Latest news with #GarryRingrose
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- General
- Irish Times
Leinster hopeful Josh van der Flier will be fit for Glasgow clash
Josh van der Flier and Leinster have been enduring an anxious wait for the results of a scan on the hamstring injury which forced him off in the first half of his side's BKT URC quarter-final win over the Scarlets last Saturday. But the province remain reasonably hopeful that van der Flier might yet be fit for next Saturday's semi-final against Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 2.45pm) and that the injury will not jeopardise his fitness for the forthcoming British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. 'We hope for clearance,' said senior coach Jacques Nienaber at the squad's HPC on Monday which, being a bank holiday, may have contributed to the delay in obtaining results. 'We sent him for a scan yesterday but I don't think it has come back yet. That's quite weird, for a first-world country, so we are still waiting.' In the intervening void, Nienaber was not inclined to speculate. READ MORE 'Obviously, I am fingers crossed, toes crossed, that he can make the semi-final. It would be nice.' Garry Ringrose will also be monitored before a decision is made on his fitness after missing last week's quarter-final with a calf injury. 'He did some running last week so his race against time is going through the return-to-play protocols so running, change direction, acceleration, deceleration,' said Nienaber. 'If he can tick all the boxes and doesn't have symptoms after being loaded, then he is available for selection.' Similarly, Tommy O'Brien will be further assessed for a foot injury, while Jordan Larmour has returned to full training. However, Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out and is unlikely to add to his injury curtailed haul of seven games for Leinster and three for Ireland this season due to his recurring calf issues. Leinster's Tadhg Furlong. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho 'I can't talk for him,' said Nienaber, 'but he hasn't played a lot, didn't play in the Six Nations, then comes back for two or three games and then he gets a setback again. It's tough for a player to get a rhythm. You like to get a string of games and build on your confidence and get the team to get confidence in you, so I think it is frustrating.' Although Leinster lacked precision in their handling and were at times impatient against the Scarlets, the two-time World Cup-winning coach reasoned that 'knockouts are a little bit different. It's a different competition and something that in international level one doesn't get exposed to except in World Cups. 'But if you look at Glasgow they've been quite successful, Munster have been quite successful, we haven't been successful with it yet. Hopefully we took lessons out of the previous games we played in knockouts and we can apply ourselves a little bit better.' Speaking of lost knockout ties, the Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton appears to be lingering but Nienaber maintained this wasn't the case for him. 'No, it's gone. The competition is gone. Next year. Like, is there a anything we can about it?' Informed that Leo Cullen had, unprompted, referenced the Northampton game four times in his post-match last Saturday, Nienaber said: 'Maybe with Leo, but not for me. For me it's water under the bridge. Not one ounce of energy from me personally put into, thinking about the Champions Cup semi-final is going to change anything, except the lessons you learn. So maybe he referenced that. 'There's definitely stuff that we could have learned and that being the last knockout game that we played that's definitely something we can bring into that. 'So, maybe his angle was more that; there's lessons from our last knock-out game that we played was Europe and now we have a URC one.' That 52-0 Champions Cup quarter-final win in the Aviva over Glasgow seems much more than eight weeks ago now. It was put in perspective five weeks' later by Leinster's hard-earned 13-5 over the same opponents in the same stadium and with Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Steyn, Max Williamson and Scott Cummings having all returned from injury in recent weeks the reigning champions were full value for their 36-18 quarter-final win at home to the Stormers last Friday. This was a repeat of last season's quarter-final victory, after which Glasgow won away to Munster and the Bulls to lift the trophy, so heightening the threat they pose next Saturday. 'Yeah, because they love it,' said Nienaber. 'If you think back to last year they went to Munster in Thomond Park. It's a tall order to win in Thomond Park and they did that. Then it's an even taller order to fly over, go to altitude, play the Bulls – which we struggled with. We got knocked out the week before by the Bulls. They went over there and got a result there.'
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Leinster wary of a Scarlets side with nothing to lose
It may only be five weeks since the Scarlets last beat Leinster, but head coach Dwayne Peel says his team face the ultimate challenge if they're to pull off a repeat this afternoon. The Welsh side were 35-22 winners against Leinster in Round 16 of the URC in late April, a surprise win which ultimately proved the difference as they secured a spot in the play-offs, and next season's Champions Cup. As good as the Scarlets were in Llanelli that afternoon, the cavaet is that Leinster fielded a largely second string side, given it was a week before their Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton. Of this afternoon's team for the quarter-final, only five Leinster players started the corresponding game at Parc y Scarlets. And with his side now facing a wounded animal, Peel knows the size of the challenge against the Scarlets "There's no greater task than going to Dublin and we're looking forward to that challenge," Peel (below), a former assistant coach at Ulster, said this week. "We won't shy away from it, you've got to have confidence in your own group when you go there. "As much as they have some world-class names in their group, we've got some pretty good players and we're going to go there and give it the best we can." While Scarlets are significant underdogs, they do have history of pulling off some shocks in Dublin. In 2017 they became the first team to win a Pro12 semi-final away from home when they defeated Leinster at the RDS, and followed that up with another surprise win against Munster in the final at the Aviva Stadium. Eight years on from that incredible and unlikely title, the west Wales club have fallen from grace, and the prospect of them no longer being in the URC beyond 2026 is in play, with the Welsh Rugby Union reportedly considering dropping a professional side, or potentially merging two regions together. With all that going on, their achievement in getting back into play-off rugby is all the more impressive, and their return to Champions Cup rugby next season is a much-needed boost. With that secured, they travel to Dublin with absolutely nothing to lose. "It's going to be a great occasion and a case of embracing it," Peel added. "It's not about chasing five points, it's knockout rugby and it's all on the day. "We want to go further, we want to push a great team in Leinster as far as we can." With their Champions Cup defeat to Northampton still fresh in their memory, Leo Cullen insists there will be no complacency as they look to win three more games to end their four-year wait for silverware. Such is their fear of being seen to be complacent, the Leinster coach was reticent to go into details about whether or not Garry Ringrose would be fit for a potential semi-final next week. "Unfortunately Garry Ringrose is ruled out this week. We'll see what he'll be like if there is another week, but it's the here and now," he told RTÉ Sport. "We're only planning for now this weekend. We've already fallen into that trap, maybe looking too far ahead. "We are fully focused on Scarlets, and the medics will do what's best for Garry." And Cullen (above) says his side are determined to give their supporters something to celebrate this season. "This tournament will always have importance for us, regardless of what had happened up to this point. If we were in Cardiff [for the Champions Cup final], whether we were the winners or losers over there, we would still have the same mindset going into the quarter-final, because this is the bread and butter, the club. "This is, when we go to the fans, trying to sell the season tickets, this is what makes it up. "We feel a responsibility to the fans that have supported us unbelievably well over the course of the season, so hopefully they will see that in the performance of the team, because the team feel we need to put in a proper performance to reward the fans that turn up to watch us."
The 42
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
The 20-minute red card will be applied to all of pro rugby
WORLD RUGBY HAS confirmed that the 20-minute red card will be applied across the board in professional rugby. The governing body's council yesterday approved moving the 20-minute red card to global trial level from 1 August, meaning it will be in play across the entire pro sport next season. However, there is scope for the 20-minute red card to be utilised for this summer's British and Irish Lions series in Australia, as well as all other international games during the July Test window. It is up to the Lions and the Wallabies to apply for the 20-minute red card to be used in their series, but that looks increasingly likely. From next season, the 20-minute red card will definitely be used at all levels of the professional game, including the URC, Champions Cup, Challenge Cup, Premiership, Top 14, November Tests, and Six Nations. If the global trial is successful, the 20-minute card will be adopted into permanent rugby law. The 20-minute red card means that if a player is red-carded for foul play that the match officials don't see as 'deliberate or intentional,' the player will be sent off but can be replaced by a substitute after 20 minutes. World Rugby says this ensures that 'individual players – not the contest as a whole – bear the consequence of reckless actions.' The referee is still entitled to show a full, permanent red card for any foul play deemed to be 'deliberate and highly dangerous,' meaning that player cannot be replaced. Two yellow cards for a player will result in a 20-minute red card, unless the second offence is deemed to warrant a full, permanent red card. The 20-minute red card is a relatively new development in rugby that began in the Southern Hemisphere. Garry Ringrose was shown a 20-minute red card during the Six Nations. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo It was adopted into the Six Nations this year on a trial basis and came to Ireland's aid in their win over Wales when Garry Ringrose was shown a 20-minute red card and was replaced by Bundee Aki when that period elapsed. Aki played a central role in Ireland's victory in Cardiff. There has been opposition to the 20-minute red card among Northern Hemisphere nations, but it's understood that nearly all unions, including the IRFU, have been convinced that it's worth proceeding with a wider global trial. Advertisement The FFR, France's union, have been outspoken in their opposition to the 20-minute red card, but they must now get on board as World Rugby confirmed it will come into play across the international and club game. 'Our mission is to ensure rugby is a compelling sport to play and watch,' said World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson. 'The 20-minute red card preserves the fairness and drama of elite competition by punishing the individual, not the entire team or the spectacle. 'Player welfare is non-negotiable. We monitor data around head injuries, tackle height, and concussion rigorously – and transparently. If evidence ever indicated this trial posed greater risk, we would end it immediately.' World Rugby has confirmed that from now on, all law trials in the men's game will begin on 1 August each year. This will ensure that all international games will be played under exactly the same set of laws and trials. World Rugby also revealed that its council has approved a closed trial of a 'centralised disciplinary process,' which it hopes will allow for 'quicker and more consistent decision making' regarding post-match sanctions for players. Many pundits and supporters have bemoaned the seeming inconsistency in decisions regarding suspensions for players who commit foul play, while some of those disciplinary processes can drag on. It's understood that this centralised disciplinary process will be trialled at the Women's Rugby World Cup this year and potentially during the Lions Test series. It could mean a three-person disciplinary panel being appointed for those specific competitions, meaning they could meet soon after games and apply the same consideration to each case. The 2027 World Cup pool draw will be made in December. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO Meanwhile, World Rugby confirmed that the pool-stage draw for the 2027 World Cup will take place in December 2025. The official World Rugby rankings at the end of this year's November Tests will determine the banding of teams for the draw, meaning the remainder of this year's international rugby will be important. Andy Farrell's Ireland, who are currently ranked third in the world, will take on Georgia, Portugal, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and South Africa in their next two international windows this year. This all means that Ireland's July clash away to Georgia – when head coach Farrell, several of his Irish staff, and 15 players will be missing – takes on more gravity. Losing to the Georgians could have a notable impact on Ireland's ranking. World Rugby confirmed that fixtures played by Australia against the British and Irish Lions will not be counted towards the rankings used for Rugby World Cup seeding purposes. The 2027 World Cup will see expansion to 24 teams for the first time, with the Final Qualification Tournament to take place in Dubai from 8 to 18 November 2025, meaning all qualified teams will be known for the pool draw in December.
Irish Examiner
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Controversial 20-minute red card will apply across professional rugby
Rugby's controversial 20-minute red card will be applied in all professional competitions next season after the World Rugby Council approved the measure for a global trial. The rule was trialled in this year's Six Nations, with Garry Ringrose receiving the first 20-minute punishment for an accidental clash of heads in the game against Wales. The 20-minute punishment applies to foul play that the match officials don't see as 'deliberate or intentional'. The offending player is sent off for the remainder of the game, as usual, but can be replaced by a substitute after 20 minutes. French rugby led opposition to the rule, fearing it may encourage more aggressive play and expose players to injury. The IRFU also voiced reservations about the rule last October. World Rugby say the rule helps preserve the spectacle of rugby for spectators, ensuring that "individual players – not the contest as a whole – bear the consequence of reckless actions". It adds: "Importantly, referees retain the authority to issue a full and permanent red card for any foul play considered deliberate and highly dangerous. Two yellow cards will constitute a 20-minute red card, unless the second offence meets the threshold for a full red card." The rule will take effect from the U20 World Championships in June and will apply in the Women's World Cup in August. It remains to be seen if it will be used during the Lions series in Australia. It is up to the Lions and the Wallabies to apply for the rule to be in force. A global law trial is the final step before any trial law becomes a full law of the game subject to Council approval. World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: 'Our mission is to ensure rugby is a compelling sport to play and watch. The 20-minute red card preserves the fairness and drama of elite competition by punishing the individual, not the entire team or the spectacle. 'Player welfare is non-negotiable. We monitor data around head injuries, tackle height, and concussion rigorously – and transparently. If evidence ever indicated this trial posed greater risk, we would end it immediately.' The Council also approved a measure so that from 2025, all law trials in the men's game will begin on August 1 each year, ensuring that all international matches are played under the same set of law and trials regardless of where in the world they are played. Meanwhile, the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup will take place next December. With World Rugby rankings set to determine how teams are seeded in the draw, Ireland's autumn internationals against New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and South Africa will have a bearing on their draw placing - as well as the summer fixtures with Georgia and Portugal. Elsewhere, the Barbarians have announced that Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray will feature in the June 28th meeting with South Africa in Cape Town.
Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Brian O'Driscoll: Andy Farrell swayed in Ireland's favour with Lions calls
Brian O'Driscoll had a busy schedule last Thursday. He sat down for our interview resplendent in a Lions shirt, having just come from a promotional shoot with Jamie Roberts, his centre partner on the 2009 tour. Before that, another journalist had asked him to name his starting team for the first Test, and to explain each selection. All part of the gig. 'I had to select as if the first Test was tomorrow,' he explains. 'I don't like getting forced into it, because things change and there are always 50-50 calls. Like, how do you pick a ten right now? How do you separate Huw Jones and Garry Ringrose at 13?' For some light relief, we show him his profile from the media guide for
