Full coverage: Rugby

Despite demanding peak performance from athletes, Irish sport still tolerates underqualified coaches on the sidelines.

The IRFU’s decision to shut down the men’s sevens programme exposes deeper systemic issues within the sport — from strained finances to a fractured development pathway and a lack of grassroots support.

Despite elite resources, world-class coaching, and a production line of international talent, Leinster Rugby’s repeated failures in Europe’s biggest competition reveal uncomfortable truths.

As Connacht, Munster, and Ulster risk missing out on Europe, Leinster’s enduring success reveals the value—and limits—of long-term structural stability.

From the collapse of another major club to Leinster’s signing of one of the world’s greatest players, it’s the off-pitch action that’s been making rugby’s latest big hits.

The drop goal has faded from rugby’s modern playbook, but Jack Crowley’s strike hints at a revival. Could this forgotten skill be the key to future glory?

The Pont de l’Île de Ré isn’t just Ronan O’Gara’s commute—it’s a 3km stretch of nostalgia and ambition. As he faces Munster, the club that made him, can he set emotion aside and outthink his old team?

With Gillian McDarby and Lynne Cantwell in situ, the IRFU has set a challenging goal to establish four professional provincial teams and set the foundations for a sustainable future for the women's game.

Was Ireland's defeat to France a one-off collapse or a sign of deeper flaws — speed, defence, and attacking precision — that must be urgently addressed? And how many answers will today's match against Italy provide?

The new rugby rules function as a diplomatic immunity agreement for Antoine Dupont. The world's best player has effectively been granted legal protection at the most critical junctures of play.