THE Olympics begin in earnest on Saturday, with a whole host of Irish athletes having their first involvement on a busy day. Ireland has sent a record 133 sportspeople to Paris for the Games, with some of the best males and females back for medal glory. The Paris Olympics get underway in earnest on SaturdayLintao Zhang/Getty ImagesThe first of Ireland’s ten boxers will be in action on SaturdayStephen McCarthy/SportsfileGymnast Rhys McClenaghan gets underway on the pommel horseBrendan Moran/Sportsfile While the opening ceremony having taken place along the River Seine on Friday evening, the com ..read more

MUNSTER stars Craig Casey and Calvin Nash travelled to Dubrovnik, Croatia to get some well-earned rest after a long season. Nash and girlfriend Ciara O’Brien teamed up with Casey and partner Jenny Clein for some downtime after a rigorous URC semi-final run followed by a summer test series in South Africa. craigcaseyNash and O’Brien (left) out for drinks with Casey and Clein[/caption] @craigcaseyHanging out with the locals[/caption] @craigcaseyRecharging by the pool[/caption] @craigcaseyA wonderful pic by the sunset[/caption] It’s Kalvin and Ciara’s second getaway this year, travelling to Marbe ..read more

THE margins were small but the standards are rising. And coach James Topping reckons Ireland might need a rethink about how they approach Sevens rugby after coming up short against New Zealand and Fiji. Team Ireland head coach James Topping admitted that the margins are very fine in sevensIreland players were left heartbroken after the 19-15 defeat at Stade de France in Paris With two minutes to go against the Kiwis, they were leading and on course for a quarter-final meeting against South Africa whom they had already beaten. But – having led 12-0 at half-time – they lost 14-12 with the more d ..read more

HUGO KEENAN has backed Ireland to bounce back and hand Fiji their first defeat at an Olympics Games. Ireland were 12-0 up at half-time but lost 14-12 to New Zealand in their final group game. Hugo Keenan believes Ireland are more than capable of beating FijiIreland faces reigning Olympic champions in the quarter-final on Thursday evening And – although they had already booked their place in the knockout stages – it has consequences. Instead of playing South Africa – whom they had already beaten 10-5 in Pool A – in the quarter-finals, they will face Fiji. The Pacific Islanders have won all 15 m ..read more

Ireland will face two-time Olympic champions Fiji in the quarter-finals after losing to New Zealand. Ireland were 12-0 up at the break but their opponents scored two converted tries without reply after the break. Ireland lost 14-12 to New Zealand at the OlympicsREUTERS/Dylan Martinez That secured an easier-looking last-eight clash against South Africa whereas Ireland will now have to overcome powerhouse Fiji. Fiji won gold at both the Rio and Tokyo Games and reached the knockout stages with a 100 percent record after defeating hosts France earlier today. James Topping’s side will be underdogs ..read more

PETER O’MAHONY and his wife Jessica jetted off to Portugal for a sunny holiday away – and they were not alone. Along with the O’Mahony’s, the Algarve was the destination of choice for Johnny Sexton and his wife Laura, and Shane Lowry and his missus Wendy. Jessica O’Mahony, Laura Sexton, and Wendy LowryInstagram/jeskaomahonyPeter O’Mahony, Johnny Sexton, and Jamie GeorgeInstagram/jeskaomahonyPeter O’Mahony and Johnny SextonInstagram/jeskaomahonyJamie George and Peter O’MahonyInstagram/jeskaomahony Also present was the England and Saracens hooker Jamie George, with the star-studded line-up livin ..read more

IRELAND survived some stage fright to get off to a winning start in the Sevens. Tries from Jordan Conroy and Terry Kennedy saw them see off South Africa before their second outing against Japan later this evening. Jordan Conroy scores Ireland’s first tryTerry Kennedy celebrates after scoring their second Conroy had earlier fluffed a chance to touch down and he said: “That was pre-match nerves. “I was in two minds, I was trying to green ball it or extend it and I just got caught in two minds. “I wasn’t decisive enough but I got one back so I am delighted with that as well. “Running out yo ..read more

IRISH rugby skipper Peter O’Mahony has been snapped hanging out with Johnny Sexton and England hooker Jamie George. The trio were also pictured with 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry as he enjoyed a brief holiday before the Olympic Games golf tournament. INSTA @peteomahonyPeter O’Mahony and Johnny Sexton enjoy a glass of wine in the sunshine[/caption] INSTA @peteomahonyThe Irish icons were joined by England hooker Jamie George[/caption] INSTA @peteomahonyShane Lowry also showed up in the sunshine ahead of his trip to France for the Olympics[/caption] Munster flanker O’Mahony and retired rugby leg ..read more

THE Ireland rugby Sevens kick-off their Olympics campaign this afternoon with a double header against South Africa and Japan. Ireland qualified for the second Olympic Games Olympics after winning the European Games in Krakow last year. Team Ireland head coach James Topping with star player Hugo KeenanAll the participating nations – featuring pool opponents South Africa, Japan and New Zealand On Friday evening, the Opening Ceremony will mark the formal start of the Games. But, by then, Sevens rugby — along with football — will already be well underway. This afternoon, Ireland open up ..read more

BEFORE Hugo Keenan rejoined the Sevens squad, he crammed to ensure he knew all the calls. That was a reminder to captain Harry McNulty of just how far the programme had come since it started in 2015. Harry McNulty hailed Leinster ace Hugo Keenan for his work ethic ahead of Ireland’s opener todayHugo Keenan during the Team Ireland Rugby Sevens captain’s run at the Parc départemental des sports de Marville ahead of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games This afternoon Ireland will get their campaign underway against South Africa with a second game against Japan this evening. Despite a tough draw ..read more