Joe Naughton

Western force

Without using a search engine - last time Ireland had eight starters in the Lions team was 2013 - can you name the 8 Irish players?

List of players leaving Leinster

Ross Byrne - Gloucester
Rory Maguire - Unknown
Ben Brownlee - Munster?
Aitzol Arenzana-King - Unknown
Rob Russell - Ulster? Connacht?
Liam Turner - Unknown
Michael Milne - Munster
Lee Barron - Munster
Jordie Barrett -
Cian Healy - Retired

Sunday
Bordeaux v Ulster, Premier 1, 12:30pm
Donegal v Derry, RTE 2 & BBC2, 2pm
Waterford v Offaly 1B H Final, TG4, 1:15
Mayo v Sligo, 3:30pm, GAA+
Cork v Tipperary, 1A Final, TG4, 3:30
New York v Galway, GAA+, 8pm

Saturday
HSBC Rugby 7s, TNT Sports 3, 9am
London v Roscommon, GAA+, 2:30pm
Hull FC v Hull KR, BBC1, 2:30pm
Leinster v Harlequins, RTE2, 3pm
Aintree Grand National, Virgin 1, 4pm
Dubai World Cup, Virgin 2, 5pm
La Rochelle v Munster, Premier 1, 5:30
Connacht v Cardiff, Premier 2, 8pm

Munster could welcome back several big names to their matchday 23, including:
•Tadhg Beirne
•Jack Crowley
•Conor Murray
•Calvin Nash
•Peter O’Mahony
•Craig Casey
•Jean Kleyn
•Jack O’Donoghue
•Thaakir Abrahams

#CONvMUN #URC #IrishRugby
🟢⚪️ vs 🔴⚪️ | 🏉 | 🔥

There’ll be changes to both squads for Connacht v Munster this Saturday!

Connacht are boosted by the return of
• Cian Prendergast
• Mack Hansen
• Bundee Aki
• Finlay Bealham

Jack Crowley at a Crossroads: Will He Stay with Munster? Jack Crowley at a Crossroads: Will He Stay with Munster or Follow Sexton’s Path Abroad? Reviews SportsNewsIreland

Jack Crowley at a Crossroads: Will He Stay with Munster or Follow Sexton’s Path Abroad? www.sportsnewsireland.com/rugby/rugby_... via @sportireland.bsky.social

Let’s be honest — outside Mack & Bundee, most of the crowd won’t know who should be starting. It’s guesswork even for the diehards most weeks.

So maybe don’t run the all star players out for a PR stunt in Castlebar? It’s professional rugby and Connacht have lots of high profile players who aren’t currently getting game time. Let a few lads do selfies, sign autographs, and be flying for Cardiff instead.

That’s with Connacht beating Munster, Edinburgh & Zebre — and nicking bonus points in both South African games. And still finishing 10th.

With 5 games to go, here’s how I reckon the URC finishes (100% scientific guesswork):
1.Leinster
2.Glasgow
3.Bulls
4.Sharks
5.Stormers (57–58)
6.Munster (53–54)
7.Edinburgh (51–52)
8.Lions (50–51)
9.Ospreys (47–48)
10.Connacht (46–47)

Great to see so many future Irish internationals in action for Connacht this evening — Cathal Forde, Hugh Gavin, Finn Tracey, Shane Bolton, Matthew Devine, and Darragh Murray should all be travelling with Ireland for the summer tests against Georgia and Portugal! 🇮🇪☘️🏉

Really rated Andrew Smith — reckon he could have a breakout 18 months and sneak into a World Cup squad. But clearly, Connacht saw that opinion and said, “nah, we’ll pass.” Lol

No doubt Connacht fans will be glued to Munster v Glasgow on Friday – Andrew Smith gets his first start, lining out with Tom Farrell and Sean O’Brien. Throw in JJ and Diarmuid Killgannon, and at this rate Munster are close to a full set of ex-Connacht backs.

8.And honestly? By the time the next World Cup rolls around, there’s every chance neither Crowley nor Prendergast will be starting at ten. Rugby moves fast — unless you’re the IRFU.

7.Jack Crowley’s been offered over €500k to head to England. With no central contract on the table, he should bite their hand off — maybe even the arm.

6.Munster fans are fuming right now, and Leinster is living rent-free in their heads — with a five-year lease. That said, they’ve got every right to feel hard done by. Their team may not be world-beaters, but they’ve got what looks like a top-class coach incoming.

5.Connacht quietly pulled off a smart move by locking in Josh Ioane for another two years — not that anyone noticed. Meanwhile, Leinster are hoarding Irish-qualified out-halves like they’re going out of fashion and still didn’t send one west.

4.The IRFU still haven’t grasped that pumping all their resources into one province — hi, Leinster — and stacking it with central contracts isn’t a long-term strategy. It’s like watering one corner of the garden and wondering why the rest is dying.

3.Whether people want to believe it or not, big changes are coming for Ireland in the next 12 months. The current squad isn’t getting any younger, and central contracts for lads who peaked around the same time Man City started winning trophies is gonna come back and become a serious issue.

2.We’ve been moaning about the U20s for weeks, but finishing with the wooden spoon still stings. Was it just injuries? A bit of bad luck? Or are there deeper cracks we’re not ready to admit?

This Week in Rugby

1.The Women’s Six Nations kicks off next week — fingers crossed we actually show up. With a World Cup looming in England this August, even a half-decent showing could bring thousands of new fans on board.

Friday
St Pats v Bohs, 7:30pm, Virgin 2
U20 Italy v Ireland, 8pm, RTE2

Sat
Italy v Ireland, 2:15pm, RTE2
Wales v England - 4:45pm, Virgin 1
Kerry v Armagh, 5:30pm, RTE2
Galway v Dublin, 7:30pm, TG4
France v Scotland, 8pm, RTE2

Sun
Derry v Mayo, 1:30pm, TG4
Donegal v Tyrone, 3:30pm, TG4

Irish Rugby Transfers: 2025/26 Signings for Munster, Leinster, Ulster & Connacht Irish Rugby Transfers: 2025/26 Signings for Munster, Leinster, Ulster & Connacht (Updated Weekly) Fixture Previews Reviews SportsNewsIreland

Irish Rugby Transfers: 2025/26 Signings for Munster, Leinster, Ulster & Connacht (Updated Weekly) www.sportsnewsireland.com/rugby/irish-... via @sportireland.bsky.social

Predicted Starting Teams - Ireland v France - Six Nations Predicted Starting Teams - Ireland v France - Six Nations Score Updates Fixture Previews Reviews SportsNewsIreland

Predicted Starting Teams – Ireland v France – Six Nations www.sportsnewsireland.com/rugby/predic... via @sportireland.bsky.social

Shows how much more competitive the URC has become, with only four of the sixteen teams holding winning records. After tonight’s victory, Zebre are now ahead of the Stormers, Lions, Ospreys, Connacht, and Ulster.

The Effects of New Gaelic Football Rules on the 2025 Season The Effects of New Gaelic Football Rules on the 2025 Season. See kick out stats, time in play for GAA matches. Reviews SportsNewsIreland

The Effects of New Gaelic Football Rules on the 2025 Season www.sportsnewsireland.com/gaa/the-effe... via @SportsNewsIreland

Garry Ringrose Banned for Three Matches - Breakdown of decision Garry Ringrose Banned for Three Matches - Breakdown of decision Score Updates Fixture Previews Reviews SportsNewsIreland

Garry Ringrose Banned for Three Matches – Breakdown of decision www.sportsnewsireland.com/rugby/rugby_... via @SportsNewsIre

Video - Cian Healy, Conor Murray & Peter O’Mahony Announce International Rugby Retirement After Six Nations Ireland Legends Cian Healy, Conor Murray & Peter O’Mahony Announce International Rugby Retirement After Six Nations SportsNewsIreland

Video – Ireland Legends Cian Healy, Conor Murray & Peter O’Mahony Announce International Rugby Retirement After Six Nations www.sportsnewsireland.com/rugby/rugby_... via @SportsNewsIRE