New Super 15 franchise the Melbourne Rebels have revealed their interest in securing the services of Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll after the 2011 World Cup.
Such a signing would result in a dream combination at centre for the franchise, who have already secured former Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock and other big name signings such as English [...]

Australia ensured Ireland return home from their tour winless, but their victory in front of 45,498 at Suncorp Stadium came in an unpolished and ill-disciplined performance.
The Australians ran in two tries, both in the first half, with scrum-half Luke Burgess scoring an intercept try and fly-half Quade Cooper crossing over after a skilful individual run [...]

Australia out-half Quade Cooper has identified stopping Brian O’Driscoll as the keysto an Australian victory against Ireland at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
After a disappointing 21-20 loss to England on the weekend, the Australians are understandably out for redemption, and Cooper believes shutting down international rugby’s premier centre will go a long way to achieving [...]

Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll says his team can regroup from the hammering they received at the hands of the All Blacks by beating Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.
History will be against the Irish as they chase their first win of the current tour and Ireland have also not won on Australian soil since 1979.
However, O’Driscoll [...]

Chris Henry will win his first cap for Ireland when he lines out at No 8 in the team to play Australia in Brisbane on Saturday evening.
Henry is one of four players including Paddy Wallace, Jonathan Sexton and back row Niall Ronan that are retained in the starting XV from Ireland’s last game against New [...]

Geordan Murphy will captain Ireland for the first time when he leads out the side for the second match of the summer tour against the New Zealand Maori in Rotorua this Friday (live from 5.30pm AEST on Fox Sports).
Shane Horgan comes into the side on the right wing alongside Gavin Duffy, Paddy Wallace, Johne Murphy, [...]

Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip may now miss the test against the Wallabies through suspension after being cited for striking during the heavy 66-28 loss to New Zealand in New Plymouth.
The Irish number eight was shown a red card by referee Wayne Barnes in the 15th minute at Yarrow Stadium for twice kneeing All Blacks captain Richie [...]

Daniel Carter’s self-proclaimed “patchy” form in the Super 14 has not lulled Ireland into a false sense of security heading into tomorrow’s Test against New Zealand in New Plymouth (5.30pm AEST).
The Crusaders star lacked spark in his general play and his goal-kicking was well below par during the Super 14 season, but Irish defence coach [...]

Ireland scrum-half Tomas O’Leary admits southern hemisphere heavyweights New Zealand, South Africa and Australia are still leading the way in international rugby, but insists the European sides are starting to close the gap.
Ireland, Six Nations Grand Slam champions in 2009, are currently ranked fifth in the world behind the All Blacks, Springboks, Wallabies and current [...]

The two team line-ups for this Saturday’s Test match between Ireland and New Zealand in New Plymouth have been revealed, with Ireland showing 10 changes to the starting team that played against the Barbarians in the opening game of the tour last week.
In the backline Tommy Bowe, Gordon D’Arcy, Tomas O’Leary will all start the [...]