Ireland

Our Bid

2023

News

Five of the seven ties played in the AIB League Division One today resulted in away from home wins with leaders Cork Constituton and second placed Shannon both winning narrowly, each by two points.

A try from centre Jean Vincent Igarza eighteen minutes from time and a Pat McCarthy injury time penalty gave the League leaders an 8-6 win in Eaton Park.

Playing with a strong wind in the opening half Ballymena had just an Ian Humphreys drop-goal and Dirk Strydom penalty to show for their efforts and although they defended resolutely in the second half they were unable to deny the Cork side a victory that keeps them top of the table.

In second place are Shannon who took a six point lead into the second half of their game against Clontarf in Castle Avenue, the scores coming from the trusty boot of Tom Cregan.

With the wind at their backs from the restart, Clontarf launched an offensive that resulted in a try from wing Daire McElligott after just seven minutes, with the conversion from David McAllister edging the home side in front.

'Tarf dominated but were unable to convert that dominance into scores and Cregan landed a 72nd minute penalty to put his side back in front.

Seven minutes later Clontarf were back in the lead when Daire O'Shea scored in the corner for looked like the crucial score. However, Shannon refused to give it up and deep in injury time, centre Brian Touhy made the decisive break to score the winning try that leaves the Limerick side just one point off the leaders.

The two Munster sides have opened up a gap between themselves and the chasing pack. Shannon, on 45 points are 11 clear of third placed Buccaneers who had no game this afternoon and Buccs meet Con in Temple Hill in the next series of matches which are scheduled for the 28th of February. And then, after that (March 13th) Buccs have to travel to Thomond Park to play Shannon. So, if the top two hold their form, they are shaping up meet in the final in May.AIB League Division 1Belfast Harlequins 7-19 Blackrock College Ballymena 6-8 Cork ConstitutionDungannon 17-27 Co. Carlow Galwegians 8-27 Garryowen Lansdowne 29-10 St. Mary'sCollege Clontarf 12-14 Shannon U.C.D. 20-13 Dolphin Buccaneers - Free

AIB League Division 2Barnhall 17-19 UCC Dublin University 18-27 Bective Rangers DLSP 33-20 ThomondMidleton 14-13 UL Bohemians

Old Crescent 20-14 Young Munster Sunday's Well 25-12Ballynahinch Terenure College 17-13 Old Belvedere Waterpark 18-19 Malone

AIB League Division 3City of Derry 25-11 Ballina Clonakilty 13-13 Greystones Corinthians 8-9 NaasInstonians 22-7 Banbridge Old Wesley 8-13 Ards Portadown 15-16 ConnemaraQueensUniversity 31-5 Suttonians Skerries - Free

Monday was community legacy day at Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 as the IRFU's 'Spirit of Rugby' programme brought together some local disability rugby players from DLSP Eagles, Seapoint Dragons and Westmanstown Wasps, and a number of WRWC players and coaches from the competing nations, for a fun-filled coaching/training session and Tag rugby games.

Marie Louise Reilly joined her Ireland team-mates Nora Stapleton and Lindsay Peat at a recent Dublin City Council event in support of the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup. Reilly, who works as a DCC Sports Officer, said: "The team are coming together really well, we're working hard and hopefully August will be really memorable not just for us but for the whole country."

Speaking ahead of Saturday's second Test against Japan, Ireland tour captain Rhys Ruddock said: "We've been happy with the results so far, and there's been bits of the performances we've been really happy with and some bits that we're looking to improve on. Tomorrow marks the last opportunity to go out and do that, so we're all really excited about getting out there now."

Speaking about working with the provinces and monitoring players' progress, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt told RTE Radio 1: "For us, having the best quality of performance within the provinces, getting some really good coaching from the provincial coaches, which we know is happening at the moment, that's the foundation that we need because in the end we get the players in a match week pretty much."