Welcome to the new look Irish Rugby Now. Take a look around I hope you like it! My favourite feature is the news page. It means I don’t have to go all over the web to find out what’s happening. Just the one simple page!

I’d just like to apologise for the lack of updates. During the off-seaons this year the site is going to under go a serious overhaul and change of direction. The site will return in a new and improved format before the start of next season.

Munster and Leinster have both named their teams for their Celtic Cup semi-final on Sunday evening. The match will be on of the team’s final match of the season. This season so far both sides have one victory a piece, but in the most recent clash on New Year’s Day, Munster’s forwards denied the Leinster backs the ball thus neutralising Leinster’s strongest asset, their backline.

Leinster will have an all Lions three-quarter line with Hickie, D’Arcy, O’Driscoll and Horgan all lining out for them. Munster on the other hand will be without Ronan O’Gara who still isn’t fit enough to make his return

Tonight saw two of the Irish provinces in action in the Celtic Cup. Munster played host to Edinburgh, while Ulster travelled to meet the Ospreys. Ulster lost out in the end, despite keeping within striking range of The Ospreys for the vast majority of the match. In the Munster match, the lead changed hands a number of times, but in the end Munster ran out victors in an extremely close match.

The Celtic Cup kicked off this evening with an exciting match between Leinster and Glasgow. Leinster managed to go into a commanding 21 points to 3 lead in the first half, but some excellent counter attacking early in the second half saw Glasgow come back to level terms of 21 - 21. Leinster then managed, thanks to man of the match Gordon D’Arcy to score another try to put Glasgow away.

Leinster will now face the winner of tomorrow’s clash between Munster and Edinburgh.

Connacht’s season ended in defeat today when they crashed out of the European Challenge Cup after losing by 59 points to 9 against Sale. Connacht went into the tie knowing they would have to win by at least 7 points to win on aggregate, but in the end the third placed side in the Zurich Premiership proved too strong.


The defeat caps a dissapointing season for Connacht. It started well with them placed in the top half of the Celtic League before Christmas, but since then things have gone very badly, resulting in them finishing second last in the league and with today’s defeat they are destined for another season with no Heineken Cup rugby.

With the IRFU finally agreeing to using the Celtic League as a basis for qualification for Europe and the restructuring of the league so as not to run on International weekends, things were looking good that the competition could put its rocky past behind it and work toward the future. However the WRU have set their sights on taking part in an Anglo-Welsh Cup, which means they want to move some of the fixtures putting the IRFU’s commitment to using the league as a basis for Heineken Cup qualification in doubt.


This article in a Scottish newspaper outlines the tensions between the relevant parties and reports that the Welsh are being threatened with expulsion should they allow their plans interfer with the League in its proposed form.

The Celtic League organisers have announced the line-up for the Celtic Cup semi-finals. The open draw means that the winner of the Munster V Edinburgh game will travel to play the winner of Leinster V Glasgow away.


With Munster and Leinster both beating Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively last weekend, the odds favour an all Irish semi-final.

Last night saw the final round of this year’s Celtic League and the results for both Leinster and Munster see them playing the same teams again in the first round of the Celtic Cup. Ulster have also qualified for the Celtic Cup and also the third Irish Heineken Cup spot.


Connacht will be very dissapointed that they did not manage to finish ahead of Cardiff in the League, as that would have assured them of a play off against an Italian side for a Heineken Cup spot. Connacht will be even more dissapointed considering the fact they have been ahead of Cardiff in the League for almost the whole season.


In the end Munster finished in second place in the league, 7 points behind the winners, the Neath-Swansea Ospreys. Munster could point to their poor start to the season as a reason for not winning the league but more likely it was the two losses against Llanelli and Cardiff after having drawn level with The Ospreys at the top of the league at Christmas. Leinster finished 12 points behind Munster in third place. Ulster meanwhile will be delighted that they managed to get a Heineken Cup spot although their poor finish in the league sees them travel to play The Ospreys in the quarter-finals of the Celtic Cup.

Celtic Cup Quarter Finals:

• (1) Neath Swansea Ospreys v Ulster (8)
• (2) Munster v Edinburgh Rugby (7)
• (3) Leinster v Glasgow Rugby (6)
• (4) Newport Gwent Dragons v Llanelli Scarlets (5)

The GAA have voted to open Croke Park to pave the way for Ireland’s internationals to be played in Croke Park while Landsdowne Road is redeveloped.

The vote was carried by 227 votes to 97 giving the 2/3rd’s majority required for the rule to be changed.