“Be careful. Be careful, now!” Such was the magnitude, and ease, of Ireland’s win over Wales that Andy Farrell was able to sit back and joke as Johnny Sexton was asked about his missed kicks from the tee. The Ireland captain had a superb game as he once again hummed in a dangerous backline and […]

4 years ago

“There will be plenty of Guinness drank in Ireland tonight!” Given that the Allianz Leagues were humming, Ireland had beaten Wales in the Six Nations and Leona Maguire was on her way to a maiden Ladies Professional Golf Association victory, the American commentator was not far off. At the age of 27, and in just […]

4 years ago

“It seemed like both teams were involved in the schemozzle.” It all boiled over in added time, at the Athletic Grounds this afternoon, as Tyrone and Armagh players waded into each other. Armagh beat Tyrone 2-14 to 0-14 to win the second of their 2022 Allianz Leagues Division 1 matches. However, much of the post-match […]

4 years ago

Six years and counting at the top of his game. For anyone looking at the raw statistics, in months and years to come, they may think Tadhg Furlong had a solid if unspectacular game against Wales. Five carries made for four metres, seven tackles made, one missed and part of seven scrums won off the […]

4 years ago

ARMAGH 2-14, TYRONE 0-14 Referee David Gough went card crazy in the final stages of a fiercely contested encounter at the Athletic Grounds, this afternoon. Armagh followed up their Allianz Leagues victory over Dublin at Croke Park, last weekend, by beating Tyrone in a game that had a wild finish. Greg McCabe got an early […]

4 years ago

SCOTLAND 20-17 ENGLAND Scotland retained the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 1984 after rallying in the second half to stun Eddie Jones men. Marcus Smith had put England 3-0 ahead and the Scots had Ali Price off for a Head Injury Assessment when Darcy Graham made a stunning clean break and teed up […]

4 years ago

“I’ll play wherever you need me!” Following Ireland’s 29-7 victory over Wales, Johnny Sexton blew out his cheeks as he reflected on how quickly Mack Hansen had settled into the squad. The Connacht winger, who arrived over from Australia last summer, was called into Andy Farrell’s squad for the Six Nations, after getting a brief […]

4 years ago

IRELAND 29-7 WALES Andy Farrell’s side put a ragged, sullen Wales side to the sword with a superb display. Our Ireland player ratings have a few lads vying for top honours. Ireland took only three minutes to go 7-0 up after a super break, chip and chase from debutant Mack Hansen put them in prime […]

4 years ago

“I don’t know what we would have done if we could not have found another hotel.” England fullback George Furbank laughs when he hears that Eddie Jones had secretly wanted his squad to go camping overnight in the Cotswolds, during their Six Nations preparations. The England coach and his squad were left seeking new accommodation, […]

4 years ago

“He’s got to hit the target.” Manchester United were will wake up tomorrow and ask how they did not his six or seven against Middlesbrough. Cristiano Ronaldo could well have had a hat-trick. Ralf Rangnick’s side were profligate in front of goal and ended up paying the price with a sudden death penalty shoot-out loss […]

4 years ago

A who’s who of northern hemisphere rugby. The 2022 Six Nations kicks off this weekend and in both Ireland and the UK, big broadcasters are sharing the spoils. We now know the Six Nations pundits, too. In a move designed to maximise reach, audience and stave off streamers and paid-for TV, the Six Nations coverage […]

4 years ago

Robbie Henshaw misses out entirely, as does Iain Henderson. Andy Farrell has named his Ireland team to face Wales in Saturday’s Six Nations opener, and has included the uncapped Mack Hansen in his XV. The inclusion of the Connacht winger and the absence of Henshaw from the Irish midfield are his biggest calls. Iain Henderson […]

4 years ago

Tom Curry will lead his country for the Six Nations. Eddie Jones has made some bold calls in his England team to face Scotland, with Tom Curry selected as captain in Owen Farrell’s absence. For this weekend’s championship opener with Scotland, Jones has paired Elliot Daly (13) and Henry Slade (12) in his midfield. The […]

4 years ago

“He is a proven try-scorer.” The Six Nations countdown is on, and Alex Goode has helped set the scene for players that could light up the championship. Goode and his House of Rugby co-host Sean O’Brien were tasked with selecting a dream team with players from all this year’s 2022 Six Nations squads available to […]

4 years ago

“He is a monster, actually, when you’re standing up beside him.” The Six Nations countdown is well and truly on, and a season of rugby debates is about to kick into overdrive. Sean O’Brien has stepped up to make some big ‘Ultimate Team’ calls. O’Brien and his House of Rugby co-host Alex Goode (Saracens and […]

4 years ago

“You just can’t let your guard down for a split second… “ 16 months on and Johnny Sexton has been reflecting on what, to date, has been the toughest week of his time as Ireland captain. Now in his 14th year of international rugby, the Leinster outhalf was twice in the captaincy conversation for Ireland […]

4 years ago

“It’s a funny one, because I don’t think your time with Ireland is over yet.” Back in November, Luke McGrath got the call that brought massive relief and told him there was still a chance. Capped 19 times for Ireland between 2019 and the 2019 World Cup, the Leinster scrumhalf has yet to play a […]

4 years ago

“I’m not going to say that.” The past two years in this Covid-struck world has often felt like a time loop. It certainly felt that way today as Johnny Sexton was fielding questions, ahead of a Six Nations opener, about Wales being there for the taking. Sexton has played the game long enough to dead-bat […]

4 years ago

Early days yet, but a real boost to all five lads. The EPCR has released the names of 15 nominees for early voting in the race for the European Player of the Year prize. With the pool stages of the Challenge and Champions Cup now complete, the tournament organisers asked their expert panel of pundits, […]

4 years ago

“Forget Italy, forget Georgia or Spain. Let’s just have a Northern Hemisphere Baa Baa’s side for the Six Nations!” If you ever watched big rugby matches, saw the commentators, analysts and rugby pundits holding fort and thought, “I’d fancy a go at that”, well, we have a challenge for you. We are looking for rugby’s […]

4 years ago

He may be going, but he is not gone. As most professional athletes would attest to, questions about retirement and next steps start as soon as the candles on a 30th birthday cake are blown out. Tom Brady, then, will be well used to the chatter and speculation. We are in an era where, thanks […]

4 years ago

“I think Ireland have a great chance.” We are days out from the start of the 2022 Six Nations and five teams have designs on silverware, including an in-form Ireland team. The Italians will be hoping to get a win of any reckoning but the other sides know a win on the opening weekend gives […]

4 years ago

“You can’t NOT start Robbie, whether it is at 12 or 13.” Similar conversations to the one going on in the House of Rugby studio, on Sunday, have been taking place all over the country in recent days. It must be Six Nations season. Ireland are currently over in Portugal for some warm-weather training, and […]

4 years ago

“I put that on myself.” Heading into divisional championship weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers were heavily backed to reach the Super Bowl. By Sunday night, Patrick Mahomes was left wondering what the hell happened, while Jimmy Garoppolo’s luck eventually ran out. Extended to 17 regular season games, the 2021/22 NFL […]

4 years ago

Manchester United are shifting a lot of lads out for loan deals. We have already seen Anthony Martial and Amad Diallo heading out from Manchester United, on loan. Phil Jones could follow them before the transfer window closes. Earlier this year, Jones made his first United start in almost years, following injury and rehab set-backs. […]

4 years ago

Harrington and McIlroy are right in the mix. Heading into the final round at the Dubai Desert Classic, at Emirates Golf Club, and 13 players are in with a decent shout of the €1.2million first prize. Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington are right up there. South Africa’s Justin Harding leads the field on -12 after […]

4 years ago

“I’m delighted to be joining Rangers until the end of the season.” Rangers are delighted to have Amad Diallo with them, too. Signed from Atalanta, by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in a £37.2million deal, Diallo got off to a bright start at Manchester United but has found first team opportunities limited this season. While much of […]

4 years ago

“I said on commentary, at the time, I thought it was a yellow… “ With contact to the head in rugby, the slow motion replays do the tackling player zero favours. In real-time, it looked as though Craig Gilroy could be in trouble. Tom Rogers was in even worse shape. Ulster defeated Scarlets 27-15 at […]

4 years ago

“Yeah, he’s an alright player!” Johnny Sexton broke into a broad grin after initially trying to dead-pan on Antoine Dupont. From one World Rugby Player of the Year to the other, Sexton went on to praise the France scrumhalf as someone playing at the very top of their game. You get a sense, very often […]

4 years ago

“The Marcus situation is no different from any other team in the world.” Owen Farrell (ankle) and Jonny May (knee) are both due for dates with the surgeon’s blade, while Jonny Hill is “touch and go” to face Scotland. That is the bleak injury update from England boss Eddie Jones. Given how Jones has lost […]

4 years ago

“There may be one or two cross words exchanged between us next Saturday.” Barring another Lazarus-like return to rugby action from Alun Wyn Jones [Wayne Pivac remarks ‘Never say never’], next Saturday will see Dan Biggar captain Wales against Ireland. The Welsh are reigning champions, coming into the Six Nations, but are riddled with injuries. […]

4 years ago

“I like your cardie, mate!” For all the disruptions they have endured in the past week – Covid, injuries and nearby “bonfires” – England head coach Eddie Jones is in buoyant form. The today’s virtual Six Nations launch, Jones held court on misogi sessions, dirt-biking, chats with ‘funny guy’ Roy Keane and still found time […]

4 years ago

“It’s about living on the edge.” We would like to think Ireland head coach Andy Farrell deliberately dropped in the Aerosmith song reference into today’s Six Nations launch on purpose. Heading into the championship, Farrell is in good form. With France hit by Covid issues [10 players released from camp after feeling unwell], England dealing […]

4 years ago

“I have to do what I can to get the No.2 jersey.” 48 hours out from a trip to Portugal for some warm weather training with Ireland, Rob Herring is in top form and reflecting on the choices that brought him to where he is now. You talk to Herring of his 200+ caps for […]

4 years ago

“Back then, Seán Cronin was the only established Test player.” The Ireland squad for the 2022 Six Nations has four Connacht players and it would have been five had Ultan Dillane signed on to play his club rugby here beyond the end of this season. It is not quite the heady days of June 2016 […]

4 years ago

“You know what I liked about him? He didn’t mince his words.” It is coming up on 11 years since Roy Keane has full held the reins at a football club. Given how his managerial career started, few would have suspected he would have stayed away from taking the top seat. After hanging up his […]

4 years ago

“I felt like I had a point to prove.” If you think that missing out on the first pass of Ireland’s 2022 Six Nations squad would throw Conor Oliver off course, you may not have followed his journey too closely. He does not always take the straightest path. Andy Farrell named a 37-man Ireland squad […]

4 years ago

“It couldn’t be just booze, to lose 10 kilos.” Exeter Chiefs winger Jack Nowell is back in good nick, decent form and back in the England squad for the 2022 Six Nations. After revealing, a couple of weeks back, that cutting out drinking had helped him, in terms of losing weight and recovering from matches […]

4 years ago

The veteran showing us how it’s done. Every week, we seem to be starting off with an apology. Gavin Coombes and Simon Zebo, we are sorry. Now, on to the lucky lads that made our Champions Cup Team of the Week. This season is the first time that all four Irish provinces have reached the […]

4 years ago

And we thought the Formula One finale was dramatic. After opening drives from the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead, on Sunday night, we knew exactly what to expect. Pat Mahomes and Josh Allen were shooting from the hip and pulling off stunning plays. Both quarterbacks executed drives that mixed in rushing, dead-eye […]

4 years ago

Ulster’s reward for winning all four games is a meeting with the reigning champs. The pool stages of the Champions Cup wrapped up, this afternoon, with a couple of thrilling finishes and important results. Heading into the final day, after the EPCR were forced to cancel three more matches due to Covid cases, it was […]

4 years ago

MUNSTER 45-7 WASPS Having copped it from near and far about their playing style, Munster were delighted to cut loose on woeful Waps again. Simon Zebo certainly had some fun out there. Anyone following Munster’s season will know how they started the season brightly, had major Covid disruptions, some scrappy performances and are getting back […]

4 years ago

“It’s a reminder to Liverpool that, no matter how good you are and how comfortable it is, if you get sloppy, you can get punished.” Liverpool put together a mostly scintillating 45 minutes against Crystal Palace, but still survived two self-inflicted scares. Roy Keane felt Alisson Becker saved them, on both occasions. The Reds went […]

4 years ago

STADE FRANCAIS 37-31 CONNACHT Connacht blew a great position to secure a famous away win over Stade Francais, as Wayne Barnes made his presence felt. Tolu Latu will be the only Stade player not thanking the English referee. At two crucial moments in the game, the Australian hooker lost his head – with a poor […]

4 years ago

West Ham were 20 seconds away from getting a hard-earned draw. In the final shake-up for Champions Cup places, in May, Declan Rice and the Hammers may well look back ruefully on the three points Manchester United snatched at the death, at Old Trafford, this afternoon. For the first 80 minutes of a cagey affair, […]

4 years ago

ULSTER 34-31 CLERMONT Just over a month ago, Nathan Doak waved goodbye to his teenage years. Now all of 20, he is running the show for Ulster against one of Europe’s top sides. Ulster had already secured a Last 16 spot, in the Champions Cup, after their win over Northampton Saints, at Franklin’s Gardens, last […]

4 years ago

The Offaly native had a wobble on the 18th, but showed composure to close out with a par. Back in 2019, Shane Lowry showed remarkable poise and clutch shooting to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Three years on, he is back in the mix again. After three rounds at the Yas Island course, Lowry […]

4 years ago

BATH 7-64 LEINSTER Bath put up a fight, but Leinster still blew them away. With Johnny Sexton pulling the strings and the back row of Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan running amok, it was a beat-down. Leinster knew they needed to secure another big win if they were to get a […]

4 years ago

“A few lads enjoyed a cigarette, but not at half-time or anything like that!” When Montpellier travelled to Dublin with a weakened team, last weekend, and proceeded to ship try after try to a ruthless Leinster, Alex Lozowski was not entirely surprised. Lozowski was one of the Saracens players that took a brief sojourn away […]

4 years ago

The Ireland coach now knows what he is working with. Andy Farrell has named a 37-man Ireland squad for the opening rounds of the 2022 Six Nations. The injury Gods have been kind enough, but we still have two weekends of games before we get to the championship launch. James Lowe has been ruled out […]

4 years ago