“Even while working nights, every second week. She put a lot of work in.” Six years ago, I was fortunate enough to get time to sit and talk with Ultan Dillane in a wind-swept hospitality tent, just beside the Connacht training pitch. Born in Paris but raised in Tralee from the age of seven, Dillane […]

2 years ago

In the lead-up to the Champions Cup final, Ronan O’Gara wanted his players to be aware of all possibilities. La Rochelle, led by their talismanic captain Gregory Alldritt, knew full well what they were capable of but O’Gara wanted to stress that Leinster would be haring out of the gate. As it turned out, Leinster […]

2 years ago

This was a man completely in his element. Back home and back on the big stage again. There was a picture from 2009 getting shared around a lot again, on Saturday evening, even though Johnny Sexton was not involved [as a player, at least] against La Rochelle. It has the iconic image of him roaring […]

2 years ago

“I’m looking forward to the rematch!” Sometimes in boxing, the rivalries and comebacks after set-backs are what make boxing greats ascend to another level. Katie Taylor has found a fitting rival in Chantelle Cameron. Stepping up a weight class to face an opponent that had a height, reach and age advantage, Katie Taylor was not […]

2 years ago

An odd turn of events after La Rochelle best Leinster. There was talk, post-match at Aviva Stadium, of Leinster captain James Ryan being disrespectful during the coin toss in the tunnel. Ronan O’Gara looked upon it as a wider issue if La Rochelle not being treated equally by officials and organisers in Dublin. Ryan went […]

2 years ago

In a game of fine, precious margins, this was a big, big call. Leinster head coach Leo Cullen remains convinced this Leinster side of his will, one season soon, get over the line and win the Champions Cup. Ross Byrne and Garry Ringrose will be hoping that confidence proves accurate. Leinster let a 17-0 need […]

2 years ago

It was a raw, personal moment after an utterly mad game. As the full-time whistle sounded at Aviva Stadium, Ronan O’Gara was mobbed by his backroom staff inside the coach’s box. O’Gara had just masterminded La Rochelle’s second straight Champions Cup triumph – their first two major trophies in rugby – and all from as […]

2 years ago

“They weren’t lying… Tonight was going to be a good night!” Brian O’Driscoll has ticked just about every box in club and Test rugby, and now provides his punditry expertise with a wealth of experience and silverware behind him. We caught up with the former Leinster and Ireland captain ahead of the Champions Cup final […]

2 years ago

Leinster were striving for that fifth star against the team that rumbled them last season. Ronan O’Gara and La Rochelle once again stood in the way of the Champions Cup – and that fifth star – Leinster have strived for ever since they defeated Racing 92 back in 2018. Since then, Leinster have reached two […]

2 years ago

Such respect, and awareness of Irish sporting history. Katie Taylor, like so many of us in Ireland, can’t get enough of her sport. She is obsessed with boxing, of course, but is across a wide range of sports, and can talk at length about various teams, players, games, moments and more. During her visit to […]

2 years ago

McIlroy was fist-pumping while Lowry was livid. What a difference the 18th hole could yet make to the US PGA chances of both Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy. Even though both men finished on level par after shooting in the 60s, for their second rounds, McIlroy was the happier of the two as they headed […]

2 years ago

‘The Notorious’ would like to make his latest comeback in November but must wait a while. The United States Anti-Doping Agency has confirmed that Conor McGregor is to re-enter the testing pool with immediate effect. On Friday evening, McGregor sat down with Ariel Helwani in his Black Forge Inn bar and confirmed, during his interview, […]

2 years ago

“Yeah, he’s a brilliant player, isn’t he?” Jamison Gibson-Park and Tawera Kerr-Barlow – two Kiwi scrum-halves that have made a career, and life, for themselves in Europe – are coming up against each other again at Aviva Stadium. Having traded Super Rugby for the European club game, both are up there with Antoine Dupont as […]

2 years ago

The four-time major winner was picked up by CBS cameras telling Justin Thomas about his poor night’s sleep, and Whoop score. Rory McIlroy was not at his best during the first round of the US PGA Championship, at Oak Hill, on Thursday but he scrambled his rump off to stay within sight of the leaders. […]

2 years ago

The LIV Golf star did yell ‘Fore’, according to the broadcasters. Such was his trough in form that Bryson DeChambeau entered the US PGA Championship at over 100/1 to win his second major. The American, who won the US Open in 2020, is without a tournament win – in PGA or LIV Golf events – […]

2 years ago

“I obviously knew it was such a special moment in my life.” Katie Taylor sat down with JOE ahead of her clash with Chantelle Cameron, this Saturday, at the 3Arena in Dublin. Taylor is undefeated in the professional ranks and a world champion across two different weight divisions, but the Bray native has had her […]

2 years ago

“What are they drinking down there in Limerick and Cork?!” There were concerns, only a few weeks back, that Keith Earls could have played his last game for Munster when he suffered a groin injury in South Africa. Jump ahead to the URC semi-final win over Leinster and there was Keith Earls, out in Munster […]

2 years ago

Get the man off the auto-cue and it is comedy gold. Peter O’Mahony was in top form, in his role as Rugby Players Ireland chairperson, as the players body held their annual awards ceremony at the Clayton Hotel, in Dublin, on Wednesday. The Munster captain was joined at the event by teammate Jack Crowley, who […]

2 years ago

“I’m excited to see what we are capable of achieving together.” Caelan Doris held off stiff competition from two Leinster teammates and Connacht winger Mack Hansen to win the Bank of Ireland’s Men’s XVs Players’ Players of the Year 2023, this evening at a ceremony in Dublin.  The Mayo native, who has been an outstanding frontline […]

2 years ago

“I dipped my toes in it. It helped me deal with retirement.” While he may have a new, three-part show airing on RTÉ, many GAA fans are getting acquainted with seeing Philly McMahon on our TV screens as a pundit with the BBC. The former Dublin star is part of the BBC panel, along with […]

2 years ago

Just the three games, this time around. Andy Farrell is changing tack from the World Cup preparations of the last two Ireland coaches. Their final match before the big tournament will be in the host country. Last month, the IRFU confirmed dates and opponents for Ireland’s two home World Cup warm-up fixtures. The Grand Slam […]

2 years ago

‘Normal service du resume’. That was one part of the Ronan O’Gara press conference – held today at Stade Rochelais Apivia Parc – that I did not need Google Translate for. Antoine Halstoy and Pierre Bougarit were both up for press duties on the Monday of Champions Cup final week, before O’Gara took his seat […]

2 years ago

The exit of Hugo Lloris from Tottenham is expected to spark a goalkeeping merry-go-round. Gavin Bazunu may not have to ready himself for a drop to the Championship after all. Hugo Lloris is heading for the Spurs ‘exit’ door and he may not be the only goalkeeper changing clubs, this summer. Over the weekend, The Times […]

2 years ago

“They’ve a more settled group there, and that’s a call that we made.” Now it all rides on Saturday for Leinster. The pressure, if it wasn’t sky high before, is huge now. The big brawlers, and ballers, of Stade Rochelais are coming to Dublin and they will have relished seeing what Munster did to their […]

2 years ago

“Happy, now, to be in a final. Yeah.” As Connor Morris was wrapping up a memorable three-question Q&A with Jack Crowley, the 23-year-old fixed him with a grin. “Thank you very much,” he replied to Moris wishing him luck in the URC final. “I appreciate it. Thank you.” It was a chat that lasted two […]

2 years ago

The URC posted a clip of the celebrations on their social media channels before deleting. It was less than an hour after Munster had closed out against Leinster to reach the United Rugby Championship final when my phone pinged with a video of some Stormers celebrations in Cape Town. By the end of the night, […]

2 years ago

“Ireland are going to Paris! Book your tickets!” In the early hours of Sunday morning, even with the clocks an hour further ahead in Toulouse, the Ireland Women’s Sevens squad, their coaches, players, friends, family and friends were partying hard. For the first time in this country’s history – albeit with only a recent qualifying […]

2 years ago

“25 days ago, we were paranoid about European qualification.” While Munster supporters were still rocking and rolling around Dublin, and others were looking into flights to Cape Town for a URC Final, Graham Rowntree was reflecting on four huge away wins that have his side on the brink of a title. Such is the United […]

2 years ago

Well said by the Munster captain. Peter O’Mahony had a question for Conor Morris when he approached him to get his post-match thoughts after a stunning win over Leinster. “I think we have a trip to South Africa now, have we?” He knew well that they did. For a side that were on course for […]

2 years ago

LEINSTER 15-16 MUNSTER Jack Crowley was the coolest man in Dublin as he slotted a late, late drop goal to stun Leinster in the United Rugby Championship semi-finals. It was rich reward for Munster and Crowley held his nerve to dash Leinster’s dreams of URC glory. The first half was held up on several occasions […]

2 years ago

“Don’t ask!” Before he became care-taker and then full-time manager of Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer picked up some experience as boss of Molde. During his time with the Norwegian side, he gave a senior debut to a 16-year-old Erling Haaland. The striker scored four goals in his first season with the senior side then […]

2 years ago

STORMERS 43-25 CONNACHT Manie Libbok scored 23 points, including two tries, as Stormers beat Connacht in Cape Town to reach the United Rugby Championship final, for the second season in a row. Connacht started the better of the two sides and took an early lead through a Jack Carty penalty. Soon after, Mack Hansen scored […]

2 years ago

“It’s somewhere I’ve taken my wife and it is special to me, and there’s a boat going by… “ Ian Garry is days out from a fight that could see him jump into the UFC welterweight rankings, yet has an extremely relaxed demeanour. After receiving a mini pep-talk from his wife, Layla, and waving over […]

2 years ago

‘How fitting’ Celtic may have won the Scottish Premiership title for 2022/23 but Rangers were quick to ensure there would be no crowing from their Glasgow rivals at Ibrox. Rangers secured a 3-0 win as they punished a number of lapses in the Celtic defence. Todd Cantwell got the first goal – scoring on the […]

2 years ago

The announcement comes less than 48 hours before the Ulster final. Rory Gallagher is stepping back as manager of the Derry senior men’s side with immediate effect. The move comes amid a squall of accusations against Gallagher and a firm denial from the Fermanagh native, through his legal representatives. In a statement, Mr Gallagher said: “This […]

2 years ago

The tackle was deemed “intentional” and a ban was imposed but the outhalf will be free to play from the start of the 2023/24 URC season. Conor Murray had his United Rugby Championship quarter final cut short after only 25 minutes, and will miss Saturday’s semi-final against Leinster. Tom Jordan, meanwhile, will miss some ‘A’ […]

2 years ago

“Let’s go to Dublin. Let’s go to Ireland. Let’s bring the UFC back.” We are five days out from the next biggest fight in the career of Ian Garry and he is giving us a virtual tour of his rental house and back garden in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 25-year-old from Dublin [11-0] is going […]

2 years ago

The mutton-chopped Connacht winger is amongst the Leinster pigeons. Mack Hansen and three Leinster stars have been buoyed, ahead of their respective United Rugby Championship semi-finals, with nominations for Ireland Men’s Players’ Player of the Year for 2023. Hansen is up against the Leinster trio of Caelan Doris, Dan Sheehan and Hugo Keenan for the […]

2 years ago

“It was quite a serious role. Other players had done it before him.” During a chat with Wales and Lions legend Sam Warburton, earlier this year, Paul O’Connell spoke this sense of wonder that imbued him through his early days with Munster. A talented swimmer in his formative years, O’Connell really only gave rugby a […]

2 years ago

“I’d say they’re probably feeling pretty comfortable.” Although a lot of water has passed under the bridge since last September, and he has won a Grand Slam since, Mack Hansen keenly recalls the last time Connacht took on Stormers in South Africa. Playing at Danie Craven Stadium, on the first leg of an early season […]

2 years ago

“I might just say something in English, if it is possibly heard out there… “ Colm de Buitléar seamlessly switched from a post-match interview, as Gaeilge, to English as he had a point and wanted to get it thrumming in as many ear-drums as possible. The Terenure centre, who previously played professional rugby with Connacht, […]

2 years ago

“Bundee was getting some abuse.” It was not the greatest night, on the attacking from, for Bundee Aki or Mack Hansen but, like the rest of their Connacht teammates, they dug deep, made big plays in defence and hounded Ulster to within an inch of their lives. Connacht were in the depths of their season […]

2 years ago

“We’re going to go balls out and remind you who’s top dog in this country.” There was a 2:1 Munster to Leinster split on the House of Rugby panel, this week, but we simply had to start with Connacht ending Ulster’s title dreams. The Westerners are the most recent province, aside from Leinster, to claim […]

2 years ago

“We had serenity. The boys are happy.” We are well and truly into the business end of the 2022/23 rugby season, in Europe, and Ronan O’Gara is leaning on a somewhat novel way to get his troops over the line. The La Rochelle coach, for the third successive season, is in hot pursuit of trophies on […]

2 years ago

GLASGOW 5-14 MUNSTER 04:28. That is how long Peter O’Mahony lasted against Glasgow Warriors and he was in the wars for the whole time he was on the Scotstoun pitch. Munster had another impressive away performance to beat Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship quarter finals. Two first half tries put them in a […]

2 years ago

As clear a red card as you are likely to see all season. Conor Murray was forced to go for a Head Injury Assessment in the first half of Munster’s United Rugby Championship quarter final. Munster were were 7-0 up against Glasgow Warriors, at Scotstoun, in their last eight clash after 26 minutes but had […]

2 years ago

LEINSTER 35-5 SHARKS This one was close for about 13 minutes. Once Caelan Doris got over for a converted try, Leinster were able to stay in fourth gear and leave Sharks in their dust. The last time we saw Leinster in the United Rugby Championship, their shadow squad was getting an almighty pumping at the […]

2 years ago

“Man, that guy is freakish.” A couple of years back, during an appearance on House of Rugby, Leinster and Ireland winger James Lowe reflected on what it was like to prepare for a game against an Antoine Dupont side. “When we played France in the Six Nations [finale, in 2020]… it was wild how far […]

2 years ago

ULSTER 10-15 CONNACHT “Ah, look, lad, we’re absolutely stoked.” Shamus Hurley-Langton spoke as if he was just back from a brisk stroll, rather than being the all-action Connacht talisman as his team stunned Ulster on their home patch. The 23-year-old from New Zealand arrived in Galway, last summer, and has had a decent first season […]

2 years ago

“To be honest with you, I think it takes the absolute piss” That was Eddie Hearn’s take on dealing with Croke Park officials when trying to sort a Katie Taylor fight. With rugby’s Challenge and Champions Cups coming top Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on the same weekend as a typically loaded GAA and Airtricity weekend, trying […]

2 years ago