Welcome to Monday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your bitesize sample of this morning's Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show, Jonathan Wilson rounded up the weekend's FA Cup 3rd round action, including Manchester United's shootout victory away to Arsenal. Tommy Rooney reflected on a huge weekend of GAA Club Championship fixtures. And Alan Quinlan looked back on a largely positive weekend for the Irish provinces in Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action. And that's where we take our Bi...
Jan 13, 2025•12 min•Season 25Ep. 14
On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack has all of your team news for this weekend's Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action. We hear from Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, who can recall Tadhg Furlong for Sunday's trip to La Rochelle. Ronan O'Gara explains the gap between his instructions and La Rochelle's recent performances. Conor Murray and Iain Henderson both return to bolster the selections of both Munster and Ulster this weekend. And could Michael Milne be swapping Leinster for Mu...
Jan 10, 2025•16 min•Season 25Ep. 12
On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you all the details of Mack Hansen's suspension following his post-match outburst over the Christmas. Two more of his teammates have committed their next two years to Connacht. Oyonnax have sacked Chris Farrell following his conviction as part of the Grenoble rape trial. And La Rochelle will be without Tolu Latu for Sunday's Investec Champions Cup date with Leinster.
Jan 09, 2025•7 min•Season 25Ep. 10
On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of two more contract extensions at Connacht. We hear directly from the horse's mouth as Mike Prendergast provides an update on Munster's ten-week (and counting) hunt for a new head coach. La Rochelle could face Leinster without their first-choice hooker on Sunday. The club v country tussle that's delaying Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's potential shoulder surgery. And Italy the latest country to suffer a Six Nations-ending injury to a key playe...
Jan 08, 2025•10 min•Season 25Ep. 7
Off The Ball's Ruairi O'Hagan joins Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to discuss the defeat to Leinster, and the upcoming clash with Saracens at Thomond Park. Get in contact on Twitter @rugbychannel15 or email therugbychannel@bauermedia.ie Subscribe to The Rugby Channel for new episodes every week! #TheRed78 The first twenty minutes of this week's podcast is unlocked, but to listen to the full podcast, get on over to the Off The Ball app, or become a member at offtheball.com/join ....
Jan 08, 2025•21 min•Season 25Ep. 6
On Tuesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest on a busy day at Connacht where head coach Pete Wilkins addresses Mack Hansen's looming disciplinary hearing. One of Wilkins' backroom team is out the gap at the end of this season, but two of his players have committed their futures. A pair of Munster Academy products have also signed new deals, and we hear from one of them - Tom Ahern. There's mixed injury news from Ulster, while Tadhg Furlong is nearing a Leinster comeback. Fran...
Jan 07, 2025•11 min•Season 25Ep. 5
On Monday's Rugby Daily, Will O'Callaghan brings you news of Tom O'Toole's suspension for his ugly clearout on Munster centre Alex Nankivell. Ronan O'Gara says La Rochelle's Invested Champions Cup date with Leinster will be a wake-up call for his players. Samoa's head coach has been forced to resign following sexual assault allegations involving members of his own family. And Camille Chat's Racing 92 contract has been torn up after he turned up to training drunk.
Jan 06, 2025•5 min•Season 25Ep. 2
On a special festive episode of the Red 78, Off The Ball's Ruairi O'Hagan is joined by Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to discuss the win over Ulster, and to look ahead to Friday's huge clash with Leinster at a sold out Thomond Park. And we ask the two biggest questions - is Quinny on the nice list and just what is Fiona getting off Santa?
Dec 23, 2024•27 min•Season 24Ep. 559
On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the team news for Saturday's URC interpro at the Aviva, where Jordie Barrett will get his first taste of Irish derby action. The CEO of the URC discusses a potential merger with the English Premiership. Richie has the latest on Stuart Lancaster's job security at Racing 92. And the turmoil at the top of English rugby continues.
Dec 20, 2024•12 min•Season 24Ep. 557
Welcome to Friday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your bitesize taster of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show, a double shot of rugby with Ronan O'Gara and Alan Quinlan. Following another dramatic night at the World Darts Championship, we speak to Glen Durrant from Alexandra Palace. Nathan Murphy joins us from London to reflect on Shamrock Rovers' Conference League defeat at Stamford Bridge. And Catherine Murphy brings us her 'You Had To Be There'. Catch Off The Ball Breakf...
Dec 20, 2024•12 min•Season 24Ep. 554
On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you news of Ulster's decision to tie down Zac Ward to a three-year contract. Ulster and Munster have named their teams for tomorrow night's URC interpro at Kingspan Stadium, and we hear from both camps. Plus, Chris Farrell will not appeal his sentence as part of the Grenoble rape trial.
Dec 19, 2024•7 min•Season 24Ep. 553
Welcome to Thursday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your free sample of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show, none other than former All Blacks captain Kieran Read joins us. We talk to MMA fighter Will Fleury regarding his positive drugs test earlier this year. And the Limerick v Kilkenny Celebrity Deathmatch... But this morning's Breakfast Bite sees our own Dara Smith-Naughton examine the real cost of attending one of next year's Six Nations fixtures at the Aviva. Catch Off...
Dec 19, 2024•10 min•Season 24Ep. 552
On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest line on Stuart Lancaster, who apparently "wants out" of his deal at Racing 92. Lancaster's had to put the foot down with two hookers taking their Christmas party too far. Jean Kleyn has gone under the knife. Ulster centre Ben Carson has signed a new long-term contract. And the UK government counts the cost of London Irish, Wasps and Worcester going under.
Dec 18, 2024•8 min•Season 24Ep. 549
Off The Ball's Ruairi O'Hagan is joined by Munster greats Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to discuss just what went wrong for the Reds in France against Castres, and to look ahead to Friday night's interpro clash with Ulster. (0.00) Intro and comments (4.42) Castres 16-14 Munster review (27.55) Star of the week (28.49) Ulster preview Get in contact on Twitter @rugbychannel15 or email therugbychannel@bauermedia.ie Subscribe to The Rugby Channel for new episodes every week! #TheRed78 The first twenty...
Dec 18, 2024•19 min•Season 24Ep. 548
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....
Dec 17, 2024•11 min•Season 24Ep. 547
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.
Dec 16, 2024•8 min•Season 24Ep. 544
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 hea...
Dec 13, 2024•12 min•Season 24Ep. 539
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
Dec 13, 2024•23 min•Season 24Ep. 538
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 f...
Dec 12, 2024•10 min•Season 24Ep. 536
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.
Dec 11, 2024•19 min•Season 24Ep. 532
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.
Dec 11, 2024•9 min•Season 24Ep. 533
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 B...
Dec 11, 2024•11 min•Season 24Ep. 529
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 A...
Dec 10, 2024•10 min•Season 24Ep. 528
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.
Dec 09, 2024•7 min•Season 24Ep. 525
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 ...
Dec 09, 2024•12 min•Season 24Ep. 524
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 ...
Dec 06, 2024•19 min•Season 24Ep. 521
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.
Dec 05, 2024•25 min•Season 24Ep. 518
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...
Dec 05, 2024•9 min•Season 24Ep. 517
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 preview Get in contact on Twitter @rugbychannel15 or email therugbychannel@bauermedia.ie...
Dec 05, 2024•18 min•Season 24Ep. 515
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.
Dec 05, 2024•43 min•Season 24Ep. 516
