It could easily have been a red card. It could easily have been two yellow cards. Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli opted out of sending off either Cheslin Kolbe or Pieter-Steph du Toit after the Springbok pair combined to dump Mack Hansen on the back of his neck. With the scores tied at 3-3, after a […]

3 years ago

Even with 60% of the starting berths, some South African fans are not happy. Ahead of Ireland’s highly-anticipated Test match with South Africa, as part of the Bank of Ireland Nations Series, RugbyJOE put a combined team vote out to the public. Rugby fans were asked to vote on their preferred players – Irish or […]

3 years ago

“Obviously we got schooled in a good few areas.” With referee Matthew Carley indulging the All Blacks XV flooding, and camping in, the breakdown all night, you could feel the frustration of poor Craig Casey growing, and growing. The Munster scrumhalf spoke of the massive honour he felt when asked, last Monday, by Andy Farrell […]

3 years ago

About as fully loaded as you can get. Andy Farrell has named what he feels is his strongest Ireland team available to him, ahead of Saturday’s big Bank of Ireland Autumn Nations Series game against South Africa. While the Springboks named their match-day squad earlier in the week, Farrell waited until Ireland were 48 hours […]

3 years ago

“They are absolutely phenomenal athletes, and good rugby players.” Stephen Ferris knows all about what it is like to face a fully-loaded, world champion South Africa side when Irish fans are expecting the best. Back in 2009, as Ireland revelled in their Grand Slam win and their healthy contingent (including Ferris) on a close, hard-fought […]

3 years ago

The Springboks have already named their match-day squad for the highly anticipated fixture. The Ireland team to take on South Africa, on Saturday, in the biggest Test match on home soil in ages, will be named on Thursday afternoon. Andy Farrell is a glutton for punishment, but he would not have it any other way. […]

3 years ago

A big chance for many of these players to impress in a green jersey, on home soil. Andy Farrell has named his Ireland A side to face an All Blacks XV at The RDS on Friday evening. Farrell has named Munster scrumhalf Craig Casey as his captain for the game, and paired him with Leinster […]

3 years ago

Hold onto your hats/caps/beers. The British & Irish Lions could play a combined All Blacks and Wallabies team during their 2025 tour to Australia. The two rugby nations have opened talks on forming an ANZAC XV for a game that, if it does take place, is already being tipped to sell out the Melbourne Cricket […]

3 years ago

“There were rumours circulating at the back end of last season.” In June, as Ronan O’Gara and La Rochelle were celebrating a first ever major trophy, Kyle Hatherell was finishing up his first full season with Worcester Warriors, with a lot to be proud of. Warriors may have needed a final day win over Bath […]

3 years ago

A real shame for the in-form Munster lock. Three additional players have been brought into the wider Ireland and Ireland A squad, ahead of this weekend’s games against an All Blacks XV and South Africa. Andy Farrell and his coaches are now working with the 49 players at the IRFU High Performance Centre, ahead of […]

3 years ago

“No pressure!” Katie Taylor’s words to Eddie Hearn after she and her promoter laid out a rock solid case for her rematch against Amanda Serrano to be at Croke Park. The Bray boxer pieced up Karen Carabajal to retain her cache of lightweight titles and delivered an emphatic interview about bringing ‘the biggest fight in […]

3 years ago

“Great to finally meet you.” Katie Taylor reigned supreme at Wembley Arena, on Saturday night, and is all set for what she hopes will be another bout with Amanda Serrano, in Croke Park, next summer. The lightweight champion easily picked off Karen Carabajal to defend her stack of world titles, then made her case for […]

3 years ago

“Undisputed. Undefeated.” Katie Taylor cut one hell of a promo after summarily dispatching the latest, and previously undefeated, challenger to her throne. The Katie Taylor Croke Park train is gathering unstoppable momentum. The queen of women’s boxing was both regal and menacing as she picked Karen Carabajal apart to retain her lightweight world titles and […]

3 years ago

A comfortable win on the road (we all hope) to Croke Park in the summer of 2023. Katie Taylor was a unanimous winner, on points, against the spirited, and previously unbeaten, Karen Carabajal at Wembley Arena. The Olympic gold medalist put her WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, Ring Magazine lightweight titles on the line against an […]

3 years ago

LIVERPOOL 1-2 LEEDS Crysencio Summerville proved the winner for Leeds United, at Anfield, after scoring a late goal to give his side a much, much needed victory. The Leeds player ratings have two men wrestling for top honours. Liverpool got off to the worst possible start when Joe Gomez played a no-look pass across the […]

3 years ago

“You don’t get paid for overtime!” Eddie Hearn told all the fighters on the undercard of the Taylor vs. Carabajal main event, at Wembley, to make a name for themselves. Gary Cully did that, and more. The Naas boxer went into his lightweight bout against Jaouad Belmehdi with a 14-0 record that included eight KO […]

3 years ago

MUNSTER 14-15 ULSTER Munster have lost their fifth match in seven league outings, despite keeping Malakai Fekitoa on the pitch after a high shot on David McCann. Ulster had the better of the first half and scored early tries from Jordi Murphy and Tom Stewart, either side of a Jack Crowley penalty for the hosts. […]

3 years ago

“What Ian achieved was truly ground-breaking. He paved the way.” Johnny Sexton had his fair share of rivals for the Leinster No.10 jersey, over the past 16 seasons and he saw most of them off through his incredible skill, leadership and work levels. Back in 2011, Ian McKinley was starting to make good on the […]

3 years ago

“It shows the confidence we have in Andy.” Before Ireland set off for their end-of-season tour to New Zealand, in June, the IRFU had some business with Andy Farrell that they wanted to get done. The likes of Ronan O’Gara or the Leinster duo of Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster were already being discussed, in […]

3 years ago

“I think we’ve got a pretty good handle on our top 30.” IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora says Andy Farrell and his coaching staff have identified a 2023 World Cup plan that revolves around identifying and focusing on Ireland’s top 50 players. Nucifora delivered his state of the rugby nation to the media, on Thursday […]

3 years ago

TOTTENHAM 1-1 SPORTING Harry Kane looked to have won it, late, late on, against Sporting Club de Portugal, but VAR got involved and ruled out what looked to be a legitimate goal. Antonio Conte was fuming. Marcus Edwards had put the Portuguese side 1-0 ahead, only for Spurs to grab an equaliser, through Rodrigo Bentancur, […]

3 years ago

‘The Postman’ was not having that. Ian Poulter was made aware of Rory McIlroy comments about LIV Golf defectors possibly harming the Ryder Cup prospects of Team Europe, and he was far from happy about it. The English golfer, and Ryder Cup stalwart, was at a press conference for the ‘Team Championship’ event that wraps […]

3 years ago

The Ajax supporters were livid with the Uruguayan. Darwin Nunez was back in the Liverpool starting line-up, after missing the club’s weekend league defeat to Nottingham Forest, and the Ajax supporters paid him little mind. Up until the 36th minute of this evening’s Champions League encounter, that is. Nunez was running around, covering plenty of […]

3 years ago

“He’ll have a 100 caps for Munster in no time.” Thomas Ahern has only started seven of his 23 senior appearances for Munster, but he has already shown enough for supporters of the province, and beyond that scope, to map out a long rugby career. The Waterford native made his senior debut against Dragons in […]

3 years ago

A couple of set-backs for key players but a wholly positive update. Andy Farrell assembled his Ireland players at the IRFU High Performance Centre, today, ahead of a mini get-together for the Bank of Ireland Autumn Nations Series. Farrell’s Ireland team to face the Springboks in the opening match is starting to look clearer. While […]

3 years ago

“He is for the future.” It is almost 30 years since Ireland went to Seville to take on a Spanish team that contained the likes of Fernando Hierro, José Mari Bakero, Andoni Zubizarreta and Emilio Butragueño. Roy Keane was playing centre midfield for Ireland, and his performance garnered lots of attention. The Nottingham Forest midfielder […]

3 years ago

“Celtic have always been in my heart” Rocco Vata has been with the Celtic academy since he was seven years old. He is not far off a senior squad breakthrough, but several big European clubs have him square on their radar. The 17-year-old, who was born in Glasgow and who’s father, Rudi, played for Celtic, […]

3 years ago

“Yeah, yeah, yeah… he’s… right.” UFC president Dana White had previously skirted the Conor McGregor testing queries, but he provided some clarity after UFC 280. ‘The Notorious’ has not competed since July 2021, when he broke his leg in a rematch with Dustin Poirier, in Las Vegas. McGregor was seeking to avenge a loss to […]

3 years ago

“Let me finish. Let me finish!” Despite having his say on the Cristiano Ronaldo situation, ahead of Manchester United’s draw with Chelsea, it was clear that Roy Keane had more thoughts to share on the matter. Keane’s former teammate was dropped for the away trip to Stamford Bridge for walking down the sideline at away […]

3 years ago

“He leaves the field with a head full of regrets.” Callum Robinson lasted less than seven minutes of a Welsh derby clash in the Championship, on Sunday afternoon, after ‘a moment of madness’ saw him sent off. The Ireland forward, who has been having a decent season with Cardiff to date, was agitated after conceding […]

3 years ago

LEINSTER 27-13 MUNSTER Munster and their troop of walking wounded and young guns gave Leinster one hell of a rattle, but the hosts ended up winning with some late grit and flair. Leinster threw several kitchen sinks at Munster in the opening 20 minutes but were wasteful inside the opposition 22, and Graham Rowntree had […]

3 years ago

The Munster legend is clearly a fan. Back in 2016, Ronan O’Gara was so compelled by a post-match interview with Tadhg Furlong that he headed over to Twitter to sing the young prop’s praises. A couple of years later, after Simon Zebo’s move from Munster to Racing 92 was confirmed, and other players were linked […]

3 years ago

“It’s not a high level of danger.” Scarlets captain Jonathan Davies was beside himself after a big refereeing decision at The Sportsground, on Friday night. Paul Boyle saw yellow, and replays suggested he was fortunate to not be sent off. Andy Friend’s side beat Scarlets 36-14, to back up a recent up-turn in fortunes that […]

3 years ago

“The guy is an absolute machine.” One home win in the United Rugby Championship may not quell all the concerns around Munster Rugby, but the performances of Edwin Edogbo and Gavin Coombes certainly gave their fans something to cling to. Last weekend’s victory over the Bulls was the first start for Edogbo and the second […]

3 years ago

The room was abuzz when Ireland were confirmed as getting the second spot in Group B. The Ireland World Cup draw is tough but utterly compelling. Ireland have been given a tricky World Cup draw, for the group stages of the summer 2023 tournament, but Vera Pauw will be confident that her side can progress […]

3 years ago

The Manchester United boss dealt with the matter swiftly, and well. Erik ten Hag witnessed his side put in a best all-round performance of the season, but was fielding questions, after the match, about an unused sub. What a shame that what looks to be the final season of Cristiano Ronaldo’s second stint at Manchester […]

3 years ago

Concerning comments from ‘Rocket’. Seven-time world snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan suffered a shock defeat to David Grace at the Northern Ireland Open, this evening, then admitted, “I really don’t care any more.” O’Sullivan had a two-frame lead over Grace, a former UK Championship semi-finalist, but fell away badly in the match and lost 4-3. While […]

3 years ago

MAN UNITED 2-0 TOTTENHAM The home side hammered on the door for a long time before smashing it in. Our Tottenham and Man United player ratings reflect the gulf between both sides, on the night. There was a statistic produced, 30 minutes into United’s league clash with Spurs, that showed Erik ten Hag’s side had […]

3 years ago

If the team that starts is anything like the one we have selected, the injuries Gods will have been kind. Andy Farrell has named a 37-man squad for the upcoming November internationals, with 12 more ‘A’ players named. We have assessed the squad and selected our strongest Ireland team to face the Springboks in their […]

3 years ago

The last time ‘Le Tour’ came to Irish shores, C’est La Vie by B*Witched was top of the charts. Politicians and sporting bodies from both sides of the border are looking to make Tour de France Ireland a reality, again. It has been confirmed by the Department of Sport that ‘the island of Ireland intends to […]

3 years ago

A few uncapped players in the mix. Andy Farrell has named his Ireland squad for the November internationals, with captain Johnny Sexton leading a group that is big on experience, with some exciting prospects thrown in the mix. Jacob Stockdale returns to the Ireland fold, after injury issues last season, and there are four uncapped […]

3 years ago

“I smashed into Cian Healy’s knee.” Dylan Hartley won a clutch of trophies with England – most notably the 2016 Grand Slam – but silverware at the highest level of club rugby proved tougher to seize. Two finals that the former England captain reached, and has regrets over, were the climaxes of the 2011 Heineken […]

3 years ago

‘This post is not one for sympathy, but one of anger’ James McClean has taken to social media with a defiant message after a Wigan Post reporter shared footage of some vile abuse and chanting directed at the midfielder by Sunderland supporters, on Saturday. The Republic of Ireland international started for Wigan Athletic in their […]

3 years ago

LIVERPOOL 1-0 MAN CITY It was a tale of a disallowed City goal and Mo Salah taking his second chance to condemn the champions to their first league defeat of the season. The first half was played at a frantic pace, but there was only two real clear-cut chances. Liverpool’s best opportunity to break the […]

3 years ago

“ROG lives there. He’s got a massive mansion there. 12 bedrooms, for all his kids.” Will Skelton delivers it straight as you like before, after a beat, breaking into a big smile. Ronan O’Gara may have a big flock, but he is not at the 12-bedroom stage, yet. It is the Monday morning after a […]

3 years ago

The Munster captain is well aware of the criticism that has encircled his team, this season. For Peter O’Mahony, there has not been much rest for the wicked. The Munster captain helped Ireland to a series victory over the All Blacks, in New Zealand, had a few weeks off to spend with his wife and […]

3 years ago

MUNSTER 31-17 BULLS Munster fans have not had much to hang their hat on, so far this season. Edwin Edogbo gave them something to be hopeful about, tonight and for the seasons ahead. Standing at 6-foot-5 and tipping the scales at a shade over 19-stone, the former Cobh Pirates lock got his first taste of […]

3 years ago

“You can see, it’s the left leg there. Let’s hope he’s okay.” You could hear the concern in the voice of Alan Quinlan, on commentary duty at The Sportsground, as Leinster physios looked over James Ryan. The second row was just over an hour into his first start of the season when he suffered a […]

3 years ago

The 21-year-old has not played for Manchester United since the start of this year. Mason Greenwood has been charged with attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, the Crown Prosecution Service, in the United Kingdom, has confirmed. Greenwood was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault, the BBC […]

3 years ago

“I want business flights to Australia, yeah?!” Katie McCabe had the honour, on Tuesday night, of becoming the first Irish woman to captain her side to a World Cup final. The Arsenal star was one of a number of Ireland players that put in a superb shift, at Hampden Park and all through the qualifiers, […]

3 years ago