BRAD THORN WOULD be a great character in The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones because long after EVERYONE else on the show has been cannibalised or killed on the battlefield, Thorn would be cutting down trees with a big axe so he has enough firewood for another year of survival. The former World Cup…
Click:Tibetan knot bracelets for good fortune SEVEN WEEKS OF rugby have proved mostly useless as a means of separating Europe’s best rugby teams and we’re set for a final day when four of the Six Nations can still end up champions. No, really. Good luck, Stuart. Source: PA Wire/Press Association Images France are the least…
Leinster 18Bath 15 IAN MADIGAN’S ASSURED goal-kicking saw Leinster squeeze into the semi-finals of the Champions Cup, as the Ireland international slotted six penalties from six attempts in an 18-15 win over Bath. Rob Kearney charges through the tackle of opposite number Anthony Watson. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO Matt O’Connor’s side came through a nerve-wracking closing…
IN A MUST-win game, Leinster win an early turnover penalty in their own 22. After a good opening defensive stand at the Recreation Ground, Felipe Contepomi can find touch… or not. Dr Phil’s head snaps to his left immediately. It’s on. Leinster had lost their opening Heineken Cup pool game in the 2005/2006 season to…
YOUNG MUNSTER COMPLETED a stunning finish to the Ulster Bank League’s regular season as they squeezed through to the Division 1A play-offs by beating table toppers Lansdowne 15-5 at Tom Clifford Park. John Staunton’s men prevailed in a thrilling battle for the fourth and final semi-final spot, edging out four other clubs who had a…
SO THIS MUST be how French club rugby fans feel all the time, right? You wake up in the morning, have a bowl of chocolate-based cereal, open the paper and see which big-name southern hemisphere player your team is linked with today. The last few months have seen the Top 14 pick up an ungodly…
Murray Kinsella reports from Stade Vélodrome LEINSTER’S EUROPEAN SEASON ended at the semi-final stage with a 25-20 defeat to Toulon after extra time. Read our full match report here. Closer than expected Few had anticipated this. There were those lone voices who suggested Leinster still had a big performance in them, but the consensus was…
Murray Kinsella reports from Stade Geoffrey-Guichard JONO GIBBES IS the strand that links all three of Leinster’s Heineken Cup successes together, but he may end up being responsible for the province missing out on a fourth European top-tier trophy this season. Gibbes is a key part of the Clermont set-up. Source: James Crombie/INPHO If Matt…
MUNSTER LEFT THEMSELVES with plenty to work on after a 30-19 win over Treviso in Musgrave Park on Saturday afternoon, as they plan ahead to an exciting Guinness Pro12 clash with Ulster in Belfast on 9 May. Giving up three tries to the Italians will have frustrated head coach Anthony Foley and defence specialist Ian…
Source: AP/Press Association Images TOULON TAKE ON Clermont at Twickenham on Saturday looking for an unprecedented third European Cup in-a-row. They have the deepest club squad in world rugby and have the luxury of being able to call upon a number of world class players in each position. But owner Mourad Boudjellal didn’t always buy…