#rugby

#rugby

I wasn't outside the GPO in 1916 but I was inside Soldier Field as Ireland, in a Test rugby context, finally came of age a century on. It was without doubt one of the greatest occasions in our long and proud history and such a privilege to have been there in the flesh as the most sought-after scalp at international level was achieved with every shred of conviction appropriate to the occasion.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

They were still standing, undefeated, as 'Stand up and Fight' rang out at Musgrave Park.

“committed to breaking down the barriers - from gender stereotypes to self-doubt - that hold girls back from realizing their limitless potential.”

New Zealand were the Rugby Championship's fastest starters and Australia the slowest. So for the Wallabies to be 13-3 down after 15 minutes surprised few. The men in black were red hot from the get-go, moving with cohesion and precision, each pass and kick a dagger. Australia were back-pedalling, making mistakes, losing collisions. Caleb Clarke had cried through the anthems but his tears had dried in time to finish a slick catch and pass in the fourth minute.

I'll never forget standing on the sideline of our first SaberCats match, watching one of our players get leveled by a brutal tackle. Most people would've stayed down. He didn't. He fought for every inch, rolled and kept driving the ball forward. The crowd erupted. That image stuck with me. In rugby, getting hit is part of the game, and when you get hit, you don't stop - you adapt mid-impact.

I was just dead-set on playing for Munster and Ireland - that was my goal,

It's been a tough year for Marlie Packer, who had her captaincy taken away and faced self-doubt about her World Cup selection despite being a former world player of the year.

Capturing people's laughs and the candid moments in rugby is a passion for Maud Muir, who has taken hundreds of photos in the England women's camp.

Joe McCarthy was riding high in the series when he experienced a pop in his foot, affecting his playing status on the Lions tour in Australia.

Kelly Arbey scored a remarkable solo try against England, showcasing her speed and strength. This performance aimed to solidify her place in the World Cup squad.

In 2025, we have not yet seen the best of Kinghorn − although, after a few errors against the First Nations and Pasifika XV, the Scot was strong off the bench in the second Test and started the third.

Phil Waugh, the Rugby Australia chief executive, called for accountability after the decision to award the Lions a last-gasp try which he deemed controversial.

Jac Morgan is the first British & Irish Lion from Cwmtwrch RFC, where he learned rugby. His international debut has brought pride and excitement to the club.

Hugo Keenan will forever be known for scoring the try that secured the 2025 series win for the Lions, a remarkable moment in his career.

Maro Itoje's leadership in the series-clinching victory showcased his potential among British & Irish Lions greats. Leading the Lions to a series victory, he demonstrated calmness and character under pressure.

Garry Ringrose self-reported concussion symptoms, leading to a last-minute team reshuffle for the British & Irish Lions against the Wallabies.

Huw Jones replaces Ringrose in the starting lineup after the latter reported symptoms during training, alongside changes to the forwards with Porter and Chessum coming in.

You've just got to kind of bank what's happened in the past in that game one ... we've got to not necessarily start again, but we've got to build on what we've started and making sure that under pressure we deliver that in the 80 minutes on the weekend.

The Lions is an idea that gets passed on from one generation to the next, follow it back long enough and you'll end up at two men who were born and bred in this very club, Willie John McBride and Syd Millar, who did as much as anyone to make the team into what they are today.

Tom Wright executed effective kicking from hand and managed to cover various Lions attacks without being responsible for any scores conceded.

Genge's journey from being inexperienced to influential in international rugby shows remarkable growth, highlighted by pivotal moments in his career against Australia.

I like to think I would have made it if I'd chosen rugby. I started off playing rugby league as well as union. I switched between fly-half and wing but I preferred to play fly-half.