But what about [insert your county here]? Don’t worry, we’ll be producing a series of articles that will cover every county in Ireland – even yours – over the next few weeks. See the ones we’ve already covered here. 1. There was that Hurling Championship win over Antrim That was a good day out (just a Read more about Clubs fly high in both codes and Lowry’s success – Offaly’s 2014 sporting highlights[…]

“Being a part of this industry you go through ups and downs. Being a part of environments like that, they’re illogical. Because no matter how good you are, there are other factors that play into decision making that had nothing to do with what you are doing. This is very discouraging for people like me Read more about Low Ki says WWE and New Japan are “illogical” for him[…]

NEW LEGISLATION WHICH would curtail alcohol sponsorship of sports could be tabled next month, according to a report in the Irish Times today. The clause in the legislation would also install a minimum price on alcohol units to stop retailers selling below cost, restricting advertising and the addition of calorie information and health warnings to Read more about Ban on alcohol sponsorship of sport possible once alternative financing is found — Varadkar[…]

IRISH SCRUM-HALF Paul Rowley got his second start of the Premiership season for struggling London Welsh last weekend, and topped it off with his first try in the English league. The former Munster man has now been nominated for the Try of the Week for round 12 of the Premiership, although he faces stiff competition Read more about A former Munster scrum-half is up for Premiership try of the week[…]

ALL THE SIGNS say this is the end of the road. Yet it feels that there’s a lot more to come. Munster will run out at Allianz Park against Saracens today (1pm, BT Sports) with the clearest instruction for one of the most difficult tasks in European rugby. Beat Sarries. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO In a Read more about Munster backed in to a corner, but have the tools to claw past Saracens[…]

Wasps 20Leinster 20 Murray Kinsella reports from the Ricoh Arena LEINSTER SURVIVED A late scare in Coventry to secure the 20-20 draw that sees them top Pool 2 of the Champions Cup and advance into the quarter-finals of the European competition. Luke Fitzgerland was busy at outside centre in the Ricoh Arena. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO Read more about Leinster into Champions Cup quarters after hanging on for draw at Wasps[…]

THE SURPRISE PACKAGE of last year’s Leinster Schools Cup, St Andrew’s College, booked their place in the second round of this year’s competition with a convincing win over The King’s Hospital in Donnybrook today. The Booterstown school will now face Newbridge College in the next round after the quarter-final draw was made in Old Wesley Read more about Here’s the quarter-final draws for the Leinster and Munster Schools Senior Cups[…]

IF YOU PLAY the Game of Scrums, you either win or you get penalised. This rugbified version of the Game of Thrones opening sequence is good, but to be honest, we’ve come to expect better from the BBC’s big budget production line of shiny promotional pieces. But hey, it’s rugby AND nerdy fantasy epic stuff Read more about You’ll fancy a trial by combat after watching this Game of Thrones Six Nations promo[…]

AT THIS STAGE of the Championship, big performances count for a lot in the chase for the title. So, after a weekend which brought a dominant display from Ireland and stunning away wins for Italy and Wales, we struggled to pick a player from a losing side in our Team of the Week. In fact, Read more about Seven non-Irish players have forced their way into The42’s Six Nations Team of the Week[…]

JEREMY LOUGHMAN, IRELAND U20 prop and graduate of Blackrock College. The archetypical route into the game, right? Not so. Loughman has started all three of Ireland’s games so far in the U20 Six Nations. Source: James Crombie/INPHO The 19-year-old is actually a product of Athy RFC and Árdscoil na Tríonóide, where he spent most of his Read more about Ireland U20 prospect Loughman eager to deliver ball to talented backline[…]