WHEN YOU MAKE a career out of sprinting past wings and beating fullbacks in tight spaces with footwork that you would see at Coppers, you don’t want to be in the position that Luke Fitzgerald finds himself in at the moment. Fizgerald hasn’t played a great deal for Leinster over the last two years but…
SOME MEN DREAM prophecies, some nod off to visions of nymphs, more are awoken imagining a fall or their teeth falling out. There’s a recurring dream I have that might be infected by a dose of reality when it next crosses the subconscious during a post-turkey stupor this month. I’m older in that dream: maybe…
BEING A TOP class goal kicker in rugby must be quite an isolating experience. On the one hand, you have 14 guys to help you get a win, but when you are standing over the kicking tee, there is only one person who will ultimately be judged. Despite the All Blacks going the length of…
Rhys Ruddock has been ruled out for Leinster. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO HomeIreland’s Rugby World Cup bid and GAA in Ulster both took a hit with news that planning permission for Casement Park’s redevelopment had been refused.Leinster’s injury list lengthened as it was confirmed that Rhys Ruddock is out for over a month.Tommy O’Donnell says that Munster…
Home is the hero: Andy Lee takes a selfie with the belt in front of supporters outside City Hall in Limerick Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO A Maasai warrior makes the high jump, in which athletes must touch a high line with the top of their heads, at the annual Maasai Olympics in the Sidai Oleng Wildlife…
FOR A PLAYER brought into Munster’s squad part of the way through the season, Pat Howard is doing a fine job. Currently on a loan deal from Western Province in his native South Africa, the 22-year-old impressed in the recent Champions Cup fixture at home to Clermont, as well as during Friday night’s victory over…
It was cold and dark in Longford. Perfect conditions for the O’Byrne Cup Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO Cian Healy is running again Orlando Magic’s Victor Oladipo goes up and under against Brooklyn Source: AP/Press Association Images Norway’s Anders Jacobsen at the four hills ski jumping tournament in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Finland’s Lauri Asikainen soars during the trial jump…
HE’S 32 AND has been operating at a reduced capacity for a few years now, but Juan Martin Hernandez showed over the weekend why he can be an effective asset for Toulon as they chase their third European Cup in-a-row. Hernandez made his debut off the bench for the Galacticos last weekend, but got his…
IRELAND WOMEN FACE a season of change after naming 12 uncapped players in their 30-strong squad for the upcoming Six Nations. Former captain Fiona Coghlan, centres Lynne Cantwell and Grace Davitt, and back rows Siobhan Fleming and Laura Guest have retired from international duty, meaning a major loss of experience. That said, new head coach Tom Tierney…