Category Archives: IRB

Down the Blind Side, episode 7

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Brendan Fanning

https://soundcloud.com/the-blind-side-rugby/down-the-blind-side-eps-7

Posted in AIL, All Blacks, Connacht Rugby, Heineken Cup, IRB, IRFU, Irish Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Melbourne Rebels, Munster, Munster Rugby, Old Belvedere rugby, Pro 12, RFU | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Captain Marvel free at last

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Brendan Fanning

  For the second time on this tour Wallaby captain James Horwill has been the fulcrum of a significant momentum shift towards his team. The first was after the Brisbane Test, when in the space of 24 hours it emerged … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Brendan Fanning, British and Irish Lions, IRB, Refereeing, Rugby, Rugby News, Rugby Opinion, Sports Comment, Super 15, Wallabies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Flawed system allows O’Connell to walk

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Brendan Fanning

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 Brendan Fanning

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 Brendan Fanning

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 Brendan Fanning

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 Autumn Internationals, Brendan Fanning, IRB, IRFU, Irish Rugby, Italy rugby, Rugby, Rugby News, Rugby Opinion, Rugby World Cup, Scottish rugby, Sports Comment, Wales | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Independent medics to make a safer game

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Brendan Fanning

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 Brendan Fanning

  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 Brendan Fanning

  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 Brendan Fanning

  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