18 May, 11:09
IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne has issued a statement following confirmation of Ronan O'Gara's decision to retire from playing professional rugby.
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18 May, 10:21
Ronan O'Gara's retirement from professional rugby brings to an end an achievement-packed career that saw him dominate matches in Ireland and around the world in the colours of Cork Constitution, Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions.
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17 May, 07:00
IRFU provincial and national age grade coaches - Under-18s, Under-19s and Under-20s - and IRFU elite player development staff from the four provinces gathered recently to review their experiences, discuss challenges and align closer to ensure the development of more effective elite players across the IRFU Elite Player Pathway.
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16 May, 09:52
The IRFU today announced a new one-year contract with Brian O'Driscoll which will see him remain available to play for Ireland and Leinster until the end of June 2014.
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Blair Announced As O'Leary's Lions Replacement
11 May 2009, 11:37 am
By Editor
Scotland scrum half Mike Blair will join Ireland's Jamie Heaslip and David Wallace (pictured) on the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa
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Edinburgh and Scotland scrum half Mike Blair has been selected by British & Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan and his assistant coaches to replace the injured Tomas O'Leary for the upcoming tour to South Africa.
Commenting on the replacement situation for the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa, coach Ian McGeechan said: "Sport can be very cruel. One minute Tomas was celebrating his well earned call-up to the Lions tour to South Africa, the next he is being carried off injured while playing for Munster against the Scarlets in Cork.
"Unfortunately the injury was a serious one and it ruled Tomas out of the tour. We wish Tomas all the very best for a quick recovery.
"The selectors and I have had plenty of time to review the situation in terms of a replacement scrum half and were in agreement that Mike Blair should replace Tomas.
"Mike was on our reserve list for such an eventuality. He is an excellent addition to the British & Irish Lions squad.
"As a national captain he is well respected by his peers and his 58 Tests for Scotland mark him as a very capable and experienced scrum half," he added.
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