Ciarán Frawley explains why he decided to leave Leinster for Connacht www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

By conceding 41 points, Leinster's defence had its worst knockout day since the arrival of Nienaber With input from those tasked with unlocking the blitz, a look at how the system failed this time Analysis from Bilbao ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Difficult to look past that first half disaster for Leinster. They were desperately unlucky at times, but skills also let them down at the worst possible time Piece from Bilbao ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Jack Oliver recently signed a two-year senior deal with Glasgow This three years after the death of his father Greig, in South Africa watching his son with Ireland U20 After leaving Munster, Oliver has a new path in the country his dad played for Interview⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/2026/0...

Sam Prendergast recently changed tee All kickers at some point or another experiment with their tees But certain people, including Dave Alred and Peter Breen of RugbyBricks, swear by their methods Explained: the tee debate engulfing rugby's placekicking culture ⬇️ irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

One year on from the end of Ireland's men's sevens, Gael Force Sevens debuts this week in Kinsale. A side featuring former internationals and Olympians is looking to revive Irish sevens. Can they do it? Depends on how you define success. Story ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

One year on from the end of Ireland's men's sevens, Gael Force Sevens debuts this week in Kinsale. A side featuring former internationals and Olympians is looking to revive Irish sevens. Can they do it? Depends on how you define success. Story ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Good to catch up with Cian Healy, who's been coaching with Clontarf over the last few years. Recent pros getting involved only adds to the idea that the AIL is in a very strong place. Interview ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Munster chose to play into the wind at Sandy Park. 31 points later, they had it at their backs. But the contest was over. Report from Sandy Park ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Often rugby fans' biggest bugbear, kicking fell dramatically as the Six Nations progressed Every side pretty much kicked less this year than last. Anti-kickites will say that explains the record-breaking try scoring, but is it that simple? Analysis ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Often rugby fans' biggest bugbear, kicking fell dramatically as the Six Nations progressed Every side pretty much kicked less this year than last. Anti-kickites will say that explains the record-breaking try scoring, but is it that simple? Analysis ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Ireland hadn’t scored off a set-piece strike since Italy 2025 That changed on Saturday, Andrew Goodman and Paul O’Connell earning their supper Improving transition attack has been a focus in the 6N, but Sat saw the return of the old Irish set play. Analysis ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Ireland hadn’t scored off a set-piece strike since Italy 2025 That changed on Saturday, Andrew Goodman and Paul O’Connell earning their supper Improving transition attack has been a focus in the 6N, but Sat saw the return of the old Irish set play. Analysis ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

☘️ clinical edge + disruption vs 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 profligacy Defenders Beaten - ☘️ 23 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 27 Points per 22 entry - ☘️ 4.7 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 3 Handling errors -☘️5 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 9 Turnovers conceded - ☘️10 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿14 Kicking metres - ☘️535 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿495 Quick ruck ball - ☘️58 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿35%

Per Opta, Ireland's expected goal kicking success is 83.8% The actual figure is 74.3% Therefore, Ireland have been the worst goal-kicking side in the comp so far Explored this and a few other surprising trends of the 6N so far for @irishtimes.com ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

A good look by @nathanrjohns.bsky.social at how Ireland's new attack shape kicked on at the weekend.

Ever since Andrew Goodman said he wanted Ireland to be better on transition, we’ve tracked progress Twickenham was Irelands best counter attack display of this cycle Where France go sans structure, Ireland turned transition into another set-piece Analysis ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Joe Schmidt was criticised towards the end of his Ireland tenure for not evolving his game plan Andy Farrell, circa 18 months out from a World Cup, is experiencing just how hard evolution is Thoughts from Paris ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

None of the trademark support lines or mesmeric ball in hand moments from Antoine Dupont. Instead, he found other ways to bend the game to his will. Analysis from Stade de France ⬇️ www.the42.ie/antoine-dupo...

Ireland's XV (back 3 in particular) points to their goal of getting better at counterattack France, with their Bordeaux influence (paging Noel McNamara), are the transition gold standard How do Ireland get better? Embrace the zero-ruck try Analysis ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Leinster are conceding almost a full converted try more per game this season compared to last Are flaws in Jacques Nienaber’s system leading to fissures, or is something else going wrong? Analysis ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

News confirmed, King to captain Ireland. No co-captains McMahon is out with a long term knee injury but Monaghan is still with the squad

Sounds like Erin King is to be announced as Ireland captain ahead of the Six Nations Aged 22, she only debuted for Ireland (in 15s) in 2024 Named World Rugby breakthrough player that same year Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan were co-captains at the World Cup

Interview time on the @IrishTimesSport rugby podcast Rory Best, an ex-Ireland captain under Joe Schmidt, is now general manager at Ulster What does a GM actually do, and how have Ulster become Irish rugby's good news story? Listen ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/the...

In the last few years, more AIL players have stepped up to provincial rugby Conor Bartley at Munster Bradley McNamara at Ulster Jerry Cahir, Bobby Sheehan, Ivan Soroka and Dylan Donnellan at Leinster Why are more clubmen getting chances at pro level? www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Interesting stylistic clash on Saturday night which dominated the post-match press chat Munster are raging against rugby's trend of kicking and set-piece battles. Leinster want to be more creative but think it's naive. Who is right? www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Grit and niggle aplenty, but enough quality to give punters their money's worth? Report from Thomond ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Cold but 🔥

Bonus-point win for Munster as they get job done against Ospreys www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Bridgend tonight Ospreys vs Munster, Brewery Field Old school club ground For @irishtimes.com

If Leinster go on to win Europe, this is the type of performance that will be painted as a gritty, vital win For now, tho, all that can be said is they still look well below par Report from welford road ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Given the wider conversation on lack pace in Irish rugby, Rob Russell’s claim to be the fastest man in Leinster last year caught the eye But he couldn’t stay fit and Leinster ultimately let him go Spoke to Rob about life in Gloucester, injury woe and the need for speed ⬇️ the42.ie/6897219

According to the Leinster website, Joshua Kenny is 6'3 and 100kg. Add to that his yard of pace Not many wings with that profile in Irish rugby Regardless of how far he goes, Kenny's story of landing on his feet after 7s was culled is worth highlighting ⬇️ www.the42.ie/joshua-kenny...

Tired of rugby analysts being happy with a lack of knowledge of the scrums So I called up a scrum expert to get the verdict on Ireland's Springbok capitulation TLDR: Ireland shouldn't be worried, but the 'Boks are ludicrously powerful. What makes them so good? www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Leinster getting their money's worth out of RG Snyman tonight One try via his offload chalked off So he does it again minutes later and this time it stands He could be playing for SA down the road in Cardiff tomorrow. Leinster delighted he isn't

Reckon Jack Boyle was a bit miffed about losing his Ireland spot? Three scrum pens and a barnstorming bust inside the opening 20 minutes at Rodney Parade

The good life Leinster Dragons in Newport. Harry Byrne at 10 No sign (yet) of Rieko Ioane in the travelling party

More Irish players moving to England. Niamh O'Dowd has joined up as injury cover with Gloucester this week until the end of the season. Brittany Hogan will join Sale Sharks in January

Went a week early with this piece, but SA game both was and was not a discipline outlier for Ireland I didn’t tell you so, but also didn’t not tell you so…

Saturday morning pre-game analysis From the start of World Rugby's head contact clampdown in 2019, Ireland have been among the game's best behaved. Since 2024, though, Ireland have been among the worst offenders Why are Ireland getting more and more cards? www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

IT rugby pod recording soon with Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan. Any questions for the lads?

A lot of chatter yesterday about Ireland making zero line breaks. A lesson, perhaps, in the importance of two things. A) Be careful with live stats B) Be careful with where you get your stats 24 hours on, the numbers change...

A lovely bit of analysis (as ever from Nathan) on the direction Ireland are going in, rather than some of the usual guff that's doing the rounds.

Ireland’s next attacking frontier? The counterattack Why becoming a better transition team is imperative this November. Analysis ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...

Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon will miss the 2026 Six Nations after undergoing season-ending knee surgery

Rugby pod time soon for @irishtimes.com Myself on duty with Gordon D’Arcy and John O’Sullivan. Any questions for the lads?

Podding with Gordon D’Arcy for @irishtimes.com tomorrow Any qs on the start of the provincial season so far?

"It was a calculated exercise. A coordinated shift up through the gears, one which needed to come earlier than it did. By contrast, England started at breakneck speed and only ever slowed to a canter | ✍️ @nathanrjohns.bsky.social #IREvENG

"Not all good experiences are enjoyable experiences." Sonny Baker looking ahead after tricky England debut | @nathanrjohns.bsky.social

Ireland were over-powered by the Black Ferns. But they also played into their hands, failing to game plan their way out of the multitude of mismatches. They were out-thought, out-played and out-coached. Analysis ⬇️ www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...