Opinion
United Rugby Championship
Contributors
Brendan Fanning
@brendanfanning
Brendan has been coaching and writing about rugby for most of his adult life, and has covered a heap of World Cups and Lions tours along the way. He wrote From There To Here, the definitive account of Ireland's journey from an amateur to professional rugby nation, and he ghost wrote Crossing The Line, the award winning autobiography of Willie Anderson
16 Articles
Latest
24 days ago United Rugby Championship
Stuart Lancaster knows the Irish system intimately to benefit Connacht
53 days ago Investec Champions Cup
Leinster once again came up short and excuses are running out
103 days ago Six Nations
Ireland's sky-high standards dropped to leave fans concerned
128 days ago Six Nations
Ireland travel to Wales with confidence and room to experiment
Opinion
Brendan Fanning: 'It doesn’t matter how good or bad Wales are, what can Ireland do for themselves?'
Simon Easterby's men are odds on to lift a third consecutive Six Nations but it doesn't mean they can rest on their laurels
Brendan Fanning
12 Feb 2025, 20:44
Opinion
Returning duo put Ireland on pole for record Lions tally as final auditions beckon
Heading into the Six Nations, Ireland look well placed to have as many as 16 players in the Lions squad.
Brendan Fanning
28 Jan 2025, 16:57
Opinion
Easterby takes the reins as cracks appear in Ireland's masterplan
Andy Farrell departs for Lions duty with his Ireland team looking unsure of itself and in need of rejuvenation
Brendan Fanning
08 Dec 2024, 17:01
Opinion
Mutual regard makes way for enmity as the flames of a very modern rivalry are fanned
Five Irish wins in nine meetings since a historic first in 2016 has transformed the Ireland-New Zealand relationship.
Brendan Fanning
06 Nov 2024, 23:41
Opinion
Croke Park bonanza a 'real-time show of strength' for Irish rugby
Attracting 80,000 to the home of Gaelic football for Leinster-Munster showed rugby in Ireland is in rude health.
Brendan Fanning
17 Oct 2024, 17:27
Exclusive
Keith Wood: 'Our metrics in Ireland are magic, with the exception of World Cups'
Former Ireland captain believes greater focus on All Ireland League could give more players from different backgrounds a route to …
Brendan Fanning
15 Sep 2024, 15:08
Exclusive
Premier Sports set to swoop in for Champions Cup rights
If bookies had been offering odds on where the next rights to broadcast EPCR’s Champions and Challenge Cups were going they’d …
Brendan Fanning
20 Jul 2024, 1:59
Opinion
Boks sail close to the wind as Irish resources face further test
Both coaches have issues to resolve as South Africa and Ireland prepare to clash again in Durban.
Brendan Fanning
11 Jul 2024, 21:39
Opinion
Irish strategy short on detail as missing X-Men hinder Springbok heist
As the IRFU launches a four-year strategic plan, Andy Farrell's side tackle the Springboks without several key players.
Brendan Fanning
02 Jul 2024, 0:54
Opinion
Leinster 'sitting on a sharp stick' for running of the Bulls
It's uplifting for the URC that Ireland's most successful province are under pressure to deliver in Pretoria.
Brendan Fanning
14 Jun 2024, 2:23
Analysis
Toulouse must go the distance to slam door on Leinster's five-star tilt
Toulouse have the star quality to cause Leinster more Champions Cup stress if the final goes to the wire.
Brendan Fanning
24 May 2024, 17:09
