Debuts from heaven and hell: All the newcomers to Test rugby in 2025
Rugby World Cup 2027 qualified teams handed debuts to well over 200 players this year, with varying degrees of success.
Jon Newcombe
24 Dec 2025, 4:30
{{item.n}}
ADVERTISEMENT
Search: Alex Kendellen
Three England stars return to Bath's starting XV for visit of Munster
Johann van Graan has brought back Will Stuart, Guy Pepper and Max Ojomoh for Saturday evening's Champions Cup clash against his fo…
Jon Newcombe
05 Dec 2025, 6:03
Opinion
Green pipeline: An U25 Ireland side with Rugby World Cup 2027 in sight
Ireland’s defeat to the All Blacks in Chicago threw up a lot of familiar themes, but one of the more uncomfortable ones was just…
Ian Cameron
03 Nov 2025, 8:21
Question mark over Craig Casey in Munster injury update
The Ireland scrum-half misses Saturday evening's clash with Cardiff after suffering a thigh injury.
Jon Newcombe
03 Oct 2025, 9:06
Clayton McMillan starts Munster reign on winning note
Clayton McMillan started life as Munster head coach with a 34-21 win at Scarlets, with Craig Casey among the try-scorers in Llanel…
PA
27 Sep 2025, 14:11
Opinion
Brendan Fanning: 'The clock is already ticking for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia'
Josh van der Flier was overlooked for Test recognition for the Lions and he is one of many ageing Ireland stars looking over his s…
Brendan Fanning
26 Sep 2025, 9:16
Opinion
URC season preview: How will the four Irish provinces fare?
Can anyone stop Leinster? How will Munster cope without legends? Can Connacht flourish under Stuart Lancaster? Will Ulster recover…
Pat McCarry
25 Sep 2025, 2:57
Paul O’Connell 'feels sorry' for Portugal after Lisbon massacre
Ireland interim head coach Paul O’Connell admitted he felt sorry for Portugal after his side’s record-breaking 106-7 win in Li…
PA
12 Jul 2025, 21:36
Ireland rack up eye-watering scoreline against Portugal in Lisbon
Ireland ran in a record-breaking 16 tries in a one-sided 106-7 rout of Portugal in Lisbon to register their biggest Test win in th…
PA
12 Jul 2025, 15:43
Opinion
Ireland player ratings vs Portugal | 2025 Summer tour
Ireland player ratings: There are mismatches, and then there’s this. Ireland racked up 106 points under a scorching Lisbon sun, …
Ian Cameron
12 Jul 2025, 15:06
Craig Casey breaks silence on Ireland's contentious 10 jersey debate
Captain Craig Casey expects the ongoing battle for Ireland’s number 10 jersey to continue for the next decade as he prepares to …
PA
11 Jul 2025, 11:30
Paul O’Connell on what he wants from Jack Crowley
Ireland interim head coach Paul O’Connell has challenged Jack Crowley to respond to an impressive display from fly-half rival Sa…
PA
11 Jul 2025, 2:57
Ireland amend XV to face Portugal following Lions call-up
Connacht centre Hugh Gavin has been promoted to Ireland's starting XV to face Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday after Jamie Osborne's…
Josh Raisey
10 Jul 2025, 8:19
Ireland set to unleash three debutants on Portugal
Alex Kendellen and Shayne Bolton will make Ireland debuts in Saturday evening’s match against Portugal.
PA
10 Jul 2025, 5:23
Opinion
Ireland’s summer tour of first and last chances as debate swirls over absentees
With 15 players away with the Lions, a host of debutants are set to be unleashed on Ireland's summer tour.
Pat McCarry
06 Jun 2025, 3:04
11 rookies named in Ireland summer tour squad
.Munster scrum-half Craig Casey will captain an Ireland squad containing 11 uncapped players for their summer tour to Georgia and …
PA
04 Jun 2025, 11:06
