MUNSTER HEAD COACH Johann van Graan is confident of having Joey Carbery fit and starting the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final away to Edinburgh on Saturday (kick-off 12.45). A hamstring injury has meant the Athy man has not played since helping Ireland to victory over Scotland in round two of the Six Nations. Van Graan says … Continue reading "Munster confident of having Carbery fit to face Edinburgh"

Murray Kinsella reports from Cardiff THESE NEXT 21 weeks are going to be a long, long time for Joe Schmidt. One of the biggest frustrations for Schmidt in his role as Ireland head coach is waiting for the next Test window to roll around and he has longer than usual over the coming months before … Continue reading "‘We haven’t been catastrophic’ – Schmidt must identify bug that has hit Ireland"

Kevin Owens has been giving back a bit as he prepares for his WWE return at the Performance Center in Orlando. Ringside News reports that Owens has been working with NXT stars on their promo work while he’s been training at the Center. The site also notes that Owens has lost a bit of weight … Continue reading "Kevin Owens Is Helping NXT Talent Ahead of Return"

Murray Kinsella reports from Edinburgh WITH A TRY in each half, Keith Earls proved to be the difference between Munster and Edinburgh yesterday in Murrayfield as Johann van Graan’s side advanced into the Champions Cup semi-finals in thrilling fashion. Munster celebrate Earls’ second try. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO The might of Saracens awaits in that final-four … Continue reading "‘He’s still got it, the Moyross Train!’ – Earls the difference for Munster"

CONNACHT BOSS ANDY Friend has named Ireland internationals Bundee Aki, Jack Carty and Kieran Marmion in his starting XV for tomorrow’s Challenge Cup quarter-final against Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium [KO 7.45pm, BT Sport]. Carty starts after a stunning appearance off the bench last weekend against Benetton. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO The western province … Continue reading "Aki, Marmion and Carty start as Connacht rotate for Challenge Cup quarter-final"

AFTER ANOTHER UNFORGETTABLE evening at the Sportsground, it has begun to sink in that Connacht will contest their first ever Pro12 final next Saturday. Click Here: newcastle knights team jersey Pat Lam’s men saw out a 16-11 victory over Glasgow at the semi-final stage last night despite playing the closing minutes with 14 men after … Continue reading "‘It’s fantastic but we’ve won nothing yet and that’s the big thing’ – Muldoon"

THE DUBLIN DISTRICT Schoolboy League voted to switch to a summer season during the week and while the move has been generally welcomed, Nial de Brun said what we were all thinking. The week’s big story revolved around events at Old Trafford, with Man United sacking Louis van Gaal and appointing Jose Mourinho as his … Continue reading "Jack Nicholson as Jose in The Special One Departed! It’s Comments of the Week"

NIGEL CAROLAN’S IRELAND under 20s team will begin their world championship journey on Tuesday, when they meet Wales in Manchester. Here are some of the key men you need to know before kick-off comes. James Ryan TO THOSE OF you who didn’t get the chance to watch much Friday night under 20s action during the … Continue reading "From the uncapped to the peerless captain: 5 players key to Irish U20 hopes next week"

Rory Keane reports from Cape Town EXPERIENCE AND FRESHNESS were key factors in Jared Payne’s selection at fullback for the opening Test against South Africa, says Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt. Payne has won all of his 14 Test caps at outside centre but, in the absence of Rob Kearney and Simon Zebo, Schmidt has … Continue reading "Payne’s ‘experience and freshness’ key to fullback call – Joe Schmidt"

THERE WAS A game-changing substitution midway through the second half of Ireland’s first test against South Africa. In the seven scrums prior to Tendai Mtawarira coming off just before the hour mark, it had been one-way traffic. On South Africa’s own feed, their three scrums had yielded a penalty, a penalty advantage (which led to … Continue reading "Analysis: Ireland’s scrum couldn’t live with the Beast as Boks brought back the hit"