Author: DposNews

MICK KEARNEY LAUGHS when asked how he felt in the minutes leading up to Ireland’s November Test against Samoa six years ago now. As team manager, he had been there and seen it all before on matchday. But this was different. Not only was it the eagerly-anticipated first game of Joe Schmidt’s tenure in charge […]

A YEAR ON from their World Rugby U20 Championship victory on home soil, France made it a double deep in Argentina. Les Bleus had to hold their nerve against a quality Australia side, overcoming the Junior Wallabies by the tightest of margins to win 24-23 thanks to Louis Carbonel’s 65th-minute penalty. Australia lose out despite […]

AFTER LAST WEEKEND’S Olympic qualification attempts, Ireland’s Sevens squads are much-changed as they go back into European Grand Prix action. Stan McDowell’s women’s squad, who now cannot qualify for Tokyo 2020, travel to Kharkiv in Ukraine with uncapped talent Stephanie Carroll, Lucinda Kinghan and Dorothy Wall amid a host of changes. File photo: Dorothy Wall […]

JAMES O’CONNOR WILL make his first Wallabies start since 2013 as one of four changes to the run-on side to face New Zealand on Saturday. O’Connor came off the bench in Australia’s 16-10 win over Argentina last time out, but will start a Test for the first time since September 2013 when the Wallabies face […]

‘Throw those curtains wide…’ IN THE OPEN expanse of UCD playing fields rain thumps down and bodies are gathered tight under umbrellas to listen for what the new coach with a daunting job has to say. The September downpour will soon leave footwear squelching and make victims of dictaphones, but not before the mics picked […]

MUNSTER COACH RASSIE Erasmus has refuted suggestions that they might be receiving preferential treatment in their efforts to hold on to South African centre Jaco Taute. Taute’s short-term contract expires after their game against Connacht tomorrow evening but an extension is almost across the line with the centre. Taute was drafted in as cover when a […]

This week WWE Hall of Famer “Good Ol JR” Jim Ross stopped by The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling Podcast to promote his upcoming appearance at the Markout At The Meadowlands Fan Convention taking place on April 7th from 10am-2pm at the Meadowlands Plaza Hotel (www.matmcon.com) on the morning of WrestleMania. In the following […]

Scarlets 16 Ulster 13 James Candy reports from Parc y Scarlets ULSTER LOST GROUND in the race for the Guinness PRO12 playoffs after a 16-13 defeat to the Scarlets in wet and windy West Wales conditions. Jacob Stockdale’s first-half try and eight points from the boot of Paddy Jackson looked to have capped off a professional performance […]

RORY SCANNELL IS sporting a few stitches in his forehead as he takes a seat at Munster’s high performance centre in UL. These are the result of Scannell’s head colliding with Matthieu Voisin’s knee as he cleared the Racing 92 flanker away during Munster’s victory in Paris last weekend. Source: James Crombie/INPHO It was simply […]

ALUN WYN JONES will captain Wales for the upcoming Six Nations campaign, bringing an end to flanker Sam Warburton’s six years in the role. Interim coach Rob Howley today announced a 36-man squad which includes seven debutants and a notable (C) beside the name of the veteran second row. Ospreys lock Jones, 31, has previously […]