Sixnationtours.com

12/03/2015

Good luck to Paul O'Connell in his 100th cap this Saturday!

18/02/2015

Don't forget the Donal Memorial Youth Festival April 9th - April 12th

21/12/2014

Well deserved Ultan.

GREAT news has come through for rugby followers in town with the announcement that former Tralee RFC youth player, Ultan Dillane, has been selected in the Connacht squad that will face Leinster in their Pro12 clash in the RDS tonight. Growing up only minutes from the Rugby Club in Ballydunlea, Ulta…

05/12/2014

You have to agree with this. Well done Joe.

The IRB lauding Steve Hansen as coach of the year is simply wrong, says Mark Reason.

05/12/2014

Come on Ireland, what a prospect!!!

http://www.irishrugby.ie/images/news/RWC2023BidLaunch_rdax_80.jpg

The launch of Ireland's bid for Rugby World Cup 2023
Philip Browne, Martin McGuinness, Enda Kenny, Peter Robinson, Joan Burton, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Jackson, Robbie Henshaw and Jordi Murphy in Royal School Armagh at the announcement of the bid for Rugby World Cup 2023

25/11/2014

Monivea RFC and St Mary's RFC Dublin should be coming too, brilliant stuff, can't wait for the Festival.

11/11/2014

Due to phenomonal interest we are now extending the age groups to include Under 16's.
Clubs coming so far include Carrickfergus RFC, Athy RFC, Tralee RFC. Rugby Milano, Turin, Shannon, Presentation Limerick, Wanderers are amongst those who may be here. Welsh clubs Penallta and Penarth have been invited. This is hotting up to be the busiest Festival yet.

22/10/2014

Coming Soon Festival 2015, Get your applications in early to [email protected]

14/10/2014

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=919376318090682

02/10/2014

02/10/2014

The rugby family...

The All Blacks call in to see an old adversary in Joost van der Westhuizen before the weekend's game in Johannesburg

Great to see!

22/09/2014

Rumour is that now there are 2 All Ireland Cups going to Climbdonalsmountain on Sunday 28 September with Elma Cormac Coffey, Barry John Keane, David Moran & Marc O'Sé

10/09/2014

Rugby World Cup 2015 tickets on sale from Friday September 12

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/ticketing/index.html

The official web site of Rugby World Cup, including information on ticketing, latest qualifying news, venue information, commercial partners and how you can get involved.

10/09/2014

FYI

What a great cause, the Munster Players Rugby Sale takes place in Clohessys bar,Limerick, on Saturday 20th September, 2pm to 7pm, in aid of the Donal Walsh foundation

09/09/2014

Never too late!

09/09/2014

09/09/2014

The Ulster Bank Rugby league final is coming home to Aviva Stadium this season.

14/08/2014

FYI!

Connect with your friends — and other fascinating people. Get in-the-moment updates on the things that interest you. And watch events unfold, in real time, from every angle.

14/08/2014

First two rounds of the European season have been announced. Time to get planning!

11/08/2014

Guinness Pro 12 dates and kick off times for the first 13 rounds have been announced.

http://www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures_list.php

The official website of the Guinness PRO12

10/08/2014

Well done to the IrishRugby and England Rugby Womens teams for qualifying for the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup Semi Finals and looking forward to the two teams doing battle!

05/08/2014

Well done to the IrishRugby Ladies team for securing the first ever win for an Irish side over NZ in Paris this afternoon.

05/08/2014

Lots of ladies going all out to support Donal Walsh Foundation by joining in the Cork Evening Echo Womens' Mini Marathon on Sunday 28 September 2014 will you be one of them?

05/08/2014

31/07/2014

Last minute news. Munster Rugby players will be at Manor West in Tralee today at 12 noon. They are supposed to be floating around town and Tralee RFC as well. There will also be a showdown at the Aquadome at 2 o'clock between team 5 and team 1. For those in Castleisland and Listowel Rugby keep tabs of the Munster Race blog on the Munster Website and other social media. Come down and meet the players.

28/07/2014

Munster Junior League to commence September 28. Get down to your local club to prepare for the season.
Munster Junior League - Division 1 Opening two rounds
Rest of the fixtures up on the Munster Domestic Site http://www.munsterrugby.ie/domestic/competitions/index.php
DATE TIME HOME AWAY VENUE
28/09/2014 14:30 Clonakilty Tralee The Vale
28/09/2014 14:30 Galbally St Senans Galbally
28/09/2014 14:30 Kilfeacle and District Cobh Pirates Kilfeacle
28/09/2014 14:30 Kinsale Clonmel Kinsale
28/09/2014 14:30 Muskerry St Marys Ballyanly
28/09/2014 14:30 Skibbereen Newcastle West Skibbereen
28/09/2014 14:30 Waterpark Old Christians Ballinakill
05/10/2014 14:30 Clonmel Kilfeacle and District Clonmel
05/10/2014 14:30 Cobh Pirates Clonakilty Cobh
05/10/2014 14:30 Newcastle West Waterpark Newcastle West
05/10/2014 14:30 Old Christians Kinsale Rathcooney
05/10/2014 14:30 St Marys Galbally Grove Island
05/10/2014 14:30 St Senans Skibbereen Jimmy Slattery Park
05/10/2014 14:30 Tralee Muskerry Tralee

Fixtures, tables, results and All Ireland Cup fixtures,tables and resultson Domestic Game | Munster Rugby | Official website

28/07/2014

GAME DEVELOPMENT - WHAT EXACTLY IS FAST RUCK BALL?

Fast ruck ball is considered to be one of the holy grails of rugby play, for with it your attack is often moving forward, and as a consequence when in full flight it will push the defence backwards.

The phrase ‘bending the defensive line’ (or causing the opposition structure to shift reflexively) is best applied when the ruck ball emerges with speed, for not only is go forward being generated – more options are presented on attack.

Remember this last point “more options are presented on attack”.

Static or slow ball dramatically reduces the options for the offensive team, very rarely presents front foot possession, and allows the defence to calmly set itself for the next phase.

First we must understand what is quick ruck ball, and how is it generated?

The reality is that rugby’s point of difference is the contest at the breakdown, and despite the myriad of different factors that might aid a team when it comes to winning – if you lose the ruck battle, you will likely lose the war.

SO WHERE DOES IT START?

- Physical domination is the first and one of the final steps. Before the ruck commences, there will be initial contact between two players (the ball carrier and defender), and this is where it all begins (we will go into this in more detail later). The second contest in contact will come from the clear out.

- If the attacking player can remain on their feet, it gives support more options, will often lead to the tackled player ‘falling forwards’ while unless the defence becomes dominant, will force the enemy line to back track. Be wary that powerful tacklers will look to keep ball carriers on their feet for their own purposes, although the name isn’t technically correct, some defence coaches label this a ‘choke’ tackle technique.

- Be wary of positioning and the ground. If the ball carrier falls the wrong way, it gives more options to the defence (especially flankers).

- Know how to fall! Often the best ball carries come to nothing because there isn’t clean placement for the next phase.

- Win the metres and beat the clock. Even the most perfect textbook ruck can come undone because it becomes static, meaning that the defence can attack with a ‘second shove’ at the ruck. As for beating the clock, you need to get the ball out of there as fast as possible.

So let us touch base again on the initial contact, which will determine whether or not the goal or quick ruck ball is achieved.

THE BALL CARRIER MUST WIN THIS CONTEST.

- Look at the ‘space’ to the left and right of the defender, if you force them to shift or to tackle you from the side (instead of a dominant front on tackle), you will have a better chance of moving forwards.
- If you fall to the ground, do it with an exaggerated motion as if you are a horse trying to jump a fence, this movement will push you forward to the deck.
- Ideally pump your legs, driving in this manner will drive you past the imaginary tackle point, breaking the advantage line.

Contact will not only be the job of the ball carrier, it will be the duty of those who clear out the opposition defence who will be looking to prevent turnover ball and remove bodies who are trying to pilfer.

- Clear the ball legally, no flying shoulders or lack or arms
- Enter through the hindmost feet, via the ‘gate’
- You are not tackling, you are moving/clearing a player who is endeavouring to steal the ball from your team-mate
- Clearing out is more effective if done in pods, two players who are linked will shift bodies with a lot more efficiency

Before we touch on the final point, remember again the work on the deck, and of course the fact that once you are on the ground, you are out of the game!

But a tackled player will have the opportunity to place the ball, but the best aspect of quick ruck ball is to ensure you fall on the correct side, training session after training session must ingrain into players the fine art of falling to present the ball to your team (while using your body and back to act as the initial shield).

AND THEN THERE IS THE HALFBACK.

A good number nine looks as if they are attached to a ruck by a chain, a curious analogy considering that during a ruck contest some scrumhalves seem to yelp like a dog!

Fast ruck ball, even with all the technical aspects as above, is null and void if there isn’t someone there to pass the ball out quickly.

Other coaching modules (such as running lines and tracking) on RCT will assist the halfback in tracking the ruck from play to play, a fair amount of intuition and prediction is needed to correctly move from breakdown to breakdown.

Make sure that other players are prepared to rush to the base of the ruck if the number nine is out of play, again, as always, communication is key.

Final lessons is that fast ruck ball means nothing without support or structure, what is the point in having speedy possession if the rest of the team isn’t ready to capitalise.

There are key players who will get the fast ruck ball occurring initially, but it is the efforts of the entire team that will allow you to play with pace and achieve the holy grail of attacking rugby.

14/07/2014

Flash Sale Tomorrow.....