ireland

Will anyone claim a hat-trick of Mastercard Player of the Match awards?

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

We take a look at which players, and positions, have dominated the Mastercard Player of the Match awards at Rugby World Cup 2023. Five players have won multiple Mastercard Player of the Match awards at...

Boks make two changes and bring in seven-one bench split for World Cup Final

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made only two changes to his starting team for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final, recalling the 2019 final halfback pairing of Handré Pollard...

Pollard and De Klerk to start final - South Africa name team to play New Zealand

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has announced his squad to face New Zealand at Stade de France on Saturday, 28 October. South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has named his matchday 23 to face...

World Rugby Men's Rankings preview: 27-28 October, 2023

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for the bronze final and final of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. Permutation highlights: Whoever wins the Rugby World Cup 2023 final will be ranked...

Ben Youngs, England's most-capped male player of all time, announces his retirement from International rugby

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

The Leicester Tigers scrum half, who made his debut against Scotland in 2010, has been a mainstay in England squads since that cold evening in Edinburgh 13 years ago.  This weekend's Bronze...

How things stand ahead of WXV 2 and WXV 3 final rounds

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

With champions to be crowned and promotion and relegation to be decided, we run through the permutations facing the teams in Cape Town and Dubai. The curtain will come down on the inaugural WXV 2 and...

Stats review - what do the figures reveal about the two finalists?

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

The semi-finals were two very different matches with New Zealand running away with their victory and South Africa snatching the result at the death but what did the matches reveal about the finalists?   New...

Jean Kleyn: RWC final with South Africa ‘outside realm of thinking’ months ago

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

The 30-year-old Munster lock represented Ireland at the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Former Ireland international Jean Kleyn acknowledges being on the verge of becoming a world champion with his native South...

Boks ready for NZ challenge and haka in RWC final

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

The Springboks are bracing themselves for an epic Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday evening and said they are ready for the encounter – and the...

United Rugby Championship Round 1 Wrap-up

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

Smith’s pride over Scotland stars Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith says he is proud of the Scotland World Cup stars who helped secure a 43-25 victory over Leinster on the opening weekend of the...