Opinion
Nations Championship
'Farrell wants Ireland to be the best - but the top sides have them figured out'
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Contributors
Pat McCarry
@patmccarry
Pat McCarry has been covering rugby, across various shows and platforms, for over 16 years. He has two best-selling rugby books, The New Breed and Man & Ball, and penned a sell-out rugby play, Soldier Field, in 2019. He has written for SportsJOE, The42, Guardian, Press Association and Inside Rugby, among others.
117 Articles
Latest
Nations Championship
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International Rugby
Retiring Munster duo Ryan and Scannell 'left jerseys in a good place'
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36 days ago
Analysis
Opportunity knocks as Andy Farrell ushers in a next-gen Ireland
Andy Farrell's squad raised eyebrows and it's a clutch of players from Connacht and Ulster who have most to gain chasing Leinster …
Pat McCarry
18 Jun 2026, 8:04
11
Analysis
Andy Farrell sticks around as uncertainty swirls around Irish rugby
The departure of James Lowe signifies a change of tack from within Irish rugby as developing academy starlets is preferred
Pat McCarry
14 Jun 2026, 1:55
31
Analysis
Leinster look to ‘Tommaso’ as Tadhg Furlong battles to make it to the World Cup
There could be a changing of the guard at tighthead as the legendary Tadhg Furlong hands over the baton to Thomas Clarkson
Pat McCarry
05 Jun 2026, 9:09
Analysis
Win-win-win or bust for Leinster as big names floated for top job
Leinster fluffed their lines against Bordeaux but winning the URC would still be a handsome achievement to finish the season with
Pat McCarry
27 May 2026, 12:32
21
Interview
Ulster’s Jude Postlethwaite: ‘They are high pressure games, but I am confident'
The 24-year-old centre will notch up another marker in his rapid development in Friday's European Challenge Cup final.
Pat McCarry
21 May 2026, 5:45
1
Interview
Carty’s Connacht journey nears its end - but will there be one last shot at glory?
Friday may be fly-half Jack Carty's final game for Connacht before retiring, but a URC play-off spot could prolong his career for …
Pat McCarry
14 May 2026, 8:49
3
Analysis
The best uncapped Irish prospects pushing for summer tour places
With criticism is some quarters about an ageing squad, Andy Farrell has a plethora of young talent to blood onto the Test stage
Pat McCarry
10 May 2026, 2:09
22
Interview
‘You can’t go into your shell’ - Tommy O’Brien primed for Toulon after late big-time arrival
After biding his time through injury frustration, the Leinster and Ireland winger is making up for lost time with club and country…
Pat McCarry
30 Apr 2026, 10:03
Interview
‘No-one was expecting us to win’: How Cape Town heist crowned Connacht comeback
Fuelled by eight players born in the province, Connacht's sixth straight URC win has put them in the play-off frame.
Pat McCarry
23 Apr 2026, 3:46
1
Opinion
Crowley and Byrne help Farrell flesh out No.10 masterplan
Harry Byrne's displays for Leinster have bolstered competition for Jack Crowley's Ireland shirt despite Sam Prendergast's glitch i…
Pat McCarry
17 Apr 2026, 4:30
17
Interview
Dalton: 'Some girls like to be screaming and shouting, and that works for them. I’m definitely the opposite'
This Six Nations Aoife Dalton comes in as a mainstay of the Irish team after captaining the Wolfhounds to Celtic challenge glory. …
Pat McCarry
10 Apr 2026, 3:46
Interview
Dan Sheehan: ‘I don’t feel that rugby swallows me up a whole lot’
The Ireland hooker discusses family, relationships, an early encounter with Jonah Lomu and a ‘taste for winning’ with Leinster…
Pat McCarry
02 Apr 2026, 8:40
4
Exclusive
Alex Nankivell: 'Playing for Ireland wasn't my goal - it definitely is now'
The Munster centre had no thoughts of Test rugby when he moved north, but is now 15 months from qualifying to wear the emerald jer…
Pat McCarry
26 Mar 2026, 3:03
12
Analysis
England could force Ireland to break the bank if they go hard after Andy Farrell
The in-demand coach will be pushed to reject overtures from England and Saracens when his contract is up after the World Cup
Pat McCarry
17 Mar 2026, 3:16
17
Interview
‘A very lonely feeling’ – Jack Crowley’s worrying flaw that could undermine Ireland
Jack Crowley has shown fight and perseverance to reclaim the 10 jersey, but doubts over his goalkicking remain.
Pat McCarry
13 Mar 2026, 5:37
17
Exclusive
Ulster have emerged from the doldrums - and Ireland are the beneficiaries
Ulster endured the ignominy of contributing zero players to an Ireland squad as recently as November, but times have changed.
Pat McCarry
04 Mar 2026, 6:35
1
Analysis
Andy Farrell took England down with a move straight from the Alex Ferguson playbook
Holding back the likes of Josh van der Flier against Italy proved to be a masterstroke by Andy Farrell, the kind of selection move…
Pat McCarry
25 Feb 2026, 3:57
60
Analysis
England ‘smell blood’ as Ireland roll out the old guard for Twickenham battle
Can an aging team with a creaking scrum upset the odds at Allianz Stadium? Only if Ireland's pack turn into Optimus Prime.
Pat McCarry
20 Feb 2026, 8:11
23
Interview
'I don't think fans understand some of the consequences' – Peter O’Mahony on the worrying trend in modern rugby
Ahead of his punditry debut, the former Ireland captain gives his take on the "circus" surrounding Ireland's fly-half debate
Pat McCarry
12 Feb 2026, 6:59
20
Opinion
Three Ireland players with huge World Cup questions to answer after Paris pummelling
Ireland weren't expected to beat France but the manner of their defeat was alarming and serious questions now need to be asked in …
Pat McCarry
06 Feb 2026, 5:15
20
