
Breaking Haiti Couleurs wins Irish Grand National
Ridden by Sean Bowen and trained by Rebecca Curtis, the eight-year-old has now won four out of five races over fences and showed great resolve to hold off a strong finish from Any Second Now with Quai De Bourbon taking third.
Welsh raider Haiti Couleurs (13-2) triumphs in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National under a brilliant ride from Sean Bowen for trainer Rebecca Curtis.
📺 Watch live racing from Fairyhouse: https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ pic.twitter.com/aLe4MiAD6T
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 21, 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Welsh Rugby Union defends plans to halve number of professional men's teams
The Welsh Rugby Union has recognised the "hurt and anger" caused by their proposal to reduce the number of professional men's sides in Wales from four to two, but insisted maintaining the status quo is not the "right thing" to do. Welsh rugby's governing body has produced a radical plan to turn around the the game at both club and international level, outlining its ambitions in a 90-page consultation document entitled 'The Future of Elite Rugby in Wales'. There will be a six-week consultation period before the WRU makes a final decision on the plans, and WRU chief executive Abi Tierney has urged people to "improve on the proposals" and provide "something fit for purpose for Welsh rugby". The WRU's proposal to halve its number of four men's professional sides - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - to two will be the biggest talking point in a document which outlined four potential models for the game in Wales. It remains unclear whether the two future sides being proposed will be new entities or existing teams, but the two organisations will each have a men's and women's team. Tierney said: "This is a momentous day for Welsh rugby. No decisions have been made, but we feel based on the analysis this is the strongest (option) yet. "I know how emotional rugby is in Wales and people will be hurting today, when they think what it could mean potentially for them and their their team. "I recognise the hurt and anger people are going to be feeling. Change is hard and this is hard for fans. "But fans' numbers drop has also not been a great experience for anybody, and we want to create an experience they can be proud of. "What we were doing and keeping doing for fans was not the right thing. I would encourage everybody to imagine how exciting it could be and take that step into the future." The WRU proposal comes amid Ospreys plans to move into a redeveloped stadium at St Helen's in Swansea for the 2026-27 season and the Scarlets having recently unveiled new investors. Dragons said this week elite professional rugby must continue in Gwent, while Cardiff are currently owned by the WRU having gone into administration in April. It is possible the WRU will face legal action from regions that could essentially be put out of business, with WRU chairman Richard Collier-Keywood saying "two or three areas of potential legal challenge" exist. The WRU has also proposed the creation of a national campus at a site yet to be decided, which would be the home of the men's and women's professional teams, as well as Wales' national sides and the union's academy. Players were briefed on the WRU's plan on Tuesday and Dave Reddin, the new director of rugby and elite performance, is confident suggestions of possible player strike action will not materialise. Reddin said: "The national campus would be a radical departure and doing something different, a defensive moat for Welsh rugby and creating a competitive advantage. "We've got to look outside the box if we want to try and do things differently. "Be brave enough to to lead sometimes and do things that no one else is doing. Do things things that people think are a bit nutty, too different or too uncomfortable."


RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
'Change is hard and this is hard for fans' - WRU defends proposal to halve number of pro teams
The Welsh Rugby Union has recognised the "hurt and anger" caused by their proposal to reduce the number of professional men's sides in Wales from four to two, but insisted maintaining the status quo is not the "right thing" to do. Welsh rugby's governing body has produced a radical plan to turn around the the game at both club and international level, outlining its ambitions in a 90-page consultation document entitled 'The Future of Elite Rugby in Wales'. There will be a six-week consultation period before the WRU makes a final decision on the plans, and WRU chief executive Abi Tierney has urged people to "improve on the proposals" and provide "something fit for purpose for Welsh rugby". The WRU's proposal to halve its number of four men's professional sides – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets – to two will be the biggest talking point in a document which outlined four potential models for the game in Wales. It remains unclear whether the two future sides being proposed will be new entities or existing teams, but the two organisations will each have a men's and women's team. Tierney said: "This is a momentous day for Welsh rugby. No decisions have been made, but we feel based on the analysis this is the strongest [option] yet. "I know how emotional rugby is in Wales and people will be hurting today, when they think what it could mean potentially for them and their their team. "I recognise the hurt and anger people are going to be feeling. Change is hard and this is hard for fans. "But fans' numbers drop has also not been a great experience for anybody, and we want to create an experience they can be proud of. "What we were doing and keeping doing for fans was not the right thing. I would encourage everybody to imagine how exciting it could be and take that step into the future." The WRU proposal comes amid Ospreys plans to move into a redeveloped stadium at St Helen's in Swansea for the 2026-27 season and the Scarlets having recently unveiled new investors. Dragons said this week elite professional rugby must continue in Gwent, while Cardiff are currently owned by the WRU having gone into administration in April. It is possible the WRU will face legal action from regions that could essentially be put out of business, with WRU chairman Richard Collier-Keywood saying "two or three areas of potential legal challenge" exist. The WRU has also proposed the creation of a national campus at a site yet to be decided, which would be the home of the men's and women's professional teams, as well as Wales' national sides and the union's academy. Players were briefed on the WRU's plan on Tuesday and Dave Reddin, the new director of rugby and elite performance, is confident suggestions of possible player strike action will not materialise. Reddin said: "The national campus would be a radical departure and doing something different, a defensive moat for Welsh rugby and creating a competitive advantage. "We've got to look outside the box if we want to try and do things differently. "Be brave enough to to lead sometimes and do things that no one else is doing. Do things things that people think are a bit nutty, too different or too uncomfortable."


RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Aoife Wafer still absent as Ireland go through paces for Japan World Cup opener
Ireland held their first full training session just outside Northampton today but injured back row Aoife Wafer did not take part. The 22-year-old flanker underwent knee surgery just over a month ago and has all but been ruled out of Ireland's opening two World Cup games, against Japan on Sunday and Spain on Sunday week. There are indications that the Wexford woman, the 2025 Six Nations player of the tournament, may return for the third Pool C game against New Zealand on 7 September. Co-captain Edel McMahon, who missed the two friendly games against Scotland and Canada with a knee injury, trained with the squad at Towcestrians Rugby Club but the back row warmed up separately. Ireland trained just outside Northampton, with Aoife Wafer not among the group. Scott Bemand's side open their #RWC2025 campaign against Japan on Sunday #RTERugby #RTESport — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 20, 2025 Scott Bemand's side, who landed in England on Friday, kick off their group campaign against the Sakura at Franklin's Gardens on Sunday at 12 noon. They take on Spain at the same venue a week later before what could be pool decider against the Black Ferns in Brighton on Sunday fortnight.