Updated at 21.36 Click Here: cheap bulldogs jersey THE AVIVA STADIUM will host Leinster’s Champions Cup quarter-final clash against Wasps on the last weekend of March, the province have confirmed this afternoon. Leo Cullen’s side finished top of Pool 4 to secure a passage through to the knock-out stages of the competition with English Premiership … Continue reading "Leinster head down the road to Aviva Stadium for Champions Cup quarter with Wasps"

This is part of The42′s Class of 95 series, a week-long examination of professional rugby in Ireland. Ireland celebrate a win over Wales at the 1995 World Cup. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO RUGBY WAS OFFICIALLY declared ‘open’ by the International Rugby Board on 26 August 1995, just over two months after South Africa had won the … Continue reading "‘It was rugby’s Wild West!’ – The difficult early years of professionalism"

Women’s Cup Quarter FinalsHighfield 6 – 15 UL Bohs, Woodleigh ParkCooke 7 – 27 Railway Union, Shaws BridgeSt Mary’s 0 – 15 Old Belvedere, Templeville RoadBlackrock 28 – 22 Galwegians, Stradbrook by Aisling Crowe A COMPELLING afternoon of action brought the All-Ireland Cup to life on an excellent weekend for Irish women’s rugby. UL Bohemians … Continue reading "UL Bohemians stay on track for double after tough Highfield test"

Murray Kinsella reports from Stadio Olimpico JOE SCHMIDT DOESN’T expect injuries to Robbie Henshaw and Rob Kearney to prove serious, after both men were forced off in the second half of Ireland’s 63-10 win over Italy in Rome. Henshaw was replaced by Craig Gilroy in the 47th minute after an excellent performance, but Schmidt said … Continue reading "Ireland positive on Henshaw and Kearney injuries as Best recovers from gut ache"

Ulster Bank League Tom Fletcher of UCD celebrates scoring a try with Jimmy O’Brien. Division 1A Garryown (8th) v UCD (7th) Dooradoyle –  2.30pm tomorrow (Saturday, 18 February)  WITH THREE DEFEATS on the bounce, Garryowen desperately need a victory to settle back down. Scrum issues were apparent again at St Mary’s, where their pack were out-muscled … Continue reading "Lansdowne the team to catch going into this weekend’s Ulster Bank League action"

WHEN RORY BEST first started playing for Ireland, back in 2005, the national team’s record against France wasn’t too impressive. There were three wins from four in between 2000 and 2003, kick-started by Brian O’Driscoll’s famous hat-trick in Paris, but the habit of losing to les Bleus had returned by the time Best was making his Test … Continue reading "‘When I first came into the squad, it was a real rarity that we’d beat them’"

MARK CHISHOLM, MUNSTER’S Australian second-row, will return to full squad training this week as he continues his comeback from an extended break due to concussion. The 35-year-old has been sidelined since last March’s Guinness Pro12 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons and is set to resume full contact training after being given the all-clear. It had … Continue reading "Munster’s Mark Chisholm returns to full squad training after 11 months out with concussion"

AFTER A MESSY scrummaging performance in their opening game against Italy, Wales shuffled their front row, bringing Rob Evans in at loosehead for Nicky Smith, and replacing Samson Lee at tighthead with the ever-improving Tomas Francis. And while the pair did stabilise the Welsh scrum in the games against England and Scotland, they’ve yet to … Continue reading "Analysis: The Welsh scrum has big problems, and Ireland can take advantage"

IRELAND WOMEN WILL switch their Aon jersey sponsorship to a charity that fights homelessness for their Grand Slam showdown with England on St Patrick’s Day. Aon will vacate their jersey sponsorship for Ireland’s final Six Nations game, as the Inner City Helping Homeless (ICHH) logo will appear on the jersey in their place. ICHH are … Continue reading "Ireland to don homelessness charity logo for Grand Slam showdown with England"

“I LOVE CHOCOLATE, man. Love it.” Viliami Vunipola was determined to keep the positive elements of the Six Nations final day at the forefront of the conversation despite Saturday’s 13  –  9 loss to Ireland. The first player to wander into the packed mixed zone, the England number eight wasn’t for backing behind a cordon … Continue reading "Vunipola intent on celebrating and learning after defeat in Dublin"