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1 week ago | 
bbc.com | Matt Gault |Jonathan Bradley
Wednesday morning served up a startling reminder of the different worlds Leinster and the other Irish provinces currently inhabit. Merely an hour after All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane announced his shock move to Leinster for the 2025-26 season, Connacht confirmed the departure of head coach Pete Wilkins. Leinster are living under a cloudless, blue sky.
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1 month ago | 
bbc.com | Matt Gault
With the Six Nations title race beautifully poised, top two Ireland and France meet in another high-stakes game in Dublin.
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Jan 18, 2025 | 
bbc.com | Matt Gault
Image source, InphoImage caption, Ulster scored five second-half tries in a thrilling win over Exeter BBC Sport NI senior journalistGiven Ulster's recent trend of fading late in games, what slim hopes they had of playing knockout rugby at Europe's top table appeared to be dissipating at half-time against Exeter Chiefs.
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Jan 15, 2025 | 
bbc.com | Matt Gault
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Dan Sheehan (centre) has made the squad but there is no place for Tom Ahern (right)BBC Sport NI senior journalistWhile Andy Farrell's absence ensures this year's Six Nations will feel a little different for Ireland, there is a familiar and settled look to the squad.
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Jan 9, 2025 | 
bbc.com | Matt Gault
Northern Irish rugby referee Chris Busby is set to retire from officiating in the wake of comments made by Mack Hansen which resulted in a ban for the Ireland international. Busby was appointed an assistant referee for France v Wales and Italy v France in this year's Six Nations, but BBC Sport NI has learned that Sunday's Investec Champions Cup match between Bath and Clermont could be his last as an official in the professional game.
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Jan 8, 2025 | 
sports.yahoo.com | Matt Gault
Investec Champions Cup: Leicester v UlsterVenue: Welford Road, Leicester Date: Saturday, 11 January Kick-off: 20:00 GMTCoverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, Radio Leicester & Radio Ulster; text updates on BBC Sport website & appLife has moved fast for Zac Ward over the past 12 months. This time last year, he was preparing for the start of a big year with the Ireland Sevens team in Perth.
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Dec 2, 2024 | 
bbc.com | Matt Gault
Image source, InphoImage caption, Ireland ended 2024 with eight wins and three defeats BBC Sport NI senior journalistAs the Autumn Nations Series - and indeed 2024's entire slate of Test rugby - moves into the rearview mirror, Ireland can approach 2025 with both optimism and consternation.
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Nov 30, 2024 | 
bbc.com | Matt Gault
Farrell's opposite number in next year's Lions series will be Joe Schmidt, his predecessor in Dublin, who narrowly missed out on a winning return to Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Schmidt, who won three Six Nations titles in six years as Ireland boss, replaced Eddie Jones following Australia's disastrous World Cup campaign.
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Nov 29, 2024 | 
bbc.com | Matt Gault
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Andy Farrell and Joe Schmidt aim to gain a psychological advantage ahead of next the 2025 Lions series BBC Sport NI senior journalist Autumn Nations Series: Ireland v Australia Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 30 November Kick-off: 15:10 GMT Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, live text and commentary on the BBC Sport website and app There has been a lot of talk about legacy this week, as Ireland and Australia...
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Nov 28, 2024 | 
bbc.com | Matt Gault
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Farrell has shown his faith in Prendergast after the 21-year-old's full debut last week BBC Sport NI senior journalist Autumn Nations Series: Ireland v Australia Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 30 November Kick-off: 15:10 GMT Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, live text and commentary on the BBC Sport website and app Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says Sam Prendergast "deserves" another start at fly-half after...
