OTB Rugby

Off The Ball's Ruairi O'Hagan is joined by Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to discuss the new contracts for Mike Prendergast and Denis Leamy, the rumours about the head coach position, the upcoming clash with the Lions and more. Get in contact on Twitter @rugbychannel15 or email therugbychannel@bauermedia.ie The first twenty minutes of this week's podcast is unlocked, but to listen to...

On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from Munster as they raid the Ireland Women's staff to temporarily fill the vacancy of forwards coach. We hear from Leinster head coach Leo Cullen ahead of their interpro with Ulster, and he provides an update on the fitness of the incoming Jordie Barrett. Will Connors on his rugby-related PHD. The career of former Ulster prop Steven...

Welcome to OTB Breakfast Bite - your bitesize taster of this morning's Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show, Jonathan Wilson reflects on the dawn of Ruben Amorim at Manchester United, and their draw at Ipswich. Plus, Matt Williams and Alan Quinlan talk rugby, as attention for Ireland turns to Joe Schmidt's Wallabies. This morning's Bite takes you to the Performance Rankings, and Sam Pren...

On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack helps set the table for the penultimate test of Ireland's autumn. We hear from captain Caelan Doris on the unexpected needle that Frank Lomani's comments have added to tomorrow's fixture with Fiji. Andy Farrell offers some clarity regarding Jonathan Sexton's role with the coaching staff, and whether he's a bad influence on their out-halves. Bundee Aki addr...

Welcome to Friday's Breakfast Bite - your FREE treat-sized sample of this morning's Off The Ball Breakfast. This morning on the show, we look ahead to Ireland v Fiji with Ronan O'Gara and Alan Quinlan. We're joined by just the third ever Irish winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award, Conor Niland for his excellent book 'The Racket'. Keith Treacy previews the start of the Ruben Amo...

In this special episode of Inner Drive, Off The Ball give the floor to five of Ireland's best athletes (fresh from Paris 2024) in Philip Doyle, Orla Comerford, Thomas Barr, Colin Judge and Stacey Flood. No interviewer, no restrictions, just athletes talking to each other about experiences only they can truly understand.  Inner Drive, with Allianz, proud sponsors of Paralympics Ireland and Tea...

On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the Ireland team news for Saturday's test with Fiji - the debutants, the recalls, the first home starts, and the surfeit of tightheads. Andy Farrell gives his expectations of Sam Prendergast and Ciaran Frawley this week. Jamie Osborne discusses switching between centre and full-back. Jordie Barrett looks set to miss his start date at Leinster,...

Fiona Hayes and Ruairi O'Hagan from the Red 78 sit down with former Ireland and Munster star Eimear Considine to talk about her recent retirement announcement, her beginnings in the sport, and the highs and lows of her rugby career. The first twenty minutes of this week's podcast is unlocked, but to listen to the full podcast, get on over to the Off The Ball app, or become a member at offtheball.c...

On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from Leinster, where Leo Cullen has - as expected - signed a new two-year deal with the province. Richie speaks to Leinster CEO Shane Nolan, who also provides an update on the redevelopment status of the RDS. It's been a big day of contract news at Ulster. Warren Gatland addresses his future as Wales boss ahead of their test with t...

On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from the Ireland camp ahead of Saturday's test with Fiji. Scrum coach John Fogarty addresses Ireland's discipline, the threat posed by Fiji, and speaks in glowing terms about history-maker Cian Healy. Jean Kleyn's been handed a start for the Springboks against Wales, as Rassie Erasmus goes with the brothers Hendrikse. Steve Borthwick...

On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest on Warren Gatland's future as head coach, which hangs in the balance following their defeat to the Wallabies. Leicester have joined the list of clubs hunting Leinster out-half Ross Byrne. Jack Crowley has been accused of cheating against Argentina by a former All Black. Ulster tie a versatile back down with a new two-year deal. And Ir...

Welcome to Monday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your FREE sample of this morning's Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show... Brian Barry Murphy reflects on the Republic of Ireland's second half horror show at Wembley. We look at Katie Taylor's huge win over Amanda Serrano in Texas with Kevin Byrne, with an eye on what's next for the Bray fighter. Alan Quinlan on another edgy Ireland performance i...

On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack takes you inside the Ireland camp as they prepare for Joe Schmidt's Wallabies. James Ryan marks Ireland's November so far, and Paul O'Connell discusses the influence of Joe Schmidt on his own coaching methods. The appointment of a new head coach at Munster now appears to be imminent, with one contender definitively out of the running. Plus, Ulster swoop t...

On a special edition of Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the reaction to Ireland's three-point win over Argentina at the Aviva. We hear from Andy Farrell on Ireland's ill-discipline, and debutant Sam Prendergast. Felipe Contepomi reacts to what so nearly was a famous win for his Pumas side. On top of that, there's news of a surprising change for the Wallabies, two Scotland internationals a...

On a very special edition of You Had To Be There, Gladiator II star Paul Mescal sat down with Eoin Sheahan to discuss GAA losses more painful than any Hollywood audition, the heartbreak of the Rugby World Cup quarter-final, and so much more! You can become an Off The Ball member to hear this and lots more besides. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join

On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from the Ireland camp ahead of tomorrow's Test with Argentina at the Aviva, and we hear from captain Caelan Doris. World Rugby has a new chair, and Rob Kearney's joined their Executive Board, plus a decision on the 20-minute red card has been deferred. Mathieu Jalibert has walked out of the French camp ahead of their test with the A...

On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack has the team news for Friday's clash of Ireland and the Pumas at the Aviva. We hear from head coach Andy Farrell as he explains his selection, and Cian Healy on equalling Brian O'Driscoll's caps record. Connacht man Santiago Cordero is missing from the Argentina panel for Friday's game. Warren Gatland's made changes to his Wales team as they look to bre...

Argentine rugby legend Gus Pichot joined Ger Gilroy and Colm Boohig on Off The Ball Breakfast today. In Dublin for a World Rugby Meeting of Council at which a new Chair will be elected, Pichot, who ran unsuccessfully for the position in 2020, explained to us where he believes the sport is failing in terms of reaching new markets and how these issues can be resolved. Principally, he believes that t...

On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack has the latest from a wounded Ireland camp ahead of Friday's test with Argentina. We hear from winger Mack Hansen on where and how Ireland must improve, and we also check in with Pumas attack coach Kenny Lynn and their lock Juan Martin Gonzalez. Springboks scrum-half Cobus Reinach sings the praises of their attack coach Tony Brown, while Tommy Freeman lea...

On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the injury news stemming from Ireland's ten-point defeat to the All Blacks on Friday night, with one position in particular giving Andy Farrell concern. We hear with Ireland's new Head of Athletic Performance Aled Walters, and how he doesn't want to 'crash' the Irish car. Wales head coach Warren Gatland discusses his future as the principality c...

Welcome to Monday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your bitesize taster to this morning's Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show... The weekend's performance rankings. Eoin Doyle on Drogheda's FAI Cup final win and the weekend's Premier League Former All Blacks fly-half Colin Slade on their win over Ireland at the Aviva on Friday night. And today's Breakfast Bite also takes you back to Friday, with...

On a special edition of Rugby Daily from the Aviva Stadium, Richie McCormack brings you all the reaction from Ireland's defeat to the All Blacks. We hear from Andy Farrell on where Ireland must improve, and Caelan Doris on the period of the game that cost Ireland. Scott Barrett on his flashpoint with Joe McCarthy, and Scott Robertson on the biggest win of his coaching career. Plus, news from the S...

On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from the Ireland camp ahead of tomorrow night's test with the All Blacks. We hear from captain Caelan Doris on whether revenge is a motivator for tomorrow's game, and how his psychology degree influences his brand of leadership. Andy Farrell defends the deployment of his old guard, and young gun Jack Crowley. Wallabies head coach Jo...

On this week's episode of the Red 78 with Alan Quinlan, Fiona Hayes and Ruairi O'Hagan: (0.00) Intro and comments (4.00) Munster v All Blacks XV lookback (18.00) Head coach chat (27.20) Star of the week (29.00) Eimear Considine retires (31.40) Ireland v New Zealand preview Get in contact on Twitter @rugbychannel15 or email therugbychannel@bauermedia.ie Subscribe to The Rugby Channel for new episod...

On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack gets facetime with All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson, as he named his team for Friday's test with Ireland at the Aviva. We also hear from Andy Farrell, who is without Tadhg Furlong for Friday night, and perhaps longer. Steve Borthwick addresses the Danny Care/Eddie Jones controversy, and the criticism of his treatment of Marcus Smith. And a highly-r...