LEINSTER MAY BE welcoming back Johnny Sexton tonight but centre Garry Ringrose knows it will count for little unless they improve defensively for the visit of league leaders the Ospreys. Leo Cullen’s side finished last year’s campaign with the best defensive record in the Guinness Pro12, conceding just 27 tries and a total of 290…
Toulouse out-half Holmes cleared to face Leinster after quarter-final red card
Click:22000PUFFS VAPE TOULOUSE HAVE BEEN boosted by the news out-half Zack Holmes has been cleared to face Leinster in next weekend’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final showdown after his quarter-final red card. The Australian was sent-off by Luke Pearce for a high tackle on Racing 92 winger Juan Imhoff during the all-French quarter-final in Paris earlier…
‘We know we’re playing the best team in Europe, but we will be playing our rugby’
Ryan Bailey reports from the Aviva Stadium TOULOUSE HEAD COACH Ugo Mola believes tomorrow’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final against fellow four-time winners Leinster will be the next step on his side’s journey back to the top of European rugby. The Top 14 leaders were welcomed to Dublin by glorious blue skies this afternoon and Mola’s…
Connacht ready for shot at Ulster as Friend’s men advance ‘in good shape’
Ryan Bailey reports from Thomond Park GIVEN CONNACHT ARRIVED with a reconfigured side and more than one eye on the serious business around the corner, Andy Friend wanted to assess his side’s performance against Munster through the prism of three criteria; pride, opportunities and momentum. “Pride, tick,” the head coach began. “Opportunities, tick. Momentum, we…
Leinster not over-analysing Garcès’ ‘slightly different’ refereeing style
THE APPOINTMENT OF Jérome Garcès to referee Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup final has certainly raised concern among Leinster supporters, particularly following the Frenchman’s officiating of the breakdown in Saracens’ win over Munster. Garcès, who also took charge of Leinster’s quarter-final victory over the English side in last year’s quarter-final in Dublin, will referee his first…
Nucifora expresses delight as IRFU confirm Kearney’s contract extension
THE IRFU HAVE this morning issued confirmation that Rob Kearney has penned a deal that will extend his contract until the end of the 2019-20 season. The development puts an end to uncertainty over Kearney’s future, after the Leinster and Ireland fullback had been linked with a move to a French club after the 2019…
Munster face tough pool draw as provinces to learn Champions Cup opponents
LESS THAN A month after Saracens were crowned champions of Europe for the third time in Newcastle, the first steps on the road to Marseille 2020 will be mapped out in Lausanne this afternoon. All four Irish provinces take their place in the draw for the 2019/20 Champions Cup pool stages, after Andy Friend’s Connacht…
O’Connell retains coaching ambitions but puts Munster on the long finger
PAUL O’CONNELL SAYS he remains hungry to further his coaching career following a short spell in France with Stade Francais, but the former Ireland second row is in no rush to find a new job. O’Connell parted ways with Top 14 outfit Stade at the end of last season, having joined Heyneke Meyer’s backroom staff…
Pacific Nations Cup wins for Ireland’s World Cup opponents Japan and Samoa
KOTARO MATSUSHIMA SCORED two tries as Japan beat Fiji 34-21 in a confidence-boosting win ahead of their home World Cup. The Brave Blossoms bagged five tries to Fiji’s three in their opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup, two months before Japan hosts the first World Cup to be held in Asia. Japan’s Kotaro Matsushima….
Leinster’s Lowe and Penny in a race to be fit for start of Pro14 season
LEINSTER HOPE TO have both James Lowe and Scott Penny available for the start of the new Guinness Pro14 season despite the pair undergoing shoulder reconstruction operations this summer. Lowe went under the knife following the Pro14 final win over Glasgow Warriors at the end of May and Penny missed Ireland’s U20 World Championship campaign…