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RaboDirect PRO12: Round 18 Preview
20 March 2013 12:49
By Editor
Leinster captain Leo Cullen leads the charge during the province's RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Glasgow Warriors earlier in the season
© www.Inpho.ie
With just five rounds left to decide which teams will contest the play-offs, there are new leaders of the RaboDirect PRO12 with Glasgow Warriors taking over the mantle from Ulster.
On a busy Friday night, Mark Anscombe's Ulster side will take on Edinburgh at Murrayfield, defending champions the Ospreys host Welsh rivals Newport Gwent Dragons and the Scarlets are in Italy to face Zebre.
Friday, March 22 -
Edinburgh can do their Scottish neighbours Glasgow Warriors a favour if they can defeat Ulster, however their record against the Ulstermen is not great.
Meanwhile, the play-off chasing Ospreys and Scarlets must both be looking to come away with maximum points from opponents who are sitting at the wrong end of the league table.
Table toppers Glasgow are not in action until Saturday, and are the only one of the potential play-off teams to face another side from the top half of the table when the visit Leinster at the RDS.
Munster will also be looking for maximum points this weekend if they are to make a final charge for the knockout stages. But they face an in-form Connacht team who will be hunting for a prized interprovincial derby win in Cork.
With just two points separating the top three teams in the table - and it is even closer for the final semi-final spot - there is definitely all to play for still as the PRO12 enters its closing stages.
RABODIRECT PRO12 - ROUND 18 FIXTURES:
Zebre (12th) v Scarlets (4th), Stadio XXV Aprile, 7pm (live SportItalia 2)
Ospreys (5th) v Newport Gwent Dragons (11th), Liberty Stadium, 7.05pm (live BBC 2 Wales)
Edinburgh (10th) v ULSTER (2nd), Murrayfield, 7.30pm (live BBC NI Sport website/red button)
Saturday, March 23 -
MUNSTER (6th) v CONNACHT (9th), Musgrave Park, 5.45pm (live TG4)
Benetton Treviso (7th) v Cardiff Blues (8th), Stadio di Monigo, 7.30pm (live SportItalia 2/S4C)
LEINSTER (3rd) v Glasgow Warriors (1st), the RDS, 7.45pm (live RTÉ Two/BBC ALBA)
24 Aug, 18:32
The ChildFund 'Pass It Back' Belfast Cup brought together girls from Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos with players from across Ulster to celebrate the power of sport and highlight how rugby is developing in Asia.
15 Aug, 18:29
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.
11 Aug, 18:42
Eager to build on their 19-17 victory over Australia, the Ireland Women's squad hit the gym this morning in UCD as they step up preparations for Sunday's WRWC 2017 encounter with Japan.
25 Jul, 15:35
Monday was a momentous day for the Ireland Women's camp as the 28-strong squad was revealed for the Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil. Head coach Tom Tierney and captain Niamh Briggs spoke to the press at the announcement in UCD.
15 Jul, 12:23
IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne spoke to Irish Rugby TV about the Union's 2016/17 Annual Report, which includes increased investment in Women's rugby and addresses the challenges of funding for the game in Ireland.
14 Jul, 10:11
The launch of a commemorative stamp to mark the Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland was a special day for Women's rugby, team captain Niamh Briggs and her family. We spoke to her and her dad Mike at the GPO.
27 Jun, 17:30
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."
27 Jun, 17:00
Fiona Coghlan, Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 Ambassador and Chair of the Dublin City Sports and Wellbeing Partnership, speaks about Dublin City Council's support of the tournament in August and the momentum and excitement building in the capital and around the four provinces for WRWC 2017.
23 Jun, 08:50
Felix Jones, who is the visiting coach in Ireland camp this week, spoke to Irish Rugby TV about how 'interesting' and 'valuable' his time in Tokyo has been, and also what the transition from player to coach is like. He retired in October 2015 and is now Munster's back-line and attack coach.
23 Jun, 08:28
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."
22 Jun, 11:13
Ulster's Luke Marshall, who will return to the Irish midfield in Tokyo on Saturday, is expecting Japan to 'come back pretty hard' following their 50-22 defeat in Shizuoka last weekend.
22 Jun, 11:02
Set for his third start of the summer tour, Ireland number 8 Jack Conan said: "We gave ourselves the objective of coming over with three good performances, and I feel like we're one away from that. It'll be another massive 80 minutes and everyone wants to finish the season on a high."
20 Jun, 15:41
Marking the 50-day countdown, we hear from Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 Tournament Director Garrett Tubridy and Ireland forwards Cliodhna Moloney and Paula Fitzpatrick as the tournament, which will be held in Dublin and Belfast from August 9 to 26, draws ever closer.
19 Jun, 01:50
Highlights from Ireland's 50-22 first Test victory over Japan at Ecopa Stadium in Shizuoka. Joe Schmidt's men ran in seven tries with two each from Keith Earls, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan, while Garry Ringrose also dotted down.
6 Jun, 18:06
An Ireland Women's XV triumphed 24-22 over Japan in a behind-closed-doors uncapped trial match at the UCD Bowl last Saturday, with Hannah Tyrrell and Claire Molloy crossing for late tries.
20 Apr, 16:46
The Ireland Under-18 and Under-19 squads had a busy Easter period with seven matches played in Ashbourne, Cardiff, Llanelli, Caerphilly and Bordeaux. Check out some of the tries scored. Full match reports are available on www.irishrugby.ie.
18 Apr, 12:33
Speaking to RTE Radio rugby correspondent Michael Corcoran, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt was asked about prioritising players playing in Ireland when it comes to national selection over those who are based overseas.
18 Apr, 12:25
In an interview broadcast on RTE Radio 1's 'Sunday Sport' programme, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt discussed the challenges and opportunities presented by the summer tour to the USA and Japan, and also looked ahead to next month's Rugby World Cup Pool Draw.
18 Apr, 12:12
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."
18 Apr, 11:41
In an interview with RTE Radio rugby correspondent Michael Corcoran, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt confirmed that Girvan Dempsey, Felix Jones and Ronan O'Gara will be incorporated into the coaching group for the upcoming summer tour to the USA and Japan.
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