A new sport for the Games: What you need to know about rugby at the Olympics

THERE ARE TWO new additions to the Olympic Games schedule this year. Golf will take the form of a traditional strokeplay tournament with 60 players competing across four days, so that format should need no further introduction. The introduction of rugby though, may need a little crash course. So here you go. It’s rugby, but…

Gibson-Park set for Leinster debut as Kearney and Healy return for final pre-season friendly

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK will make his Leinster debut tomorrow evening in the province’s final pre-season friendly against Bath at Donnybrook. The Kiwi scrum-half, a recent arrival from the Hurricanes, has been included by Leo Cullen in the XV for the visit of the English Premiership side (kick-off 7.30pm). The Leinster head coach has selected a strong…

Ian Keatley starts at out-half in one of two changes for Munster

DIRECTOR OF RUGBY Rassie Erasmus has made two changes in personnel to his Munster starting line-up for tomorrow night’s meeting with Cardiff Blues. After last weekend’s victory away to Scarlets in their opener, Munster will be aiming to continue their positive start to their Guinness Pro12 campaign at Musgrave Park [7.35pm] against a Cardiff side…

Upheaval at Edinburgh as head coach resigns days before Connacht clash

ALAN SOLOMONS HAS stepped down from his role as Edinburgh head coach with immediate effect just four games into the new season. The 66-year-old leaves the Scottish side after three years at the helm, with former international Duncan Hodge taking over as acting head coach. Edinburgh, who have won just one of their first four…

Cullen urges Leinster to take lessons from Glasgow defeat after ‘good reminder of what losing feels like’

LEINSTER HEAD COACH Leo Cullen says his players have received a stark reminder of what losing feels like, as they fell of the pace and were beaten at home for the first time this season. Glasgow Warriors were rampant in their five-try success at the RDS on Saturday, becoming the first Scottish team to win…

Connacht’s Roux in fitness battle ahead of Pro14 quarter-final

IRELAND SECOND ROW Quinn Roux remains a doubt for Connacht’s Guinness Pro14 quarter-final showdown with Ulster on Saturday week.  The 2016 champions have a run-out against Munster at Thomond Park this Saturday before they make the trip to Kingspan Stadium in the end of season play-offs the following weekend. Roux will miss this weekend but…

Cullen and Sexton rue Leinster’s failure to take scoring chances

BOTH LEO CULLEN and Johnny Sexton were left to rue Leinster’s inability to turn prime attacking positions into points as the province suffered defeat to Saracens in this evening’s Heineken Champions Cup. Leinster’s bid for a record fifth European title fell flat at St James’ Park as Cullen’s side let a 10-point lead slip to…

Tommy Bowe’s big job offer, The Peter Crouch final and more Tweets of the Week

1. Ballinagh GAA 2. Colin Kelly  3. Joe Lolley Source: Joe Lolley/Twitter 4.  Secret Footballer Source: Secret Footballer/Twitter 5. Peter Crouch 6. Jacob Stockdale Source: Jacob Stockdale/Twitter   Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here: Click Here: cheap south sydney rabbitohs jersey

Prendergast’s coaching stock rises as ex-Munster scrum-half joins Racing 92

MIKE PRENDERGAST’S EXCITING development as a coach will continue with Racing 92, after the former Munster scrum-half was appointed as the French club’s new attack and backs coach.  Prendergast, who leaves Stade Francais after one season, has signed a long-term contract with Racing ahead of the 2019/20 season, in what is another excellent opportunity for…

Leinster’s Penny has double shoulder surgery after breakthrough season

SCOTT PENNY HAS undergone two separate operations in a bid to clear up longstanding shoulder issues ahead of his first full season in the Leinster senior ranks. The 19-year-old flanker, who enjoyed an outstanding breakthrough year, went under the knife last week after being ruled out of Ireland’s U20 World Championship campaign. Penny played six…