JOE SCHMIDT HAS revealed his hand for Ireland’s opening Six Nations assignment against Scotland on Saturday afternoon [KO 2.25pm] with Ulster’s Iain Henderson to start in the second row. Henderson will continue his partnership with Devin Toner at Murrayfield while Ultan Dillane will be held in reserve for the clash with Vern Cotter’s side. There…
IRELAND TEAM MANAGER Paul Dean was unable to provide any further clarification on the fitness of Johnny Sexton this afternoon, other than the out-half will continue his rehab this week. The 31-year-old missed Ireland’s opening game of this Six Nations Championship with a calf injury and his availability for the second assignment against Italy in…
Italy 3 Ireland 27 A BRILLIANT last-gasp try from Hannah Tyrrell earned Ireland a bonus point win, as they beat Italy 27-3 in L’Aquila in this afternoon’s Women’s Six Nations clash. However, the match was not quite as straightforward as the outcome suggests, with the Irish being held 3-3 at half-time, before an improved display after…
Connacht 14Dragons 9 John Fallon reports from the Sportsground Connacht just about did enough to get across the line in a poor encounter at the Sportsground. Both sides were guilty of a string of errors but a good start was enough in the end for Pat Lam’s men to make it two wins in a…
A 27-22 VICTORY over France means Nigel Carolan’s Ireland U20s have won all three of their games in the Six Nations so far. Here, we look at three of the standout performers during last night’s success at Donnybrook. Jordan Larmour Larmour came out of St. Andrew’s College with a fine reputation, having also represented Ireland…
FORMER FRANCE COACH Philippe Saint-Andre will help train Cameroon on a voluntary basis in the African Cup in May. Saint-Andre stepped down as France coach in 2015 after a four-year period in which Les Bleus never finished higher than fourth in the Six Nations, failed to beat Wales, Ireland, New Zealand or South Africa and were…
Murray Kinsella reports from the Principality Stadium THE ROOF WILL be closed for tomorrow’s Six Nations clash between Ireland and Wales at the Principality Stadium [KO 8.05pm]. Wales have a preference for shutting the retractable roof for games at the Cardiff venue, but opposition teams have the final say in whether it remains open or…
THROUGH HIS DUAL role as Connacht’s academy manager and Ireland U20 head coach, Nigel Carolan has seen groups of players come through the system and forge careers for themselves in the professional game. Carolan at the team hotel in Sandymount yesterday. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO Carolan has been involved with this age grade since 2008 and…
TOULOUSE HAVE NAMED France international Jean-Marc Doussain at out-half for tomorrow’s Champions Cup quarter-final clash with Munster at Thomond Park [KO 5.45pm, Sky Sports 2], with former All Black Luke McAlister kept in reserve. Doussain starts at out-half for Toulouse. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO Ugo Mola, the Toulouse boss, has gone for a 6-2 split of…
FOR THE SECOND year running, Scotland’s Stuart Hogg has been voted the 2017 Player of the Six Nations as he emulates Brian O’Driscoll in winning the award in consecutive championships. Hogg received 24.60% of the public vote with Ireland’s CJ Stander (14.95%) and Louis Picamoles of France (12.84%) coming second and third respectively. Source: Craig…