Rugby News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumours
The European rugby quarter-finals have finished for another year. Both the Heineken Challenge Cup and Champions Cup quarter-finals were settled last weekend, and they did not disappoint. There was plenty of drama across the two competitions. Knowing this, Last Word on Rugby has analyzed the main talking points. That penalty shoot-out! Breathtaking conclusion The biggest […] READ MORE
The United Rugby Championship Covid 19 scare this week underlined how fragile intercontinental competition remains. Games can be canceled at very short notice. Unfinished fixture lists also bring full competition results into question. Canceled fixtures South African rugby fans woke up to the unexpected news on Friday morning that the much-anticipated matches against Munster, Cardiff. […] READ MORE
The climax of the Pro14 season takes place on Saturday as Munster travel to the RDS to take on Leinster in a mouth-watering final. The two sides impressively topped their respected Conferences with 14/16 wins. League points however play no factor in a one-off final. Can Leinster make it four consecutive Pro14 titles? Or will […] READ MORE
As 2020 hobbles to a close and 2021 hints at a better year, we look at what’s left of a discarded leftover from a time that seems long ago: the Guinness Pro14. The Pro12-cum-Pro14-cum-Pro12 again, began the 2020/21 season in October but in March it will end early, and the Rainbow Cup will begin April […] READ MORE
The Leinster vs Munster Pro 14 semi-final should have been a feast of rugby. It is the Irish derby and should have been a spectacle of a contest. Instead, it was a contest of who could play the slowest. Yes, the weather was atrocious. But from both sides it was an appalling battle of attrition, […] READ MORE
While the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on all major rugby competitions across the globe, each of the four Irish provinces has been busy finalising their squads ahead of next season. Leinster have yet to confirm any new signings but head coach Leo Cullen recently suggested that the province will instead promote players from […] READ MORE
Following Saracens’ fine and points deduction in the Gallagher Premiership, the London club are unlikely to be able to compete on both domestic and European fronts this season. They will most likely to also not feature in the Champions Cup next season. Therefore, it is time for a new winner in the Champions Cup 2019/20 […] READ MORE
After a long, 21-round regular season, the leading Guinness PRO14 sides confirm their places in the Playoffs for the 2018/19 Celtic League title. Consisting of two Conference groups, the top four out of each have shown their credentials across the season. Home and Away games, including inter-conference fixtures, have all led to six teams inking […] READ MORE
The Heineken Champions Cup returns this weekend and its time to for the quarter-finalists to be decided. Pool Two is about to reach fever pitch with all four sides having a good chance of qualification. Here at Last Word on Rugby we will be going through the permutations and combinations for each team and work […] READ MORE
Munster finally put an end to their Leinster voodoo, defeating the European and Pro14 champions at Thomond Park, thanks to a 16 point haul from Joey Carbery. It was a game that will not be remembered for the rugby entirely though, but rather, ill-discipline which spoiled the opening half. The visitors trying to unsettle the hosts, […] READ MORE