Phone ringing off the hook

9 years ago

Some big name omissions

9 years ago

It will feature a host of Munster legends

9 years ago

Everyone who has been a sub will appreciate this

9 years ago

Measure of the man

9 years ago

“The coach was fuming”

9 years ago

Fast. Track.

9 years ago

You’re on your own

9 years ago

Stitched up good and proper

9 years ago

Setting the mood for the big one.

9 years ago

Humble words.

9 years ago

Rivalries put to one side.

9 years ago

Got very heated.

9 years ago

Like the Euros all over again.

9 years ago

Some support. There’s something so heartening to see so many Irish rugby stars out supporting our women. Ireland pitched into World Cup battle against France at the UCD Bowl in a winner-takes-a-semi-final-spot battle that had so, so many gripped. Tom Tierney’s side could secure a last four place, up at Belfast’s Kingspan Stadium, by defeating […]

9 years ago

Looks bad for the former boxing world champion

9 years ago

Enough already…

9 years ago

Bang to rights

9 years ago

14. Solid. Days!

9 years ago

Would have been class

9 years ago

That had to hurt.

9 years ago

What a belter.

9 years ago

It’s not easy out there

9 years ago

What a score

9 years ago

He was pumped up.

9 years ago

Start booking your tickets

9 years ago

Say it loud and say it proud Cesc. Chelsea are league champions for the sixth time in their history after they defeated West Brom 1-0 at The Hawthorns. Antonio Conte’s men had to wait until the 82d minute to break the dead-lock and, once they did, the party could begin. From 10th place last season […]

9 years ago

Rugby World Cup reaction, a Conor Murray interview, Champions Cup, freedom of Cork and more. Ronan O’Gara, Isaac Boss, Mike McCarthy, Conor Murray, SportsJOE’s Pat McCarry and host Andy McGeady are on this week. Here’s what’s coming up on Episode 15 of The Hard Yards: 1:40 – The lads talk about the Rugby Players Ireland award […]

9 years ago

Not a bother to the men in green… In a little over two years, Ireland will embark on their ninth quest to win the William Webb Ellis trophy. In truth, Ireland would be delighted to get beyond that sticky quarter final stage but, sure, once we’re in the last four, we might as well go […]

9 years ago

Geniuses

9 years ago

Presidential seal of approval

9 years ago

Can you get any more dramatic than this? Leinster were leading Glasgow Warriors 31-30 in an absolute nail-gnawer at the RDS when the flood-lights went out and nobody had a single clue what to do. Leo Cullen’s men had already secured a home PRO12 semi-final coming into their final home league fixture of the season […]

9 years ago

Player ratings. The players often say they don’t read them but two former Ireland internationals confess they most definitely did. Invariably subjective, often posted minutes after a match, ratings provide genuine talking points. They laud the instant heroes and highlight the players that did not hit the heights. Ronan O’Gara and Kevin McLaughlin told The Hard […]

9 years ago

Gave it every single thing he had

9 years ago

It was all going so well… Warren Gatland named his 2017 Lions squad and there were plenty of places for England, Wales and Ireland players. Scotland got two – Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour – but you can’t please everyone. The #AllForOne hashtag was trending and, we were told, it was time to come together […]

9 years ago

Irish rugby fans should be content with this squad. Still, it would have been nice to get a couple more in. Warren Gatland has named his 2017 British & Irish Lions squad for the summer tour to New Zealand and there are a few surprise calls. Gatland has named a 41-man squad to take on […]

9 years ago

Joe Schmidt is planning for Ireland’s summer tour without captain Rory Best. The Ulster hooker is widely expected to be named in the British & Irish Lions squad on Wednesday and Schmidt has already prepared for the next three Tests without him. Ireland will play one Test against the United States in New Jersey before […]

9 years ago

We don’t want to shock you to your boot-cut core, but Italia 90 was 27 flipping years ago. Back then, in an era of pay-phones and Harry Ramsden challenges, Ireland were taking their first strides on the World Cup stage after shocking the English at Euro 88. Jack Charlton’s men drew with England in their […]

9 years ago

We are getting ahead of ourselves slightly here. Pearl Gonzalez is not a UFC fighter… yet. On Saturday night in Buffalo, Gonzalez is set to fight fellow straw-weight Cynthia Calvillo on the main card of UFC 210. All that was thrown into doubt, earlier today, when the New York State Athletic Commission informed her she would […]

9 years ago

You can’t imagine antics like this would be tolerated with a touring Ireland side on Joe Schmidt’s watch. Stephen Ferris was on The Hard Yards rugby podcast and [from 5:00 below] shared a brilliant story about Ireland’s two-Test tour to Argentina in the summer of 2007. “They left all the big boys at home and us […]

9 years ago

Start booking those flight

9 years ago

Rassie Erasmus admits there is no huge amount of fondness for Saracens yet he was cheering them on today. The Munster director of rugby was well aware of the knock-out draw permutations ahead of the European champions’ quarter-final tie against Glasgow Warriors. A Saracens win would mean Munster would get a semi final at the […]

9 years ago

What started as sniping remarks and barbed comments between Everton manager Ronald Koeman and Ireland boss Martin O’Neill has escalated to an all-out war. The Premier League club has clashed often with the Republic of Ireland’s coaching and medical staff in recent years over the fitness of their players going into, and returning from, international breaks. […]

9 years ago

Derry City manager Kenny Shiels has penned a heartbreaking Ryan McBride tribute in the programme for his team’s first match back. This Sunday will mark a fortnight since Derry, the football team and the city, lost a true leader in McBride. The Candystripes’ captain passed away on Sunday, March 19 after being found in the […]

9 years ago

There is a long-held tradition in Irish rugby circles – make your Test debut and you get your absolute fill of booze. The game has gone from the amateur to professional era but once you get your first cap, you will have to sink your fair share of alcohol from any player – teammate or […]

9 years ago

Seamus Coleman is still recovering from his Saturday morning surgery but a way back must already be at the forefront of his mind. The Ireland captain was transferred to St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin soon after suffering a double leg break in Ireland’s 0-0 draw with Wales, on Friday night. Ireland manager Martin O’Neill was […]

9 years ago

“I’m a hurler.” Sean O’Brien does like a bit of GAA but most folk would know him for his epic deeds on the rugby field. ‘The Tullow Tank’ is clearly enjoying his downtime after helping Ireland to a weekend win over England and a second place Six Nations finish. O’Brien joined the Fuppin’ Eejits comedy gang […]

9 years ago

Of all the tributes, eulogies and stories we will read and hear about Martin McGuinness over the coming days, this stands right up there with the best. The people of Derry have been through the wringer for centuries. They are used to hardship and strife. They are used to getting through it. The past few […]

9 years ago

All those pre-planned tweets and social media images that will never see the light of day… Planning ahead is often a good thing but even the best of intentions can’t twist fate’s arm. Newspapers, websites and the English Rugby Football Union will have done a big of the leg-work to prepare themselves in the eventuality […]

9 years ago

GRAND SLAMMED. That was the theme of newspaper headlines across world rugby’s main outposts as England fell short against a rampant, rabid Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. Eddie Jones tasted defeat for the first time in 19 matches but was gracious in handling the result… aside from one, tiny Leprechaun remark. The result did everything […]

9 years ago