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Contributors

Liam Heagney

A seasoned rugby journalist, Liam hails from Limerick and has covered World Cups, Lions tours, Six Nations Championships and European Cup campaigns since 2000. He became a content editor at RugbyPass in 2019 after joining from the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday in Ireland.

World Rugby's candid admission: match officials weren't up to scratch on opening weekend
The 2019 World Cup in Japan is supposed to be a tournament that will be the best-refereed finals ever but the opening weekend didn…
Liam Heagney
24 Sep 2019, 6:03
Ireland make 12 changes to their team to face Wales
Having beaten a second-string Wales in Cardiff last weekend, Joe Schmidt has rung the changes for Ireland ahead of their rematch w…
Liam Heagney
05 Sep 2019, 9:00
'It's not the lowest point because you're representing your country at a World Cup' - Tom Wood on England 2015, Lewis Ludlum and his born-again Saints
Lewis Ludlam fast-track emergence was a reminder to Tom Wood that rugby is becoming a young man's sport, but the 32-year-old belie…
Liam Heagney
01 Sep 2019, 10:02
'How they seem to be playing down the importance of the backstop is just incredulous...' - Brian O'Driscoll on Brexit fears, Ireland's form and Japan hosting RWC
Brian O'Driscoll is a 40-year-old with recollections of police checks and border controls dividing the island of Ireland and he fe…
Liam Heagney
01 Sep 2019, 3:05
Ireland player ratings vs Wales
Humiliated in London the previous weekend, a middle strength Ireland XV regained some lost ground by deservedly getting the better…
Liam Heagney
31 Aug 2019, 13:11
'I'm not really disappointed... I'm positive' - Taqele Naiyaravoro on RWC misfortune, his Fijian heritage and life at Northampton
Taqele Naiyaravoro isn't wasting time dwelling on missing out on another World Cup, his focus instead being on a new Premiership s…
Liam Heagney
30 Aug 2019, 12:29
Springbok Aphiwe Dyantyi insisted he hasn't cheated... but B sample result hasn't backed him up
Aphiwe Dyantyi protested his innocence last weekend when a urine sample tested positive, but his hopes that a B sample would exone…
Liam Heagney
30 Aug 2019, 9:05
Another week, another law tweak by World Rugby
With their biggest ever World Cup on the horizon, World Rugby is tweaking laws in the run-up and its latest change concerns the us…
Liam Heagney
30 Aug 2019, 11:10
Heaslip keeping the faith: 'This team since the last World Cup is probably the best Irish squad ever assembled'
Jamie Heaslip is heading to Japan in October and while numerous fans are concerned with the form of Joe Schmidt's squad, the forme…
Liam Heagney
29 Aug 2019, 13:59
'There is a large element of fear involved...' - James Haskell on his switch from rugby to MMA
Rocky and Mike Tyson were among the names dropped into the mix by James Haskell during his first MMA media conference, but he also…
Liam Heagney
30 Aug 2019, 8:20
Ireland make 11 changes to their team to face Wales
Trounced by England at Twickenham last Saturday, Joe Schmidt has taken action ahead of Ireland's trip to Wales by making 11 change…
Liam Heagney
29 Aug 2019, 8:57
'I didn't know it was coming... my first reaction was to scream' - John Cooney on his Ireland axe
John Cooney was watching Gaelic football on TV when his Sunday afternoon was ruined by Joe Schmidt phoning to tell him he was bein…
Liam Heagney
29 Aug 2019, 4:33
'I've made sure I booked my flight for the Monday after the final in case the All Blacks do it'
Justin Marshall has high hopes that the All Blacks can win a third consecutive World Cup now that they have retained the Bledisloe…
Liam Heagney
23 Aug 2019, 14:05
'I can't tell you what I'm going to be doing post this World Cup from 8-to-5 as a job... nothing is set in stone'
The transition from rugby player to a different career can be full of pitfalls and while Bryan Habana is feeling fortunate so far,…
Liam Heagney
25 Aug 2019, 3:39
Ireland tipped to make 11 changes for Wales and hand Peter O'Mahony a different back row role
Optimism surrounding Ireland's World Cup chances nose-dived with a record defeat at Twickenham and Joe Schmidt is now likely to ch…
Liam Heagney
28 Aug 2019, 11:31
An English Championship side has left a World Cup team's preparations in tatters
So many rugby fans are hoping the minnow nations can pack a punch at the 2019 World Cup, but the form of Russia, the 20th ranked s…
Liam Heagney
28 Aug 2019, 4:52
Brian O'Driscoll has a World Cup remedy to fix Joe Schmidt's struggling Ireland midfield
Ireland's midfield was like a turnstile at Twickenham, failing to stem a rampant English attack, and it has left the legendary Bri…
Liam Heagney
27 Aug 2019, 9:47
'I'm now banned from going all-inclusive...' - Gloucester's Fraser Balmain on holidays, Danny Cipriani and World Rugby's latest scrum tweak
Tighthead Fraser Balmain has reinvigorated his career at Gloucester in the last two seasons after believing he got stuck in a rut …
Liam Heagney
22 Aug 2019, 14:11
'I read social media posts saying stuff like I should never wear a rugby shirt again - it's all bollocks'
It's 10 months since Freddie Burns' gaffe for Bath went viral and he is proud he didn't play the victim... instead he decided to b…
Liam Heagney
25 Aug 2019, 6:16
Ireland player ratings vs England
Records humiliatingly tumbled at Twickenham as Ireland wilted in the London heat and had no answers to the power that England punc…
Liam Heagney
24 Aug 2019, 12:15
Springbok Aphiwe Dyantyi tests positive for banned substance
Lions winger Aphiwe Dyantyi has landed himself in trouble after a test taken while attending a Springboks training camp in early J…
Liam Heagney
24 Aug 2019, 8:56
Ireland make 12 changes to their team to face England
Following a scratchy performance against Italy, Joe Schmidt has changed 12 of his starting Ireland side to face England and includ…
Liam Heagney
22 Aug 2019, 6:25
Less is more for PRO14 as they opt for a lower capacity ground for their 2020 final
Attendances for PRO14 finals have been on the rise in recent years but that trend will stop in 2020 as organisers have opted to st…
Liam Heagney
22 Aug 2019, 5:09
France will appeal Paul Gabrillagues' six-week ban
Believing the six-week suspension handed down to lock Paul Gabrillagues to be too severe, France are to appeal the ban in the hope…
Liam Heagney
21 Aug 2019, 16:48
Player welfare protocol means Lewis Ludlam can't play for England this Saturday
Lewis Ludlam set pulses racing with his Test level breakthrough on consecutive weekends against Wales, but contractual protocol me…
Liam Heagney
21 Aug 2019, 11:30
Leinster's Ross Byrne in line for first Test start as Ireland set to make multiple changes for Twickenham
Amid doubts about the availability of Joey Carbery for the start of Ireland's World Cup, Joe Schmidt is set to give a first Test s…
Liam Heagney
21 Aug 2019, 9:57
France make four changes for Scotland rematch
Such is the confidence suddenly coursing through France following last weekend's opening win in Nice, Jacques Brunel has announced…
Liam Heagney
20 Aug 2019, 10:01
It's a TMO's paradise... 34 different cameras will cover the RWC semi-finals and final
With broadcast production set to be completely produced and controlled by World Rugby at World Cup 2019, they plan to enhance cove…
Liam Heagney
20 Aug 2019, 5:34
Eighteen months after his last cap, France turn to Fijian Virimi Vakatawa
Not since February 2018 has the name of Virimi Vakatawa featured on a France teamsheet, but the Fijian-born Racing winger has been…
Liam Heagney
20 Aug 2019, 4:57
'There is a bit of a misnomer that rugby is looking for bigger, heavier players'
Finessing Ulster's pathway system hasn't been easy but academy boss Kieran Campbell believes they are on the right track with spri…
Liam Heagney
18 Aug 2019, 6:46
Danny Cipriani breaks his silence over England World Cup selection snub
Danny Cipriani's has broken his silence after his stellar Premiership form for Gloucester was ultimately not enough to sway Eddie …
Liam Heagney
17 Aug 2019, 3:02
Wales' Dan Biggar hits back at critic in live post-match TV interview
After claims during the week that Wales will not win the World Cup with him at out-half, Saturday's man of the match Dan Biggar ha…
Liam Heagney
17 Aug 2019, 11:53
Christian Wade has done it again, lighting up the NFL with Buffalo
Christian Wade lit up social media when scoring with his first touch in NFL and he continued that positive impression with another…
Liam Heagney
17 Aug 2019, 7:35
Tom Varndell signs for Yorkshire and not everyone's happy about it
Tom Varndell's reputation as a Premiership try-scorer used to be second to none, but his career has been transient in recent years…
Liam Heagney
17 Aug 2019, 4:06
The stats that highlight how really coveted Fijians players are by elite European clubs
Unlike eight years ago at New Zealand 2011, Fiji will arrive at RWC 2019 with a squad heaving with players coveted by Europe's lea…
Liam Heagney
16 Aug 2019, 8:10
'I may have taken refuge in alcohol... it was not the right solution'
Life has been difficult for Carl Hayman since he retired from playing but the former All Black is slowly piecing his life back tog…
Liam Heagney
16 Aug 2019, 6:04
Expect just two scrum-halves to make Joe Schmidt's final Ireland 31 for RWC
Having excluded two players last week and another three on Wednesday, Joe Schmidt has reduced his squad to 40 but another nine mus…
Liam Heagney
14 Aug 2019, 14:49
Two new caps in France team to face Scotland
Preparing for the World Cup after a disappointing Six Nations, France boss Jacques Brunel has rung the changes for their first war…
Liam Heagney
15 Aug 2019, 5:29
Six months after demanding it open, Eddie Jones now wants the Principality roof closed
Eddie Jones caused uproar last February when he refused to grant Wales permission to close the Principality Stadium roof, but the …
Liam Heagney
15 Aug 2019, 3:48
Three more cut as Ireland name squad for warm-weather camp in Portugal
Ireland are heading to Portugal for a warm-weather camp having issued an update on Joey Carbery's injury and cut more players from…
Liam Heagney
14 Aug 2019, 9:03
Meaningless friendlies debate not restricted to Test level as Racing 92 suffer huge injury blow
Gareth Anscombe's RWC-ruining injury has sparked a debate about playing meaningless friendly Test matches, but serious injuries al…
Liam Heagney
13 Aug 2019, 14:08
Rory Best's reason for not singing the Ireland national anthem isn't what you would expect
Rory Best has played 117 times for Ireland but no amount of criticism on social media will get him to sing the national anthem bef…
Liam Heagney
13 Aug 2019, 11:45
It's all change bar one as O'Shea's Italy take on Russia
Beaten by Ireland in Dublin in their opening warm-up match for the World Cup, Conor O'Shea has changed 14 of his team for Italy's …
Liam Heagney
13 Aug 2019, 11:09
'Surprised and disappointed' - Richmond issue statement on RFU's Yorkshire decision
Relegated Richmond had been hoping that punishment for financially-troubled Yorkshire would earn them a reprieve from Championship…
Liam Heagney
12 Aug 2019, 11:59
England name official 31-man Rugby World Cup squad
Eddie Jones has named England's official 31-man Rugby World Squad that will contest the sport's flagship tournament in Japan.
Liam Heagney
12 Aug 2019, 8:00
How England's Jamie George and the Irishman skippering English cricket became drinking buddies
After England's one-day cricket team showed last month how it is possible to win a World Cup, Jamie George is hoping to catch up w…
Liam Heagney
06 Aug 2019, 4:09
'Does Eddie support England or Australia in the Ashes... who actually knows?'
With the start of the Ashes series quickly following an epic conclusion to the World Cup, cricket is a hot topic of conversation a…
Liam Heagney
03 Aug 2019, 17:07
'There's moments I'd change - a moment of time I'd love to have made a different decision'
Garry Ringrose was only making his Leinster debut when Ireland played at the last World Cup in 2015... four years later, the 24-ye…
Liam Heagney
04 Aug 2019, 4:10
'If you start thinking not getting injured, not doing that, then that is when you tend to get injured'
It's only an August friendly next Sunday, but Elliot Daly insists England will be holding back nothing when Wales visit Twickenham…
Liam Heagney
03 Aug 2019, 16:56
'As soon as you step outside, you're absolutely dripping with sweat... you're constantly feeling incredibly hot'
Having fought his way back into RWC selection contention against the odds, Mike Brown is loving England's arduous warm-weather cam…
Liam Heagney
31 Jul 2019, 18:38
'RWC is the dream of every rugby player and it's not easy having to say goodbye'
It was a sorry sight at Twickenham last March seeing Italian centre Tommaso Castello suffer the serious injury that will now sidel…
Liam Heagney
31 Jul 2019, 8:08
John Mitchell refuses to say it's all over for Danny Cipriani's World Cup hopes
Danny Cipriani's RWC selection hopes appear dead in the water, but England assistant John Mitchell hasn't confirmed this is the pr…
Liam Heagney
30 Jul 2019, 17:00
Last weekend's testimonial for ex-Wales international Paul James marred by dressing room theft
Saturday was a day of celebration in Neath as Paul James' testimonial year culminated in a charity match, but there was a bitter t…
Liam Heagney
30 Jul 2019, 7:13
Theft of ex-Wales prop's testimonial jersey has a happy ending
A terrible tale of woe from the Gnoll dressing room in Neath has had a happy ending as stolen kit belonging to an ex-Wales prop ha…
Liam Heagney
30 Jul 2019, 15:54
England reveal how long Brad Shields will be sidelined for... and it's not encouraging
It was last Thursday when England revealed Brad Shields had picked up an injury in Treviso... assistant coach John Mitchell has no…
Liam Heagney
30 Jul 2019, 10:39
New important date set for financially stricken Yorkshire after RFU stay of execution
2019 has been a terrible year of repeated blows for financially stricken Yorkshire, but there is light at the end of the tunnel wi…
Liam Heagney
27 Jul 2019, 4:43
Cruden's revised contract situation at Montpellier opens door to Super Rugby return
Aaron Cruden's future at Montpellier has been much speculated during 2019 and the latest twist - a revised deal at Montpellier - p…
Liam Heagney
26 Jul 2019, 7:18
Paddy Jackson offline as other London Irish signings such as Naholo help drive ticket sales
Having watched their average home attendance last season plummet to an average of 3,770 in the Championship, London Irish have a j…
Liam Heagney
23 Jul 2019, 12:54
Mike Ford has had his role at Leicester revised
Mike Ford's arrival at Leicester as a consultant in the late stages of last season looked like panic recruitment, but the former B…
Liam Heagney
23 Jul 2019, 5:11
Russia cancel World Cup warm-up away to Georgia due to safety issues
The eyes of the rugby world will be on Russia when they open the World Cup against hosts Japan in September, but their preparation…
Liam Heagney
19 Jul 2019, 16:27
A dollar for Israel Folau's thoughts as Australia prepare to play their first Test since his sacking
Nine weeks have passed since Rugby Australia terminated Israel Folau's contract, but they now face their first Test match without …
Liam Heagney
19 Jul 2019, 5:05
England's squad have been bonding over Love Island, but the show is now taking an Irish rugby twist
Tom Curry confessed last week that the England squad were Love Island fanatics, but that interest is now set to surely increase wi…
Liam Heagney
16 Jul 2019, 11:27
'People have this stereotype that Bristol is a big club with bottomless amounts of cash... but we're camping in Cornwall for a weekend'
Rookie defence coach John Muldoon learned the hard way as Bristol leaking tries like a sieve early last season, but he feels Pat L…
Liam Heagney
14 Jul 2019, 4:36
Rugby World Cup Depth Chart - Scotland
Having come within a poor refereeing decision of reaching 2015's semi-finals, the latest RugbyPass Rugby World Cup depth chart fea…
Liam Heagney
15 Jul 2019, 3:42
Rugby World Cup Depth Chart - Ireland
In the latest of a Rugby World Cup series, RugbyPass looks at Ireland's depth chart ahead of the finals in Japan where Joe Schmidt…
Liam Heagney
13 Jul 2019, 5:37
Heyneke Meyer: 'I am not a dictator'
Heyneke Meyer's time in charge at Stade Francais has seen a lot of upheaval at a club struggling to try and replicate former glori…
Liam Heagney
11 Jul 2019, 13:32
'I'd jokingly prefer to look back at 40 having gotten the sack and going, at least I gave coaching a try'
Johne Murphy lost his enthusiasm for rugby and quit at the age of 30 in 2015, but the former Leicester and Munster player rekindle…
Liam Heagney
07 Jul 2019, 3:32
The strained relationship that led to Sergio Parisse's split with his beloved Stade Francais
There was more than met the eye in Sergio Parisse's Friday afternoon departure from Stade Francais... rather than being amicable, …
Liam Heagney
29 Jun 2019, 3:24
'It's nice to know we're not a walk in the park anymore... we're now ready to win at Munster'
Coming back to Europe didn't appeal to Monty Ioane, but the Australian took a life-changing call from Kieran Crowley and the rest …
Liam Heagney
01 May 2019, 14:33
'It would be great for the country, for the club, for Italian rugby,' claims history-chasing Crowley
There wasn't a long queue for the Benetton job in 2016 but All Black Kieran Crowley didn't hesitate putting his reputation on the …
Liam Heagney
23 Apr 2019, 14:50
'It's that whole resilience and ability to get up and go again... the past is eaten bread'
Mike Catt, who lost his job with England after 2015 World Cup failure, has kept a low profile as Italy assistant but he lifts the …
Liam Heagney
07 Mar 2019, 15:27
'Your family suffer because they can see you're distraught after a game... Sunday morning comes around and you're still grumpy, still edgy'
April is usually when Leicester go into over-drive in search of trophies, but 2019's end-of-season run-in will be a very different…
Liam Heagney
04 Apr 2019, 12:15
'On his deathbed his words were: Get your f***ing arse on the plane because I want to see you playing against Scotland'
Dean Budd shed tears at Murrayfield when playing for Italy at the start of the 2019 Six Nations as it was the same day as his step…
Liam Heagney
21 Feb 2019, 14:17
'I'm under no illusions... the hard work has to come first and you have to stay in the moment'
Tom Curry started all five of England's 2019 Six Nations matches, but the 21-year-old demonstrates maturity beyond his years in in…
Liam Heagney
23 Jun 2019, 4:31
'If you haven't seen women's rugby and you don't actually know about it, that is annoying'
Zoe Harrison would love women's rugby to enjoy a much higher profile and a new RugbyPass documentary on Saracens is aiming to do j…
Liam Heagney
16 Jun 2019, 9:40
Paddy Jackson and the Galway question
Paddy Jackson is theoretically free to go whenever he wants in Ireland. Ideally he should be in Galway next Saturday, running the …
Liam Heagney
02 Dec 2018, 5:58
'Everyone is ready to put the hard work in to get Wasps back to where we want to be'
It wasn't a pretty season for ambitious Wasps, but Rob Miller - who charitably spends some down time helping a community soup kitc…
Liam Heagney
10 Jun 2019, 14:42
'It's rugby's biggest downfall' - Ellis Genge believes rugby can learn from football's open-minded recruitment
Ellie Genge knows his career could be very different if Leicester didn't offer him a life away from trouble in Bristol, but he is …
Liam Heagney
02 Jun 2019, 4:01
'The gangs and the prison really interests me... because of my history and experiences of mistakes and doing things wrong'
Calum Clark has a bruising on-field reputation, but the maligned Saracens' back row has his good side judging by his Venezuela vis…
Liam Heagney
30 May 2019, 13:23
'I have been very lucky to have been thrown right in at the deep end... I really enjoyed it'
Ted Hill expected to spend his season on the Worcester fringes, not score the match-winning try at Leicester on his Premiership de…
Liam Heagney
29 May 2019, 14:42
'Rugby's unbelievable... I have done things I only thought were possible in movies'
World Rugby believes the women's game will be its biggest growth sector in the next decade and American Kiki Morgan is one of 15 p…
Liam Heagney
28 May 2019, 14:56
Ireland's RWC training squad winners and losers
There were some eye-catching winners and losers when Joe Schmidt announced his 44-strong Ireland RWC training squad following a ni…
Liam Heagney
28 May 2019, 11:09
'My mum's Welsh, dad's Irish and I moved to England five years ago so there is a twist... it's a tough one'
International selection wasn't on Callum Sheedy's mind when he spoke with RugbyPass last month, but England are now in pole positi…
Liam Heagney
28 May 2019, 5:08
'I'm upset lots of players have to hide their sexuality for years before they retire... I want everyone to be themselves'
Just over a year since he copped a ban for a homophobic slur he insists he never said, Denny Solomona wants rugby to have an envir…
Liam Heagney
26 May 2019, 15:00
'It's a bit of a weird one having to play Northampton again... there will be a bit of chess here and there'
It's usually Europe in December - not May in the Premiership - when clubs face the same opposition on consecutive weekends, but Ma…
Liam Heagney
24 May 2019, 19:14
Rob Kearney the latest victim of an IRFU 'lowball'
David Nucifora had nine IRFU centrally contracted players falling out of deals this term and his hardball approach at the negotiat…
Liam Heagney
22 May 2019, 9:06
Leinster have used eye-watering 57 players to reach the PRO14 final
There wouldn't be much Guinness left in the keg if Leo Cullen was to serve up a pint of the PRO14 sponsor's brew to every player t…
Liam Heagney
22 May 2019, 15:11
It was a taboo. It wasn't a case of just going, 'I'm not alright, I need some help mentally'. Now we have the confidence to say, 'No, I'm not alright'
Starting just one Premiership game this season, it would be understandable if Tom Lindsay felt aggrieved but he has the mental too…
Liam Heagney
19 May 2019, 6:04
'You get stars that get all the attention, but I'm more than happy to just plug along, keep the head down and still succeed'
From Invercargill to Kanagawa via Bath and many other places, Kiwi James Wilson has had a blast using his excellent work ethic to …
Liam Heagney
18 May 2019, 4:33
'It's frustrating when Saracens are talked about negatively... but you just have to take the rough with the smooth at the top'
After a decade's service, the retired Chris Wyles believes the often criticised Saracens are 'an amazing story - an unbelievable c…
Liam Heagney
11 May 2019, 4:16
Marcelo Bosch going from chasing a European/Premiership double... to level five rugby in England
Marcelo Bosch announced last month he was leaving Saracens - but the expectation was he would play on professional not step down t…
Liam Heagney
09 May 2019, 6:29
'If you're over the ball and have two blokes over 100 kilos flying into you off their feet, it can be pretty difficult to survive'
Sam Underhill doesn't turn 23 until June, but he has already been on the receiving end of numerous injuries in a sport where he fe…
Liam Heagney
05 May 2019, 12:02
'It's so outrageous how things have gone' - Jake Woolmore's journey from teaching kids with learning difficulties to playing in the Premiership
Jake Woolmore was nervous about getting his Premiership chance just months before his 28th birthday, but the late developer prop h…
Liam Heagney
04 May 2019, 9:12
'Getting on that World Cup plane would be pretty amazing... but I have a lot of catching up to do'
A double fracture to an arm has meant Taulupe Faletau hasn't appeared for Wales since March 2018, but he is hoping his inclusion i…
Liam Heagney
01 May 2019, 13:36
James Wilson is another Kiwi at Bath with his bags packed for Japan
Salary cap juggling elbowed James Wilson off the Bath roster this time last year, but after a November recall due to injuries he i…
Liam Heagney
29 Apr 2019, 3:11
'It's probably the hardest thing I've had to do in life' - Sam Simmonds on his 30-week injury rehab
It's now 30 weeks since Sam Simmonds suffered the knee injury that has presented him with the biggest challenge of his life, a bat…
Liam Heagney
28 Apr 2019, 5:12
'There was a bit of bitchiness in camp, it was a pretty bad place to be' - Callum Sheedy on Bristol before Lam
With Bristol's reputation as a yo-yo club disappearing under Pat Lam, Callum Sheedy has emerged as an important play-maker even th…
Liam Heagney
26 Apr 2019, 13:10
'If we go down, our nearest club is in Manchester... that's three hours on a train, a long way to go to watch Premiership rugby'
Away from Newcastle for nine years, Toby Flood returned to a region where rugby is thriving but it now faces the worrying prospect…
Liam Heagney
25 Apr 2019, 14:35
Faletau's comeback plan waiting on midweek scan result
Taulupe Faletau's season hasn't been much fun due to a series of forearm injuries, but he is now on the mend and hoping for positi…
Liam Heagney
24 Apr 2019, 17:36
Family rivalry on the cards as Johnny Sexton's brother set for PRO14 move
Johnny Sexton's stellar career have created headlines the whole way through but his younger brother Jerry is set to secure some PR…
Liam Heagney
24 Apr 2019, 5:55
'We couldn't believe he put the boots on and ran out there' - Luke Morahan on Siale Piutau's sacrifice
Luke Morahan has had his eyes opened during his two years in England, but the Australian believes rugby in his own country continu…
Liam Heagney
21 Apr 2019, 9:15
It's insanity that a club of Munster's pedigree has lost so many successive European semi-finals
Unless he has a secretive masterplan to unveil, Munster's decision to prematurely give Johann van Graan a contract extension sugge…
Liam Heagney
21 Apr 2019, 8:15
How a catalogue of red flags are mounting against van Graan despite thrashing of Ulster
Munster supporters exited Thomond Park on Saturday night on cloud nine following their record PRO14 derby destruction of hapless I…
Liam Heagney
30 Sep 2018, 7:10
Leinster vs Toulouse - Composite XV
Sunday's semi-final is a salivating prospect as Europe's two most successful clubs go head-to-head in a match-up that left RugbyPa…
Liam Heagney
20 Apr 2019, 6:45
Anglo-French fixture is what hesitant Toby Flood tips Newcastle to host in Champions Cup final
Newcastle's successful bid to host the 2019 Champions Cup final was quite a coup for England's north-east, but Toby Flood is torn …
Liam Heagney
19 Apr 2019, 14:00
'There's always a risk in moving anywhere... that stuff (with Saracens) is in the background at the moment'
Jack Singleton is a promising English talent that came through the ranks at Worcester and is now being courted by Saracens, leavin…
Liam Heagney
16 Apr 2019, 14:20
'I have probably got a little bit of gyp about being gay or something like that'
Being a free spirit can at times attract negative attention, but the earthy Harry Williams isn't changing his style for anyone in …
Liam Heagney
14 Apr 2019, 12:11
Elite coaching is increasingly no country for old men, but 68-year-old Alan Solomons is bucking that trend
Forty per cent of coaches in charge at the 40 elite European clubs are aged between 47 and 51, but 68-year-old Alan Solomons is sh…
Liam Heagney
14 Apr 2019, 10:20
'We have never not thought about being in the Premiership... but we haven't reached our extreme potential'
Having agreed a two-year extension in December, GJ van Velze has high hopes that Worcester can not only beat the drop but go on an…
Liam Heagney
11 Apr 2019, 14:06
'It was like someone was stabbing me in the back of the heel... I'd sit down for two minutes and limp around to get moving again'
Mathew Tait's lengthy career ended in February with an injury that just couldn't be beaten and his premature retirement has left h…
Liam Heagney
07 Apr 2019, 7:50
'I wanted to be away from everyone, wanted to withdraw from the club' - Ashley Johnson's drugs ban battle
Life was awkward for Ashley Johnson during his six-month ban following a failed drugs test, but the Wasps forward has come through…
Liam Heagney
31 Mar 2019, 9:06
A rare All Blacks jersey has been sold for an exceptional price in Cardiff
A 1905 Originals tour jersey that was kept in a collection by a former Ireland player was sold for a hefty sum under the hammer at…
Liam Heagney
30 Mar 2019, 5:57
'I get a lot of questions on how life on this side of the world is' - Wasps' Lima Sopoaga on his chats with former Kiwi teammates
Lima Sopaoga has no regrets about turning his back on the All Blacks to ply his trade in England at Wasps and provide better for h…
Liam Heagney
28 Mar 2019, 17:09
Famed 1905 All Blacks 'Originals' jersey has eye-watering guide price for Cardiff auction
Saracens owner Nigel Wray paid a staggering £180,000 for a 1905 "Originals" jersey worn by Dave Gallaher - now another jersey fro…
Liam Heagney
26 Mar 2019, 6:57
'As a kid it sometimes takes a landmark event like the 2003 World Cup win to get you involved'
Late bloomer Tom Savage tells RugbyPass how Jason Robinson's 2003 England exploits inspired him to start a career that now has Glo…
Liam Heagney
24 Mar 2019, 13:06
Debate over Crusaders name change is example of opportunistic political correctness gone mad
Crusaders were resilient on their return to action following a difficult week where the name got hijacked in the commentary surrou…
Liam Heagney
24 Mar 2019, 5:03
Incensed Steve Diamond gets asked about biting incident live on air and he didn't pull his punches
Relegation-threatened Newcastle's must-win match at St James' Park was blighted by a biting allegation that led to a feisty reacti…
Liam Heagney
23 Mar 2019, 15:23
'We've unearthed talent and had great Test window points haul'... Brad Barritt shrugs off Saracens' salary cap row
Having bounced back this term from disappointing Test window results a year ago, Brad Barritt believes he is captaining a Saracens…
Liam Heagney
22 Mar 2019, 15:30
'I'm certainly not giving up'... four years in Test wilderness haven't stopped Ben Morgan believing
Not since England's horror 2015 World Cup has Ben Morgan played a Test, but he hopes Gloucester's title challenge can somehow cata…
Liam Heagney
22 Mar 2019, 13:04
Post-Six Nations - Which 31 players make Ireland's plane to the Rugby World Cup in Japan?
Having used 36 players in the 2019 Six Nations, Joe Schmidt has some manoeuvring to do to cut the numbers down and ensure he takes…
Liam Heagney
20 Mar 2019, 12:40
Toulon could turn to an Irishman to help rev up 'The Bus'
With The Bus having stalled in Toulon along with the rest of their attack, boss Patrice Collazo has sounded out an Irish coach abo…
Liam Heagney
18 Mar 2019, 5:15
Six Nations 2019 a bruising experience where only 32 of 169 players started five matches
We're still six months away from the start of the 2019 World Cup in Japan, but the just-finished Six Nations provided multiple poi…
Liam Heagney
17 Mar 2019, 11:11
Ireland Player Ratings - versus Wales
Having demanded to have the Principality Stadium roof left open, Ireland found themselves left all at sea on a rainy Cardiff after…
Liam Heagney
16 Mar 2019, 10:35
'These two Kiwis have massively broken the mould,' says Jim Hamilton as he savours their Six Nations finale
Saturday's result in Cardiff will decide who walks away with the historical bragging rights in a New Zealand coaching rivalry that…
Liam Heagney
15 Mar 2019, 13:14
How a battle with childhood dyslexia helped forge Chris Robshaw's England captaincy
There was a time when Chris Robshaw would be have been driven daft at the prospect of being at an England Test match and not being…
Liam Heagney
14 Mar 2019, 16:06
'At the moment it's quite bleak' - Three player deaths and damaging defeats leave French rugby under a dark cloud
RugbyPass hears how France's poor performances in the 2019 Six Nations have failed to help move the sport on locally from the blea…
Liam Heagney
14 Mar 2019, 15:17
'We've a quirky handshake that is only for us Bristol players... it's special'
All Black Steven Luatua could have called it quits this summer at Bristol, but he instead signed an extension in the hope of seein…
Liam Heagney
08 Mar 2019, 14:51
Pre-match analysis - Ireland vs France
Performing like a moving car with the handbrake on, Ireland's Six Nations title defence has been difficult and there is huge press…
Liam Heagney
09 Mar 2019, 7:27
Brown lays out targets after England axe
Losing his England place has struck Mike Brown hard, but the veteran Harlequins player tells RugbyPass how grateful he is that the…
Liam Heagney
08 Mar 2019, 9:39
Unbeaten Treviso shake-up PRO14 during league's block of Six Nations fixtures
Glasgow emerged as the PRO14's best side during the four-match block of fixtures in the 2019 Six Nations window, but Benetton Trev…
Liam Heagney
03 Mar 2019, 11:10
'Unfortunately people lose jobs when teams get relegated... that's the harsh reality of professional sport'
'No job is guaranteed in life, never mind in sport,' says Newcastle boss Mick Hogan ahead of the Falcons must-win relegation fixtu…
Liam Heagney
03 Mar 2019, 5:10
'There were tears... it wasn't the way I wanted to leave Munster'
Ian Keatley thought he would fight it out with Joey Carbery this season, not suddenly drop from first to fifth in the Munster out-…
Liam Heagney
03 Mar 2019, 6:40
'I expected a bit more angry Steve Diamond... but he was really calm'
Premiership records went tumbling when Sale mentally didn't show up at Northampton, but Faf de Klerk expresses surprise with how w…
Liam Heagney
01 Mar 2019, 12:50
'I felt like a normal human but I wasn't allowed to do anything for two months' - Jono Lance's back fracture ordeal
Jono Lance doesn't rate his horror-sounding back fracture as the worst injury of a career that ends its four-month stint on the si…
Liam Heagney
01 Mar 2019, 8:50
'We have currently 11 of 12 clubs about to lose money for the third year running...it's a broken model'
Mike Hogan believes it's time to ring-fence the Premiership and scrap relegation... and he isn't saying it just because Newcastle …
Liam Heagney
01 Mar 2019, 6:29
Autopsy of Irish Rugby's February nightmare
Ireland were on top of the world 14 weeks ago, but their confidence has been dented by three successive poor performances after Jo…
Liam Heagney
26 Feb 2019, 13:35
Ireland player ratings - versus Italy
Ireland have battered Italy in recent meetings, but events in Rome shattered that trend and left Joe Schmidt with much to ponder i…
Liam Heagney
24 Feb 2019, 13:10
'We're disconsolate, disillusioned, disappointed after a defeat... but don't do this job if it's not hurting'
Conor O'Shea and Joe Schmidt are Test coaches with a friendly rivalry that highlights the vastly different resources Italy and Ire…
Liam Heagney
24 Feb 2019, 6:22
The 206-second attack that has turned Geography Six outcast Cory Hill into a household name
Cory Hill has had the last laugh at those who ridiculed him on the 2017 Lions, rounding off the ultimate Wales team try that featu…
Liam Heagney
24 Feb 2019, 4:37
Scotland player ratings - versus France
Scotland came into their third match of the Six Nations believing they could cash in on France's 2019 chaos, but their inability t…
Liam Heagney
23 Feb 2019, 12:11
Pre-match analysis - Italy vs Ireland
Changes to Ireland's pack has given Italy a sniff of a competitive start, but the routine in these fixtures is for Schmidt's charg…
Liam Heagney
23 Feb 2019, 7:58
Forty-nine players, six debutants, 301 points, 31 tries and 109 years - standing on the edge of history
Beating England and setting a record for a dozen wins on the bounce is imperative if the work of Warren Gatland these past 12 mont…
Liam Heagney
23 Feb 2019, 4:21
Ex-Ireland coach spends day watching England get ready to take on Wales
Footballer John Terry wasn't the only high profile visitor to England rugby training this week as Eddie Jones also invited along I…
Liam Heagney
21 Feb 2019, 3:23
Expat Six Nations players bear the brunt as clubs called the shots this weekend
Six Nations had a down weekend but there was no rest for most of the Scottish, Welsh and Italian players who earn their club salar…
Liam Heagney
17 Feb 2019, 4:30
'We actually have to start getting some wins' - what life's like in the Premiership dogfight
After a 40-day winter hibernation, the Premiership is finally back in action this weekend with the battle for survival featuring N…
Liam Heagney
15 Feb 2019, 7:01
'I wasn't aware. I knew there was something going on'
Chris Harris didn't know until RugbyPass told him that Huw Jones has been ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations, opening up a m…
Liam Heagney
14 Feb 2019, 11:06
'If we're trying to attract people to rugby, surely providing stats that we know are impactful is the way forward'
Six Nations 2019 is enjoying excellent viewing figures but former Ireland player Kevin McLaughlin believes TV needs to use more in…
Liam Heagney
14 Feb 2019, 13:02
Fardy could be the next forward to leave Leinster
European champions Leinster could have their forwards stocks plundered again by an English club as Wasps are the latest Premiershi…
Liam Heagney
13 Feb 2019, 7:56
'PRO14 - not Super Rugby - is best competition for South African teams to play in'
Cheetahs are ready to depart on an 18-night, three-match tour of Ireland and Wales with coach Franco Smith claiming PRO14 is a bet…
Liam Heagney
12 Feb 2019, 14:18
Rating assistant coaches - early-term Six Nations report cards
Eddie Jones' revamped backroom staff has its fingerprints all over the 2019 Six Nations, attack coach Scott Wisemantel and defence…
Liam Heagney
11 Feb 2019, 14:08
Scotland player ratings - versus Ireland
Scotland defended manfully for long periods of their round two Six Nations match but they didn't have enough creativity to unlock …
Liam Heagney
09 Feb 2019, 14:05
Ireland player ratings - versus Scotland
Ireland bounced back from last weekend's opening defeat to England with a nine-point win over Scotland in Edinburgh. Peter O'Mahon…
Liam Heagney
09 Feb 2019, 12:59
From the fringes to centre stage, the South African import now crucial to Ireland's Six Nations
One of five changes in the Ireland team to face Scotland on Saturday, South African Quinn Roux has it all to do to impress on his …
Liam Heagney
07 Feb 2019, 11:04
CJ Stander was good, but Billy V was better
Eddie Jones will be purring this week after England suddenly turned the clock back to 2016 and resumed laying waste to much touted…
Liam Heagney
06 Feb 2019, 13:49
Struggling Biarritz ready to swoop for out-of-favour Munster pair
Dave O'Callaghan and James Hart are being lined up for a summer switch to French Pro D2 club Biarritz after failing to get much of…
Liam Heagney
07 Feb 2019, 15:14
France's bizarre campaign takes another twist as call-up is away on holiday
France's campaign took another strange twist on Tuesday when they called a player into the squad to face England who is away on ho…
Liam Heagney
05 Feb 2019, 12:24
FFR confident Noves won't win the enormous sum he's demanding in damages following sacking
French rugby officials sound optimistic they can successfully defend Guy Noves' claim for €3million in damages which will be hea…
Liam Heagney
06 Feb 2019, 11:50
Injury-free Coetzee repays Ulster's patience by singing on for another three years
Ulster have hailed Marcell Coetzee’s three-year contract extension, claiming the 27-year-old South African is primed to produce …
Liam Heagney
06 Feb 2019, 5:27
England hero Slade cashing in with personalised video messages
England’s two-try Six Nations hero against Ireland, Henry Slade, is one of a number of rugby players looking to cash in on their…
Liam Heagney
05 Feb 2019, 17:04
Ireland must turn screw in Scottish heads to avoid post-Six Nations repercussions
There may be a gap of 225 days in between Ireland’s two 2019 fixtures against Scotland, but next Saturday’s Six Nations outcom…
Liam Heagney
05 Feb 2019, 4:26
O'Brien poised for first Six Nations start in two years as Stander ruled out until March
Sean O’Brien is poised to make his first Six Nations start for Ireland in two years after CJ Stander was ruled out of action wit…
Liam Heagney
04 Feb 2019, 10:32
Brunel's bungling reaches a new low with Vahaamahina's bizarre revelation
Jacques Brunel’s chaotic France reign has been dealt another blow with Sebastien Vahaamahina’s revelation that he didn’t kno…
Liam Heagney
04 Feb 2019, 13:16
'When the Russian anthem was played, you couldn't hear a note. That's how hostile the crowd was.'
We’ve heard all about the Test rugby haves this weekend. Glamour Six Nations fixtures. Bumper attendances. Massive global TV aud…
Liam Heagney
03 Feb 2019, 10:20
Ireland player ratings - versus England
Ireland’s lavish dream of winning a second Grand Slam in succession was shattered at the first time of asking in the 2019 Six Na…
Liam Heagney
02 Feb 2019, 15:42
'The pain was almost like a ripping across my abdomen. I'd no idea what was going on'
Pull up a chair and be inspired. Ross Adair’s attempt to fight his way back into the professional ranks is a winter’s tale to …
Liam Heagney
28 Jan 2019, 14:05
Henshaw could make shock positional switch for England match
Joe Schmidt is allegedly poised to throw an opening weekend Six Nations curveball by possibly selecting midfielder Robbie Henshaw …
Liam Heagney
28 Jan 2019, 5:37
The 'new model' athletes fresh off Leinster's academy production line set to stalk the PRO14
Here it is, the time of season when reigning European Cup holders Leinster stand out from the crowd for very different reasons. …
Liam Heagney
26 Jan 2019, 6:23
'I will not repeat it' - Zebo reflects on 'unacceptable' racism
Simon Zebo has opted not to make public the exact racist words aimed at him by an Ulster supporter who is now banned for life from…
Liam Heagney
25 Jan 2019, 4:43
Discarded - the sobering Six Nations' 4-year attrition rate laid bare
Roll up, roll up. With European pool stage campaigns ending, Six Nations preparations will now quickly click into gear this we…
Liam Heagney
20 Jan 2019, 9:29
Rugby union civil war brewing as PRO14's European dominion returns?
Buckle up. Here comes a round six weekend where the PRO14 is growling with a collective Champions Cup snarl not witnessed sinc…
Liam Heagney
17 Jan 2019, 14:51
Jonny Sexton's 6'5, 118kg little brother and 52 other Irish exports playing pro-rugby in Europe
Not for nothing have the Irish been described as the Samoan rugby players of the northern hemisphere. More often than not, they ar…
Liam Heagney
06 Jan 2019, 7:43
Cian Kelleher's massive, potentially career defining gamble
Cian Kelleher is a wanted man in Dublin. He’s scoring tries, three in his last five appearances. He’s in rude health, too,…
Liam Heagney
13 Jan 2019, 7:55
'I do not know what happened to me that day. I'm not a bad guy'
Simon Zebo has insisted his run-in last October with Michael Lowry is past tense as he prepares to play in his native Ireland this…
Liam Heagney
11 Jan 2019, 4:35
How the Irish rumour mill inevitably followed Grobler to Gloucester
What is it about Gerbrandt Grobler and whispers? A UK newspaper interview last August resulted in him branding Ireland as ‘unfor…
Liam Heagney
10 Jan 2019, 15:43
Seventeen years after it was scrapped, Leinster tightening grip on unofficial 'third title'
Not since 2002 has the IRFU’s interprovincial title officially been played for. However, Leinster’s derby demolition of Ulster…
Liam Heagney
06 Jan 2019, 11:35
'He is a player who has an aura in the group' - Brive coach gives fascinating insight into Fiji star
Jeremy Davidson is tipping Dominiko Waqaniburotu for a special 2019 double - promotion to the Top 14 with Brive and quarter-final …
Liam Heagney
04 Jan 2019, 14:47
How a beaten Ireland U20s side produced three All Black killers in just two years
Turns out June 2016 in Manchester was the month when England got the World Rugby Under-20s Cup but Ireland ultimately got the crea…
Liam Heagney
03 Jan 2019, 13:54
Steffon Armitage on the move and England international set to join him in France
One of the most talked about England players who didn’t get selected for the 2015 World Cup - Steffon Armitage - could be on the…
Liam Heagney
31 Dec 2018, 10:04
Sexton snubbed by Midi Olympique's 'Team of the Year' XV
Johnny Sexton’s difficult weekend took another twist on Sunday evening following his omission from Midi Olympique’s internatio…
Liam Heagney
31 Dec 2018, 4:38
With attendances of just 3,000, London Irish's latest big play simply must pay off
It’s been Jingle Bells all the way over the holiday period for London Irish, the club experiencing a Happy Christmas like never …
Liam Heagney
30 Dec 2018, 10:13
Tom Varndell has walked out of French rugby
Tom Varndell’s brief flirtation with France is over after just six PRO D2 games with Soyaux Angoulême. The English Premiersh…
Liam Heagney
29 Dec 2018, 5:13
Trouble at the Thomond turnstiles? The startling drop off in numbers at Munster matches laid bare
Thomond Park will be buzzing on Saturday. Old rivals Leinster are in Limerick, the sold-out signs went up weeks ago for the Irish …
Liam Heagney
28 Dec 2018, 10:53
'You need Santa, Jesus and a winning lottery ticket to fix that mess'
Dragons enjoyed a dead cat bounce on Friday night, their first since they unceremoniously jettisoned Bernard Jackman on December 1…
Liam Heagney
24 Dec 2018, 5:13
The truth about coaching turnover in the rugby union
Job security as a professional rugby head coach in Europe isn’t quite as fragile as an English Premier League soccer manager. …
Liam Heagney
19 Dec 2018, 7:23
Ulster are paying a heavy price at the turnstile for their nightmarish year off the pitch
Ravenhill wasn’t bursting at the seams when Ulster swooped for their latest Champions Cup win on Friday night. A little over 12,…
Liam Heagney
16 Dec 2018, 5:47
Within 12 months Ireland could lose one of the chief unsung architects of its success
Rob Kearney’s start-of-the-week admission that he doesn’t yet know where he will play his rugby following the 2019 World Cup w…
Liam Heagney
09 Dec 2018, 7:17
The true extent of England players' workload this season compared to Ireland's laid bare
Last weekend provided the latest compelling evidence that Ireland’s IRFU-contracted stars have it much easier than their club-co…
Liam Heagney
06 Dec 2018, 7:02
The inherent risk of Andy Farrell
Andy Farrell will be hoping hipster beards don’t go out of fashion in Irish rugby as quickly as they have in Irish football. …
Liam Heagney
29 Nov 2018, 13:31
Fiji need more matches against Tier 1 sides if their story is to change
French riot police were busy in Paris on Saturday. National symbols such as Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées needed protecting…
Liam Heagney
26 Nov 2018, 15:02
Paddy Jackson's move to France could be about to pay off big style - reports
Paddy Jackson’s career-saving move to France is quickly set to pay off. The sacked Ireland international is reportedly poise…
Liam Heagney
26 Nov 2018, 13:32
The warning from history this Ireland side can't ignore going into a World Cup year
Joe Schmidt’s hint that he just might be leaving Ireland at the end of the 2019 World Cup wasn’t the only post-match quip to c…
Liam Heagney
25 Nov 2018, 13:59
'It wasn’t unusual for someone to roll down the window and flick the finger at you and laugh'
Watch out world. Whether or not the in-demand Joe Schmidt hangs around in Ireland following the 2019 World Cup, the IRFU don’t p…
Liam Heagney
22 Nov 2018, 13:54
Thirteen years after he endured an All Black hammering on debut, Rory Best has given his detractors the proverbial fingers
Saturday night in Dublin was supposed to demonstrate how Test rugby is no country for old men. Rory Best was apparently over t…
Liam Heagney
18 Nov 2018, 15:16
After 26 different combinations, this is Ireland's last area of positional uncertainty under Schmidt
There was no visible pre-match panic at Lansdowne Road last Saturday when Ireland were forced to rejig their team selection at the…
Liam Heagney
14 Nov 2018, 15:40
How Ireland and not the All Blacks dominate one of the game's most fiercely contested battlegrounds - discipline
Joe Schmidt will have flown out of Chicago on Sunday satisfied that Ireland have potentially remedied a worrying black mark. Re…
Liam Heagney
07 Nov 2018, 13:04
'Good players take bad passes... I remember the whole room going quiet because I said it to Drico'
It’s five-and-a-half years since Joe Schmidt, rushing towards a door to be on time for a Leinster team captain’s run, momentar…
Liam Heagney
28 Oct 2018, 8:34
The eight players left on Irish Rugby's 'central contract' hit list and how the IRFU plan to pay for them
It’s one down, eight more to go for the IRFU following Conor Murray’s recent announcement that he will continue to play his ru…
Liam Heagney
21 Oct 2018, 7:02
Simon Zebo has become impossible for Schmidt to ignore
Simon Zebo fired a rare blank on Saturday, the smiling assassin unable to add to his grand tally of six tries so far this season f…
Liam Heagney
14 Oct 2018, 5:14
After a six month lay off and over 20 operations, can Sean O'Brien still be trusted to be Ireland's missing link?
Joe Schmidt will wear a broad smile when he addresses the Irish Business Network breakfast in Dubai on Monday morning on the subje…
Liam Heagney
07 Oct 2018, 7:59
The keys to Leinster's success and why the rest of Europe should be worried
As soon as Leo Cullen walks in the Aviva Stadium door next Wednesday morning for the new season’s Champions Cup launch, the “D…
Liam Heagney
23 Sep 2018, 7:31
How Andy Farrell's defensive system has become the elephant in Ireland's World Cup room
Saturday’s earthquake result in Wellington is a sudden red flag for fancied Ireland a year out from the 2019 World Cup finals.
Liam Heagney
16 Sep 2018, 6:31
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