The Counter Ruck

It’s that time of year when Schools rugby, the single most important development tool in Ireland, kicks into gear with the Senior Cup in all four provinces. 

Des Berry is the authoritative voice when …

Now we know the knockout draw for the Champions Cup, can anyone get in the way of another Leinster vs Toulouse showdown in the final? Can Noel McNamara and Bordeaux get in the way of Antoine Dupont a…

Ireland recently named their squad for the six nations. Widely seen as a continuity selection, there are still a number of talking points. What does Tom Ahern have to do to earn a call up? Are we fin…

Leinster have now beaten La Rochelle on three consecutive occasions. Is this a sign they have turned the corner against bigger French sides, or was it a smash-and-grab with worrying implications for …

Michael Cheika was the head coach who guided Leinster to their first European crown in 2009. Now, coaching Leicester Tigers, he squares off against Irish opposition with Ulster travelling on Saturday…

No provincial men’s rugby took place this weekend but Ireland U20s did play their final warm-up match before their Six Nations campaign gets underway in a few weeks’ time. Playing against a Leinster …

Harry Byrne recently caused a bit of a shock by moving from Leinster to Bristol on a short term loan. On paper, the move makes sense, given Byrne’s lack of game time in the 10 shirt. But why don’t we…

Munster defence coach Denis Leamy recently described Leinster as ‘brilliantly boring’ due to their current style of play. After watching the weekend’s festive interpro where Leo Cullen’s side secured…

When news of Leinster's signing of All Black Jordie Barrett broke back in April of this year, opinion was split. Was it a fair reflection of the dominant province flexing their muscle, or an unfair b…

We may only be halfway through the rugby season, but the end of the calendar year presents an opportunity to reflect nonetheless. Ireland won a Six Nations, qualified for a women’s World Cup, compete…

The Ireland women’s team is riding on the crest of a wave after World Cup qualification and a victory over New Zealand in 2024. How does the game look below international level, how are things under …

This weekend, Sharks head coach John Plumtree made headlines for outlining the unsustainable nature of South African sides trying to compete in European competition. Both the Sharks and the Stormers …

Rob Henderson played for Munster, Ireland and the Lions. He was Brian O’Driscoll’s centre partner both during his infamous Paris hat-trick and the 2001 Lions tour of Australia. In 2002, he played twi…

As this year’s European action kicked off with a mostly positive weekend for the provinces, one difference between Irish sides and those they squared off with became apparent: pace. For some time now…

When Leinster square off against the Bristol Bears, Pat Lam, once in charge of Connacht but now bedded in with the Premiership side, once again finds himself in the Irish rugby bubble. Lam was an imm…

After a narrow win over Australia wrapped up a mix bag of an Autumn Nations Series, The Counter Ruck pores through where Andy Farrell’s side finds itself heading into the new year. How can the attack…

Former Leinster and Ireland boss Joe Schmidt looks to have begun a miraculous turnaround with the Wallabies. From failing to get out of their poor group at last year’s World Cup and finishing bottom …

Ireland put in their best display of this November window with a 52-17 thumping of Fiji. Was this a return to the good form of old or was it a case of achieving the bare minimum against a Fijian side…

Everyone seems to love to watch Fiji, but what is it about the Pacific Island nation that is so endearing?

Is it their thrilling style of play, nostalgia for larger than life characters of years past…

Ireland won ugly against Argentina while England once again produced an at times scintillating performance, only to lose to South Africa. Whose camp would you rather be in?

Host Nathan Johns argues t…