Ireland - Page 7 of 95 - News, interviews, reports, analysis and opinion

Ireland look dejected after their 36-14 Six Nations opening loss to France.

International Rugby

/ 5 months ago

Ben Kay: Ireland look lost in Six Nations amid Bundee Aki ban and miss Johnny Sexton

World Cup winner Ben Kay believes Ireland have entered this Six Nations at a crossroads, with injuries, Bundee Aki’s suspension and...

By Ben Jaycock

Former England captain Lewis Moody before he presents the match ball at the Allianz Stadium

Friendlies

/ 5 months ago

Ben Foden: England v Ireland Legends game “means more” amid Lewis Moody’s battle with MND

Northampton Saints Premiership winner Ben Foden says this year’s Legends charity match carries added weight following Lewis Moody’s diagnosis with motor...

By The Rugby Paper Team

In this week’s episode of the Rugby Paper Roundup, Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by Ben Coles from The Observer to discuss the first round of Six Nations matches, team news across all nations, and the pair make their round 1 predictions.

Latest News

/ 5 months ago

New Rugby Paper Roundup: Six Nations 2026 Round 1 preview – Rassie Erasmus insight ft Ben Coles

In this week’s episode of the Rugby Paper Roundup, Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by Ben Coles from The Observer...

By The Rugby Paper Team

International Rugby

/ 5 months ago

Ben Foden’s England XV: Bring back Marcus Smith + Joe Cokanasiga

While Steve Borthwick went very early this week selecting his England team against Wales, 34-time Test full-back Ben Foden picks what...

By The Rugby Paper Team

International Rugby

/ 5 months ago

Six Nations news: Andy Farrell makes bold decisions in his Ireland team to face France

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has left James Lowe out of his team in a series of surprise omissions for Thursday’s...

By Will Judd

International Rugby

/ 5 months ago

Six Nations predictions: Favourites for top tryscorer and points scorer with French on top

Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Thomas Ramos are the favourites to top the tryscorer and points scorer tables this 2026 Six Nations.

By The Rugby Paper Team

Features

/ 5 months ago

Why this is the best chance Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has had at Six Nations glory

Just last year, it was announced that Gregor Townsend would continue as Scotland head coach until at least the end of...

By Will Judd

International Rugby

/ 5 months ago

Six Nations predictions: Odds for winners, Grand Slam and Triple Crown with France favourites

France enter the 2026 Six Nations as the bookies’ favourites to retain the crown - however they are not fancied to...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Fraser Dingwall says the sky is the limit as England aim to hit the Six Nations ground running against Wales on Saturday.

International Rugby

/ 5 months ago

Fraser Dingwall: England are ready for take-off in the upcoming Six Nations

Fraser Dingwall declared the sky is the limit as England aim to hit the Six Nations ground running against Wales on...

By Adam Hathaway

England celebrate scoring during their record win in Cardiff last season

Columnists

/ 5 months ago

Jeremy Guscott: Foursome! I can’t pick out a winner for Six Nations

Based on where England have gone since the last year’s Six Nations fixture against Wales in Cardiff, and where the Welsh...

By Jeremy Guscott

International Rugby

/ 5 months ago

Will Greenwood tips the ‘spiky bunch’ England for Six Nations glory

England’s “spiky bunch” are preparing to pump up the physicality and aggression in the Six Nations and lay down a real...

By Gary Fitzgerald

International Rugby

/ 5 months ago

Louis Lynagh: Italy will cause some damage in this year’s Six Nations

Louis Lynagh is adamant Italy are in the “perfect place” to cause some more special Six Nations tremors in the coming...

By Gary Fitzgerald

Latest News

/ 5 months ago

Mapletoft set for Irish test

ENGLAND A head coach Mark Mapletoft has named a 26-player squad for the upcoming fixture against Ireland XV on Friday night...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Finally: Juan Ignacio Brex celebrates victory over Wales in 2022 to end Italy’s long losing streak PICTURE: Getty Images

Chris Hewett

/ 5 months ago

Chris Hewett: For once, a cheer for the governing classes

Rugby's governing classes have a long track record of not knowing what day of the week it is, so it is...

By Chris Hewett

Columnists

/ 5 months ago

Peter Jackson: Referees need to keep their distance

Behind locked doors at their camp on the Algarve, Ireland’s brains trust will have devoted more time than usual analysing the...

By Peter Jackson

Premiership Women's Rugby

/ 5 months ago

Wafer leads way for Harlequins

■By JOSEPH TERRY Trailfinders .....26pts Tries: Ponsonby 22, Burton 28, Inman 53, Roos 63 Conversions: Inman 23, 54, 64 Harlequins .......27pts...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Magical: Thomas Ramos PICTURE: Getty Images

International Rugby

/ 5 months ago

Six Nations guide – France: Fabien Galthie looking to tighten up the defences

Brendan Gallagher says France coach Fabien Galthie has eyes very much on the next World Cup

By Brendan Gallagher

Fluent: Jamison Gibson-Park PICTURE: Alamy

International Rugby

/ 5 months ago

Six Nations guide – Ireland: Andy Farrell will need to cover the cracks

Brendan Gallagher predicts a testing Six Nations campaign ahead for the men in green

By Brendan Gallagher

Noah Caluori on his way to scoring four tries for Saracens

International Rugby

/ 5 months ago

U20s Six Nations preview: Saracens wing Noah Caluori looks to get party started for England

England head coach Andy Titterrell believes the Prem’s top try scorer Noah Caluori can use the U20s Six Nations as another...

By The Rugby Paper Team

International Rugby

/ 6 months ago

Six Nations: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell faces injury crisis and discipline woes

Ireland’s bid for Grand Slam glory this Six Nations will be impeded two-fold this year as Andy Farrell juggles a brace...

By The Rugby Paper Team

International Rugby

/ 6 months ago

Hugo Keenan out of Six Nations opener as Ireland’s injury list continues to grow

Leinster, Ireland and British & Irish Lions series winner Hugo Keenan has fractured his thumb in training, which excludes him from...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Bundee Aki of Ireland warms up prior to the Autumn Nations Cup match between Ireland and Scotland at Aviva Stadium in 2020

International Rugby

/ 6 months ago

Ireland star Bundee Aki dropped from Six Nations opener

Connacht and Ireland Centre Bundee Aki has been dropped from the Ireland Six Nations squad to face France on Thursday next...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Uini Atonio of La Rochelle in action during the Champions Cup against the Stormers.

International Rugby

/ 6 months ago

Uini Atonio retires in a seismic blow to France ahead of Six Nations

France’s Six Nations preparations have been dealt a devastating blow after Uini Atonio was forced to retire with immediate effect following...

By Ben Jaycock

Features

/ 6 months ago

Why England need to prove they have class, not just form ahead of the Six Nations

When Steve Borthwick took the England head coach role from Eddie Jones, the Red Rose were not in a good position.

By Will Judd

Six Nations captains pose with the trophy as France and Ireland prepare to open the 2026 tournament

International Rugby

/ 6 months ago

Six Nations preview: France v Ireland – Why this opener could determine who takes the crown

Rugby clubs, pubs and sitting rooms across six countries will find themselves far busier than usual next Thursday when France hosts...

By Will Judd

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

Dupont returns but no Penaud

FRANCE’S all-time top try-scorer Damian Penaud is a shock omission from the defending champions’ Six Nations squad ahead of their opener...

By The Rugby Paper Team

International Rugby

/ 6 months ago

Ulster skipper Iain Henderson is left out of Ireland squad but Andy Farrell remains confident

Ulster captain Iain Henderson has been left out of Ireland’s squad for the Six Nations. The second row, 33, made his...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 6 months ago

Dale have no answer to deadly in-form Tigers

■ By ANDREW SMITH Sheffield Tigers....29 Wharfedale...............0 RAMPANT Sheffield Tigers turned on the style with a crushing five-try victory against Yorkshire...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

Galthie’s ready to look at options

JAMES HARRINGTON FRENCH COLUMN SIX Nations champions France cut vice captains Gael Fickou and Gregory Alldritt, as well as the country’s...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

2026 Six Nations squad news: Sione Tuipolotu captains Scotland, Dewi Lake leads Wales

Wales and Scotland have released their squads ahead of the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, with both teams making some surprise...

By Will Judd

International Rugby

/ 6 months ago

Chris Robshaw: England are ready to take Six Nations title

Chris Robshaw only has eyes for a triumphant Six Nations for England as they prepare to throw their World Cup cards...

By Gary Fitzgerald

Emmanuel Meafou adds to Toulouse’s try count

Champions Cup

/ 6 months ago

Toulouse 77-7 Sale Sharks: That drubbing really hurts, says Alex Sanderson

France’s superstar captain Antoine Dupont put any watching England fans on high alert ahead of the Six Nations after showing that...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Champions Cup

/ 6 months ago

Gloucester 14-31 Toulon: Cherry and Whites are taught a lesson in French style

Gloucester’s hopes of further involvement in European rugby this season were easily extinguished by a talented Toulon last night.

By The Rugby Paper Team

Scott Robertson after his last game in charge of the All Blacks against Wales

Columnists

/ 6 months ago

Nick Cain: Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson fails to produce a cutting-edge strategy

Scott Robertson’s ‘windmill’ spin breakdancing celebrations were shelved during his tenure as All Blacks head coach.

By Nick Cain

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

100 years ago when Scots missed the Slam

THE one that got away is a staple in sport – indeed life – and for Scotland the one that got...

By The Rugby Paper Team

National League 2N

/ 6 months ago

Caudle deserves defensive Oscar!

Tynedale.................14 Sheffield Tigers...... 7 By BRIAN TILLEY FREEZING conditions produced a treacherous surface and a slippery ball, but Tynedale somehow managed...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

Kleyn signs for Gloucester

GLOUCESTER have signed World Cup-winning South Africa lock Jean Kleyn for next season, after a decade playing for Munster. Kleyn, who...

By The Rugby Paper Team

Latest News

/ 6 months ago

Poland Women target SVNS promotion after European podium finish against the odds

Poland Women’s Rugby 7s are quietly constructing a programme of genuine substance. Operating largely beyond the spotlight and without the financial...

By The Rugby Paper Team