A NUMBER OF Leinster’s rugby stars have dyed their hair or shaved it off altogether in a show of support for departing defence coach Kurt McQuilkin. McQuilkin, who oversaw Leinster’s defence become the best in the Pro12 last season, is returning to his native New Zealand for personal reasons. And his colleagues at Leinster Rugby staged a Read more about Leinster rugby stars go blonde and bald in bid to raise funds for departing coach McQuilkin[…]

Home Henry Shefflin Jr and Sr meet All-Ireland camogie champions Kilkenny at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO Good news Ireland fans — the injury Robbie Brady sustained for Norwich at the weekend doesn’t appear to be as serious as first feared.Rob Kearney has suffered another setback after picking up a knee Read more about We’ll Leave It There So: Good news for Brady, Ryder Cup picks and today’s sport[…]

CONNACHT HEAD COACH Pat Lam will be able to call upon two important members of his squad when they face Scarlets in Wales in the Guinness Pro12 on Saturday [7.35pm]. An injury update issued by the Pro12 champions this afternoon has confirmed that Quinn Roux and Jake Heenan will both be available for this weekend’s Read more about Connacht boosted by return of Roux and Heenan as they seek first win of the season[…]

LEINSTER HAVE NAMED a youthful ‘A’ squad for their two-game trip to Boston for the final games of the inaugural Cara Cup development competition.  Four of the recent Ireland U20 squad are included in the travelling party which departed for America yesterday, ahead of games against Munster ‘A’ and the New England Free Jacks.  Jack Read more about Leinster include four U20 Grand Slam winners in youthful ‘A’ squad[…]

A VISIBLY EMOTIONAL Rory Best — with his young family sitting at the back of the press conference — this afternoon admitted the time was right for him to call time on his decorated playing career after the World Cup later this year. The Ulster and Ireland captain had already confirmed his intention to retire Read more about Emotional Rory Best: ‘It’s so strange being here after so many years’[…]

FERGUS MCFADDEN WAS extremely fortunate to escape a first-half dismissal in this evening’s Guinness Pro14 inter-pro against Ulster for an apparent headbutt on Sean Reidy. The Leinster winger was involved in an off-the-ball altercation with Reidy as played continued in-field. before the touch judge brought the incident to the attention of referee George Clancy.  McFadden Read more about McFadden lucky to escape red card for apparent headbutt on Ulster’s Reidy[…]

ON HOME SOIL, with three tries on the board and a 22-point cushion already built with 37 minutes to play; privately, you would expect Leo Cullen to demand a bonus point victory and nothing less no matter who the opposition. With the radio mics in front of him tonight though, Cullen was adamant that four Read more about Cullen laments a touch of rust and panic, but content with win over Ulster[…]

UP AGAINST HIS old team, with Ulster fans desperate to see their team back into the semi-finals of the Pro14, the pressure was on Dan McFarland building up to Saturday’s Pro14 quarter-final against Connacht. All of that said, the biggest stress was making sure that his wife wasn’t left upset. “The biggest pressure I felt Read more about McFarland’s inside info ‘pretty useful’ for Ulster’s semi-final in Glasgow[…]

WITH FORMER CONNACHT prop Conán O’Donnell moving to Japan and second row Jerry Sexton signing for the Southern Kings in South Africa in recent times, there are a number of exciting opportunities opening up for Irish players around the world. Click Here: Borussia Dortmund Jersey Sale A week after signing a short-term deal with the Read more about ‘Agents are realising, actually Irish players are a pretty valuable commodity’[…]

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