OTB Rugby

Welcome to Tuesday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your FREE bitesize taster of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast . On this morning's show, we were honoured to be joined by European Athletics bronze medalist, Kate O'Connor. We continued our inquest into Saturday's Six Nations defeat to France with Mike Sherry. John Duggan set the table for the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. Newstalk's Jess...

On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest on the health of an Ireland squad still licking their collective wounds after Saturday's defeat to France. FFR president Florian Grill seethes over their treatment at the hands of match officials. England's Ollie Lawrence is now a doubt for the Lions tour this summer. And Richie has the latest on Rabah Slimani's status as a Leinster p...

Welcome to Monday's Off The Ball Breakfast Bite - your FREE bitesize sample of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast. You can listen to that here . On this morning's show, Alan Quinlan joined us for the post mortem on Ireland's Six Nations defeat to France. Football writer Jonathan Wilson reviewed the weekend's Premier League action, and the further dwindling of Arsenal's title hopes. Sarah O...

On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack completes your build-up to tomorrow's titanic battle between Ireland and France at the Aviva. We speak to Caelan Doris and Simon Easterby at today's captain's run, plus Antoine Dupont piles further pressure on tomorrow's referee Angus Gardner. Ronan O'Gara, Alan Quinlan and Andy Dunne all have their say on tomorrow's crunch clash. Plus Italy make half a do...

Welcome to Friday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your bitesize, and FREE, taster of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast . On this morning's show, we've a bumper preview for Ireland v France in the Six Nations with both Ronan O'Gara and Alan Quinlan. Former Kerry player, and ex-Laois manager Mike Quirke joined us to discuss football's new rules. Plus, football writer Mark Critchley reflected on last...

As we approach the Guinness 0.0 Six Nations showdown of France V Ireland, OTB's own Brian O'Driscoll joined us for an exclusive event at the Open Gate Brewery, where we previewed the big game as well as looking back on his last ever game for Ireland - against France 11 years ago! He was joined by his former team mates, Mike Ross, Gordan D'Arcy & Devin Toner, who recounted their memories in the...

On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack has your team news ahead of that huge meeting of Ireland and Scotland. Mack Hansen is out of that game, and Simon Easterby explains why. He also discusses his bench composition, Tadhg Furlong's progress and more. Fabien Galthié has begun piling the pressure on Saturday's referee Angus Gardner + he discusses Thierry Henry's visit. And we hear from Gregor...

Off The Ball's Ruairi O'Hagan is joined by Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to discuss the disappointing defeat to Edinburgh in Cork, Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray's impending departures and Ireland v France. 

Welcome to Thursday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your FREE bitesize taster of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast . On this morning's show, we were joined by the one and only Danny Dyer for a very special edition of 'You Had To Be There'. We previewed the Six Nations clash of Ireland and France with Les Bleus legend Philippe Saint-André. And Jean-Philippe Leclaire reviewed Liverpool's smash-and-g...

On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from the France camp ahead of their departure for Dublin. And there's an update on the fitness of Gregory Alldritt. We hear from Mack Hansen and John Fogarty on France's deployment of a 7-1 bench. Marcus Smith has been sensationally dropped by England for the visit of Italy to Twickenham. And Rassie Erasmus addresses chatter that F...

On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from the Ireland camp ahead of Saturday's showdown with France. We hear from scrum coach John Fogarty on Tadhg Furlong's battle to be fit, plus Mack Hansen on the desire to send Ireland's retiring trio out on a high. France have injury concerns over an experienced member of their scrum. Les Bleus have reopened old wounds ahead of the...

On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of two players moving to IRFU central contracts in the summer. There's an update on the health of the squad ahead of Saturday's crunch with France. The FFR have made contact with World Rugby over the discrepancies in the bans of Garry Ringrose and Romain Ntamack. And could Ronan O'Gara be given a new voice in the La Rochelle coaches room?

On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you team news from the three provinces in action in the URC tomorrow. It's a Soroka family affair for Leinster who welcome Cardiff to the Aviva, and we hear from Leo Cullen. Ulster centre James Hume outlines the extent of his injury lows as Ulster prepare to entertain the Scarlets. And Connacht's Paul Boyle provides insight into the challenge posed...

On a PACKED edition of Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you reaction to the news that Cian Healy, Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray are all retiring. We hear from Murray himself, who still has road to travel on the club front, as well as Ireland forwards coach Paul O'Connell. Alan Quinlan and Chiefs CEO Simon Graafhuis react to the appointment of Clayton McMillan as the next Munster head coach....

OTB's Ger Gilroy, Adrian Barry & Richie McCormack react to the news that Cian Healy, Conor Murray & Peter O'Mahony will retire from international rugby at the end of the Six Nations. Rugby on Off The Ball, with Bank of Ireland.

Off The Ball's Ruairi O'Hagan is joined by Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to discuss the appointment of Chiefs boss Clayton McMillan as their new head coach from July. There's also a preview of the clash with Edinburgh at Virgin Media Park, as the Reds look to maintain their decent URC form. 

Brian O'Driscoll speaks to Off The Ball's Alanna Cunnane as Guinness partners with Field of Vision, the pioneers of fan inclusivity, to bring a revolutionary sensory experience to visually impaired fans at this year's Men and Women's Six Nations Championships. "Thanks to a cutting-edge device which uses a touch-based technology and a bespoke haptic language, visually impaired fans can now feel eve...

On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest regarding Mack Hansen's new deal. We hear from Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins regarding Hansen's return to form, and the process of tying down his out-halves to new deals. Hugo Keenan has given an insight into Brian Fenton's influence on Ireland's win in Cardiff. Brian O'Driscoll has his say on Garry Ringrose's 20-minute red card...

On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack has the latest on Garry Ringrose's disciplinary hearing. Munster count the cost of that ill-fated Ireland 'A' game at Ashton Gate, and we speak to John Ryan. Pete Wilkins also has injury concerns at Connacht, and he's provided an update on their out-half depth chart with JJ Hanrahan departing. Rob Russell is back for Leinster, and we hear from their att...

Welcome to Tuesday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your FREE bitesize sample of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show, Kilkenny legend Tommy Walsh looked back over the weekend's Allianz Hurling League action. Former Ireland hooker James Tracy analysed Ireland's scrum performance in Cardiff. OTB's own Kathleen McNamee helped preview this evening's Women's Nations League game awa...

In case you missed it, here is episode seven of our Settle In series, a bonus listen for our Rugby fans! In this week's episode of 'Settle In,' Eoin Sheahan sat down with Gaelic football referee David Gough to discuss the anniversary of his own coming out story and the culture of inclusion he wants to promote in the GAA.  'Settle In' on Off the Ball brought to you by Guinness 0.0 – Proud Part...

On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you up to date with the Ireland news following an eventful weekend for both the men's sides that were in action. We have the latest on Garry Ringrose, and hear from Alan Quinlan on the centre's red card challenge in Cardiff. Ulster have been forced into signing short-term injury cover for their front row. Two Munster forwards have extended their sta...

Welcome to Monday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your bitesize taster of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show, Alan Quinlan reviewed the weekend's Six Nations action, including Ireland's nervy win in Wales. We look back on a weekend when Liverpool moved 11-points clear at the top of the Premier League with Jonathan Wilson. OTB GAA Correspondent Tommy Rooney wraps up the weeke...

On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest ahead of Ireland's Six Nations clash with Wales tomorrow in Cardiff. We hear from head coach Simon Easterby, Wales captain Jac Morgan, and Alan Quinlan on the big game. Gloucester have described the signing of Ross Byrne as a real coup. Ronan O'Gara gives OTB the latest on rumours he could soon start his international coaching career....

On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack has the team news ahead of Saturday's Six Nations clash of Wales and Ireland. We hear from interim head coach Simon Easterby on his decision to pick Dan Sheehan as captain, and the stories linking him with the Wales job. Interim Wales coach Matt Sherratt's also made a raft of changes, and has responded to that Off The Ball Breakfast clip. Scotland head c...