Ireland

Andy Farrell Commits to Ireland Through to 2031 World Cup

Andy Farrell has signed a new IRFU contract to lead Ireland through to the end of the 2031 World Cup, ending uncertainty over his future after his Lions sabbatical.

Rugby Union · 6/5/2026

Nations Championship Dawns as Rugby's Global Era Begins

Rugby's inaugural World Rugby Nations Championship begins on July 4, with 12 nations, a Twickenham finals weekend, and the Wallabies opening Joe Schmidt's farewell series against Ireland.

Rugby Union · 6/4/2026

Where Next for Shaun Edwards? England and Boks Lead the Race

Shaun Edwards is leaving France with his stock sky-high, and England, the Springboks and Ireland are all being tipped as destinations for the defence guru.

Rugby Union · 6/3/2026

Farrell's Selection Puzzle as Ireland Eye Nations Championship Tour

Andy Farrell must balance youth and experience as Ireland prepare for a Nations Championship tour that doubles as a dress rehearsal for the 2027 World Cup.

Rugby Union · 6/3/2026

Predicting Dave Rennie's First All Blacks Squad for July Tests

Dave Rennie names his first 34-man All Blacks squad on June 22 ahead of July Tests against France, Italy and Ireland - and the Super Rugby Pacific finals are the last audition.

Rugby Union · 6/3/2026

Foley Recall Talk and Form Picks Cloud Wallabies' Ireland Plans

With Jake Gordon out injured and a Bernard Foley return mooted, Joe Schmidt faces a selection puzzle a month before the Wallabies' July Test against Ireland.

Rugby Union · 6/2/2026

'A Fairly Big Ask': Schmidt's Wallabies Race the Clock Before Ireland

Joe Schmidt says the Wallabies will have just four training sessions before opening their Nations Championship against Ireland in Sydney — and admits it will be a wrench to walk away from a group he has grown attached to.

Rugby Union · 5/27/2026

'It Was Done at Half-Time': BBC's Ireland Rugby Social Frames a Bilbao Weekend of Irish Misery

Tony McWaters, Ian Humphreys and Gavin Andrews sat in the empty San Mames after Bordeaux's 41-19 win and tried to make sense of an Irish weekend in Bilbao that produced two losing finals — Ulster's Challenge Cup defeat on Friday and Leinster's fifth losing Champions Cup final 24 hours later. The verdict: Bordeaux's clinical edge, an out-half ranking that may be wider than Ireland realises, and a Sam Prendergast omission that 'seems odd'.

Rugby Union · 5/24/2026

Six-Test Super Saturday: Nations Championship 2026 Confirmed To Open July 4 With Six Simultaneous Tests

The 2026 Nations Championship launches on Saturday, 4 July, with six simultaneous Tests across three continents — New Zealand v France, Australia v Ireland, South Africa v England, Japan v Italy, Fiji v Wales and Argentina v Scotland — kicking off the inaugural southern series.

Rugby Union · 5/15/2026

'Four Trainings Before Ireland': Joe Schmidt on Donaldson, Lomax and the Anzac Day Bledisloe

Departing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has laid out the four-training window before Australia open the Nations Championship against Ireland in Sydney, backed Ben Donaldson's improved defensive game, framed Western Force fullback Zac Lomax's three-home-game run as the audition for a Wallabies call-up, and given a full-throated endorsement of an Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup proposal.

Rugby Union · 5/14/2026