“Back to reality, which is good, good, good.” The Tuesday after Ireland’s latest Grand Slam success saw a good chunk of the squad keep the party going by hiring a bus to scoot them about. Mack Hansen was one of the senior stars who had been afforded a week off after logging big championship minutes. […]

3 years ago

“People just seem to hear anything negative and that’s it, they’re off!” In episode one of our new podcast House of Football our co-hosts Eric Lalor and Damien Delaney sat down with ex Leeds United and Irish international Ian Harte to discuss Ireland vs France and much more. Having both represented their country at the highest level, […]

3 years ago

A fantastic achievement from a fantastic player. Ireland may have won a Grand Slam and dominated Team of the Tournament, but France scrumhalf Antoine Dupont has been named as 2023 Six Nations Player of the Championship. Dupont saw off competition from two of his France teammates and the Ireland trio of Caelan Doris, Mack Hansen […]

3 years ago

“Oh, I’ve got a Mister Whippy coming past me now.” Not long back and into the training swing at Connacht, Mack Hansen took time out of his afternoon – when he was not getting distracted by ice cream vans – to talk with us about his Grand Slam win with Ireland. The winger is one […]

3 years ago

“Fair play to you for offering, though.” Johnny Sexton may not have been too stunned to see Greg O’Shea at the coin toss, ahead of Ireland’s Grand Slam decider, but Owen Farrell did a double-take. O’Shea, the former Munster and Ireland Sevens flyer, had met Farrell at a UK airport, earlier this year, and had […]

3 years ago

Another seven are all but certain of selection, depending on their fitness and injury fortune. Andy Farrell had 46 players come into his Ireland camp, before and during the 2023 Six Nations. Paring that back to 33 will be a mighty task and he will already be mulling his World Cup squad. Ireland are expected […]

3 years ago

“It says it all, really.” Nathan Collins was still trying to get his head around how France goalkeeper Mike Maignan was able to tip his bullet header onto the crossbar, long after the final whistle sounded at Aviva Stadium. Maignan was walking by several Irish players after Arthur Dias blew for full-time, confirming France as […]

3 years ago

United have sent scouts to AMEX Stadium, to watch the young striker play on a few occasions this season. A few days back, Evan Ferguson was pillaging his first senior goal for the Republic of Ireland. Ahead of a Euro 2024 qualifier against France, he has been praised by Kylian Mbappé The Brighton striker scored […]

3 years ago

Brought to you by Thermacare. The SportsJOE Friday Pub Quiz is here to get that sporting brain whirring ahead of another big weekend. Ireland are Grand Slam champions, on the double, the Allianz Leagues are getting to the nitty gritty with the finals in sight and we’re in the thick of international football, with France […]

3 years ago

“It was a special weekend.” Anyone that was keeping an eye on their phones, or in the vicinity of several break-out celebrations, will tell you that Hugo Keenan and the Ireland lads had a good old, four-day run of toasting their Grand Slam triumph. We caught up with Keenan, not long off his Player of […]

3 years ago

Splitting heirs, but a sign of Ireland’s rude health. We will start off here with a vow that we will not do a Lions XV of our own until at least 2024. Warren Gatland got the ball rolling in 2022, and dropped an updated one on Wednesday. Last July, the three-time Lions coach had nine […]

3 years ago

“I’m getting some tour of this place.” When the functions, parties, pub hops and send-offs were over, the Ireland lads still found time to get over to Garry Ringrose and help him celebrate that 50th Test cap… again. The success of Leinster and Ireland’s winning Test Series down in New Zealand may give some the […]

3 years ago

“It would be crazy if there isn’t at least seven or eight in there.” Call it green-tinted glasses or a weekend of double Grand Slam victories, but we are coming down on the side of plenty of Ireland players. When it comes to selecting a Six Nations Team of the Tournament, there are a few […]

3 years ago

Digging into the numbers, the Leinster fullback was as consistent as he was brilliant. On Wednesday evening, voting will close on the 2023 Six Nations Player of the Championship and Team of the Tournament. Hugo Keenan could feature in both but Thomas Ramos is a worthy foe when it comes to casting votes. Freddie Steward […]

3 years ago

“It’s more relaxed, as opposed to, ‘Put word your heads down and be quiet’.” On Saturday, as Aviva Stadium roiled in celebration, Andy Farrell stood at the edge of the pitch and left the glut of the stage to his players. It was their time to celebrate. They, he would later insist, had done all […]

3 years ago

“It’s different gravy, isn’t it.” With Lansdowne Road still reverberating with song and celebrations, Mack Hansen was hooked in for some post-match media duties and produced the goods again. The Connacht winger spoke of needing to take tablets so ‘I didn’t s**t myself’ and replied, ‘Drink, drink, drink’ when asked for his plans for the […]

3 years ago

“I’m a bit more risk averse so that is why I like Johnny Sexton.” Sam Warburton is picking a France star for his Player of the Championship but has seven Ireland men in his Six Nations team of the tournament. The former Wales and Lions captain was tasked, along with John Barclay, in selecting his […]

3 years ago

“It’s amazing to bring big time boxing back here.” Katie Taylor was not even legally sanctioned to engage in a women’s bout when she first started on her path to become a boxing world champion. Women’s boxing was banned in Ireland until 1998 and, three years later, a 15-year-old Taylor fought in the first officially […]

3 years ago

“And next year’s batch are supposed to be even better.” Ireland are 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam champions in the mens and U20s championships, and looking in rude health. House of Rugby looked back on those winning campaigns, and ahead to the World Cup. Pat McCarry and Jason Hennessy were joined in the House of […]

3 years ago

“We’ve done something we haven’t done in a wee while.” James Lowe and this Ireland team are in the form of their lives, with everything building nicely for the World Cup, in France. Back in 2009, Ireland bridged a 61-year gap by winning a Grand Slam in Cardiff. Including that triumph, Ireland have now won […]

3 years ago

‘Shag’ trying to bring us back to earth. Back in 2019, it was hard to find a team that wanted a sniff of the World Cup favourites’ tag. The previous November (2018), Steve Hansen suggested Ireland had set themselves up on the lofty perch by defeating them at Aviva Stadium. Ireland had won the Grand […]

3 years ago

Why not all six spots, we say… The shortlist for the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Player of the Championship has been revealed, with Ireland and France splitting the nominations. Ireland, who claimed a Grand Slam on Saturday with a win over England, and second place France both got three nominations apiece. The six-man list is, […]

3 years ago

‘Rocky’ even got to meet ‘Spiderman’ after the fight. The UFC returned to London for a homecoming card as Leon Edwards looked to defend his welterweight title for the first time, writes Donal Long. After his spectacular comeback knockout over Kamaru Usman, the two would meet for the third time in the O2 Arena. The card […]

3 years ago

The pair were Lions teammates in 2017 but have also clashed in the past. Peter O’Mahony picked up another Six Nations’ winners medal and was proudly walking around Aviva Stadium, not long after the 29-16 win over England, with his daughter perched on his shoulders. The Munster captain put in another solid starting effort as […]

3 years ago

“We’ve had 31 lads play, but 48 guys in with us during the championship.” As a Grand Slam triumph sank in, for many of the Ireland players, Ryan Baird showed an incredible, late burst that took the Aviva Stadium security staff by surprise. Anyone that has seen the young Leinster forward in action, in recent […]

3 years ago

He may not have played a minute during this Six Nations championship but Keith Earls was a popular man after Ireland claimed the Grand Slam. Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell and Jamie George were just a few of the England players to seek out Earls as Ireland’s Grand Slam winners partied all over the Lansdowne Road […]

3 years ago

“Grand Slams are not just won on nights like this.” Andy Farrell and Johnny Sexton both know what it is like to be compared to those that have gone before. To be held up for comparison against men that are considered Irish rugby legends. While Sexton secured his place as one of Ireland’s true greats […]

3 years ago

The pair have been going hammer and tongs against each other for over a decade. Whether it is in the green of Ireland, white of England or red and black/navy of Munster and Saracens, Peter O’Mahony and Owen Farrell have torn into each other on plenty of occasions. On the international stage, O’Mahony and Farrell […]

3 years ago

A first ever home Grand Slam for Andy Farrell’s men. Ireland were heavy favourites to defeat England, win their 10th straight Test match and pick up a Triple Crown, Six Nations title and a Grand Slam. We’ve got all the big moments and player ratings from what was a nervy and incident-packed game. After winning […]

3 years ago

“It went down so badly!” Brian O’Driscoll was Ireland captain for 83 of the 133 Test caps he won with his country. By the time he retired, in 2014, he was a dab hand at press conferences and dealing with the media. That was not always the case. Back in 2003, after getting a taste […]

3 years ago

Not for the first time, injuries have played a part. England are coming to Dublin on St Patrick’s weekend and their hosts have a Grand Slam to play for. Andy Farrell has named his Ireland team, with six changes across the match-day squad. Injuries to Scotland starters Garry Ringrose and Iain Henderson mean there would […]

3 years ago

“Front row is front row in my opinion… at the end of the day you just have to hit and push and strike.” If the IRFU were looking to douse the Grand Slam fervour that is growing in Ireland, they did well to select Tadhg Furlong and Cian Healy for Tuesday media duties. Mack Hansen […]

3 years ago

“It does add a bit of fire to the game.” Earlier on, in this Six Nations tournament, Mack Hansen had everyone in stitches with a hilarious post-match interview from Rome. After his latest heroics, in Edinburgh, the Connacht winger has delivered the goods again. Hansen was asked to look ahead to what will be a […]

3 years ago

That fire is still burning within the Ireland captain. He’s far from done yet. There was a moment in the first half of Ireland’s Six Nations encounter with Scotland when Luke Pearce summoned over Johnny Sexton for a chat. The referee was not happy with James Ryan over-stepping his mark. Stuart Hogg and Ben White […]

3 years ago

The players that shipped the biggest blows against Scotland will miss out on the finalé. The Ireland squad for the final round of the 2023 Six Nations has been named, ahead of Saturday’s clash against England. There is a Grand Slam on the line and fresh bodies in the squad for the championship leaders. Ireland […]

3 years ago

Kearns led Tipperary to the All-Ireland semi-finals in 2016. The GAA community has been rocked by the sad passing of Offaly senior football manager Liam Kearns, at the age of 61. Kearns, who appeared for Austin Stacks and Kerry (in league and challenge matches) in his playing days, passed away on Sunday after a short […]

3 years ago

Even with the latest injuries, it is a really strong XV. At Murrayfield, on Sunday, this Ireland team proved you could throw just about any obstacle in their way and they would find a way over, under, around or just straight through it. Ireland lost four of their forwards (three starters and a replacement) before […]

3 years ago

“We were texting his mother and father there.” Near the end of another Ireland Test victory, and a hard-fought one at that, Garry Ringrose took a hip to the head as he braced to tackle. Play should have immediately been stop but it eventually was, so Ringrose could receive medical attention. In scenes that no […]

3 years ago

SCOTLAND 7-22 IRELAND Andy Farrell and his players were up against a Scotland team that will fancy their chances at Murrayfield. We’ve you covered for all the Ireland player ratings, biggest moments and talking points from another big Six Nations encounter, and another Ireland win. Ireland lost three forwards to injury in the first half, […]

3 years ago

The boys are back in (Edinburgh) town. Andy Farrell named his Ireland team to face Scotland, at Murrayfield, on Friday afternoon, and there were a lot of familiar faces back in the mix. Several big guns have returned, with captain Johnny Sexton and blindside Peter O’Mahony among those starting Sunday’s match against the Scots. IRELAND […]

3 years ago

“I’d grown up with Mick Galwey, Anthony Foley, Keith Wood around me.” Paul O’Connell felt, for many years, that some of the men that had captained him at Munster were ‘these inspirational men that made things happen by force of will’. It was only when he became captain himself that he discovered even these great […]

3 years ago

“Scotland are good, across the board… there’s no real weaknesses any more.” On Friday afternoon, Andy Farrell will name his Ireland team to face Scotland in the fourth round of the Six Nations. Bypassing the draw possibility, the winner will either be on course for a Grand Slam or eyeing up a first championship win […]

3 years ago

On International Women’s Day, your knowledge of women’s sport will be tested. We’re celebrating International Women’s Day with a testing quiz mainly based on the great women that follow, and excel in, their sporting dreams and pursuits. You can check out our other SportsJOE quizzes right here. Related articles: Rhasidat Adeleke has smashed her own […]

3 years ago

“This is deadly!” On the same day Brian O’Driscoll was sitting down, at Old Belvedere Rugby Club, for a chat about exciting players and being a Mark Hughes fan-boy, Ireland’s next crop of Grand Slam chasers were training with Andy Farrell’s senior squad. Richie Murphy’s Under 20 squad have had a few cracks off Farrell’s […]

3 years ago

The poor lad was chasing shadows at Anfield. Erik ten Hag was keen for Cody Gakpo last summer and in January. The man who he was forced to settle for just is not cutting it. There was a nice moment, amid the League Cup final celebrations, for Wout Weghorst as he sank to his haunches […]

3 years ago

“Can be so frustrating, at times.” There was a moment near the end of the second half, at Anfield, where Bruno Fernandes was fighting with Trent Alexander-Arnold to get the ball back. Liverpool fans will have enjoyed the sight after what happened at Old Trafford, earlier this season. When Liverpool scored a late goal, in […]

3 years ago

“You’re now live on Liverpool TV!” Gary Neville was far from happy as Kelly Cates, Jame Carragher and Graeme Souness all revelled in Liverpool’s record-breaking victory over Manchester United, at Anfield. Jürgen Klopp’s side thrashed United 7-0 to boost their top four hopes and all but end the rival’s outside hopes of a title challenge. […]

3 years ago

“Shocking, embarrassing.” Roy Keane was looking closely as many of the Manchester United players were coming out for the second half against Liverpool, at Anfield. 1-0 down and needing a big second half, Keane noted players ‘joking and laughing’. Before today, United had trailed seven times in matches in 2023 but had won three and […]

3 years ago

“I was like, ‘What?!’“ Brian O’Driscoll has no hesitation when he is asked for the one young player that most impressed him when called in to train with Ireland, when he was still playing. Having played for Ireland from 1999 to 2014, O’Driscoll has seen some of this country’s best ever players when they were […]

3 years ago

Off the ‘beaten’ track. As a walking, talking cautionary tale, six former Ultimate Fighting Championship stars – including to former opponents of Conor McGregor – have been announced on the card for a bare knuckle fighting event in the USA. For UFC middleweight and lightweight champions Luke Rockhold and Eddie Alvarez are among the big […]

3 years ago