George Taylor is latest player to retire from professional rugby due to brain injury

Connacht hope to make history, Leinster seek vengeance, Ulster hit hard by injuries

Absence of influential trio Cooney, Henderson and McCloskey may tilt balance

Johann van Graan’s side will need a vastly improved performance after Connacht defeat

Interpros vital in assessing Farrell’s options for Ireland squad

The players, the try, the tackle and the moments of the rugby year

Scheduling headache will be worsened if French teams still can’t travel next month

Ulster centre capable of burnishing growing reputation in much-anticipated tie

Stuart McCloskey and Iain Henderson both forced off with injury for home side

Iain Henderson returns to captain side with Duane Vermeulen making home debut

Current format reflects these uncertain times, but there’s plenty to build on

Consistency key ahead of Northampton visit if Ulster want to fix up and down form book

Ill-discipline aplenty in bad tempred affair as Ulster win in France for first time in six years

Jack McGrath set for return after over a year out while Craig Gilroy could win 200th cap

Ulster’s James Hume capitalised on sluggish hosts to outduel both Henshaw and Frawley

First victory over Leinster in Dublin since 2013 proves a timely boost ahead of hectic schedule

Farrell set to shuffle pack against Argentina; Ireland send signed jersey to family of Sean Wainui

Planning for Japan and the All Blacks rather than France 2023 is a short-sighted choice

Leinster duo Dan Sheehan and Ciarán Frawley the news names in squad of 38

Between injury issues and lack of game time for key players the head coach has a tough task

Dan McFarland’s keep up perfect start on the back of strong first half

Despite injury problems Dan McFarland’s side have started season in fine form

URC preview: Meeting with Zebre is first competitive start for scrum-half Nathan Doak

Dan McFarland’s side get off to winning start in the United Rugby Championship

A crowd of 15,000 is allowed for Friday’s United Rugby Championship opener

Jet-heeled Robert Baloucoune back to his best as he scores Ireland’s first of 10 tries

Andy Farrell’s side cut loose after Riekert Hattingh’s red card at the Aviva Stadium

John O’Sullivan hands out the marks on the final day of a long season for Ireland

Test debut beckons for Ulster quartet Baloucoune, Hume, O’Toole and Timoney

Sanguine head coach explains ‘I’ve got to do what’s right for the team and for the player’

Andy Farrell has made seven changes to the starting XV for Saturday match against USA

28-year-old flanker has been given the freedom to build on his running game

It’s understood the Lions management sounded out the Irish secondrow’s availability

Leinster centre to undergo procedure on a shoulder injury

The outhalf also broke the Scottish side’s hearts in Murrayfield back in August

Stats point towards some players more than others but there are more factors than that

Opportunity will knock for several prospects on home front as Lions head for South Africa

Prospect of summer tour to Fiji is looking more promising than perhaps a month ago

Marco Manfredi’s red card ended game as a contest with scrums going uncontested

Ireland tours during a Lions summer have unearthed many a star in the past