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2023

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Friday night's Celtic League action saw Munster end their losing streak to beat Connacht 39-10 in Thomond Park and Ulster defeating Leinster 28-6 keeping them in contention for the double.

Munster 39-10 Connacht

A first-half double from David Wallace, along with skipper Anthony Foley's ninth-minute opener paved the way for victory over a jaded Connacht. Munster added another three tries in the second half.

The ever-alert Foley claimed a dropping ball at a line-out to dive under Mike Walls' tackle for the opening try. Jeremy Staunton clipped the conversion wide but moved the visitors 8-0 in front from a 28-metre penalty on 23 minutes. Munster rounded off a 20-point first half against 14 men, following prop Dan McFarland's sin-binning, wth Wallace going over for two tries.

Eric Elwood scored for a penalty Connacht on 52 minutes and five minutes later, down to 13 men with number eight John O'Sullivan sin-binned for going over the top, a slick maul saw referee Hugh Watkins award the penalty try. But Munster pulled away on the hour mark as Jason Holland went under the posts on 67 minutes.

Pusey had enough brute strength to clamber over in the right corner past McPhillips

five minutes later and Cullen completed a double for the hosts over Connacht this season as he ended a fine 40-metre move with his first try and convert with four minutes remaining.

Full Details at: www.munsterrugby.ie & www.connachtrugby.ie

Ulster 28-6 Leinster

Ulster winger Tyrone Howe scored the only two tries of the first half to secure an 18-6 interval lead. Flyhalf David Humphreys got a third try in the second period.

But Ulster could not get a fourth try which would have earned a precious bonus point. It means they are joined at the top of the league by Gwent Dragons with Llanelli three point behind with a game in hand. The Dragons finish with an away game against Leinster which has been switched from Donnybrook to Lansdowne Road.

Full Details at: www.ulsterrugby.ie & www.leinsterrugby.ie

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."