PAUL O’CONNELL WILL leave his coaching role at French outfit Stade Francais at the end of this season, but the former Ireland second row insists he does not plan to move into another club role next year. Reports in France this week said the former Ireland second row’s relationship with Stade Francais head coach Heyneke …
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THE CAMERAS WERE tightly-trained on Jamie Heaslip as he made his way to the tunnel after tonight’s tremendous performance to knock Ulster out of the running for the Pro12. First, Leinster’s man of the match stopped to celebrate with Jennifer Malone… Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO And then he made sure he wasn’t heading in to the …
Read more “One lucky Leinster fan left the RDS with Jamie Heaslip’s boots tonight”
Home Kellie Harrington was in imperious form again at the World Championships today, beating Sara Kali to give her a place in tomorrow’s final.The news wasn’t quite so good for Katie Taylor, who was scored to have drawn her semi-final bout with Estelle Mossely by three judges and lost the deciding vote that followed.Damien Shaw …
VETERAN SPORTS COMMENTATOR George Hook will leave his roles with the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent to join startup Irish sports website Pundit Arena. As part of the deal, Hook will write a weekly column for Pundit Arena and take part in videos produced by the website. He will continue to host his weekday drive time radio show, …
Read more “George Hook is leaving the Independent for a 3-year-old sports website”
SHANE HORGAN ISN’T demanding victory when Ireland face South Africa over the next three weekends, but he does hope to see Joe Schmidt’s side demonstrate an ability to adapt and threaten even with injuries to key men. With Jonathan Sexton, Tommy Bowe, Josh van der Flier, Simon Zebo, Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy, Sean O’Brien, Rob …
Ireland 35 Georgia 7 John Fallon reports from Manchester IRELAND ARE THROUGH to the semi-finals of the World Rugby U20 Championship for the second time in the nine-year history of the competition. But while they won easily in the end, Nigel Carolan’s side had to dig deep to see off the challenge of a brave …
Read more “Ireland U20 made to work for semi-final spot by resolute 14-man Georgia”
South Africa 19 Ireland 13 Rory Keane reports from Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium IN THE END, it proved a Test too far. After two thrilling contests in Cape Town and Johannesburg, when just six points separated the sides on both occasions, it was fitting that this deciding Test should come right down to the final …
Read more “Schmidt’s Ireland come up short as Springboks claim series victory”
DESPITE ENJOYING 68% of the possession and a 73% share of the territorial advantage, Ireland only managed to score one try in the 19-13 third Test defeat to South Africa. Paddy Jackson dejected at Ireland’s defeat. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO Luke Marshall’s score came when the Springboks were down to 14 men after Willie le Roux’s …
Read more “Analysis: Ireland leave their best try-scoring chance untaken in Port Elizabeth”
South Africa 30 Argentina 23 A LAST-GASP Warren Whiteley try gave South Africa a dramatic 30-23 victory over Argentina Saturday in a Rugby Championship first-round thriller in Nelspruit. Trailing by 10 points with 10 minutes left, the Springboks fought back to score two tries and avenge a stunning home loss to the Pumas in the …
Read more “Last-gasp Whiteley try gives Boks victory in thriller against Pumas”
AS RECENTLY AS 2012, Jean Kleyn had no plan to play professional rugby. The new Munster lock enjoyed the oval ball game during his youthful days at Hoërskool Linden in the Johannesburg suburbs, but the high school is far from being one of South Africa’s renowned rugby institutions. No Craven Week, no South African Schoolboy caps, …
Read more “Analysis: What can Munster expect from new lock Jean Kleyn?”