(((( IRISH RUGBY ))))

RIP Anthony Foley

Very sad ,what happened ? R.I.P.

RIP Anthony Foley. Very sad news.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/munster-rugby/super-form-at-mick-galweys-50th-frankie-sheahan-shares-heartwarming-photo-of-anthony-foley-with-munster-legends-just-last-weekend-35134554.html

At just 42, very sad as he leaves two young boys behind.

A decorated playing career, Foley, whose father Brendan also played for Ireland, made 201 appearances in the back row for Munster in a playing career that spanned 13 years. He made his debut in 1995 against Swansea in the province's first match in the Heineken Cup - a competition in which he would later captain his side to victory in 2006, having twice finished as a runner-up (in 2000 and 2002).

He would also captain Ireland three times in winning 62 caps, having made a try-scoring debut in the Five Nations defeat by England in January 1995.
He was replaced as Munster captain by Paul O'Connell for the 2007-08 season, at the end of which he announced his retirement and joined their coaching staff.

Foley initially took over as Munster forwards coach in 2011 - a role he briefly undertook with Ireland during the 2012 Six Nations - before graduating to head coach in 2014 after the departure of Rob Penney. Munster appointed South African Rassie Erasmus as the club's director of rugby in July but Foley's job title remained head coach.

A truly sad day for rugby fans everywhere. Foley is survived by his wife Olive and three children.

Racing 92 "Les supporters du Munster Rugby saluent la mémoire de Anthony Foley"

'outrageous loss' - http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/37672789

https://www.balls.ie/rugby/tears-2006-tears-today-like-grow-killaloe-worshiping-anthony-foley/348991

https://www.balls.ie/rugby/tears-2006-tears-today-like-grow-killaloe-worshiping-anthony-foley/348991

In the 2006 Heineken Cup final he captained the team to victory against Biarritz at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and wrote his name in Munster history just as his father did when playing in the side that beat the All Blacks at Thomond Park 28 years earlier in the most storied Irish rugby game of them all.

Very sad atmosphere around Limerick tonight. Saw a few Shannon and young Munster old-timers and lads that would've played with him in a couple of pubs. People very cut up about this, understandably.

Didn't speak to him, but Keith Earls' father seemed a lovely fella, had a few words for everyone. Great winger in his day.

an even better wing forward, Neill!

Sad news, indee

Sorry Ozy, he was before my time. I overheard lads talking about him, they probably said wing-forward.

Busier around last night than usual, I never normally go out on a Sunday, but was one of those evenings where people just wanted to congregate.

Those Munster teams delivered massively for Limerick, people appreciate that, even the likes of me who has criticised him plenty the last few years.

Yeah, I can understand that sentiment.

Ger Earls was a nutter.  Very quick.  Scored a great solo try in an AIL cup final at HQ.

Cheers man, I'll have something to add to the conversation on him now.

Keith was supposed to bit a bit like that in his younger days but calmed down a lot, very quiet guy now.

RIP Axel
Lovely video tribute
http://clareherald.com/2016/10/anthony-foley-tributes-are-endless-and-heartfelt-31554

Played his last game as 16th man in Chicago Nov. 2016. RIP.

6/1 vs 1/7 today in Dublin. Doubt they will go easy on us

ref and tmo were v bad. score didnt reflect the game.ireland are a very good team in the making ..some very good young talent coming up

After failing with three successive bids, South Africa was recommended on Tuesday as the best host for the 2023 Rugby World Cup ahead of France and Ireland.
World Rugby released a bid evaluation report by its experts and external consultants, and said South Africa was the unanimous pick.
The final decision will be made on Nov. 15 in London in a secret ballot of World Rugby council members. The recommendation by the board of Rugby World Cup Limited, a World Rugby subsidiary, is expected to be rubber-stamped, though.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-41829710?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_news_ni&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=northern_ireland

Dick Spring has said the bid "can recover from this setback" and would work hard to win the 15th November vote.
Mr Spring, a former rugby international and Irish deputy prime minister, said he did not believe the competition to win the tournament was over. "We will be having conversations and dialogue with all of the voting members of the council," he said. "Many of them have said they will take the evaluation into account but they wouldn't be bound by it, they want to make their own decision for the future of rugby.
"The very outset of the evaluation report stated very boldly that all three countries could host a successful tournament, so we're working on that basis."

Springboks v Ireland next week should be a little spicier than usual ! Can we expect Ireland to outplay SA while a Southern Hemisphere ref ignores illegal tackles and gouging by SA !

Up coming matches...

Saturday, November 11 19:30 - Ireland vs South Africa Aviva Stadium, Dublin.
Saturday, November 18 19:30 - Ireland against Fiji (20:45 France play South Africa in Stade de France).
Saturday, November 25 19:30 - Ireland vs Argentina.

Saturday, December 02 16:30 - Wales vs South Africa Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Ireland 1/2 favs

I am having great difficulty trying to understand how the Boks are 5/2 here..Anyone?

I suppose the fact that it’s a meaningless match possibly makes the betting so lopsided. The fact that the Springboks couldn’t give two hoots and are more than likely drinking and riding like heroes since they arrived , while the Paddies are off for their lives.
If it was a World Cup knockout match , then South Africa would hose in, but seeing as they couldn’t care less , then the Paddy will be hard to beat.
It was good of the Irish wear almost the same colour shirts as the other crowd.

Brutal Boks.......as in awful...........

The final decision will be made on Nov. 15 in London in a secret ballot of World Rugby council members.

JUST IN...

BIG SURPRISE IN #RWC2023 ANNOUNCEMENT.....

Congratulations to France who have been awarded Rugby World Cup 2023 following World Rugby Council's vote today.

World Rugby every bit as dirty and disgusting as FIFA, eh

RYDER CUP 2018 & OLYMPICS 2024 as well... Viva La France !

France had been dark horses going into the vote, which was overseen by Price Waterhouse Cooper, on the premise that they would overtake South Africa on the second count. In the event, at the end of the first count, France surprisingly topped the poll with 18 votes, followed by South Africa on 13 and Ireland on eight. After Ireland were eliminated, the French bid won out by 24 votes to South Africa’s 15.

On the presumption that three of those came from England, two from the North American regional association, and one each from the USA and Canadian unions, it therefore seems reasonable to presume that the Welsh and Scottish council members did not vote for a World Cup to be part hosted by their fellow UK citizens in Northern Ireland. Likewise, it is likely the Italian Federation must have voted for the French bid. How each council delegate voted remains a secret and, said World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont, will be up to them or the Unions to divulge if they so wish.

Again questioned about the decision to have a secret ballot, the World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper said: “There are fors and against. It’s a judgement call we made at the time. We also had advice from Fifa and the IOC. I venture that the result would have been any different had there not been a secret ballot. It meant that people could vote without fear.“ Tks to Gerry Thornley in London.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/scots-and-welsh-votes-could-have-brought-rwc-to-ireland-1.3293388

Thanks England for your solidarity and support. Wales and Scotland shafted Ireland and should hang their heads in shame.

Wales and Scotland were 100 % correct, because Ireland’s bid was a complete nonsense . 3.25 million thrown away on a ridiculous bid that hadn’t an earthly of succeeding. The paltry 8 votes they received made them the laughing stock that they actually are . Still Dick Spring and Ross got a few nights away on a freebie, so it wasn’t a complete waste.
Ireland is a dive with third world infrastructure, that couldn’t hold a tug of war.
No direct train service between major cities, no flights between the cities, no trams or trains to the grounds. And that’s just the start of it, and I’d hate to see what kind of rates the Dublin hoteliers would have been charging for busy nights, about a grand for a single in a 2 star probably.
There must be something coming up Ireland can host, is sheep shearing a sport ?, and do they have a world championship?

Nov 17, 2017 -- 12:45AM, mrtopnotch wrote:

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/scots-and-welsh-votes-could-have-brought-rwc-to-ireland-1.3293388Thanks England for your solidarity and support. Wales and Scotland shafted Ireland and should hang their heads in shame.

Why should they hang their head in shame? This was not Eurovision.

jimeen is spot on.

This is 2017. We also cannot have stadia without seating. It is not safe and is not acceptable in the real world. Media also to blame, presenting the bid as if it was a done deal. Continued lazy journalism putting the blame on the Scots and Welsh.

Anyone who has any experience of going to sporting events around the world would struggle to see how Ireland could realistically compete. I wish it were not the case but this is the sad fact. If anything, this exercise should highlight to the wider public how Ireland is behind other first world countries with infrastructure.

Saturday, November 25 19:30 - Ireland vs Argentina

TIME 17:30

Johnny SEXTON drops a legendary kick. Pure Genius !

There are moments in sport that will live forever,  thats one,

The cross field kick before hand took balls as the game was over if we didnt retain but that kick ?

If he was 25 yards out it would still be couragous but 42 metres ffs.

I watched it on my own in sitting room which would normally mean little emotion but by jesus if gogglebox were filming me they would say i was putting on the emotion and drop me.

No matter what happens in the future that will unlikely be out of the top 3 irish sporting moments of the next decade or two.

WD IRELAND as they beat Wales 37-27 in Dublin to maintain 100% record.

...and perhaps more than a tinge of joy for bonnie Scotland who 'sent him homeward' as the wheels come off the English Chariot (Swing Low sweeeeeet Chariotttttt) FT: Scotland 25-13 England

O flower of Scotland
When will we see your like again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

The hills are bare now
And autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

Those days are passed now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
That stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again


https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/967470038604304386

A great day for Irish rugby.  Not bad for a small nation with so many other sports to compete with to get the players

How big does that Sexton drop goal look now.

We might not even have beaten wales without the belief it gave them.

History will show the Sexton drop goal as the turning point. Great also to see that the side has real strength in depth now as well, with competition for places. After 3/4 years of an England dominance they look to have regressed although I still wouldn't be that surprised to them denying Ireland the triple crown next weekend at Twickenham. The real test will be to aim to win 2 or 3 consecutive Six Nations Titles. In reality non that much between the teams.

One of the only days in the year, to own a pub

THE GRAND SLAM in Rugby Union - when one team in the Six Nations Championship (or its Five Nations predecessor before Italy joined in 2000) beats all the others nations.

This has been achieved 39 times in total, for the first time by Wales in 1908. England have won the most GS with 13, then 11 by Wales, 9 by France, 3 by Scotland and 3 by Ireland (1948, 2009 and now 2018). In 1908–1931 and 1947–1999 (it was Five Nations) and in 2000–2016 (Six Nations) - a total of 94 seasons to date, with 10 of those wins since 2000.

"The IRFU spent €4M in their bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. They should forget all about that and spend €4M on keeping Joe Schmidt in the country so that they can actually WIN the World Cup, as opposed to just hosting it.....and the responsorial psalm is: "Joe is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want." - Neil Francis

You won’t see too many better individual tries, than Andrew Conway for Munster vs Toulon in the 75th minute, in Thomond Park.

https://www.sportsjoe.ie/amp/rugby/watch-andrew-conway-decimates-toulon-scor...

https://www.sportsjoe.ie/amp/rugby/watch-andrew-conway-decimates-toulon-score-dramatic-winner-munster-155429?__twitter_impression=true

.

European Champions Cup Matches
Leinster 1/5 v Scarlets - Winner Saturday 21st April 2018
Racing 92 v Munster 8/5 - Winner Sunday 22nd April 2018

Dbl pays 3.12 Hillbillys (2.93 PP)

3.30 today and 3.15 tomoro

All eyes will be on Ire vs NZ at 6.30 ko. Get your seat early

Well deserved success tonight . Lets hope they can bolster up the squad with the currently injured players.

All -Blacks current team not the best I have seen , but they are NO 1 in the world .

Orish Six Nations Championship - BACK on TRACK today in ROME 3pm

Job done, B U T

Getting hammered and humiliated in the pi$$ing rain in Wales is still better than the English winning it

They're singing in Cardiff!

Their Grand Slam is imminent!

Cymru am byth

WAL 25-7 IRE. Wales have done it! Capturing the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam in Cardiff with their 14th win on the bounce. WD

IRELAND will play NZ or SA depending on the result of todays SCOT vs JAPAN (which goes ahead btw)

World Rugby confirmed that the match will go ahead on Sunday after full assessment following typhoon Hagibis revealed that the venue in Yokohama is ready to host the Pool A game.
The Scottish team would have been eliminated from the World Cup had the game been called off.
THEY NEED TO WIN BY 8pts to advance to the last eight of #RWC2019. (which will mean an Ire vs SA game in the quarter finals).

It's Japan 0-7 Scotland in the opening minutes

Sides are level 7-7 after 19 minutes after brilliant **** try !

*J ap

Saturday 19th October 2019 11.15am......get your coffee/seats early for this massacre

Same time Sunday for Japan (6/1) vs SA (2/11)......shouting for Japan

Ireland's World Cup hopes left in schmidereens

https://www.the42.ie/joe-schmidt-tributes-paid-4360015-Nov2018/%3famp=1

The IRFU this morning confirmed that Joe Schmidtereens will leave his position as Ireland head coach after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Leo Varadkar.....
“Joe Schmidt has given us six fantastic years of rugby glory. Best of luck to the Schmidt family in the future and good luck to Andy Farrell.”

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2018/1126/1013355-farrell-to-replace-schmidt-as-ireland-coach-after-rwc/

JOE was In charge of Ireland since 2013, the 54-year-old Kiwi led the side to a Grand Slam, two other Six Nations titles, their first two-ever wins over the All Blacks, a series victory Down Under, back-to-back November Test clean sweeps, and a first-ever win against the Springboks on South African soil.
He was crowned 2018 World Rugby Coach of the Year.

IRISH Rugby star and former captain Brian O'Driscoll in action in Japan..... High fives with TIGER too.

https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1186166251657318400

Not 'Irish' BUT, it is the RWC FINAL after all...

England (4/9) vs South Africa (9/4)

THEY tink it's all over......It IS NOW...…..

WHAT A TRY !

https://twitter.com/i/status/1190582004053630981

12 - 32

CHESLIN KOLBE! seals it for SA......"Best team on the Planet"

“Up the Republic, Up the Ra and Tiocfaidh ár Lá,” - Mary Lou (I’m not their mammy) McDonald will not be shouting this to President Higgins in the Stand tomorrow......although, The Wolfe Tones might sing it during the half-time interval.

Andy Faz listened to Bono give a team-talk about Orishness during the week..... must have inspirational.