Rugby On Off The Ball

On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of the two latest central contracts to be extended, We hear from Munster skills and assistant attack coach Mossy Lawlor on the day he signed a new two-year deal with the province, plus the latest on their crippling injury list. Leinster coach Jacques Nienaber's revealed they were essentially running in-game trials of new lineout laws last week. And Connacht stalwart Paul Boyle is targeting a scalp at the Aviva this weekend.

On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of two Ireland props signing extensions to their central contracts. Former Ulster prop Steven Kitshoff reveals how close his neck injury brought him to death. Pete Wilkins reflects on Connacht's impressive Challenge Cup win away to Perpignan. The latest on Chris Farrell's future in French rugby. And another England international commits their future to their club.

On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the team news ahead of another busy weekend of Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action. We speak to Leinster head coach Leo Cullen as he hands a first start to Jordie Barrett for tomorrow's Investec Champions Cup clash with Clermont at the Aviva. Rob Herring and Cormac Izuchukwu look ahead to Ulster's latest daunting task at home to Bordeaux. Cian Prendergast is back in the mix for Connacht's Challenge Cup trip to Perpignan, and we hear from Scott Fardy. Plus, Felix Jones is now a free agent...

Breakthrough player of the year Erin King joined Colm and Aisling to talk a momentous year in her career and what is next.Off The Ball Breakfast with UPMC Ireland | #orthopaediccare | #getbackinaction

On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the team news for Munster's Investec Champions Cup tie away to Castres.We hear from Mike Prendergast and Calvin Nash regarding tomorrow night's trip to France.Stade Francais' would-be pro wrestling prospects have gotten off lightly following their red cards at Thomond Park last week. French prosecutors have recommended lengthy prison sentences for the Irish ex-Grenoble players accused in a rape trial. And English police have found a body following the disappearance of ex-England full-back Tom Voyce.

On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of the new Ireland U20 head coach. We check in with Ulster assistant Dan Soper ahead of what he's called their "must-win" Investec Champions Cup fixture with Bordeaux. Rugby Australia CEO reveals their contingency plans should Joe Schmidt walk away from the Wallabies job next year. And Lawrence Dallaglio pays a touching tribute to his missing former teammate Tom Voyce.

Off the Ball's Ruairi O'Hagan is joined by Munster greats Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to discuss the impressive 33-7 win over Stade Francais, the upcoming trip to France to face Castres and the continuing search for the province's new head coach. 

Welcome to Wednesday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your amuse bouche for today's Off The Ball Breakfast.On this morning's show, Rafa Honigstein looks at the task ahead of Jurgen Klopp with the Red Bull group, as their sides falter in Europe.We check in with Vikki Wall, as she added an AFLW title with North Melbourne to her All Ireland football title with Meath.And Feargal O'Rourke - author of 'From Rags To Riches: The Irish Men's Team In The Professional Era - joins us in studio.Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join

On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of Mike Prendergast putting forward his case to be the next Munster head coach. We also hear from Munster wing Calvin Nash on what would make Prendergast an excellent head coach. Ulster's worst fears regarding Ben Moxham have been confirmed. Leinster's full-back options have been depleted still further, and we speak to new signing Jordie Barrett. Shayne Bolton's rotten luck with injuries continues. And the France duo accused of rape in Argentina have seen their charges dropped.

On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of two Munster players who have put pen-to-paper on new two-year contracts at the province. The Ulster winger that's the latest to try their hand with the NFL. Jack Conan looks set to stay with Leinster, plus we hear from Leo Cullen following their win away to Bristol in the Investec Champions Cup. And Mohamed Haouas is blowing his second chance at Montpellier.

Welcome to Monday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your little taster of all that went on on this morning's Off The Ball Breakfast. This morning, The Athletic's Manchester-based Mark Critchley discussed another rough weekend for both the red and the blue halves of the city. James Tracy looks back on a mixed weekend for the Irish provinces. And Aisling O'Reilly was on the ground for yesterday's Ulster Club Football final. But today's Breakfast Bite takes a look back on the weekend's Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action. In the Performance Rankings, Ger, Will and Dara ponder if Munster have turned a corner, and James Tracy analyses the performance of their pack against Stade.

On a packed Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of one (almost) definite Irish departure to France, and one potential other. There's the team news from all four provinces as the Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup get underway this weekend. We hear from Leo Cullen on Jordie Barrett's debut, Stuart McCloskey on trying to stop Toulouse, Ian Costello on the brilliant early impression made by Alex Codling, and Caolin Blade ahead of his 200th Connacht appearance. Dragons flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes discusses having his finger amputated in an effort to save his career. And Lyon have replaced Jono Gibbes.

Leinster today announced a renewal of their sponsorship deal with Just Eat, and to mark the occasion Off The Ball's Aisling O'Reilly caught up with three of their stars at the Aviva. Hooker Dan Sheehan gave us an update on his recovery from an ACL injury. Tommy O'Brien discusses his international ambitions, and his speed over the hurdles on the track. And centre Leah Tarpey on representing Ireland, and the Laois footballers too.

On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from Leinster ahead of their Investec Champions Cup opener away to Bristol - a game you can hear live and exclusively on Sunday's Off The Ball. Dan Sheehan gives us an update on his ACL injury, and when he expects to return. Former Scotland captain Stuart Hogg is sentenced following his domestic abuse court case. Referees have joined the heave against the English RFU's top brass. Lyon have identified one of their former players to return as head coach. And the Springboks first post-apartheid head coach has died.

Former Ireland international rugby player and former Leinster head coach, Tania Rosser, joined Eoin Sheahan to discuss her time as a player, her coaching inspiration and the challenges she faced as a female player and coach in a male dominated profession. ‘Settle in’ in partnership with Guinness 0.0.

On this week's episode of The Red 78, Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes join Off The Ball's Ruairi O'Hagan to discuss Chris Boyd's arrival as performance consultant, Munster's win over the Lions and the Investec Champions Cup clash with Stade Français.(0.00) Intro and comments(3.14) Chris Boyd as performance consultant(10.45) Review of the win over the Lions(23.02) Stade Français previewGet in contact on Twitter @rugbychannel15 or email therugbychannel@bauermedia.ie

On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from Ulster ahead of their daunting Investec Champions Cup opener away to Toulouse. We hear from head coach Richie Murphy on Ulster's injury crisis in the back-three, and the old boy they've welcomed back to the fold this week. Jack Crowley discusses the competition for the starting out-half berth with Ireland. And the English RFU is in revolt over bonuses paid to their top brass.

On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of a Super Rugby-winning coaching appointment at Munster.We hear from Jordan Larmour and Robin McBryde on Leinster's Investec Champions Cup pool opener away to Bristol, and the latest on the confusing timeline around Tadhg Furlong's hamstring injury, and hopes for a Jordie Barrett debut.Pete Wilkins discusses Connacht's potential outing in Mayo in the spring.Plus, there's bad news for La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara.

Welcome to this morning's OTB Breakfast Bite, your FREE sample of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show, the Gaelic football power rankings return - this time in the hands of Tommy Rooney. The Wayne Rooney Experiment at Plymouth seems to be failing - Chris Errington will tell us why. And the latest on Munster's search for a new head coach with the Irish Daily Mail's Rory Keane. This morning's Breakfast Bite focuses on rugby, and the tradition of respecting the kicker - Ger, Colm and Arthur ponder if that tradition is in fact a nonsense. Catch The Off The Ball Breakfast show LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app.SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join

On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from Munster where centre Alex Nankivell is the latest to commit their next two years to the province. There's interest from France in not one, not two, but three Ireland internationals. We hear for the first time from new Leinster signing Jordie Barrett. Plus, a rape trial is underway in Bordeaux where ex-Ireland centre Chris Farrell, and former Connacht prop Denis Coulson are among the accused.