DEFENDING CHAMPIONS ENGLAND have named three uncapped players in their 34-man squad ahead of the opening round of the 2017 Six Nations. In a squad of 20 forwards and 14 backs, Eddie Jones has given a first international call-up to backrow Mike Williams, prop Nathan Catt and back Alex Lozowski. “I’ve been impressed with the…
Read moreSt Munchin’s snatch a late victory to book their place in the Munster Senior Cup quarter-finals
Players from St Munchin’s celebrate after the final whistle. Source: Ken Sutton/INPHO St Munchin’s 24 — 19 Castletroy College ST. MUNCHIN’S COLLEGE scored deep into injury time to set up a Munster Senior Cup quarter-final with Bandon Grammar next week. In a game that could have gone either way, it was again late heartbreak for Castletroy College,…
Read moreFamous win sees Bandon into Munster Senior Cup semis for the first time
Harry Hall leads the Bandon celebrations. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO Bandon Grammar School 17St Munchin’s College 13 SOLID SECOND-HALF defending earned Bandon Grammar School a place in the semi-finals of the Munster Schools Senior Cup for the first time as they held off St Munchin’s College at Bandon RFC on Thursday. With the strong wind behind…
Read moreGood news for Leinster as Carbery, Ross, Kearney and McFadden set for injury return
JOEY CARBERY IS expected to make his first appearance in eight weeks on Sunday when Leinster resume their Guinness Pro12 campaign against Treviso. The out-half has been sidelined since early December after picking up an ankle injury in the Champions Cup victory over Northampton but is now nearing the final stages of his comeback. Carbery…
Read moreSchmidt’s Ireland in a better place after being ‘spooked’ early in Six Nations
Murray Kinsella reports from Rome TWO GAMES IN and Ireland are in the Six Nations fight, that much is certain after a bonus-point victory against Conor O’Shea’s woefully poor Italy. A week on from the disappointment of Murrayfield, Joe Schmidt watched as his team started superbly and never looked back in a nine-try 63-10 demolition…
Read moreSolomona weeks away from England eligibility following hat-trick against Wasps
SALE SHARKS COACH Steve Diamond says Denny Solomona will be eligible for England in the next few weeks should Eddie Jones want to call on the in-form winger. Solomona has made a sensational start to life in the Premiership after a controversial code-switch, having previously been with Super League side Castleford Tigers. The Tigers were unhappy…
Read moreMurray and Sexton to the fore as Ireland keep Six Nations title bid alive
Ireland 19 France 9 Murray Kinsella reports from the Aviva Stadium IT WASN’T ALWAYS pretty, but a second 2017 Six Nations win for Joe Schmidt’s Ireland keeps them in the title hunt heading into the final two rounds of the championship. Johnny Sexton was masterful on his return from injury, settling into the game early…
Read moreCentre Jonathan Joseph recalled to England squad after being dropped for Italy
DESPITE RETURNING TO training with Saracens yesterday, there is still no sign of Billy Vunipola returning to England camp. Eddie Jones named a 27-man squad for this week’s training preparation, with Bath duo Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph among the call-ups – the latter returning after being left out of the controversial meeting with Italy….
Read moreTwo Connacht players narrowly escape axe attack at Dusseldorf’s main train station
TWO CONNACHT RUGBY players narrowly escaped the axe attack that occurred at Dusseldorf’s main train station earlier tonight and which left five people injured. Jake Heenan and Dominic Robertson-McCoy had been in Germany to watch Wednesday night’s Champions League game between Borussia Dortmund and Benfica and were preparing to travel back to Ireland via Dusseldorf…
Read moreBowe ruled out for 12 weeks after leg surgery as Ulster wait anxiously on Coetzee update
TOMMY BOWE HAS undergone surgery to stabilise the fracture in his leg and will be sidelined for up to three months in another cruel injury setback. The Ulster winger sustained the injury after coming off the bench during Ireland’s Six Nations defeat to Wales in Cardiff last Friday night. He had only just returned to…
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