Interview
Nations Championship
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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.
125 Articles
Latest
International Rugby
Six takeaways from Ireland's Nations Championship squad
13
7 days ago
Investec Champions Cup
'You just want to be in the fight:' Lancaster eyes Saracens challenge
1
13 days ago
United Rugby Championship
Leinster return home to old 'fortress' as new era begins at Laya Arena
21 days ago
International Rugby
Injured duo hope for swift returns as Irish URC teams start poorly
27 days ago
Analysis
'Expectations are so high at Leinster that merely league-winning seasons are not considered good enough'
Leinster are expected to lead the charge of Irish provinces but it's Connacht who are expected to exceed expectations, with fears …
Pat McCarry
24 Sep 2026, 3:21
2
Opinion
Munster relying on youth and a discarded talent as fly-half crisis comes to a head
Besieged by injuries in the number 10 position, the Irish province are growing increasingly desperate as the new season looms.
Pat McCarry
20 Sep 2026, 2:40
10
Analysis
Mayo strategy for breaking All-Ireland curse could inspire Andy Farrell to follow suit
Do Ireland need to roll the dice and bank on blooding young talent to break their World Cup curse next year?
Pat McCarry
13 Sep 2026, 14:01
7
Opinion
'Farrell wants Ireland to be the best - but the top sides have them figured out'
Ireland's coach has a little over a year to restore Ireland's status near the summit of the international game.
Pat McCarry
21 Jul 2026, 6:37
56
Exclusive
'These fellas are Gods' - Ireland's quest to sack the Eden Park fortress
The All Blacks are undefeated at their Auckland stronghold in 52 Tests, and the place holds plenty harrowing memories for the tour…
Pat McCarry
17 Jul 2026, 9:37
16
Opinion
It's 'make or bench' for Ireland's new-look half-backs against Japan
Craig Casey and Ciaran Frawley have been starved of international starts and must seize their chance to show Andy Farrell they are…
Pat McCarry
09 Jul 2026, 9:00
5
Analysis
Sixth-choice loosehead and second-chance inspiration get their biggest Ireland starts
Cian Prendergast and Tom O'Toole were overlooked for parts of their respective careers, but have fought their way to international…
Pat McCarry
03 Jul 2026, 5:13
3
Interview
Munster duo John Ryan & Niall Scannell: ‘We’ve left those jerseys in a good place’
The Ireland front-rowers recall 'surviving the slagging' at Munster, a Rassie rollocking and the highs and lows of their last 13 y…
Pat McCarry
25 Jun 2026, 8:40
3
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
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