Connacht will have a good crack at the URC this season. Connacht have started this season strongly, posting four wins in their first five games and sitting in the top four of the United Rugby Championship. The Pete Wilkins era has got off to an impressive start, with a tough win away to the Sharks in Durban at the weekend the latest result to catch fans eyes. Wilkins has been in the West since 2017 when he arrived as Andy Friend’s defence coach. Post match reaction with Head Coach Pete Wilkins Edinburgh 19-45 Connacht#ConnachtRugby pic.twitter.com/AipvQEUMQ9 — Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby ..read more

Edwin Edogbo Academy graduate Edwin Edogbo has excelled for United Rugby Championship holders Munster in the opening weeks of the new season. The 20-year-old lock made his senior debut for the provincial outfit only 14 months ago but has rarely looked out of place in that short space of time. The rising star broke into the team last season with exceptional performances against the likes of the then-champions the Bulls and South Africa’s ‘A’ side. Edogbo had made such an impression in the first half of last season that he was offered a three-year contract in January, which will see him become a ..read more

Written by Jim Demps… Departing IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora gets a lot of credit but is it deserved? Rewind your clocks to the 1st of June 2014 when David Nucifora walked into Lansdowne Road to occupy the newly created IRFU High Performance Director role. He had the experience to deliver the goods having previously worked as the General Manager of the ARUs High Performance Unit, as well as with the Brumbies and Auckland Blues. The former Wallaby and Queensland hooker had been to Ireland before having captained the Australian side that lost to Munster in 1992. This, however, was sl ..read more

David Humphreys has landed one of the top jobs in the IRFU. Former Ireland and Ulster flyhalf David Humphreys has been named as the IRFU’s new Performance Director. Humphreys will take up the position following the departure of the highly influential David Nucifora. Nucifora held the position since 2014 and oversaw the most successful period in Irish Rugby history as Ireland enjoyed regular Six Nations success under Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell, while Leinster, Connacht and Munster all landed trophies. There is still a big season to come, but in his decade at the helm, David Nucifora has tran ..read more

World Rugby have approved a new ‘World League’. World Rugby have today voted in favour of introducing a ‘World League’ to replace November and Summer tours. The proposal will see six northern hemisphere sides play three games against southern hemisphere nations away from home in the usual July window. Similarly, the traditional November window will see six southern hemisphere teams travel to the north to play three matches against northern hemisphere outfits. The World Rugby Council has approved transformational reform of the global men’s and women’s rugby calendars Including the first-ever d ..read more

Munster Rugby have today announced the retirement of veteran winger Keith Earls. Keith Earls has today called time on his 16-year professional career with Munster and Ireland. The 36-year-old hangs up his boots after winning the United Rugby Championship for Graham Rowntree’s men and contributing to Ireland’s 2023 Rugby World Cup effort. Earls scored 36 tries for his country which places him at second in the all-time standings, only beaten by fellow Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll. He also retires as Munster’s second highest try-scorer with 64 tries in 202 games. Always an exceptional player b ..read more

Mack Hansen starts for Ireland against New Zealand. Prolific winger Mack Hansen has been passed fit to start for Ireland against New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-finals this Saturday. Hansen was a fitness doubt after coming off early against Scotland last weekend but takes his place on the right-wing for the biggest game of his career. His fellow winger James Lowe is, as expected, also ready to start despite taking a blow to his eye against Gregor Townsend’s team. Andy Farrell says the game came too early for Keith Earls and Robbie Henshaw who would be fit if there's a game next week. Jam ..read more

01) New Zealand looking dangerous ahead of quarter-finals Pundits were quick to criticise New Zealand after their opening round defeat to France. It’s been a tricky few years for the All Blacks under head coach Ian Foster and it’s true that they’ve failed to hit the heights of previous teams. To write them off though, or suggest that they will be convenient quarter-final opponents for Ireland, is jumping the gun. With Joe Schmidt among their ranks, the Kiwis will have incredible insight into both the Irish players and the tactics of head coach Andy Farrell. That alone always meant that New Zea ..read more

Munster have announced their team for tomorrow’s Thomond Park friendly against the Barbarians. Munster return to Thomond Park tomorrow when they face touring side the Barbarians. The double-header event, which kicks off with the Munster women facing the same opponents, is a first of its kind as fans will get a full day of rugby out of their ticket. Munster have included a bunch of academy players for the game with Ethan Coughlan, Edwin Edogbo, Shay McCarthy, Tony Butler, Mark Donnelly, Brian Gleeson and Fionn Gibbons all included in the matchday squad. Munster look foward to Barbarians friend ..read more

Munster Rugby winger Andrew Conway has no luck… Andrew Conway is set to miss more rugby after suffering a hand injury during Munster’s pre-season action. The Ireland international, who missed all of last season because of a knee injury, returned to the red jersey for the friendly fixture between Munster and Leinster on Friday 8th of September. Unfortunately however, he would miss Munster’s second pre-season game against Connacht which took place last Friday and it now looks he will face a few more weeks sidelined. SQUAD UPDATE | See the latest news from the Munster Women & Men ahead of S ..read more