Rugby

• 6 hours, 11 minutes ago

  

  Hartley sees red and puts Lions place in jeopardy

  Dylan Hartley could be suspended from the British and Irish Lions tour after he was sent off during the Aviva Premiership final.

• 1 day, 9 hours, 59 minutes ago

  

  Afoa returns for PRO12 final

  Ulster’s John Afoa will start at tighthead in the only change to the starting XV that defeated the Scarlets a fortnight ago for tomorrow's RaboDirect PRO12 Final against Leinster at the RDS (4.45pm).

• 1 day, 10 hours, 28 minutes ago

  

  Fit again O’Driscoll to start against Ulster

  Leinster centre Brian O’Driscoll has recovered from the back problem which kept him out of the Amlin Challenge Cup final, and takes his place amongst a strong starting XV to take on Ulster in the RaboDirect PRO12 at the RDS tomorrow (4.45pm).

• 2 days, 9 hours, 15 minutes ago

  Munster manager on revenge mission against Ulster

  Derry Peters has assembled a powerful-looking squad laced with Cork’s All-Ireland winning senior stars as Munster look to regain the Mick Talbot cup in Saturday’s MMI Interprovincial tournament.

• 2 days, 12 hours, 13 minutes ago

  

  Bank of Ireland to become Munster's main sponsor

  Bank of Ireland has confirmed that it will become main sponsor of Munster Rugby from July 2013.

• 3 days, 16 hours, 42 minutes ago » latest

  

  'O'Connell will help Lions captain Warburton'

  British and Irish Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree expects Sam Warburton to be galvanised by the presence of “proven warrior” Paul O’Connell on the tour to Australia.

• 5 days, 1 hour, 49 minutes ago

  

  Ulster sign tighthead prop

  Ulster have bolstered their squad with the addition 27-year-old tighthead prop, Bronson Ross, who signed from Coventry Rugby Club on a one-year development contract.

• 5 days, 9 hours, 9 minutes ago

  

  Injury worries for Leinster ahead of PRO12 final

  The Leinster management must contend with a number of injuries arising from Friday's Amlin Challenge Cup victory, as they prepare for Saturday's RaboDirect PRO12 final in the RDS against Ulster (4.45pm).

• 5 days, 9 hours, 15 minutes ago

  

  Samoan So'oialo joins Connacht

  Samoan international, James So’oialo, younger brother of former All-Blacks Number 8 Rodney So’oialo and former Harlequins scrum half Stephen will join Connacht this summer.

• 6 days, 6 hours, 22 minutes ago

  

  Wilkinson claims European award

  Jonny Wilkinson has capped a triumphant Heineken Cup campaign with Toulon by being named European player of the year.

• 6 days, 9 hours, 31 minutes ago

  

  Kiss set for role under Schmidt

  Les Kiss has confirmed that he will be a permanent member of Joe Schmidt’s Ireland coaching team upon completion of the summer tour to the United States and Canada.

• 6 days, 10 hours, 39 minutes ago

  

  Six uncapped players named in squad to tour USA and Canada

  Rory Best will captain a senior Ireland squad featuring six uncapped players for the summer tour of the USA and Canada.

• 7 days, 4 hours, 58 minutes ago » latest

  

  Toulon hang on to win Heineken Cup

  Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16
  Toulon survived a late Clermont surge to win the Heineken Cup victory at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin today.

• 7 days, 5 hours ago » sportsflash

  

  Toulon win Heineken Cup

  Toulon have won the Heineken Cup, beating Clermont Auvergne 16-15 in the final in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin today.

• 7 days, 7 hours, 25 minutes ago

  

  O'Gara: Relationship with Sexton 'has come full circle'

  Ronan O’Gara has dismissed any concerns about being appointed to coach his former Ireland rival Johnny Sexton at Racing Metro.

• 7 days, 10 hours, 56 minutes ago

  

  IRFU: O'Gara an 'iconic figure'

  The Irish Rugby Football Union has paid tribute to Ronan O'Gara as an "iconic figure'' as he announced his playing retirement in order to take up a coaching role with Racing Metro.

• 7 days, 12 hours, 24 minutes ago

  

  Munster: O'Gara career 'unlikely to be surpassed'

  Munster have confirmed Ronan O'Gara's retirement from professional rugby saying his career is "a feat unlikely to be surpassed".

• 7 days, 15 hours, 19 minutes ago

  

  O'Gara 'hugely excited' at becoming coach to Sexton

  Ronan O'Gara has agreed a two-year contract to join Jonathan Sexton at Racing Metro for next season.

• 8 days, 2 hours, 43 minutes ago

  

  Classy Leinster dominate Stade in Challenge Cup final

  Leinster 34 Stade Francais 13
  Leinster eased the blow of losing their status of European champions tonight - and they did it in some style.

• 8 days, 6 hours, 4 minutes ago

  

  O'Gara to join Racing Metro as coach

  Ronan O'Gara will join Jonathan Sexton at Racing Metro next season as kicking coach.

• 8 days, 7 hours, 53 minutes ago

  

  Leinster fight for right to hold two European titles...for a day

  By Ian Cusack
  Leinster are eighty minutes away from adding the Challenge Cup to their trophy cabinet, but even with home advantage and the added motivation of ending Joe Schmidt’s tenure with another European triumph, nothing can be taken for granted against an unpredictable Stade Francais outfit.

• 8 days, 10 hours, 25 minutes ago

  

  North eyes end to Lions' Aussie hoodoo

  George North knows from first-hand experience just how tough a proposition Australia could be for the British and Irish Lions next month.

• 8 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes ago

  

  Heaslip named in shortlist for European Player of the Year award

  Leinster and Ireland forward Jamie Heaslip has been nominated for the 2013 European Player of the Year award.

• 8 days, 16 hours, 50 minutes ago

  

  Parisse: Leinster favourites for the cup

  Sergio Parisse readily accepts that Stade Francais are underdogs for tonight’s Amlin Challenge Cup final against Leinster in Dublin.

• 9 days, 5 hours, 50 minutes ago

  

  Rory Best champions games

  One of Ulster Rugby’s biggest stars today called for people to support the World Police and Fire Games.

• 9 days, 11 hours, 16 minutes ago

  

  O'Driscoll to miss cup final

  He may have signed a new one-year deal this morning, but Brian O’Driscoll has been ruled out of the Amlin Challenge Cup final between Leinster and Stade Francais in Dublin tomorrow night.

• 9 days, 13 hours, 15 minutes ago

  

  Drico pens new IRFU deal

  Brian O'Driscoll has signed a new one year deal with the IRFU that will keep playing for club and country until next June.

• 10 days, 9 hours, 40 minutes ago

  

  Heenan signs for Connacht

  Incoming Connacht head coach Pat Lam is beginning to stamp his authority on the squad, with the province today confirming the acquisition of 20-year-old New Zealander Jake Heenan.

• 10 days, 10 hours, 49 minutes ago

  

  O’Donnell: Munster's future is bright

  Munster back rower Tommy O’Donnell believes the Red Army have plenty to be excited about, with an exciting new generation of players coming through, determined to bring the province success.

• 11 days, 1 hour, 25 minutes ago

  

  Marshall pens new three-year deal with Ulster

  Ireland and Ulster centre, Luke Marshall, has signed a new three-year deal with the province that will see him remain at Ravenhill until at least the summer of 2016.

• 11 days, 5 hours, 33 minutes ago

  

  O'Driscoll fitness boost for Leinster

  Leinster are optimistic about Brian O’Driscoll being fit for Friday night’s Amlin Challenge Cup final against Stade Francais in Dublin.

• 11 days, 9 hours, 27 minutes ago

  

  Leinster missing D'Arcy for cup final

  A recurrence of his calf injury has ruled Leinster centre Gordon D’Arcy out of Friday night’s Amlin Challenge Cup final against Stade Français in the RDS (8pm).

• 11 days, 9 hours, 46 minutes ago

  

  Trio commit to Connacht

  Connacht trio Frank Murphy, Mata Fifita and Brian Murphy have committed to the province by singing contract extensions.

• 11 days, 10 hours, 2 minutes ago

  

  Gatland expects 'mentally tough' Farrell to bounce back

  British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland believes England flyhalf Owen Farrell can recover from his recent dip in form, ahead of the summer tour of Australia.

• 11 days, 10 hours, 39 minutes ago

  

  Injury forces Munster star Howlett to retire

  Munster have announced that current squad captain Doug Howlett will retire from professional rugby at the end of this season.

• 11 days, 15 hours, 8 minutes ago

  

  Sexton: I'll miss Wilkinson on Lions tour

  Leinster fly-half Jonny Sexton would have loved the opportunity to learn from Jonny Wilkinson had the Englishman been selected to tour with the British and Irish Lions this summer.

• 12 days, 11 hours, 42 minutes ago

  

  Beale could miss Lions series to deal with alcohol-related issues

  Australia back Kurtley Beale could miss this summer’s three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions after the Melbourne Rebels announced he will take an indefinite leave of absence from rugby to resolve personal issues.

• 12 days, 12 hours, 48 minutes ago

  

  Injuries mount for Schmidt ahead of Challenge Cup final

  With his team picking up a number of fresh injuries in Friday’s victory over Glasgow, Leinster head coach, Joe Schmidt, admitted he will be sweating on the fitness of several players ahead of Friday’s Challenge Cup final against Stade Francais.

• 14 days, 2 hours, 25 minutes ago

  

  Pro 12 final set to be all-Irish affair after Leinster battle past Warriors

  Leinster 17 Glasgow Warriors 15
  Leinster’s double dreams are still alive after they came through a gripping RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final against Glasgow Warriors at the RDS.