Ireland

Ian Madigan hopes reiterating his ability to boss a Test match backline in Saturday's 28-22 victory over Scotland can boost his World Cup selection claims.

Scotland prop Ryan Grant's World Cup appears under threat due to an ankle injury suffered in 28-22 defeat in Ireland.

Any team that enters this year’s Rugby World Cup has but one initial goal – emerge from the group stages and qualify for the quarter-finals.

While Scotland spent a week in the Pyrenees at the hands of a hostage negotiator and England decamped to Denver's Rocky Mountains, Ireland stayed at home.

Leinster Flanker Jack Conan will make his Test debut in Ireland's World Cup warm-up clash against Scotland in Dublin on Saturday.

Ulster hooker Rob Herring and Leinster centre Noel Reid have been dropped from Ireland's World Cup training squad.

Ireland flanker Tommy O'Donnell has been ruled out of next month's World Cup after suffering a dislocated hip against opening warm-up opponents Wales two days ago.

Ireland's stars will not be "spooked" by the hip injury that threatens to end Tommy O'Donnell's World Cup chances, according to Joe Schmidt.

Wales delivered a disjointed display in their opening World Cup warm-up game as RBS 6 Nations champions Ireland cruised to a 35-21 victory at the Millennium Stadium.

Simon Easterby admits it is not ideal that Cian Healy could arrive at the World Cup without full match fitness as the Ireland prop battles neck trouble.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has offered his players little indication of who is in line to play against Wales in Cardiff next weekend.

Ireland have received a major pre-World Cup boost with head coach Joe Schmidt committing his future to the reigning RBS 6 Nations champions for another two years.

The bidding battle to host Rugby World Cup 2023 is set to be between four countries - Ireland, France, Italy and South Africa.

Rhys Ruddock's second broken arm in six months has cost the Leinster flanker a place in Ireland's World Cup squad.

Ireland flanker Rhys Ruddock could face a race to be fit for the World Cup after suffering another arm injury during a tour match in Georgia.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell has finalised his two-year deal to join triple European champions Toulon after the autumn's World Cup.

Keith Wood has described Ireland's repeated failure to progress beyond the World Cup quarter-finals as "a horrible and embarrassing statistic".

Paul O'Connell will play his final game for Ireland at this autumn's World Cup after the Irish Rugby Football Union confirmed he has been granted early release from his contract.

Paul O'Connell is expected to complete a two-year deal to join Toulon after the World Cup, following Saturday's Guinness PRO12 final with Munster.

Jack McGrath could be facing a ban to jeopardise his World Cup participation after kneeing lock Konstantin Mikautadze in the back during Ireland's 22-21 defeat to the Barbarians.