Scotland finished another campaign winless, but how they lost to Ireland at the Kingspan they may still not comprehend. They were in the lead for most of the game, not decisively, but on a day of teeming rain that couldn’t be expected. They got on top straight away, Evie Gallagher finishing off strong drives at
Rumours are running that Irish players will be offered contracts some time in the near future. Then come the questions: How many will be offered? How many will be accepted? Part of that decision will be based on a third question: how much will the contracts be worth? If we were able to see all
There was almost too much emotion at the start of this atmospheric game in front of another record-breaking crowd. England paid the penalty for playing at 100mph when less pressure on the pedal would have led to fewer minor accidents. Leanne Infante (50 caps) had to play second fiddle as Emily Scarratt (100) was welcomed
The stew that the Irish players find themselves in is not entirely Greg McWilliams’ fault. The head coach has had to add seven players to his training squad for the fourth round tie away to England. The IRFU might have already separated off the 7s and 15s divisions, as some distinguished voices have demanded (Phillip
Greg McWilliams’ new-look side ran away from a fault-ridden Italy outfit to record their first win of the series. Italy began well enough, stringing passes together for Beatrice Rigoni to add a telling 50-22 kick. From there they won a penalty in front of the posts. Rigoni kicked the three points to give them an
France came to Toulouse, the beating heart of French rugby, to be greeted by another 5-figure crowd. Ireland had never yet beaten France away from home, and after a quarter of an hour they had enjoyed just 18% possession. As promised by the management, the French team showed seven changes from their victory over Italy.
Ireland v Wales – First Day of the 6 Nations Wales had to work desperately hard to win a vital away victory in the Dublin sun. Who could say which of the two teams had suffered worse setbacks over the past couple of years? At all events, the two new coaches, Greg McWilliams and Ioan
There has seldom been a more significant fixture between these two nations than this one. Ireland are fighting to find their feet again after suffering a series of grievous events. Wales at least have an invitation card to the World Cup, but their world has been equally devastated by their past treatment by the WRU.
The review into Ireland’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup is partial, sober and wide-ranging. Women’s rugby in Ireland will receive an extra €1m per annum; new posts will be filled and new support systems put in place. It is partial because contributors who gave evidence were assured of confidentiality. Conflicting stories emerged
Anthony Eddy, Ireland’s Director of Sevens and Women’s Rugby, has announced his decision to resign his position forthwith. It comes some three months after it might have done. The reasons he offers are the usual ones: missing home (Australia), missing family. Why then did he stay for eight years? Perhaps the imminent publication of a
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