The subject of women’s rugby generated a lot of discussion – and huge support – at the inaugural meeting of The Rugby Business Network last night in Dublin, with guest speakers Shane Byrne and Jim Glennon taking the lead

Former Leinster, Ireland & Lions rugby player, Shane Byrne, will join rugby legend Jim Glennon tomorrow night in Dublin to host a Rugby Business Network (the RBN) event to discuss opportunities for the sport and businesses. The evening will include the topic of women’s rugby and how women’s rugby influences business

    Ireland’s 7s squad booked their place yesterday in the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013, nicking the final available spot with a win over the Ukraine. The team was at the FIRA/AER European Championship tournament, which also served as the Qualifiers for the World Cup taking place in Russia next year. Ireland’s qualification is [...]

Things look a promising for Ireland’s 7s rugby squad, who have been almost unbeatable since the seven-a-side team was formed just a few short months ago. Now the real work begins, however: To get to the World Cup, which is exactly 365 days away, Ireland must rank among the top five teams in this weekend’s qualifying tournament in Moscow.

New Zealand schmealand. It’s all about Belgium this weekend, when Ireland’s only international 7s squad travels to Ghent for the FIRA/AER European Championship 2012.

The Amsterdam Sevens took place last weekend, where Irish rugby’s newest team, the international Sevens squad, had their first real taste of international competition – and came away with the Heineken Boot trophy. The results indicated a steep but definite learning curve for the players. Their hectic summer schedule culminates in June with World Cup Qualifiers in Ghent and Moscow.

Since the out-of-the-blue announcement by the IRFU that Ireland will field a women’s sevens side, it has been all go for the players in training camps and tournaments – and the pace continues through the summer, starting tomorrow with this weekend’s Amsterdam Sevens competition.

Scrumqueens and the official Rugby World Cup website brought us news yesterday of the qualification process for the 2014 World Cup tournament. As far as Ireland is concerned, the Six Nations tournaments of this year and next could decide the issue. Ireland opens this year’s Six Nations competition on 3rd February next, taking on Wales at Ashbourne RFC.

The Rugby World Cup is nearly upon us! I love the sport, its fascinating to watch, technical and aggresive. Added bonus is the fact that, boy, are those chaps built. Yes, I am quite possibly objectifying them, but not without mentioning how talented they are.

So now that we’re well acquainted with the Ireland Rugby World Cup team – and the first two rounds of matches are complete – let’s see how things stand.

The Rugby World Cup starts on Friday, 20th August, with Ireland’s first game being played that day against England. We introduced some of the Ireland squad at the week; now meet the remaining team members

So now that you know the Rugby World Cup gets going on 20th August – with Ireland’s first game on Friday against England – let’s meet the team (we’ll start with team members from A through H)

It’s Rugby World Cup time! What’s that you say? Something about the rugby World Cup taking place in 2011? No, no: you’re thinking of men’s rugby. The real thing kicks off this month in England, from 20th August 2010, and Ireland will be valiantly battling for the title.