unleash O’Mahony. With Sean O’Brien out of the selection mix for the opening rounds of the 2018 Six Nations, Joe Schmidt turned to Josh van der Flier and was set to give the 24-year-old an extended run in his side. Van der Flier had earned his spot in the Irish back row after putting in […]

8 years ago

High praise from the Mayo star. Kerry have got their Allianz Leagues football campaign off to a cracking start, with wins over Donegal and Mayo and a lot of new faces blooded. While much of the focus has been on Sean O Sé and David Clifford, a wing forward that is a couple of years […]

8 years ago

Jared Payne may still have a future at Ulster Rugby and in Ireland. The Ireland centre has not played a competitive game since he withdrew from the tail-end of British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, last July. Payne began to suffer migraines and though they have abated somewhat, medical experts have not been […]

8 years ago

We always knew we would one day arise to the news that Wes Hoolahan was calling it a day. We just wished for that day to come in the 2020s… or later. Stanley Matthews – that great Stoke, Blackpool and England star – played on in top flight football until he was aged 50. Wes […]

8 years ago

The end of an era. Hoolahan has made the decision to retire from international football. The 35-year-old, who won 43 caps for Ireland, informed Martin O’Neill of his decision last week and says he feels the time was right to step aside. The former Shelbourne midfielder was named as a sub for Ireland’s 0-0 draw […]

8 years ago

Jordan Larmour’s Ireland debut is set to come from the bench. Joe Schmidt is expected to keep his backline from Paris intact but rest up a few of the players that helped massively in their comeback victory. Joey Carbery may have to settle for an impact role off the bench, like Larmour, while Kieran Marmion […]

8 years ago

Sometimes people ask what Peter O’Mahony does on the pitch. At Stade de France on February 3, in those final, frantic moments, he delivered one hell of a demonstration. At this stage, and we are not even 48 full hours out from the drop goal thriller in Paris, the 41 phases Ireland ploughed through before […]

8 years ago

A stinging criticism of Nigel Owens’ match officiating. Referees often find themselves in the position of being public enemy number one for both sets of fans. One needs a tough skin to call the big moments, keep playing ticking and stay out of the spotlight at the same time. Welsh referee Owens found himself in […]

8 years ago