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NOEL MCNAMARA’S IRELAND U20s will begin their 2019 Six Nations campaign against England at Cork’s Musgrave Park on Friday 1 February, it has been confirmed today.   Ireland women, meanwhile, will host England at Donnybrook in their campaign-opener earlier that evening, as Adam Griggs’ side bid to improve on last year’s third-place finish.   Ireland U20s will open their campaign against England. Source: ©INPHO In round two, Ireland U20s will travel to Netherdale to face Scotland on Friday 8 February, while Ireland women will be in action against the Scots at the same time at Scotstoun in Glasgow. The sides will then have a gap week before round three, with Ireland U20s…

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, this is nearly the moment you’ve all been waiting for… Ireland gave Argentina the respect they deserved in preparing well for yesterday’s 28-17 win, having done the same before dispatching Italy in Chicago, but next weekend is the main event of this November Test series. The All Blacks travel to Dublin today after their narrow 16-15 win over England at Twickenham yesterday and, finally, the build-up to a clash between the world’s two top-ranked teams can begin in earnest. Ireland celebrate last night’s win over Argentina. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO Joe Schmidt has been keeping his players’ eyes on the jobs directly in front of them up until…

CONOR MURRAY COULD make his long-awaited comeback to rugby this Sunday as the Ireland scrum-half has made his full return to Munster training. And Johann van Graan’s side have been handed a double boost ahead of their Pro14 clash with Zebre, with centre Chris Farrell primed to end his 10-month injury lay-off. Both Murray and Farrell took part in full training yesterday with their Munster team-mates, and will be in contention to feature this weekend if they come through this week’s training. Murray last played during Ireland’s summer tour to Australia and hasn’t featured for Munster at all this season due to a neck injury, while Farrell has been recovering…

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…