Category Archives: IRB

Flawed system allows O’Connell to walk

Posted on April 15, 2013 by

I began to fear the worst on the Dave Kearney concussion incident when someone with much better technology than me made reference yesterday to Paul O’Connell’s shin. Not that he was hugely relieved that the tibia was still in one … Continue reading →

Posted in Brendan Fanning, Concussion, Heineken Cup, IRB, IRFU, Irish Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Munster, Munster Rugby, Refereeing, Rugby Opinion, Sports Comment | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Healy lumbered with extra helpings

Posted on February 13, 2013 by

Question: when is a three week ban not a three week ban? Answer: Eh, when it includes a week where the guilty party is not likely to be active. In which case it becomes, effectively, a four week ban. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Brendan Fanning, British and Irish Lions, IRB, IRFU, Irish Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Refereeing, Rugby, Rugby News, Rugby Opinion, Six Nations, Sports Comment | Tagged | 1 Comment

Healy not looking at lengthy sentence

Posted on February 12, 2013 by

One thing we’ve learned from ugly optics on the rugby field is that what you see is not always what you get. So the seemingly awful stamp of Cian Healy on the ankle of Dan Cole was actually not as … Continue reading →

Posted in Brendan Fanning, British and Irish Lions, IRB, IRFU, Irish Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Munster, Munster Rugby, Refereeing, RFU, Rugby, Rugby News, Rugby Opinion, Sports Comment, Ulster, Ulster Rugby | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Good day’s work for IRFU and RTE

Posted on January 31, 2013 by

Choppy waters these days for the IRFU bean counters, but this morning’s shift in the tv landscape will smooth things out for a while. And RTE are breathing a little easier as well. The rights deal that sees Ireland’s November … Continue reading →

Posted in Brendan Fanning, Rugby, Irish Rugby, Rugby World Cup, Rugby News, Autumn Internationals, Rugby Opinion, Scottish rugby, Sports Comment, IRB, Italy rugby, Wales, IRFU | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Independent medics to make a safer game

Posted on May 31, 2012 by

There is hope that the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train. At last the IRB are introducing independent medics to improve their concussion protocol, and it will start on a trial basis in next … Continue reading →

Posted in Concussion, IRB, Rugby, Rugby News, Rugby Opinion | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Paddy O’Brien shifts sideways

Posted on March 23, 2012 by

  The IRB will soon be advertising for a new referees manager as Paddy O’Brien is shifting sideways onto the Sevens circuit. The decision will be confirmed on Monday. This will be presented by the IRB as O’Brien’s decision, and … Continue reading →

Posted in IRB, Refereeing, Rugby News, Rugby Opinion, Rugby World Cup | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

IRB will ride to the rescue of Wayne Barnes

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

  Not a great start for new Ireland manager Mick Kearney. Somehow he managed to infer from yesterday’s disciplinary hearing on the Stephen Ferris tackle that the committee decided Wayne Barnes was wrong to award a penalty, never mind a … Continue reading →

Posted in IRB, Irish Rugby, RFU, Six Nations | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Ireland got what they deserved

Posted on February 5, 2012 by

  The elephant in the room is an overused phrase, but never was it more appropriate than in the immediate aftermath of this afternoon’s game at Lansdowne Road. First Declan Kidney and then Paul O’Connell fetched up for the immediate … Continue reading →

Posted in IRB, Irish Rugby | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Munster’s fate should have been sealed

Posted on November 16, 2011 by

Now that the ink is dry on Munster’s 41 Phases being written into their glorious history, is it safe to suggest that they should never have got past phases three or five?  This has less to do with them and … Continue reading →

Posted in IRB, Irish Rugby, Munster, Munster Rugby, Rugby Opinion, Rugby World Cup | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Best and Worst of a Terrific Tournament

Posted on October 23, 2011 by

  At the end of a terrific tournament here are my bests and worsts.    Best Team: The Awlblex  Worst Team: Fiji  Best Match:  The best was kept till last. What a contest: when the stakes were at their highest … Continue reading →

Posted in All Blacks, Australia, IRB, Irish Rugby, New Zealand Rugby, Rugby Opinion, Rugby World Cup, Sports Comment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments