UL Bohemians maintain unbeaten run at top of Women’s All-Ireland League

NINE GAMES, NINE victories. UL Bohemians remain unbeaten at the top of the league after their ninth win of the season, their victims this time St Mary’s. Home games, away matches, they all come alike to the Munster women who were the away team in the lunchtime game at Templeville Road but emerged with all …

From 200 diehards to 11,000 season-ticket holders: how Leinster compete in the professional game

This is part of The42′s Class of 95 series, a week-long examination of professional rugby in Ireland. Source: Gary Carr/INPHO WHEN RUGBY TURNED professional in 1995, it had just as big an impact on how teams operated off the pitch as they did on it. Correctly managing the business side of the game from brand …

Struggling Terenure shock champions, Cookies beat Garryowen and more from last night’s UBL

ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 1A CLONTARF 6 TERENURE COLLEGE 13, Castle Avenue Bottom side Terenure College stunned Division 1A title holders Clontarf with a 13-6 defeat at Castle Avenue last night, inspired by a ferocious defensive display. Mark O’Neill celebrates at the final whistle last night. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO ‘Nure number 8 Eoin Joyce crossed for …

Analysis: Ireland always work hard but their breakdown must be better in Italy

Updated 11 February WHATEVER YOUR GAME plan might be, it’s always going to come up short if your breakdown work is not of a sufficient standard. Ireland found that out to their detriment last weekend in Murrayfield and we can be certain head coach Joe Schmidt has spent time working on this area of his …

France centre Mermoz opts to join Newcastle Falcons

FRENCH INTERNATIONAL MAXIME Mermoz will join Newcastle Falcons in time for the start of the 2017/18 season following his short-term deal with English Premiership rivals Leicester. The 30-year-old centre has previously won the domestic French Top 14 title with three different clubs in Toulouse, Perpignan and Toulon. At Toulon, he also won two European Cups …

Tierney continues to ring the changes as Ireland team named for France while trio confirmed in 7s squad

Updated 16.40 IRELAND HEAD COACH Tom Tierney has made wholesale changes to the Ireland team set to face France in their Women’s 6 Nations clash at Donnybrook Stadium on Sunday (RTÉ Two, 12.45pm). As expected, there’s no room for Sene Naoupu, Alison Miller and Hannah Tyrrell in the squad with Tierney saying: “We’ve got a couple …

Watch: Leinster’s young guns light up the RDS and all of the weekend’s Pro12 highlights

Connacht 33-3 Zebre Source: PRO12 Rugby/YouTube Edinburgh 9-13 Ospreys Source: PRO12 Rugby/YouTube Ulster 19-7 Treviso Source: PRO12 Rugby/YouTube Glasgow 47-17 Dragons Source: PRO12 Rugby/YouTube Cardiff Blues 13-23 Munster Source: PRO12 Rugby/YouTube Leinster 45-9 Scarlets Source: PRO12 Rugby/YouTube Subscribe to The42 Rugby Show podcast here: Henderson taking ‘cut-throat’ analytical approach to size up his own performanceDouble …

Kiss shows ‘concern’ over Coetzee’s knee after early exit against Zebre

Adam McKendry reports from Kingspan Stadium. ULSTER DIRECTOR OF Rugby Les Kiss says he’s not sure how bad Marcell Coetzee’s knee injury is, but has allayed concerns that the Springbok back-row has suffered a recurrence of the injury that kept him out for nine months. Speaking after Ulster’s fantastic 68-21 victory over Zebre at the …

Watch: Quade Cooper handed three-week ban for this high shot in Super Rugby

QUADE COOPER HAS been given a three-week ban for a dangerous tackle during the Queensland Reds’ Super Rugby hammering at the Lions on Saturday. The Australia fly-half was shown a red card early in the second half after catching Rohan Janse van Rensburg when the centre went over for a try in their 44-14 win at Emirates …