“Got your hat. Got your hat!” Jake Paul is causing a social media stir everywhere that he goes. Fresh off his latest celebrity boxing wins over former basketball star Nate Robinson and ex-UFC star Ben Askren, the YouTuber is seeking bigger prey. Step forward Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather Jr. Mayweather is set to take on Logan […]

5 years ago

“I’m quite surprised that he isn’t at least in the broader squad.” South African reporter Craig Ray was not the only person rubbing their eyes and double-checking the British & Irish Lions squad today. Indeed, before Springbok legend Victor Matfield began his chat with the House of Rugby crew, he was concerned about Ireland’s captain. […]

5 years ago

Barring injuries or suspensions, Ringrose is set to miss out on another Lions Tour. Back in 2017, Garry Ringrose had to deal with missing out on the British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand, despite many backing him for it. Not long after announcing his squad, the Lions head coach name-checked him as a […]

5 years ago

“Over the course of the last three weeks the coaches and I have rigorously debated each position.” From one Lions XV debate to the next. Now that we know the squad, some changes are necessary. Days like this should be one where the sense of relief is great. The news has been broken and you […]

5 years ago

With one Test start since 2019, Jack Conan did enough to impress the Lions coaches. Of all the players in the conversation for the British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa, Jack Conan and Bundee Aki were lesser spotted birds. As it turns out, their performances in Ireland’s 32-18 win over England, in […]

5 years ago

“Sadly, if it wasn’t them, it was going to be someone else.” Like a true, stoic captain, Alun Wyn Jones was not being drawn on names when he was asked for his take on a 2021 Lions squad with some huge omissions. While many of us will be focusing on the players not in Gatland’s […]

5 years ago

A few… interesting calls here. Warren Gatland and team manager Jason Leonard have officially announced the 2021 British & Irish Lions squad. To say there are some surprise selections in there would be an understatement. As expected, Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones will be tour captain on what will be his fourth overseas trip with […]

5 years ago

His team selection differed slightly from Rory Best’s. Scott Quinnell toured with the British & Irish Lions in 1997 and 2001. He knows what it takes to beat the Springboks on their home patch. The former Wales back-row and former Ireland captain Rory Best have both offered up their Lions Test XV selections to ‘The […]

5 years ago

Strong reports of the Welshman captaining the Lions first emerged over the weekend. Unwanted by Eddie Jones, Sam Simmonds is set for some fantastic Lions news. Very reliable on their British & Irish Lions takes, The Telegraph is reporting that Exeter No.8 Simmonds is set to make the squad when it is announced, on Thursday afternoon. […]

5 years ago

“You know, it’s often the ones that surprise you most.” Rob Kearney was still recovering from a rough bout of the mumps, during which he lost over a stone in weight, when he was named in his first ever British & Irish Lions squad. Aged 23 at the time, Kearney was a presumptive lock to […]

5 years ago

Two of the 41 players did not even make the tour to New Zealand. On Thursday, Warren Gatland will announce his British & Irish Lions squad for the tour to South Africa. This Lions quiz asks you to cast your mind back. Only 36 players are expected to make a reduced touring party, with several […]

5 years ago

“I’m just gonna keep livin’, man. L, I, V, I, N!” The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is come at you fast and hard today. There are no off-rounds or moments to catch your breath. Break-neck speed. Now, go get it!

5 years ago

“I’m starting to feel I’m being ambushed here!” This time on Thursday, we will all be reflecting on Warren Gatland’s squad picks for the 2021 tour to South Africa. Not everyone will be happy, but such is life when some 57 players were first discussed by the coaches for the tour. Gatland has the experience […]

5 years ago

“To me, he’s a legend.” The British & Irish Lions squad will be named on Thursday afternoon and could include a few players that would be returning to their homeland for the series. CJ Stander may not be finished his Test rugby career yet. In 2017, the Lions travelled to New Zealand with three Kiwis […]

5 years ago

“You’d imagine it would be Tadhg, Johnny, I do think James Ryan should go, and Ronan Kelleher as a bolter.” On Thursday, the waiting and the speculating will be over. Warren Gatland will announce his British & Irish Lions squad and all eyes will turn to that tour to South Africa. There may only be […]

5 years ago

“I hate losing more than I love winning.” The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is stepping into the bright lights and swinging for the fences today. Go get ’em, tiger!

5 years ago

This one has a particularly Welsh flavour. The time is almost upon us. On Thursday, around 12:30pm, Warren Gatland will announce his British & Irish Lions squad for the 2021 Tour to South Africa. Gatland is expected to name between 36 and 38 players, and will notify some of the unlucky handfuls that miss out […]

5 years ago

“Would it be difficult to get these two players? You bet your life it would be.” Roy Keane had some extra time to mull over the signings Manchester United need to push on, next season and beyond, and he wants Jack Grealish at Old Trafford. On Sky Sports punditry duty, Keane spoke about the Aston […]

5 years ago

LA ROCHELLE 32-23 LEINSTER Leinster went into half-time leading by a point but never really featured in the second half and were crushed by La Rochelle. There will be no fifth star above the Leinster crest, but Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle are now hunting their first as they set up a final date against Toulouse, […]

5 years ago

“Enough is enough.” Roy Keane was not the only member of the Sky Sports panel, at Old Trafford, to back the anti-Glazer protests that delayed kick-off between Manchester United and Liverpool. Just over 200 Manchester United supporters broke into Old Trafford, just after 2pm, and stormed the pitch, stands and corporate boxes at the ground. […]

5 years ago

The save-the-date emails have gone out to 50+ players. Warren Gatland now knows he will take his British & Irish Lions squad to South Africa without Ben Youngs, George North and Joe Launchbury. Only one of them – North – was a dead-cert to travel, but the past week has been a reminder Gatland could […]

5 years ago

A rising tide lifts all ships. Katie Taylor and Natasha Jonas both broke into wide smiles as the final bell sounded, on Saturday night at the Manchester Arena. Both fighters waded into each other in the final two rounds, but Taylor’s greater press and work-rate edged a thrilling contest. Jonas had vowed to prove to […]

5 years ago

“Everyone’s wondering where Alun Wyn Jones is, and he’s the back-up to Mr. Maro Itoje.” You really have to hand it to Dylan Hartley and his commitment to the piece. Often lambasted by Scottish, Welsh and Irish fans, during club and country engagements, former England captain Dylan Hartley has never been one to row with […]

5 years ago

LEICESTER 33-24 ULSTER Ulster were denied a place in the Challenge Cup Final after allowing a 17-6 lead slip to Leicester Tigers at Welford Road. Ulster dominated the first half as they built on an early trade of penalties to dominant collisions and get quick ruck ball. Not long after Tom Young was sent to […]

5 years ago

“I’m just glad he was able to walk off the pitch.” Ulster were rocked by the loss of John Cooney, early in the second half of their Challenge Cup semi-final against Leicester Tigers. Ulster were winning 17-6 against Tigers, at Welford Road, when Cooney copped a stiff arm from winger Nemani Nadolo in the head. […]

5 years ago

“You sit there thinking, ‘When’s it going to be my turn? When’s it going to be my turn?’” For Natasha Jonas, Saturday night in Manchester is her turn. Jonas, a former WBA super-featherweight champion, lost to Taylor at London 2012 and did not go professional until 2017 but, like the Irish fighter, was quick to […]

5 years ago

“I haven’t looked back since.” Eve Higgins can still remember heading along to watch Ireland Women playing their Six Nations games at Ashbourne RFC, as she was growing up. It was a snug set-up, and it was always hopping. Bus-loads of young rugby fans would arrive in from the four corners of Ireland and pack […]

5 years ago

Can’t be arguing with these boys… although many probably will. Jim Telfer and Ian McGeechan are the embodiment of what it means to be a British & Irish Lion. Two hardy bucks that lived and breathed every moment of the experience. Both Telfer and McGeechan have been players, assistant coaches and head coaches of the […]

5 years ago

“For me, it depends on who you play at 10.” Will Genia is a huge fan of Ben Youngs [a HUGE FAN] but he is not averse to Conor Murray starting in a strong Lions XV to mix it up with South Africa. The legendary Wallabies, who is currently plying his club rugby trade in […]

5 years ago

“This little angel is going to whisper in your ear and say, ‘Get up you son of a bitch! ‘Cause Mickey loves you!’“ No fooling about today, with The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz. Let’s get straight into it.

5 years ago

‘Heartbroken is an understatement’ George North will miss the rest of the season and the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa after rupturing his Anterior Cruciate Ligament in his knee at the weekend. The Wales star was injured while playing for Ospreys in The Rainbow Cup and is due to head in […]

5 years ago

It is looking good for two Irish props to travel to South Africa, this summer. We are heading into the final countdown, with regards to the British & Irish Lions squad announcement. Tadhg Furlong is expected to make it, but he could have some Irish company in the front row. Warren Gatland will name his […]

5 years ago

You can’t blame Leinster for accentuating the positives first. In their medical update, issued earlier today, Leinster saved the bad news about Johnny Sexton until the end. The province’s captain and all-time record points scorer is out of the Champions Cup semi final. Added to that injury blow was the news that Harry Byrne [hamstring] […]

5 years ago

Five from Ireland and just the two Scots. Next Thursday, British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland will name his touring squad to South Africa and, mark our words, all hell will break loose. Given that the 2020 and 2021 Six Nations tournaments wrapped up within five months of each other, and that only […]

5 years ago

“I am just worried about Leinster and the next game.” Jack Conan on the possibility of him earning a call-up for the British & Irish Lions. Spoken like a man who knew the question was coming. If you were putting together your list of potential Lions No.8s – back in mid February – Jack Conan […]

5 years ago

“All these brilliant back-rows aren’t going to go… There’s going to be some big, big omissions.” We are 10 days out from the announcement of the British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa, and Sam Warburton is predicting some pain for some of Europe’s best back rows. While Lions head coach Warren Gatland […]

5 years ago

“Ealing are a mid-table Premiership side, in my opinion.” Remind us to bookmark these comments for if and when a hulking Springbok side tear a Lions team littered with Saracens players to shreds on the Highveld, this summer. England struggled badly in the 2021 Six Nations as several of their Saracens players, without much club […]

5 years ago

“He’s an absolute freak! I don’t know how many times we’ve chatted about him.” A couple of bad injuries prevented Munster fans from seeing the consistent best of Tadhg Beirne, but he has been sensational for them throughout this entire season. Against Leinster, on Saturday at The RDS, Beirne returned to his old stomping ground […]

5 years ago

On the road again! The SportsJOE 12 o’clock quiz is soaking in the sun while it shines and serving up another testing, and fun(!), 20 questions for you all. If you score 16 or higher, take the rest of the day off!

5 years ago

“Did he have a pair of slippers on as well?” One of the big changes brought in by Joe Schmidt, when he took over as Ireland head coach, was ramping up the intensity as game-day approached. A large part of that was the Friday night walk-through. The New Zealander, who led Leinster and Ireland to […]

5 years ago

“They’ll be all business… they’ll put in a pretty big shift.” While anticipation for the British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa is growing, with a squad announcement due on May 6, the world champions are practically feverish. It has been 18 months since the Springboks won the Word Cup and, due to the […]

5 years ago

“That England team might be hampered in terms of their Lions selections.” Having starred in the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, in 2009, and competed against the best in Europe up until his 2020 departure from Leinster, Rob Kearney is well placed to give his opinion on backline options. The former Leinster […]

5 years ago

“You put my name in your mouth first!” Following his KO win over former UFC star Ben Askren, last weekend, Jake Paul was cock-of-the-hoop in Jacksonville, Florida. The YouTube star, who is now making a pretty penny in celebrity boxing match-ups, was at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, on Saturday, for UFC 261. Paul had […]

5 years ago

“He hits… not hard at all. He’s one of the softest hitters I’ve ever been in front of. Period.” On Saturday night in Jacksonville, Florida, Kamaru Usman came as close as one is likely to see to making someone eat their own words. The UFC welterweight champion had previously defeated Jorge Masvidal but that bout […]

5 years ago

IRELAND 25-5 ITALY Ireland got back to winning ways as they beat Italy to win their 3rd/4th place Six Nations playoff. Our full Ireland ratings see two Sevens stars top the class. Ireland got over for a try in the left-hand corner after only eight minutes when Stacey Flood’s quick-tap penalty set up Dorothy Wall […]

5 years ago

“He actually ran over the top of me, and I was holding his legs.” Sean O’Brien once told us, a few years back, that former Saracens and Namibia flanker Jacques Burger was the player that rattled his cage the most. There may well be a new contender for toughest player to tackle. O’Brien joined host […]

5 years ago

“I think he’d be a great addition on tour.” Paul O’Connell effectively switched from player to coach on the 2013 tour. He could easily slot in again. The only thing missing, as Sam Warburton fielded questions with aplomb and managed to keep all four nations in his considerations, was a collar on his snazzy, new […]

5 years ago

That is a mighty big-hitter on-board for the Leinster and Ireland flanker. “How good has Josh van der Flier been,” asked Sam Warburton as the Dubliner flaked into another Exeter ball-carrier and hopped straight back to his fit, to fill another part of the line. “He’s been good all year,” observed Warburton, on duty for […]

5 years ago

“You’d have to have Earlsie in there, for sure.” Back in March, as Irish rugby was enjoying a ‘Told you so’ moment [mainly with Johnny Sexton doing the telling], one man was determined to give Keith Earls some shine. The Munster winger had been on dogged kick-chase duty against Wales and France, and found himself […]

5 years ago

“What should we do with the club structure? What should we do with everything, really?” In terms of timing, Cliodhna Moloney was probably wishing she had been selected to go first, or even last. As it was, she was at home on a Tuesday, helping to promote the Guinness campaign to raise awareness of women’s […]

5 years ago