Rugby

May
May 2026
Under Pressure
The brutal 20 minutes when Bordeaux pulled away from Leinster
The French side scored three quick fire tries and moved into total control.
Murray Kinsella
25 May
2.2k
2
mind the gap
Irish rugby faces a tough ask in keeping up with vibrant French system
Bordeaux’s current reign follows golden periods for Toulouse and La Rochelle.
25 May
4.1k
21
Rugby
'I think we're ready for it now' - Lancaster relishing Connacht's play-off trip to Glasgow
25 May
2.6k
5
Blow
Jack Crowley ruled out of Munster's URC quarter-final in Pretoria
25 May
4.6k
28
Noel McNamara
'It's not a defence that we come up against often... and that really motivated the players'
25 May
3.4k
6
podcast image
PodcastRugby Weekly Extra
More heartbreak for Leinster and Ulster: European finals review
Gavan Casey, Murray Kinsella and Bernard Jackman reflect on a bitter weekend for the Irish provinces in Bilbao.
94m
rugby weekly extra
'I just think this model is really confusing... it’s bizarre really, and it hasn’t worked'
25 May
5.7k
44
Springboks
South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe returns to Stormers from Japan
25 May
2.0k
13
Leinster
‘It’s definitely a bit of an eye-opener, some of the stuff Bordeaux put out there’
24 May
5.6k
55
Reaction
Leo Cullen says Leinster have a need for speed if they are to get over the line in Europe
23 May
9.2k
87
podcast image
PodcastThe 42 Rugby Weekly
SNAP REACTION: Leinster 19-41 Bordeaux Bègles
13m
On The 42Champions Cup final
Leinster's wait goes on as brilliant Bordeaux retain their European throne
A devastating first half by the French side all but ended this Champions Cup final as a contest.
Gavan Casey
Reports from Estadio de San Mamés
23 May
9.2k
175
Updates
Leinster v Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Champions Cup final
23 May
40.9k
153
richie murphy
'It gives us a taste of how good we have to be to be at the top end of Europe'
23 May
2.0k
19
Decider
Leinster's bench impact could prove key in oppressive Bilbao heat
23 May
2.9k
11
Challenge Cup
Montpellier crush Ulster in Challenge Cup final; Connacht qualify for Champions Cup
The second-placed side in France’s Top 14 proved far too strong for an Ulster side depleted by injury.
Gavan Casey
Reports from Estadio de San Mamés
22 May
10.0k
92
Minute-by-Minute
Ulster fall short against Montpellier in Challenge Cup final
22 May
25.9k
50
Questions and Answers
Know your sport? Take our weekly quiz
22 May
2.5k
2
PodcastThe 42 Rugby Weekly
Preview: One of the biggest weekends in Irish rugby
Export
Cullen and Leinster acknowledge that friend Noel McNamara will know them 'very, very well'
22 May
3.0k
0
Selection
Thomas Clarkson and Robbie Henshaw start for Leinster in Champions Cup final
22 May
7.9k
44
Analysis
Quick counters, clever kicking and the occasional maul – how Bordeaux score their tries
22 May
1.0k
6
danger man
'He is a pretty special player, I think he's a proper rock star'
22 May
3.7k
2
On the rise
Bordeaux's McNamara has always been a fella who was going places
The Clare native has coached in New Zealand, South Africa and France.
Murray Kinsella
21 May
2.9k
5
Best of the best
Three Ireland players included in Women's Six Nations team of the championship
21 May
2.7k
7
Champions Cup final
Leinster's underdog status and near misses are intriguing psychological wrinkles against Bordeaux
21 May
2.2k
8
Team news
Baloucoune returns from injury to start Challenge Cup final for Ulster
21 May
4.4k
39
Selections
Leinster add Paddy McCarthy and Jordan Larmour to squad for Champions Cup final
21 May
6.3k
16
Star
Transcendent Louis Bielle-Biarrey appeals to our primal desire as fans of sport
21 May
1.5k
3
On The 42build up
From sheep farming in Pyrenees to Champions Cup final – Maxime Lucu turning dreams to reality
21 May
2.4k
2
Opportunity
'The chance to win with this club is special' - Hume gearing up for Ulster's pop at Europe
21 May
1.0k
4
build up
Memories of San Mamés trigger sense of glory for Leinster's Garry Ringrose
21 May
1.8k
2
Top Picks
McCloskey and Moloney-MacDonald clinch top honours at Rugby Players Ireland Awards
20 May
2.5k
4
Clarkson's continuing progress at tighthead a happy tale for Leinster
20 May
2.3k
5
looking ahead
Ex-Munster and Ireland star Simon Zebo to release autobiography
20 May
6.4k
57
L'UBB
€7 tickets, the fan experience, and thrilling rugby - Bordeaux's impressive rise
The Top 14 club was only formed in 2006 when two local sides merged.
Murray Kinsella
20 May
4.0k
20
CONFIRMED
Ex-All Black prop Clarke Dermody joins Ulster as forwards coach
20 May
2.3k
5
suftum
'I've really loved my time here and I’m in no rush to get out of Belfast'
20 May
6.0k
6
Challenge Cup
Montpellier's Vunipola wary of an Ulster side 'with nothing to lose and everything to gain'
19 May
2.5k
3
final hurdle
It's all on the line for Ulster at end of a season which promised so much
The province can sign off with a Challenge Cup title and qualify for the Champions Cup, or finish empty-handed.
Ciarán Kennedy
19 May
2.5k
18
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