Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley

Rugby Correspondent

Gerry Thornley is Rugby Correspondent of The Irish Times

Ireland v Australia: Easterby confident ‘unbelievable’ Sheehan can lead from front in Doris’s absence

Hooker will captain side against Australia in the Nations Championship in Sydney this Saturday

Rugby’s latest rule change shows the Springboks have gotten their way once again

With the World Cup closing in, Springboks’ already-potent maul is now even stronger

‘They’ll target this game as a big one for them’: James Ryan relishing return to Australia

Leinster man full of confidence as Ireland kick off Nations Championship with a trip Down Under

‘We’d all love one of those’: Paul O’Connell open to deal extension like Andy Farrell’s

Ireland forwards coach says new faces in panel ‘on merit’ ahead of Nations Championship clash with Australia

Ireland’s Harry Byrne looking to bounce back from ‘harsh lessons’ in Champions Cup defeat

Outhalf said spell at Bristol made his game more ‘carefree’

Stuart McCloskey and Tadhg Beirne both in line to play in Ireland’s Nations Championship opener

Forwards coach Paul O’Connell reports all 36 players have trained in Sydney since arriving on Tuesday

Socceroos winning hearts, minds and eyeballs in reaching World Cup knock-out stages

Sports-mad Australians are embracing a different kind of World Cup fever to what they’re used to

Angus Bell finding ‘happy medium’ after gruelling stint in both hemispheres

After his stint with Ulster, the Wallaby prop is part of Joe Schmidt’s side for the upcoming Nations Championship

Who will succeed Leo Cullen at Leinster? Ronan O’Gara is among the intriguing possibilities

The job at the Irish province should appeal to many good coaches

‘An exceptional day’: Leo Cullen pleased with season after URC triumph

Caelan Doris to ‘see how it unfolds over the next 24 hours’ after picking up foot injury in win over the Bulls

Leinster run riot against Bulls to retain URC title

Leo Cullen’s side eclipse last year’s victory in front of 39,184 fans in Croke Park

James Lowe can push Leinster to URC title and remind them what they’re about to lose

Springbok-laden Bulls will take some beating, but home advantage could tip the balance if Leinster fans get behind their team

James Lowe left out of Ireland squad for upcoming Nations Championship

Ireland to play Australia, Japan and New Zealand next month in new tournament

Combination of entitled fans and big-stadium fatigue sees Leinster’s appeal fall sharply

URC final attendance likely to fall short of last year’s decider, which featured the same two sides

Blackrock mourns the loss of larger-than-life Michael ‘Bomber’ Browne

Former Blackrock player, coach and president was a devoted rugby enthusiast throughout his life

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