KOTARO MATSUSHIMA SCORED two tries as Japan beat Fiji 34-21 in a confidence-boosting win ahead of their home World Cup. The Brave Blossoms bagged five tries to Fiji’s three in their opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup, two months before Japan hosts the first World Cup to be held in Asia. Japan’s Kotaro Matsushima. […]
Rory Keane reports from Port Elizabeth JARED PAYNE WILL miss Ireland’s series decider against South Africa at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday [KO 4pm Irish time]. Payne misses out in a big blow for Ireland. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO The Ulster fullback has taken a limited part in training this week due […]
THE HURRICANES ENDED up top of the New Zealand Super Rugby conference after a thriller in Dunedin where the Highlanders beat the Waikato Chiefs 25-15. A yellow card proved costly for the Chiefs whose dynamic defence kept them narrowly in front until 13 minutes into the second half. Once reduced to 14 men, Ben Smith […]
MUNSTER WILL BE without Francis Saili for the first four months of the new season after he suffered a setback in his recovery from a shoulder injury. The All Black centre sustained the injury towards the back end of last season and although he had returned to light training, was forced to go under the […]
PAT LAM SUCCESSFULLY juggled an injury-depleted Connacht squad last season to eventually win the province’s first Pro12 title and little has changed ahead of the start of the upcoming campaign. Connacht are missing a number of key players, including Quinn Roux, Nathan White, Jake Heenan, Sean O’Brien, Eoghan Masterson, John Cooney and Craig Ronaldson ahead […]
IN CASE YOU haven’t heard, it’s worth keeping an eye on Darren Sweetnam in Munster this season. The southern province’s fans, and the Cork hurling community, have known for some time that the Dunmanway man is a special athlete. But now the man they call ‘Sweets’ looks set for the breakout season he has long promised […]
YOU MIGHT HAVE noticed Sophie Spence’s growing profile over the last year or so. The Ireland lock ran the Spence Rugby Academy over the summer, coaching girls of all ages in the game she loves so dearly. Spence is an ambassador for Nissan and will speak at the Huddle Dublin event in the Aviva Stadium this […]
IT’S BEEN A real breakthrough season for Ed Byrne with Leinster and he had a new milestone again last weekend… his first time packing down at number eight. The loosehead prop ended up providing back row cover on the bench for Leinster against Benetton after the late withdrawal of Josh Murphy due to illness forced […]
TOULOUSE SECOND ROW Joe Tekori has been cleared to face Leinster in Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final at the Aviva Stadium [KO 3.15pm, BT Sport/Virgin Media]. The Samoan today appeared in front of a Top 14 disciplinary hearing after being cited for a dangerous tackle during Toulouse’s victory over Clermont last weekend. Tekori in action […]
BENETTON’S BRILLIANT SEASON will extend into next week at the very least after Kieran Crowley’s side made history by becoming the first Italian team to qualify for the Guinness Pro14 play-offs. A bonus-point victory over Zebre in Parma this afternoon moved Benetton to 56 points in Conference B, enough to ensure them of a third-place […]