24 May, 14:08
The Irish Rugby Supporters Club is delighted to announce that tickets for the GUINNESS Series 2013 will go on sale on ticketmaster.ie at 10am on Thursday, May 30.
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23 May, 11:00
The Irish Rugby Football Union today announced ticket prices for the GUINNESS Series 2013 and a pre-sale to Supporters Club members, which will open on Thursday, May 30.
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23 May, 09:41
The IRFU is currently inviting applications for the position of Communications and Media Officer.
Editor
20 May, 19:55
Second row Paul O'Connell spoke to the assembled media on the Lions squad's first day at their training camp in Carton House. He cannot wait until the full squad is together and is hoping to be involved in the historic tour opener against the Barbarians in Hong Kong.
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News
RaboDirect PRO12: Round 5 Preview
25 September 2012, 12:58 pm
By Editor
Connacht winger Tiernan O'Halloran breaks forward, closely followed by Leinster's Eoin O'Malley and David Kearney, during the sides' RaboDirect PRO12 derby clash last January
© www.Inpho.ie
Despite their defeat by the Ospreys last time out, Simon Easterby's Scarlets side still sit top of the table after the fourth round of matches.
Round 5 opens with four games on Friday night, including the interprovincial derby at the Sportsground where Connacht host reigning Heineken Cup champions Leinster.
Even though the visitors have an impressive record against fellow Irish provinces, Connacht can take heart from the fact that they were the victors in this equivalent fixture in 2010.
There are also two games in Wales on Friday, the Cardiff Blues taking on Ulster and Newport Gwent Dragons facing Edinburgh.
The Blues have attracted large crowds since their return to the Arms Park, their fans must be hoping the Cardiff side maintains the form that has not seen an Ulster victory at the ground since 2005.
In nearby Newport, visitors Edinburgh have to go back nearly as far to trace their last victory over the Dragons at Rodney Parade, to May 2006, so the odds are in favour of Welsh successes on Friday night.
The remaining fixture in the round sees newcomers Zebre making their second trip to Scotland, this time to face Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium. The Italians will be looking for a better return this time having gone down 41-10 at Edinburgh in round 3.
RABODIRECT PRO12 - ROUND 5 FIXTURES:
Friday, September 28 -
Newport Gwent Dragons (10th) v Edinburgh (6th), Rodney Parade, 7pm
Cardiff Blues (3rd) v ULSTER (5th), Cardiff Arms Park, 7.05pm (live BBC 2 Northern Ireland/BBC 2 Wales)
Glasgow Warriors (7th) v Zebre (12th), Scotstoun Stadium, 7.35pm (live BBC ALBA)
CONNACHT (9th) v LEINSTER (4th), the Sportsground, 8pm (live TG4)
Saturday, September 29 -
Ospreys (8th) v MUNSTER (2nd), Liberty Stadium, 6.30pm (live RTÉ Two/S4C)
Benetton Treviso (11th) v Scarlets (1st), Stadio di Monigo, 7.05pm (live SportItalia)
Provincial News
24 May
An Irish province is guaranteed to win the RaboDirect PRO12, but who will be declared champions come Saturday night in Dublin? Will Ulster finish a season that began so well for them with league silverware, or can Leinster complete a famous double in Joe Schmidt's final game in charge?
Editor
24 May
John Afoa will start at tighthead prop in the only change to the Ulster team for Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final against Leinster at the RDS (kick-off 4.45pm).
Editor
24 May
The Leinster team to face Ulster in Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final at the RDS (kick-off 4.45pm) has been named.
Editor
24 May
Academy Manager Peter Malone today confirmed that nine players will join the Munster Rugby Academy for the 2013/14 season.
Editor
23 May
It has been confirmed today that Bank of Ireland has agreed to become the main sponsor of Munster Rugby from July 2013. The sponsorship includes exclusive branding of all playing and training kit for the Munster senior and 'A' squads.
Editor
22 May
After 22 rounds and two play-off games, the 2012/13 RaboDirect PRO12 season wraps up on Saturday with the final at the RDS appropriately between respective first and second seeds and provincial rivals, Ulster and Leinster.
Editor
22 May
Previewing Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final against Leinster with Cóilín Duffy, Ulster winger Andrew Trimble said: "We really motivated for this game. People are talking about us being the best Ulster side in a few years, we had that record of 13 wins in a row at the start of the year. We want to win trophies, and there's no point having those records unless we back them up."
22 May
Ulster hooker Rory Best spoke to IrishRugby.ie's Cóilín Duffy ahead of Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final against Leinster at the RDS, discussing the match itself and how he is looking forward to captaining Ireland during next month's summer tour to North America.
22 May
With support from Department for Social Development, IRFU (Ulster Branch), the Irish FA and Ulster GAA are joining forces and using the power of sport to promote positive cross-community relations.
Editor
21 May
Connacht Rugby hosted an information evening for parents of the province's Sub-Academy players who are coming into this summer's training camp.
Editor
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