RTÉ Rugby podcast: Leinster's end of season grade and Lions tour come into focus
Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Eddie O'Sullivan to recap Leinster's BKT United Rugby Championship final win against the Bulls.
We examine whether the province can look back on 2024/25 as a success or not, even with a trophy in the bag (4:30), and break down how a clinical start to the game sent them on their way (24:50).
The panel also discuss the form of Ryan Baird and Thomas Clarkson, who have stepped up when it's counted in recent weeks (32:45).
And we also begin our look ahead to the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour (38:30), and discuss the Test places up for grabs.
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The Irish Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Wimbledon choose NOT to offer wildcard to French Open semi-finalist Lois Boisson after cruel ‘deodorant' jibe from Brit
WIMBLEDON chose NOT to give a French Open semi-finalist a wildcard. But they did give the Brit who made a cruel "deodorant" jibe about her a spot in the main draw. 4 Harriet Dart cruelly said Lois Boisson 'smells really bad' and needed to wear deodorant Credit: X 4 Dart made the comment during their match in April - and has got a Wimbledon wildcard Credit: X 4 Boisson took a cheeky swipe back at Dart after the win Credit: Instagram Lois Boisson, 22, hit headlines in April after Harriet Dart took a mean swipe at her personal hygiene. At a change of ends during her 6-0 6-3 defeat to the Frenchwoman, And not only did she breeze to an easy win and her classy reputation enhanced, but she then had the best fortnight of her life with a stunning run to the semi-finals at Roland Garros. READ MORE WIMBLEDON NEWS Given a wildcard by the French Tennis Federation after an ACL injury saw her slump to world No361, Boisson enjoyed a stunning run. She beat No3 seed Jessica Pegula and No6 seed Mirra Andreeva in front of a raucous home crowd, Boisson was eventually knocked out by Coco Gauff, who lifted the trophy. As well as That would ordinarily be high enough for direct entry into the majors, but the Wimbledon cut-off was before the rankings updated after the French Open. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS So Boisson was reliant on a wildcard spot in the main draw - but was snubbed by the All England Club. Of the eight wildcards handed out for the women's singles, seven went to British players - including Dart and Wimbledon finals are to be broadcast on new channel The other was for two-time champ Petra Kvitova from Czech Republic following her return from maternity leave. Instead, Boisson used her protected ranking of 153rd from before the injury to secure a qualifying place for Wimbledon, where she will play her first professional match on grass. But tennis fans could not believe the call from the AELTC to overlook her for a place in the 128-player main draw. One said: "I'm genuinely shocked Lois Boisson was denied a Wimbledon wild card… I hope she makes it through the qualifiers." Another wrote: "Totally understand many wildcards for Wimbledon being handed to British players, but it's disappointing there isn't one for Lois Boisson as well. "Now inside the top 70 after Roland Garros - it would have been good to see her in the main draw. Hope she comes through qualifying." Wimbledon 2025 Wildcards GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES 1 Jay CLARKE (GBR) 2 Oliver CRAWFORD (GBR) 3 Daniel EVANS (GBR) 4 George LOFFHAGEN (GBR) 5 Johannus MONDAY (GBR) 6 Jack PINNINGTON JONES (GBR) 7 Henry SEARLE (GBR) 8 To be announced LADIES' SINGLES 1 Jodie BURRAGE (GBR) 2 Harriet DART (GBR) 3 Francesca JONES (GBR) 4 Hannah KLUGMAN (GBR) 5 Petra KVITOVA (CZE) 6 Mika STOJSAVLJEVIC (GBR) 7 Heather WATSON (GBR) 8 Mingge XU (GBR) GENTLEMEN'S QUALIFYING SINGLES 1 Oliver BONDING (GBR) 2 Nicolai BUDKOV KJAER (NOR) 3 Arthur FERY (GBR) 4 Paul JUBB (GBR) 5 Ryan PENISTON (GBR) 6 Oliver TARVET (GBR) 7 To be announced 8 Wild Card Play-off place 9 Wild Card Play-off place LADIES' QUALIFYING SINGLES 1 Emily APPLETON (GBR) 2 Amarni BANKS (GBR) 3 Renata JAMRICHOVA (SVK) 4 Ella MCDONALD (GBR) 5 Yuriko Lily MIYAZAKI (GBR) 6 Amelia RAJECKI (GBR) 7 Ranah STOIBER (GBR) 8 Wild Card Play-off place 9 Wild Card Play-off place And a third added: "Roland Garros has never issued a WC to a British woman player. Wimbledon has a long memory." The French Open usually gives a wildcard to Australia and the United States, the hosts of the other two majors - but not to Great Britain. On the men's side, seven of the eight main-draw wildcards have been confirmed - with all of them so far going to Brits. That leaves three-time Grand Slam champ The veteran turned 40 in March but is now down at world No155 and not on the qualifying entry list. Dan Evans is the standout Brit along with Jay Clarke and in-form Oliver Crawford. 4 Boisson enjoyed a stunning run to the French Open semis but was snubbed by the All England Club Credit: Getty Tennis stars' new careers PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring. But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best… I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up I'm last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I'm singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts I'm former world No1 but quit aged 29 - instead I went on to play professional poker and golf I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Three Irish players start for opening match of Lions tour against Argentina
The 42 MARO ITOJE WILL captain a Lions team including three Irish players for Friday's warm-up game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium [KO 8pm, TG4/Sky Sports]. Ireland inside centre Bundee Aki, second row Tadhg Beirne, and tighthead prop Finlay Bealham are part of Andy Farrell's starting XV for the clash in Dublin. Tadhg Furlong will make his return from a calf/hamstring injury on the Lions bench, having last played for Leinster on 17 May. Mack Hansen also makes his comeback from an ankle injury on the bench, while hooker Rónan Kelleher is among the replacements after featuring in Leinster's URC final win over the Bulls last weekend. Kelleher, who came off the bench for Leinster on Saturday, is the only player involved in the URC or Premiership finals last weekend who backs up for the Lions' opening game under Farrell. Two-time tourist Itoje captains the Lions for the first time, while Fin Smith gets the first shot in the number 10 shirt as he partners England and Northampton team-mate Alex Mitchell in the halfbacks. Aki teams up with Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu in midfield, while the back three is made up of Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman, and fit-again Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe, who hasn't played since March because of an ankle injury. Advertisement Bealham is joined in the front row by English duo Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie. Itoje and Beirne are the second row combination and there's a punchy-looking Lions back row of Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, and Ben Earl. A 5/3 Lions bench split includes 20-year-old English back row Henry Pollock. Lions team (v Argentina): 15. Marcus Smith (Harlequins/ England) 14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton/England) 13. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland) 12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Ireland) 11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh/Scotland) 10. Fin Smith (Northampton/England) 9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton/England) 1. Ellis Genge (Bristol/England) 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale/England) 3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Ireland) 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) (captain) 5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Ireland) 6. Tom Curry (Sale/England) 7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys/Wales) 8. Ben Earl (Saracens/England) Replacements : 16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Ireland) 17. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh/Scotland) 18. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Ireland) 19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow/ Scotland) 20. Henry Pollock (Northampton/England) 21. Tomos Williams (Gloucester/Wales) 22. Elliot Daly (Saracens/England) 23. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Ireland) Referee : James Doleman [New Zealand]. Written by Murray Kinsella and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Tadhg Furlong set for Lions return as Andy Farrell names side to face Argentina in Dublin
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