MUNSTER BACK ROW Arno Botha says he is driven to prove himself worthy of a place in Johann van Graan’s squad for the bigger games and is delighted to renew his rivalry with compatriot CJ Stander at the province. Both Botha (27) and Stander (28) came through the ranks at the Bulls in South Africa, but according to Stander, he was deemed too small to be a number eight and joined Munster. Botha and Stander at Munster training. Source: Oisin Keniry/INPHO Meanwhile, Botha was retained and went on to represent South Africa during his seven-year stint at the club. Botha admits himself and Stander were not always the best of…

ENGLAND WINGER JOE Cokanasiga is in a race to be fit for the Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin, after suffering a serious knee injury in the closing stages of Bath’s Champions Cup defeat to Leinster. The Premiership club today confirmed Cokanasiga suffered a torn medial knee ligament during Saturday’s 17-10 Pool 1 loss at the Rec, and has been ruled out until the New Year. The 21-year-old, who made his breakthrough on the international stage during the recent Autumn series, will see a specialist to determine the full extent of the damage, but Bath say he could be sidelined for up to six weeks.   Eddie Jones’ England get…

SIGNED AS INJURY-COVER a couple of weeks before the start of the season, Henry Speight has made an instrumental impact at Ulster, but in the same way, the province has made an impact on him.  The 19-time capped Australian international has become an integral part of the changing room at Kingspan Stadium, but will line out for Ulster for the final time in tonight’s Pro14 inter-pro against Connacht [KO 7.35pm, TG4/eir Sport].  Speight has made a big impact at Ulster. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO It will be an emotional farewell for the winger, who has settled into life in Belfast seamlessly since his August arrival, and he’ll leave for home on…

NIAMH BRIGGS WAS the poster girl for the biggest women’s sporting event to be staged on these shores. There were media appearances, photo shoots and stamp launches. She was, as Ireland captain, the face of the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup. On the field, she was to carry the hopes of a home nation on her shoulders. In so many ways, that summer ought to have been the apex of a monumental career, yet it could have just as easily become the beginning of the end for Briggs. No sooner was she over a severe hamstring injury when an Achilles tendon injury ended her tournament before it started. Another period…

IRELAND WILL UNLEASH 13 of the team who defeated New Zealand again when they open their Six Nations defence against England at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (kick-0ff 16.45). The two changes to the starting XV come at fullback, where Rob Kearney’s iffy form on return from injury see him displaced by Robbie Henshaw, and at scrum-half after Conor Murray missed November with a neck injury. Head coach Joe Schmidt announced the squad at the Aviva Stadium today after team training was moved from their Carton House base due to the potential for snow disrupting train in Maynooth. Henshaw’s inclusion means Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose reform their centre partnership,…

Click:Geotextile buy Scotland 13 Click Here: montpellier rugby jersey Ireland 22 Murray Kinsella reports from Murrayfield TASKED WITH PLAYING 67 minutes off the bench, Joey Carbery delivered for Ireland after a shaky start in a performance that was symbolic of the collective effort from Joe Schmidt’s team. There was some of the good stuff, but plenty of the bad too. In the end, a three-try win means Ireland’s bid to retain their Six Nations title is up and running at the second time of asking, albeit in stuttering fashion, with Schmidt’s side responding to last weekend’s defeat to England by notching four match points.  Jacob Stockdale celebrates his first-half try.…

Speaking to Don Callis on the Killing The Town podcast, Omega discussed the reunion and the bond the two men share. “I never wanted, at any point, because it was real life, I never wanted my relationship with Ibushi sexualized,” stated Omega. “With our goals specifically, are very much wrestling driven. There was no need to turn it into a soap opera. But there was no denying the fact that this reunion was emotional and personal and real. Even though what we do in New Japan always culminates with a match, not many of these stories are based in reality. Most of the time it boils down to, ‘Let’s just…

“IT’S NOT LIKE he doesn’t know we’ve got faith in him,” said Joe Schmidt after handing Sean Cronin a first ever start in the Six Nations. The hooker has had to be incredibly patient at international level, ordinarily finding himself behind captain Rory Best and among the replacements when Ireland play Tier 1 opposition. Sunday’s Six Nations clash with Italy will be Cronin’s 68th Test appearance, but 58 of them have come with the number 16 on his back after bouncing into action off the bench. “I’m sure he’s excited,” Schmidt said of the 32-year-old hooker at Carton House today. Click Here: Portugal National Team soccer tracksuit “He’s trained well.…

Chris Van Vliet recently interviewed Ember Moon at Axxess before the Royal Rumble. According to Moon, her dream match-up is WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix. Below are some highlights of the interview. Ember Moon on wrestling being her childhood escape: “For me it was kind of a blur because my childhood was such brutal torture and wrestling was my escape. So any wrestling that I could watch made me thoroughly excited. I remember the first time that The Hurricane chokeslammed The Rock though. I was like ‘No, it’s not going to happen!’ That was so great. I do remember that. That was one my fondest childhood moments. And the…

WARREN GATLAND SAYS there is “no doubt” Wales’ players have been affected by a proposed merger between the Scarlets and the Ospreys ahead of their Six Nations clash with Scotland on Saturday. The newly-formed Professional Rugby Board (PRB) are to discuss plans for a radical change to regional rugby in Wales, which could see the introduction of a club in the north of the country and one less team in the south. Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Martyn Phillips addressed Gatland’s Grand Slam hopefuls on Monday to discuss the issue, which Wales’ head coach stressed has been driven by the regions rather than the governing body. Gatland has urged his squad…