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The 42
a day ago
- Sport
- The 42
Leinster's Rob Russell to join Gloucester
LEINSTER'S ROB RUSSELL has agreed a deal to join Premiership side Gloucester. Last month, the province announced Russell would be leaving the club at the end of the season. Russell, 26, made 35 appearances for Leinster, scoring 18 tries, with the former St Michael's man debuting for the province in 2021. Advertisement Leinster out-half Ross Byrne is also set to join Gloucester this summer. 'I honestly can't wait to get started at Gloucester Rugby,' Russell said. 'The Gallagher Premiership is one of the toughest leagues in the world, and I'm relishing testing myself against some seriously talented players. 'But most of all, I'm excited to meet the lads there that have been doing some great stuff this season, and I look forward to getting started working with George (Skivington) and James (Lightfoot-Brown) and working in a system that I believe will bring the very best out of me.' Director of Rugby, George Skivington, added: 'I'll echo what I said when we signed Ross Byrne earlier this year, there aren't many better academies to come through and learn your trade than Leinster. 'Rob has really shown what he can do when given the opportunity. He's got a pretty decent strike rate for Leinster (almost one try every two games), and he's motivated for a new challenge in the Gallagher Premiership. 'We're delighted with our back-three talent already, but to add someone like Rob, who covers across the three positions and has all the attacking assets we're looking for, is really pleasing.'
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Inside Leinster Rugby's black tie awards gala where icon Brian O'Driscoll received huge career honour
LEINSTER'S stars may not have felt in the party mood, but they still dressed to the nines as they attended their end of season awards. With the taste of Saturday's Advertisement 8 Retiring Cian Healy was presented with a special cap to honour his years of service to the province 8 Jordie Barrett and long-term girlfriend Alice Marshall will soon be bidding farewell to Ireland as he returns to New Zealand 8 Club legend Brian O'Driscoll was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame on the night 8 Sam Prendergast is one of several Irish players hoping to be named in Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions squad tomorrow RG Snyman's first season in blue has Reflecting his consistent availability and excellence across the URC and Champions Cup, he scooped the Men's Player of the Year gong. Linda Djougang took the Women's equivalent home after a campaign where the prop has Brian O'Driscoll was among the guestlist as the club's longtime talisman was inducted into the Guinness Hall of Fame. Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport It may have been a slightly awkward case of scheduling since the event came mere hours after Among his gripes, he suggested Jordie Barrett should have started at centre over He told "Robbie wasn't having a terrible day but what Jordie Barrett has brought to the club, the performances he has had, the punch he gives is another dimension to Robbie's game. That is the reality. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union "I thought he was very good when he came on and he gave that go forward and brought that huge physicality. "It is something that they are going to have to live with and the criticism is fair because I think they got it wrong. Shocking moment enormous brawl breaks out in rubgy league after 'horrendous hit' "I've seen so much written about hands being tied around playing both players together and it is a tricky one having two international centres and bringing in an All-Black centre. "But the reality is I think when it comes to semi-finals and finals, you have to pick your very best players in form. Advertisement "What must he have been thinking while the game was playing on, thinking I am not out there and I could really be doing a job. "Are we saying that it would have been different had he been out there? We will never know, but play your best players." 8 Women's Player of the Year Linda Djougang is a similarly vital member of the national team 8 On arrival are from left to right, Fiona Dickson, Leah Tarpey, Aimee Clarke, Lauren Sweeney, Molly Boyne, Kirstie Stevenson, Ailsa Hughes, Aine Rowe and Alice Rowe Advertisement 8 Ross Byrne will be departing for pastures new this summer as he's agreed to join English Premiership side Gloucester 8 Healy will retire as the all-time leader in appearances for Leinster (289) and Ireland (137) The All Black was not the only high-profile replacement, with The Ireland prop was eventually introduced for Advertisement He added: "I must say Andrew Porter not starting for me doesn't make sense either. He is a 75 minute international regularly. "What he brings you in the loose is phenomenal. I am not saying that just because Cian missed the jump on the [Will] Freeman first try. "Play your best team up front. I have never been of that mindset around we need to be loaded for the second-half. "It is easy retrospectively to say they had 12 points to catch up in the second-half and it is a lot of work to do and they do win the second-half 19-10 or whatever it was but don't put yourself in that position in the first place. Advertisement "Leinster have put teams out of sight a lot by playing their best team. "I am not saying they were going to do that against Northampton but I have never been a subscriber to holding back better players on a bench and I don't think I ever will be."
Irish Post
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Post
Saints march on as Leinster crash out in semi-final shock
LEINSTER'S quest for a fifth European star ended in heartbreak at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, as Northampton Saints pulled off a sensational 37–34 victory to reach their first Champions Cup final in over a decade. The province, playing at home and stacked with international talent, were firm favourites heading into the semi-final. But their defence, usually rock-solid, was ripped apart in a frenetic first half that saw Northampton run in four tries, including a blistering hat-trick from winger Tommy Freeman. Freeman's finishing was clinical, but it was the tempo and ambition of Northampton's play that truly unsettled Leo Cullen's side. Young flanker Henry Pollock added a sensational solo try from 40 metres out, breaking tackles and leaving defenders in his wake. Fly-half Fin Smith controlled the Northampton game with assurance, kicking 17 points and pulling the strings behind a dominant forward pack. Leinster did show flashes of their attacking prowess. Tries from Tommy O'Brien and Josh van der Flier kept them in the hunt before the break, but they went into half-time trailing 27–15 and appeared to be rattled with no real answers to In the second half, the hosts mounted a spirited comeback. Caelan Doris barrelled over from close range, and James Lowe stormed down into the corner with one of his trademark attacks. The try came after a sweeping backline move, and the Leinster side seemed energised.. Game on. But Northampton refused to buckle. A clever grubber kick from Smith found full-back James Ramm, who timed his run perfectly to collect and score, stretching the lead again. Leinster thought they had snatched the lead when Ross Byrne crossed under the posts, but a TMO review ruled out the try for a knock-on in the build-up—a decision met with groans from the home support. They sense that it could have been a turning point. In fact it was a turning point Down to 14 men in the final moments following a yellow card, Leinster threw everything at the visitors. One last multi-phase surge reached the Saints' 22, but Pollock, outstanding all evening, latched onto a breakdown and earned the match-winning turnover. It was a crushing end for Leinster, who have now fallen at either the semi-final or final stage for the fourth straight season. Head coach Leo Cullen admitted the result would sting but praised his players' fightback after a poor first half. Northampton, meanwhile, march on to Cardiff and a final against Bordeaux-Bègles on May 24. Their win was built on fearlessness, flair, and a refusal to be intimidated by Leinster's pedigree or the occasion. For Irish fans, it was a sobering reminder that reputation alone guarantees nothing in Europe's top competition. For the Saints, it was a night that will live long in club folklore—and perhaps the beginning of a new era. Leinster team-sheet Cian Healy, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, RG Snyman, Joe McCarthy, Max Deegan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park, Sam Prendergast, James Lowe, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, Tommy O'Brien, Hugo Keenan. Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Rabah Slimani, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jordie Barrett. Northampton team-sheet Emmanuel Iyogun, Curtis Langdon, Trevor Davison, Temo Mayanavanua, Alex Coles, Josh Kemeny, Henry Pollock, Juarno Augustus, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tom Litchfield, Rory Hutchinson, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, James Ramm. Replacements: Henry Walker, Tom West, Elliot Millar Mills, Tom Lockett, Chunya Munga, Angus Scott-Young, Tom James, Tom Seabrook Crowd: 42,207 Match officials Referee: Pierre Brousset (France) Assistant Referees: Luc Ramos (France), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy) TMO: Tual Trainini (France) See More: Leinster, Northampton, Rugby
