Explore every episode of the podcast The Leinster Listen
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #86: Leinster (H) vs Munster - BKT United Rugby Championship Review | 26 Oct 2026 | 00:35:31 | |
Episode 86, and Leinster turn a wet Aviva interpro on its head from 13-0 down to a bonus-point 24-18 win over Munster in URC Round 4. Jamison Gibson-Park marks his return with three try assists and URC Player of the Match honours, Tommy O'Brien, Ryan Baird, Charlie Tector and Jamie Osborne cross for the hosts, and Monday brought a citing for Tadhg Furlong after Gavin Coombes' groin allegation and Munster's extra camera angle did what live TV could not. Sunday news leads with the Furlong citing, then Conan’s shoulder op, Prendergast and Ringrose doubts, Erin King’s Ireland Women captaincy in Cape Town, WRU losses, Stormers hooker chaos, and Henry Pollock’s Welford Road week, then we look ahead to Connacht on Friday. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 📰 News Items; Furlong cited under Law 9.27 after Coombes allegation and Munster footage, Conan surgery and Ireland doubts for Prendergast and Ringrose, Erin King captains in Cape Town, WRU £18.1m loss fallout, Stormers lose Kotze appeal and all three hookers, and Pollock’s Tatler-to-brawl week. 🏉 BKT United Rugby Championship Round 4 results; Full scoreboard from Cardiff through the Aviva derby to the Welsh clash, plus the full table after four rounds. 📊 Overall opinion and match events; Prediction check vs the Episode 85 preview (30-22), timeline from Munster’s 13-0 start to Ben O’Connor’s losing bonus point, and Gibson-Park’s Player of the Match night. | |||
| #85: Leinster (H) vs Munster - BKT United Rugby Championship Preview | 23 Oct 2026 | 00:18:43 | |
Episode 85, and the interpro is back at the Aviva — Leinster host Munster on Saturday evening in a one-off BKT United Rugby Championship Round 4 return to Lansdowne Road, with Leo Cullen naming Dan Sheehan at number eight, Joey Carbery at out-half for his first Leinster start since 2018, and Jamison Gibson-Park back from groin trouble. Sam Prendergast is out injured; Munster bring seven changes from their Racing 92 Champions Cup win, with Sean O'Brien at 13 for his 50th cap. Leinster arrive off a 48-23 win in Clermont; Munster beat Racing 33-25. Last season's league meeting went Munster's way 31-14 at Croke Park. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 📰 News Items; Ireland's November squad with 17 Leinster players and Sheehan as captain, the Jonathan Roche link Dobson called preposterous, Saracens versus The Times, France picking ineligible Jeremy Ward, and Northampton's security scare. 🏉 BKT United Rugby Championship Round 4 predictions; Friday's Cardiff-Sharks, Connacht-Zebre and Edinburgh-Lions openers through Saturday's South African double-header, Treviso, the Aviva interpro, and Ospreys-Dragons. 📋 Details of our game; 6pm kick-off at the Aviva, wet and windy Dublin evening, Andrew Brace in the middle, Premier Sports 1 and RTÉ Radio 1 coverage, one-off home while the Laya Arena is the usual URC base, and form lines after Clermont and Thomond. 👕 Team lineups; Pitch-style sheets — Sheehan at 8, Carbery and Gibson-Park in the halves, Osborne at 13, and Munster's seven changes with Daly back and Gordon Wood on the bench. 🎯 Score and MOTM prediction; Interpro margins, Conan and Prendergast absent, and why I'm backing Gibson-Park to boss the derby | |||
| #84: Leinster Club Interview — Guinness RFC | 14 Oct 2026 | 00:36:01 | |
Episode 84, and we're back with another Leinster Club Interview on The Leinster Listen, this time with Guinness RFC and captain Carl Stafford, who also joined the committee this season. A Dublin 12 brewery factory club founded in 1943 at the Iveagh Grounds, still one of the few working-class teams in Leinster rugby, now fielding a combined senior side with Tallaght RFC, and the club where I first picked up a rugby ball. Here is what we cover in this episode: 🏉 **Who they are**; Carl Stafford on captaincy, the committee, and a club born in 1943 for Guinness workers at the Iveagh Grounds 💚 **What makes them different**; working-class roots, Crumlin on your doorstep, and open arms when bigger clubs shut the door 👩🦰 **Women's rugby**; no standalone Guinness women's team yet, links to Three Saints, and why the game still needs local platforms 📜 **Club history**; St James's Gate factory teams, Mary's sending Carl to Drimnagh, U19 league glory, and Leinster League battles 🤝 **Community and Leinster Rugby**; schools, development officers, pathways with Leinster, and what guidance beats a blank cheque 🎯 **Challenges and ambition**; no academy pipeline, GAA and soccer competition, the Tallaght amalgamation, and tag or touch for every age ⭐ **Legends and grounds**; Bomber keeping the lights on, volunteer awards, balls over the terrace walls, and what leinster player he wants at training 📍 **How to join**; Tuesday nights at the Iveagh Grounds, Thursday at Fairhouse, development players welcome, and reach out via club socials | |||
| #83: Leinster (H) vs Cardiff - BKT United Rugby Championship Review | 12 Oct 2026 | 00:34:17 | |
Episode 83, and Leinster finally bank a win at the redeveloped Laya Arena, a bonus-point 29-5 homecoming against Cardiff that ends the winless start after two tight defeats in South Africa. Sam Prendergast takes official man of the match on his first start of the season, Jimmy O'Brien scores twice in a first-half blitz, and the Blue & Blacks suffer their first URC loss of 2026/27. Off the pitch I have thoughts on the arena upgrade, scoreboard readability, screen angles, clock placement, and the price of a pint, plus the usual Sunday news round-up before we look ahead to Clermont. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 📰 News Items; Carbery's minor setback and Gibson-Park racing Clermont, Emmet Farrell on Prendergast and Gabriel, hip-drop law timing fallout, Prince Harry booed at Welford Road, and Munster's Avan Lee reaching out to O'Mahony. 🏉 BKT United Rugby Championship Round 3 results; Full scoreboard from Rodney Parade through the SA derbies to Dublin, plus the table after three rounds. 📊 Overall opinion and match events; Prediction check vs the Episode 82 preview call (38-17), five-try timeline, and where Leinster sit on 8 points. 💬 Discussion Point; My Laya Arena Upgrade Opinion, scoreboard, clocks, big-screen angles, €7.80 pints, €14 hot dogs, and the season-ticket pack contents. #Leinster #Rugby #RugbyUnion #URC https;//theleinsterlisten.com | |||
| #82: Leinster (H) vs Cardiff - BKT United Rugby Championship Preview | 09 Oct 2026 | 00:12:02 | |
Episode 81, and Leinster finally come hom, the official Laya Arena URC homecoming against Cardiff on Saturday night, with Leo Cullen naming a completely changed starting XV after back-to-back South Africa defeats. Dan Sheehan captains a side packed with Ireland returnees; Sam Prendergast starts at 10 and Oliver Coffey gets his first senior start at scrum-half. Cardiff arrive 2-0 in the championship with Taulupe Faletau back at No 8 and Callum Sheedy pulling the strings — but the Blue & Blacks have never won at the RDS in the URC era, and Leinster need a statement before Clermont. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 📰 News Items; Gibson-Park back training, Joe McCarthy's player-coach role (and haircut), World Rugby's hip-drop and knee-drop fallout, and the Wallabies pay row 🏉 BKT United Rugby Championship Round 3 predictions; Full weekend scoreboard from Friday's Welsh and Scottish openers through Saturday's South African double-header and the Dublin nightcap. 📋 Details of our game; Kick-off at the Laya Arena, Sam Grove-White in the middle, TV on TG4 and Premier Sports, and the Clermont European opener lurking next week. 👕 Team lineups; Pitch-style sheets for both sides — headline callout on Cullen swapping all 15 starters after Durban, with Furlong, Ringrose, Keenan, and Prendergast back. 🎯 Score and MOTM prediction; Handicap lines, Cardiff's unbeaten start vs Leinster's bonus-point haul, and why I'm backing Prendergast to boss the homecoming. 💬 Discussion Point; Laya homecoming — reset or panic after South Africa? — wholesale team changes, filling the arena, and whether Cardiff can spoil the party. | |||
| #81: Leinster vs Sharks (H) - BKT United Rugby Championship Review | 04 Oct 2026 | 00:36:12 | |
Episode 81, and the South Africa block ends with another one-score loss, Leinster went down 26–20 to the Sharks at Kings Park, Thomas du Toit’s scrum dominance and Edwill van der Merwe’s late intercept denying the champions even as Andrew Osborne’s injury-time try banked a second losing bonus point. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 📰 News Items; Doris ruled out until the new year, Bleyendaal on a fresh Carbery and evolving Leinster attack, Paisami’s Bledisloe ban, Sheedy’s viral header before Cardiff, and Rennie’s scrum-law broadside. 🏉 BKT United Rugby Championship Round 2 results; Full scoreboard and where the Irish provinces sit after two rounds. 📋 Overall opinion; Set-piece pain, Prendergast’s brief lead, and why three log points still beats last year’s SA haul. 🔍 Match events; Timeline from Henshaw’s opener to van der Merwe’s intercept and Osborne’s late consolation. 📊 URC positioning; Sharks top the log, Leinster still winless with bonus points, Cardiff waiting at the Laya Arena. | |||
| #80: Leinster vs Lions (H) - BKT United Rugby Championship Preview | 24 Sep 2026 | 00:31:43 | |
Episode 80, and the URC title defence starts in the Lions den, Leinster fly to Ellis Park for Round 1 with a youthful matchday 23, no Jamison Gibson-Park, and the biggest selection story of the week: Andrew Porter at tighthead, not his usual loosehead jersey. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 📰 News Items; Porter and O'Brien fit, Gibson-Park groin, Nienaber's Ellis Park warning, France Women's burning-bus chaos, and Irish Friday night URC openers for Ulster and Connacht. 🏉 BKT United Rugby Championship Round 1 predictions; Full opening-weekend scoreboard from Treviso to Johannesburg. 📋 Details of our game; Kick-off, Ellis Park, Ben Breakspear in the middle, and where to watch on TG4 and Premier Sports. 👕 Team lineups; Pitch-style sheets for both sides, with a headline callout on Porter packing down at 3 beside Usanov and McCarthy. 🎯 Score and MOTM prediction; Market handicap, form lines, and why I'm backing Porter to boss the scrum. 💬 Discussion Point; Porter at 3, loosehead legend, tighthead return? What Cullen might be signalling for Furlong, Ireland, and the Sharks week. | |||
| #79: Ireland (H) vs USA - WXV Global Series Round 1 Review | 20 Sep 2026 | 00:30:49 | |
Episode 79, and we're reacting to one of the maddest women's Tests you'll see — Ireland led by twelve at half-time at Tallaght Stadium, scored six tries, and still lost 40-36 to a USA side that overturned a 19-point deficit in the WXV Global Series opener. No preview went out — the draft call was a comfortable Ireland win — so this is pure post-match autopsy plus the Sunday Leinster news as the men's squad fly south. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 📰 News Items; Munster's Leicester pre-season sting, Leinster's 41-man South Africa departure, Doris still out, and Baird plus the Cardiff Laya homecoming date 🏉 WXV Global Series match results; Full Round 1 scoreboard from Cardiff to Tallaght — Wales, Italy, the England–Canada draw, France, New Zealand, and our game 💭 Overall opinion of the game; The first-half green wave, the Elmes Kinlan sin-bin swing, Jack Hanratty's Eagles comeback, and Erin King's post-match message on TG4 📋 Analysis of the game events; Chronological tries from Elmes Kinlan's opener to Dorothy Wall's late score — official POTM Freda Tafuna 📊 WXV Global Series positioning after this weekend; What Round 1 means in the touring model and Ireland's immediate focus on Japan in Galway. theleinsterlisten.com | |||
| #78: Leinster Club Interview — Tullow RFC | 16 Sep 2026 | 00:39:02 | |
Episode 78, and we're back with another Leinster Club Interview on The Leinster Listen, this time with Tullow RFC being represented by Paddy Browne. A Carlow club founded in 1928 and reborn in 1971 at John Browne Park in the Blackgates, now in Leinster League Division 1A with three Towns Cup wins (2017, 2023, and 2024), a clubhouse Bernard Jackman once called home, and the same Browne, Roche, Dawson, and Kenny families still woven through the place. 🏉 Who they are; Paddy Browne on his name, role, and a club with roots back to 1928 💚 What makes them different; rural Carlow identity, community depth, and life at the Blackgates 👩🦰 Women's rugby; how the women's game fits Tullow today 📜 Club history; the stop-start early years, the 1971 relaunch, and Towns Cup glory 🎯 Challenges and ambition; retaining players, competing at 1A level ⭐ Legends and grounds; the players people still mention 📍 How to join; training nights, the Blackgates, and how to get in touch via tullowrfc.com | |||
| #77: Leinster (H) vs Zebre Parma - Pre-Season Friendly Preview | 10 Sep 2026 | 00:14:19 | |
Episode 77, and we're back on the men's side — Leinster's first game at the redeveloped Laya Arena in over two years. Zebre Parma visit Donnybrook on Saturday for a pre-season test event before the URC title defence kicks off against Cardiff on the 23rd. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Pre-season context; Zebre's 21-21 draw with Benetton, Leinster's 31-29 loss at LOU Lyon, and what to expect from a capped-attendance friendly at the RDS 📋 Match details; kick-off, venue, weather, tickets, and the Laya Arena return after two seasons at the Aviva 👕 Team lineups; Zebre were too afraid to release theirs 🔮 Score prediction; Leinster 47-22, MOTM Caspar Gabriel | |||
| #76: Leinster vs Munster - Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Final Review | 01 Sep 2026 | 00:24:56 | |
Episode 76, and the women's interpro season ends where Episode 75 feared it might — with Beth Buttimer and the Munster maul writing the script again. After the 39-19 Cork loss, the Connacht response, and an eleven-try rout of Ulster in Belfast, Sarah Delaney's Leinster side met Matt Brown's unbeaten champions at Dexcom Stadium for the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship final. Munster won 14-5, claimed their 17th title, and completed a second successive clean sweep. Ruth Campbell's injury and Leinster's red-zone wastefulness will sting long after Galway. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship match results; Connacht vs Ulster in the third-place play-off and Leinster vs Munster in the championship final — plus the final standings after Finals Day. 📊 Overall opinion of the game; Prediction check from Episode 75, the maul question answered, Campbell's injury, and why Leinster could not turn territory into points. 🔍 Analysis of the game events; Scrums, lineouts, defence, and attack — with a full match timeline from Breen's early yellow to Buttimer's title-sealing maul try. 🏆 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship positioning after this weekend; Munster's back-to-back titles, Ulster's play-off revenge, and what the 2026 table looks like now the competition is complete. 🎙️ Discussion Point; Leinster's preseason friendly with Lyon — quick opinion on the men's 31-29 loss at Gerland the night before Finals Day, the fringe-player runout, and whether the leaky edge defence is a concern before the URC. | |||
| #75: Leinster vs Munster - Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Final Preview | 29 Aug 2026 | 00:11:01 | |
Episode 75, and it's the one we've been building towards all month. After the Munster mauling in Cork, the Connacht response at Energia Park, and an eleven-try demolition of Ulster in Belfast, Sarah Delaney's Leinster side meet Matt Brown's unbeaten champions at Dexcom Stadium for the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship final. Fourth Leinster-Munster decider in four years — revenge for the 39-19 Round 1 loss and last year's 50-15 hammering, or another Munster coronation on the west coast. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Finals Day predictions; My calls for Connacht vs Ulster in the third-place play-off and Leinster vs Munster in the championship final — plus the final table after Round 3. 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, Galway weather, Spórt TG4 coverage, and Finals Day referee appointments. 📋 Team lineups; Full confirmed XVs — Govender brings O'Brien and Jordan back with a 6:2 bench, Brown restores O'Leary and Cahill as Clohessy misses out. 🎯 Score and POTM Prediction; Form, the fourth final in four years, recent Leinster-Munster history, my scoreline call, and who I've gone for as player of the match. | |||
| #74: Leinster Club Interview — Balbriggan RFC | 26 Aug 2026 | 00:51:20 | |
Episode 74, and we're back with another Leinster Club Interview on The Leinster Listen — this time with Balbriggan RFC. A North Dublin junior club founded in 1925 at Bowhill in Balrothery, with men's sides in Leinster League Division 2A, women's teams in Division 1 and Division 6, thriving minis and youths, and a Stingers disability tag team, plus a history that runs from the 1928 Towns Cup to Alma Atagamen in the Ireland women's squad. Here is what we cover in this episode: 🏉 **Who they are**; name, role, and a club founded in 1925 on the Rope Walk and reborn through youths rugby in 1967 💚 **What makes them different**; green and white identity, North Dublin roots, and a club that helped pioneer youths rugby in Leinster 👩🦰 **Women's rugby**; Division 1 and 2XV sides, the 1990s team, the 2014 revival, and players like Alma Atagamen on the provincial and international stage 🤝 **Community and Leinster Rugby**; volunteers, minis and youths, the out reach and all the things Balbriggan do to bring Rugby to the area 🎯 **Challenges and ambition**; retaining players, competing for young talent, and where Balbriggan want to be in five years 📍 **How to join**; training on Tuesday and Thursday nights, youth and mini schedules, and how to get in touch via balbrigganrfc.com | |||
| #73: Leinster vs Ulster (H) - Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Review | 24 Aug 2026 | 00:21:13 | |
Episode 73, and Leinster delivered the statement Belfast demanded. After the Munster mauling in Cork and the six-try response against Connacht at Energia Park, Govender's side needed a bonus-point win at Affidea Stadium to reach the Dexcom Stadium decider — and they produced eleven tries in a 75-5 rout. Robyn O'Connor scored five, Katie Whelan bagged a hat-trick, and Ruth Campbell took official player-of-the-match honours. Munster meanwhile stayed unbeaten with a 47-12 win over Connacht in Galway, setting up a fourth Leinster-Munster final in four years. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship match results; Ulster 5-75 Leinster in Belfast and Connacht 12-47 Munster in Galway — plus the final table and Finals Day fixtures. 🎯 Prediction post-mortem; My Episode 72 call of Leinster 34-14 and Alma Atagamen for POTM vs the actual 75-5 scoreline and Ruth Campbell's official award. 📋 Match analysis; Eleven Leinster tries, Ulster's lineout woes, O'Connor and Whelan's eight-try Wexford partnership, and King's sin-bin that Ulster could not punish. 📊 Championship positioning; Munster unbeaten on 15 points, Leinster through to the final on 10, and Connacht vs Ulster in the third-place play-off. 📅 Next game; Leinster face Munster in the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship final at Dexcom Stadium, Galway on Saturday 29 August. | |||
| #72: Leinster vs Ulster (H) - Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Preview | 21 Aug 2026 | 00:23:42 | |
Episode 72, and it's winner-takes-all in Belfast. After the Munster mauling in Cork and the six-try response against Connacht at Energia Park, Leinster travel north for the final round of the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship — beat Ulster at Affidea Stadium and the Blues are in the Dexcom Stadium decider against Munster a week later. Murray Houston's side are fighting for pride and a third-place play-off after a 62-0 Cork hiding, but this is a semi-final in all but name. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Round 3 predictions; My calls for Ulster vs Leinster in Belfast and Connacht vs Munster in Galway — plus where the table stands after Round 2. 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, Belfast weather, Spórt TG4 coverage, and John Purcell in the middle with Morgan McCartney and Glenda Mellon on the sidelines. 📋 Team lineups; Full confirmed XVs — Govender makes eight changes with O'Sullivan Sexton and Whelan at half-back, Boles captains Ulster with Daley injured and McKinley making her senior debut. 🎯 Score and POTM Prediction; Form, the semi-final stakes, recent Leinster-Ulster history, my scoreline call, and who I've gone for as player of the match. 🇮🇪 Discussion Point; What needs to change if we meet Munster in the final? — lessons from the 39-19 Round 1 loss in Cork, Buttimer's maul masterclass, why the internationals-back gamble failed, and whether Connacht answered enough of the right questions. | |||
| #71: Leinster Club Interview — BGF Ravens RFC | 19 Aug 2026 | 00:35:50 | |
Episode 71, and we're back with another Leinster Club Interview on The Leinster Listen — this time with BGF Ravens RFC and Director of Rugby Paul Ng. Ballymun, Glasnevin and Finglas Ravens: a one adult men's team club founded in 1958 as Unidare RFC from the Unidare Works factory in Finglas, reborn as BGF Ravens in 2014, and playing out of Mount Temple in Glasnevin. Here is what we cover in this episode: 🏉 **Who they are**; Paul Ng, Director of Rugby, and a club founded in 1958 from the Unidare Works factory league 💚 **What makes them different**; a one adult men's team serving Ballymun, Glasnevin and Finglas — from Business Houses roots to a community club identity 👩🦰 **Women's rugby**; why the Ravens stayed a single men's team and how that shapes the club on and off the pitch 📜 **Club history**; Blackrock College pitches, Jamestown Road in Finglas, Suttonians and Malahide in the 1990s, DCU, and the 2014 rebrand 🤝 **Community and Leinster Rugby**; North Dublin roots, the Mount Temple partnership, and a season played entirely away while the pitch was refurbished 🎯 **Challenges and ambition**; keeping a one-team club competitive in Leinster Metro League, player retention, and where Paul wants the Ravens in five years ⭐ **Legends and grounds**; the players people still talk about, and life at Mount Temple 📍 **How to join**; training nights, grounds in Glasnevin, and how to get in touch via the BGF Ravens Teamo site | |||
| #70: Leinster (H) vs Connacht - Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Review | 16 Aug 2026 | 00:18:19 | |
Episode 70, and Leinster needed a response at Energia Park. After the Munster mauling in Cork, Govender's side faced a semi-final in all but name against Connacht, win or the Galway final was gone. Six tries, debut scores from Stacey Flood and Niamh Murphy, and Erin King leading from the front delivered a 36-21 bonus-point win that keeps the Blues alive. Munster meanwhile booked their final spot with a 62-0 hammering of Ulster, and the U18 Schools opened their title defence with a 33-12 win in Cork. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship match results; Munster 62-0 Ulster in Cork and Leinster 36-21 Connacht at Energia Park, plus the Round 2 table and what it means for Belfast. 🎯 Prediction post-mortem; My must-win Leinster 31-26 call vs the actual 36-21, and why Erin King was the right player to build around. 📋 Match analysis; Nine tries, Reilly's double for Connacht, and how Leinster found their finish when it mattered at 24-21. 📊 Championship positioning; Munster through to the final, Leinster second on five points, and a winner-takes-all trip to Belfast next Saturday. 🏫 U18 Schools; Leinster's 33-12 bonus-point title-defence win over Munster at Virgin Media Park — Victor Chauvire's length-of-the-field try the pick of five touchdowns. 📅 Next game; Leinster travel to Affidea Stadium to face Ulster on Saturday 22 August, the winner reaches the final at Dexcom Stadium. | |||
| #69: Interview — Avril Kinsella; Sports Videographer @therugbygirlire | 12 Aug 2026 | 00:44:46 | |
Episode 69, and we're going behind the camera on The Leinster Listen — an interview with Avril Kinsella (@therugbygirlire), a sports videographer who covers rugby for the Leinster and Irish rugby. Here is what we cover in this episode: 🎬 Getting into the game; how Avril found videography and why sport became her focus 🏉 First rugby gig; the shoot that started it all and what she remembers from it 📍 Pitch-side life; positioning for the shot without getting flattened ✍️ Shaping the story; clear briefs from teams and coaches versus finding the angle yourself 📱 Fans and video; how content has changed engagement with club and provincial rugby 📈 Where demand is growing; highlight reels, player profiles, full match coverage 🎤 Through the camera lens; favourite interviewee, dream guest, and the project she's proudest of 🔗 Follow her work; where to find Avril Kinsella online Find Avril Kinsella on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok @therugbygirlire | |||
| #68: Leinster vs Munster (H) - Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Review | 09 Aug 2026 | 00:26:46 | |
Episode 68, and we're picking through the wreckage of another Munster mauling in Cork. Leinster travelled to Virgin Media Park with the internationals back, Sana Govender in the dugout for his first competitive game, and my bold Episode 67 call of a narrow Blues win — Munster had other ideas. Beth Buttimer scored four tries, the champions ran in seven overall, and Leinster's 39-19 defeat leaves them bottom of the table after Round 1 with Connacht up next at Energia Park. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship match results; Munster 39-19 Leinster in Cork and Connacht 15-10 Ulster in Belfast — plus the Round 1 table and what it means for the run-in to Galway. 📊 Overall opinion and analysis; Where Leinster fell short on the maul, the set piece, and the scoreboard — plus a full run-through of tries, cards, and the official player of the match. 🎯 Prediction post-mortem; My Leinster 27-24 call from Episode 67 vs the actual 39-19 — and why Dannah O'Brien was not the star of the show. 📅 Next game; Leinster host Connacht at Energia Park on Saturday 15 August — Craig Hansberry's westerners arrive off a McGann and Deely-inspired win in Belfast. 🌍 Discussion Point; The wild and wacky rugby news from this week — Ma'a Nonu at 44 on the Sharks bench to face the All Blacks, the Amatosero red card farce in Osaka, Mo'unga's bizarre NZ eligibility row, Hansen vs World Rugby's ref meetings, and the Stormers' 20-year-old fly-half. | |||
| #67: Leinster vs Munster (H) - Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Preview | 07 Aug 2026 | 00:19:11 | |
Episode 67, and we're heading down the N7 for the opening round of the 2026 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship. Leinster travel to Virgin Media Park to take on defending champions Munster, a repeat of last year's final, but a very different competition this time with all the Ireland internationals back and WXV selection on the line. Sarah Delaney leads a much-changed Blues side under new head coach Sana Govender, looking to banish the memory of that 50-15 hammering in Dublin. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏉 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship Round 1 predictions; My calls for Munster vs Leinster in Cork and Ulster vs Connacht in Belfast. 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, weather, where to watch on Spórt TG4, and Siobhán Daly in the middle with John Purcell and John Moynihan on the sidelines. 📋 Team lineups; Full confirmed XVs for both provinces — Delaney's captaincy bow, six Leinster debutants, Munster's Lane and Moore debuts, and the Corrigan vs Elmes Kinlan wing battle. 🎯 Score and POTM Prediction; Form, the internationals-back factor, last year's double defeat, my scoreline call, and who I've gone for as player of the match. 🇮🇪 Discussion Point; Can the internationals flip the script after last year's 50-15? — digging into what changed between 2025 and 2026, Govender's first game in charge, and whether Munster's home fortress still holds. My new website is now live and you can find it at theleinsterlisten.com | |||
| #66: Leinster Club Interview — Emerald Warriors RFC | 02 Aug 2026 | 00:40:20 | |
Episode 66, and we're trying something new on The Leinster Listen — a Leinster Club Interview with Emerald Warriors RFC. Ireland's leading LGBT+ inclusive rugby club, founded in Dublin in 2003, with men's+ sides in the Leinster Metro League, the Azure women's+ team in Leinster Women's Division 4, and a trophy cabinet that includes the 2025 Union Cup in Oslo. Here is what we cover in this episode: 🏉 Who they are; name, role, and the club's founding in August 2003 💚 What makes them different; Ireland's first primarily LGBTQ+ rugby club, open to all, and a fixture on the international IGR circuit 👩🦰 Women's rugby; the Azure women's+ team, Leinster league rugby, and the Emily Valentine Vase at Union Cup 2025 📜 Club history; Bingham Cup 2008 in Dublin, Union Cup 2019, and two decades of firsts 🤝 Community and Leinster Rugby; Pride, BelongTo, Bank of Ireland sponsorship, and life beyond the pitch 🎯 Challenges and ambition; volunteers, player retention, and where the Warriors want to be in five years ⭐ Legends and grounds; the players and volunteers people still talk about, and life at The High School and Belvedere 📍 How to join; training nights, grounds in Rathgar and Dublin 3, and how to get in touch via ewrfc.ie | |||
| #65: Ireland vs New Zealand - Nations Championship Round 3 Review | 20 Jul 2026 | 00:41:47 | |
Episode 65, and Ireland's Nations Championship summer ends with a thud at Eden Park — Andy Farrell's full-strength side were hammered 40-21 by Dave Rennie's All Blacks in Auckland. Six New Zealand tries, a 28-7 half-time deficit, and a McCloskey pass that gifted Will Jordan his 51st Test try. Damian McKenzie was official Man of the Match, Sam Prendergast kept Ireland honest with three conversions and the assist for Hugo Keenan's try, but 17 turnovers and 40 missed tackles told the story of a night the fortress stood firm. Round 3 delivered elsewhere too — France topped the Northern Hemisphere table with a 42-15 win over Japan in Tokyo, England survived seven yellow cards to beat Argentina 31-24 in Santiago del Estero, Scotland came from 10 down to beat Fiji 33-17 at Murrayfield, South Africa nilled Wales 43-0 in Durban, and Joe Schmidt signed off with a 57-10 Wallabies rout of Italy in Perth. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 3 results; All six fixtures from Saturday — our game at Eden Park, Japan vs France in Tokyo, Australia vs Italy in Perth, Fiji vs Scotland at Murrayfield, South Africa vs Wales in Durban, and Argentina vs England in Santiago del Estero — plus the wildest game of the weekend in Argentina. 🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why this was a sobering reality check — six All Blacks tries, 17 Irish turnovers, the 53-Test Eden Park streak extended, and Farrell insisting the gap is narrower than the scoreline suggests. 📋 Analysis of the game events; Tuipulotu and Savea in the first half, Conan's brief lifeline, McCloskey's gift to Jordan, Aumua's maul try, McCarthy and Keenan after the break, McKenzie's score, and Lienert-Brown's late finish. 🗺️ Nations Championship positioning after this weekend; Final summer standings — France top the north on 12 points, Ireland finish on 10, South Africa and New Zealand both on 15 in the south, and both hemispheres deadlocked again on 48 competition points apiece. 🎙️ Discussion Point; Nations Championship Southern Series Team of the Tournament — Ruck's post-Round 3 XV, Jack Conan as Ireland's sole pick, Ito and Gibson-Park as my snubs, and debutante shout between Grandidier Nkanang and Jansen. | |||
| #64: Ireland vs New Zealand - Round 3 Nations Championship Preview | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:16:12 | |
Andy Farrell recalls his A-listers for the Round 3 showdown with the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday morning. Nine changes from the Japan win, Robert Baloucoune returns on the wing, and Sean Jansen waits on the bench to face his birth nation. Dave Rennie backs Ruben Love at 10 and Will Jordan chases more history at the world's most intimidating Test venue. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 3 predictions; All six Saturday fixtures with Irish kick-off times and venues — our game at Eden Park (8:10am), Japan vs France in Tokyo (9:40am), Australia vs Italy in Perth (11:10am), Fiji vs Scotland at Murrayfield (2:10pm), South Africa vs Wales in Durban (4:40pm), and Argentina vs England in Santiago del Estero (8:10pm). 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, Auckland winter weather, Eden Park's 52-Test unbeaten run, Nic Berry in the middle with Luc Ramos and Damon Murphy on the touchline, and where to watch on Virgin Media One. 📋 Team lineups; Full Ireland and All Blacks matchday 23s — Farrell's nine changes and Baloucoune's return, Rennie's four personnel changes with Moorby starting and Tupou Vaa'i at blindside, and the five biggest All Black names with their clubs. 🎯 Score and MOTM Prediction; Ireland's first-ever win in New Zealand in 2022, four defeats at Eden Park, the All Blacks' 47-17 over Italy and Will Jordan's record-breaking hat-trick, the 10/3 outright odds, and my scoreline call. | |||
| #63: Ireland vs Japan - Nations Championship Round 2 Review | 13 Jul 2026 | 00:31:48 | |
Episode 63, and Ireland stay perfect in the Nations Championship — Andy Farrell's much-changed side made it two bonus-point wins from two with a 36-20 victory over Eddie Jones's Japan in Newcastle. Debutant Sean Jansen was player of the match with a try on his first cap, Robbie Henshaw crossed on his return, and Tom Stewart's late score sealed the bonus point on a day the set piece creaked but the squad depth delivered. Round 2 elsewhere brought Will Jordan's record-breaking hat-trick as New Zealand hammered Italy 47-17, France's Aaron Grandidier Nkanang scored twice on debut in a 42-26 comeback win over Australia, England ended their losing run with an 11-try 73-8 rout of Fiji, South Africa held off Scotland 42-28 at Loftus, and Argentina beat Wales 35-21 in San Juan. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 2 results; All six fixtures from Saturday — NZ 47-17 Italy, France 42-26 Australia, our game in Newcastle, England 73-8 Fiji, South Africa 42-28 Scotland, and Argentina 35-21 Wales — plus a fun fact: both hemispheres dead level on 33 competition points and perfectly balanced on aggregate points difference (+22 north, -22 south) after two rounds. 📢 Important Podcast Updates; Dynamic Ads are gone from the podcast for good — they will never be re-added. 🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why Farrell called it relief more than pleasure — Japan competitive for 60 minutes, the lineout a worry, but maximum points and four debutants celebrated. 📋 Analysis of the game events; Taira Main's early try, Timoney and O'Toole responding, Henshaw before the break, Jansen's debut score, Era keeping Japan in it, Byrne's penalty, and Stewart's last-minute bonus point. 🗺️ Nations Championship positioning after this weekend; Ireland on 10 points from two games — top of the Northern Hemisphere group — with Eden Park against the All Blacks next Saturday. 🎙️ Discussion Point; Standout debutantes from the Nations Championship so far — Sean Jansen, Ryunosuke Ito, Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, Noah Caluori, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, and the All Blacks rookies who've broken through in July. | |||
| #62: Ireland vs Japan - Nations Championship Round 2 Preview | 09 Jul 2026 | 00:37:24 | |
Episode 62, and Ireland's Nations Championship summer rolls on — Andy Farrell makes nine changes and hands four debuts for the Round 2 clash with Japan at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Saturday morning. Tadhg Beirne captains a rotated side, Sean Jansen starts at No 8, and Eddie Jones returns to the Japan dugout after his suspension. The team sheets are in. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 2 predictions; All six Saturday fixtures with Irish kick-off times and venues — NZ vs Italy (6:10am, Wellington), Australia vs France (8:40am, Brisbane), our game in Newcastle (11:10am), Fiji vs England (2:10pm, Liverpool), South Africa vs Scotland (4:40pm, Pretoria), and Argentina vs Wales (8:10pm, San Juan). 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, Newcastle weather, McDonald Jones Stadium, Andrea Piardi in the middle with Ben O'Keeffe on the touchline, and where to watch on Virgin Media 1. 📋 Team lineups; Full Ireland and Japan matchday 23s — nine Ireland changes, four debutants for the men in green, Japan's one change with Taira Main on the wing, and the five biggest Japanese names with their clubs. 🎯 Score and MOTM Prediction; Ireland's 11-1 head-to-head record, the 41-10 in Dublin last November, Japan's 27-10 over Italy, how Japan's 'chosoku' attack and contestable kicking could test Ireland's blitz, the 1/6 outright odds, and my scoreline call. 🎙️ Discussion Point; What Rugby League rules I think should be introduced to Rugby Union — the 40/20 kick, shot clock on set pieces, captain's challenge, sin bin for professional fouls, limited interchange, and golden point extra time. | |||
| #61: Ireland vs Australia - Nations Championship Round 1 Review | 06 Jul 2026 | 00:33:44 | |
Episode 61, and Ireland are off the mark in the Nations Championship — Andy Farrell's injury-hit side came from 12 points down to beat Joe Schmidt's Wallabies 33-31 in a madcap thriller at a sold-out Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Hugo Keenan was official Man of the Match — try-saving tackle on Suaalii and the bonus-point score — Tom Clarkson's 77th-minute try sealed it, and Ben Donaldson missed two late penalties on a night the Prendergast brothers both crossed too. Round 1 delivered elsewhere too — New Zealand edged France 34-32 in Christchurch and South Africa hammered England 45-21 at Ellis Park in two of the wildest games you'll see all summer. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 1 results; All six fixtures from the opening weekend — NZ 34-32 France, Japan 27-10 Italy, our game in Sydney, Fiji 24-39 Wales, South Africa 45-21 England, and Argentina 38-47 Scotland — plus a look at the two wildest games in Christchurch and Johannesburg. 🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why this was classic Farrell-ball — 24-12 down, defence all over the shop in the first half, belief in the closing stages, and a prop burrowing over with three minutes left. 📋 Analysis of the game events; Pietsch's early try, four Wallaby first-half scores, Keenan's tackle on Suaalii, Gibson-Park before the break, Clarkson's winner, Sheehan's disallowed try, Shaw's yellow, and Donaldson's two missed penalties in the red. 🗺️ Nations Championship positioning after this weekend; Ireland on five points with a bonus-point win, Australia and France on two, England nil — and Round 2 fixtures including Japan vs Ireland in Newcastle next Saturday. | |||
| #60: Ireland vs Australia (H) - Nations Championship Round 1 Preview | 02 Jul 2026 | 00:42:04 | |
Episode 60, and Ireland's Nations Championship summer is here — Andy Farrell's side open the Southern Series against Joe Schmidt's Wallabies at a sold-out Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday morning. Sam and Cian Prendergast become the first brothers to start together for Ireland in the same team, Dan Sheehan captains with Doris and Crowley ruled out, and the team sheets are in. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🌍 Nations Championship Round 1 predictions; All six Saturday fixtures with Irish kick-off times — NZ vs France (8:10am), Japan vs Italy (9:40am), our game in Sydney (11:10am), Fiji vs Wales (2:10pm), South Africa vs England (4:40pm), and Argentina vs Scotland (8:10pm). 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, Sydney weather, sold-out Allianz Stadium, Ben O'Keeffe in the middle, and where to watch on RTÉ. 📋 Team lineups; Full Ireland and Australia matchday 23s — the Prendergast brothers in the same XV, Sheehan captains, Suaalii and Gordon for the Wallabies, and the 5-3 bench splits. 🎯 Score and MOTM Prediction; Ireland's five-game winning streak over Australia, the 46-19 in Dublin last November, Farrell vs Schmidt, the 7/10 outright odds, and my scoreline call. 🎙️ Discussion Point; Carbery's Homecoming and Europe's Wildcards — Joey Carbery confirmed back from Bordeaux, the new Champions Cup qualification rules, three-tries bonus points, October start, and Leinster's Pool 1 draw. | |||
| #59: Andy Farrell's Four Fly Halfs - Ireland Summer Series Preview | 29 Jun 2026 | 00:24:55 | |
Episode 59, and the club season is done — back-to-back URC champions, Leo Cullen's departure announced, and now the focus shifts to Andy Farrell's Ireland squad heading south for the inaugural Nations Championship. Jack Crowley is ruled out, which leaves four fly-halves in the squad: Sam Prendergast, Harry Byrne, Ciarán Frawley, and Nathan Doak — the Ulster scrum-half who can also play 10. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🎙️ Discussion Point; Andy Farrell's Four Fly Halfs — Crowley ruled out, Prendergast's Grand Final form, Byrne's Champions Cup credentials, Frawley's South Africa tour experience, Doak's versatility at 9 and 10, and who starts in Sydney, Newcastle, and Auckland. 🏉 Next game; Ireland's Nations Championship Southern Series — Australia (4 July, Sydney), Japan (11 July, Newcastle), and New Zealand (18 July, Eden Park). | |||
| #58: Leinster (H) vs Vodacom Bulls - URC Grand Final Review | 22 Jun 2026 | 00:25:52 | |
Episode 58, and Leinster are back-to-back BKT United Rugby Championship champions after a stunning 36-7 hammering of the Vodacom Bulls at Croke Park on Friday night. Déjà vu from last year's final — five tries, 22-0 at half-time, and Sam Prendergast running the show on the night we saved our best rugby for the biggest stage. James Lowe, Rieko Ioane, Luke McGrath, and Jerry Cahir bow out as winners. And then Monday brought the news: Leo Cullen will leave as head coach when his contract ends at the end of next season. One more year, one more shot at adding to the legacy. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship match results; The Grand Final at Croke Park — Leinster 36-7 Vodacom Bulls, 39,184 in the ground, and a repeat of last year's decider. 🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why this felt like the performance we'd been waiting for all season — Bulls indiscipline, Doris off early, Conan stepping up, and Prendergast at his absolute best. 📋 Analysis of the game events; Moodie and le Roux yellows, O'Brien's opening try, Ioane and Conan, Prendergast's snipe, Lowe's farewell yellow, Moodie's consolation, the disallowed Bulls tries, and Byrne sealing it. 🗺️ BKT United Rugby Championship positioning after this weekend; Back-to-back titles, a record 10th league crown, the Bulls' fourth final defeat in five years — and the domestic season is done. 🎙️ Discussion Point; Leo Cullen to leave Leinster at the end of 2026/27 — his accomplishments as a player (221 caps, three European Cups as captain, Ireland skipper) and as head coach (seven trophies in 11 years, 2018 Champions Cup, back-to-back URC titles, and the recruitment search already underway). | |||
| #57: Leinster (H) vs Vodacom Bulls - URC Grand Final Preview | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:25:57 | |
Episode 57, and we're back at Croke Park for the BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final, an exact repeat of last year's decider as Leinster defend their title against the Vodacom Bulls on Friday night. Leo Cullen has named a side with Tadhg Furlong returning, Caelan Doris passed fit, and James Lowe starting in his final game for the province, while Johan Ackermann's Bulls arrive at full strength off the back of that remarkable 22-21 semi-final comeback in Edinburgh. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, weather, why Croke Park and a Friday night, where to watch, and Andrea Piardi in the middle for his fourth consecutive URC decider. 📋 Team lineups; Full run-through of both confirmed matchday 23s. Furlong and Lowe in for Leinster, eleven Springboks in the Bulls XV, Porter out, and the 5-3 vs 6-2 bench splits. 🎯 Score and MOTM Prediction; The bookies' 2/5 and -6 handicap, semi-final form from both sides, my scoreline call, and who I've gone for as man of the match. 🏉 Discussion Point; Club Rugby in mid June — why the season shouldn't run this late, Croke Park vs the Aviva, Metallica, ticket prices, empty seats, and whether anyone can afford to show up in Dublin. | |||
| #56: Year in Review - Rugby Special | 13 Jun 2026 | 00:25:47 | |
Episode 56 is a different kind of show — a year in review across Leinster, the URC, the Investec Champions Cup, Irish rugby, and the wider game. Three sections, headline-style — I'm talking through it naturally, not reading a script. 🏉 Leinster news — From the Cape Town shutout to Bordeaux heartbreak, the Lions demolition, the Stormers semi, Nienaber's press conference, and a big academy year. 👩🦰 Women's rugby — Celtic Challenge playoffs, Wolfhounds three-in-a-row, both Women's Six Nations campaigns, and Aoife Dalton's form. 🌍 Wildcard — Robertson sacked, shock Six Nations results, doping scandals, Moana Pasifika folding, and the Ospreys lie detector row. | |||
| #55: Leinster (H) vs DHL Stormers - URC Semi Final Review | 08 Jun 2026 | 00:27:28 | |
We did it! I'm back for Episode 55, and Leinster are through to the BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final after a hard-fought 20-11 win over the DHL Stormers at the Aviva Stadium. It wasn't pretty at times — but when the stakes were highest, the boys in blue found a way. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship match results; My run-through of both semi-finals this weekend — Glasgow Warriors vs the Bulls in Edinburgh, and our tense Dublin showdown with the Stormers. 🔥 Overall opinion of the game; Why this felt like the story of our season in microcosm — strong start, Stormers fightback, indiscipline deciding it, and Jamison Gibson-Park delivering when it mattered most. 📋 Analysis of the game events; Rieko Ioane's early try, Sam Prendergast's boot, Adré Smith's Stormers response, Ruan Ackermann's red card, Salmaan Moerat's yellow, and Gibson-Park's late seal-the-deal score. 🗺️ BKT United Rugby Championship positioning after this weekend; Leinster vs the Bulls at Croke Park on Friday 19 June — a repeat of last year's final and a shot at back-to-back titles on home soil. | |||
| #54: Leinster (H) vs DHL Stormers - URC Semi Final Preview | 04 Jun 2026 | 00:14:17 | |
I'm back for Episode 54, and this week it's all systems go as we preview the massive BKT United Rugby Championship semi-final against the DHL Stormers at the Aviva Stadium. After that statement 59-10 quarter-final win over the Lions, Leo Cullen has named a seriously strong XV — but the Cape Town side arrive in Dublin with serious pedigree, a head-to-head edge in the competition, and a 35-0 memory we'd rather forget. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode: 🏆 BKT United Rugby Championship game predictions; My picks for both semi-finals this weekend — Glasgow Warriors vs the Bulls in Edinburgh, and our clash with the Stormers in Dublin. 🏟️ Details of our game; Kick-off, weather, where to watch, and why Hollie Davidson in the middle is a fascinating storyline given her perfect record with Leinster so far. 📋 Team lineups; A full run-through of Cullen's confirmed matchday 23 — Kelleher, van der Flier and Gibson-Park in, Sheehan out — plus why the Stormers sheet wasn't released and who to keep an eye on from their injury-hit squad. 🎯 Score and MOTM Prediction; The bookies' 1/10 and -14 handicap, our recent form, their missing stars, my scoreline call, and who I've gone for as man of the match. 🇮🇪 Discussion Point; URC Semi-Final: Can Leinster banish the Cape Town ghost? — digging into that opening-night shutout, the Aviva revenge, and the stakes of a winner-takes-all semi-final. | |||
| #53: Leinster (H) vs Fidelity SecureDrive Lions - URC Quarter Final Review | 01 Jun 2026 | 00:24:03 | |
What a response! I’m back behind the mic for Episode 53, and the healing process from Bilbao has officially begun. We absolute clicked at the Aviva Stadium, bouncing back in spectacular style to put a staggering 59 points past a dangerous Fidelity SecureDrive Lions side to march right into the final four. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode:
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| #52: Leinster (H) vs Fidelity Securedrive Lions - URC Quarter Final Preview | 29 May 2026 | 00:21:12 | |
The United Rugby Championship playoffs are here! I’m back behind the mic for Episode 52, breaking down a crucial knockout clash at the Aviva Stadium as we look to dust ourselves off and launch a massive charge for domestic silverware against a dangerous Lions side. Here is what I'm hitting on this week's episode:
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| #51: Leinster vs Bordeaux - Investec Champions Cup Final Review | 25 May 2026 | 00:29:34 | |
Bordeaux blew Leinster away 41-19 in Bilbao and completed a French hat-trick of European titles. The fifth star stays out of reach for another year. A blistering first half in the Spanish sun proved too much for Leinster, with the heat and the intensity of the reigning champions combining to unravel them in the worst possible way. A brutal end to the season, but one that demands honest reflection on what comes next.
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| #50: Leinster vs Bordeaux - The Investec Champions Cup Final | 22 May 2026 | 00:09:26 | |
The biggest weekend in European club rugby is finally here! We break down the massive double-header in Spain as Leinster head to the San Mamés Stadium to battle reigning champions Union Bordeaux Bègles for that elusive fifth star. Here is what we are hitting on this week's episode:
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| #49: Leinster (H) vs Ospreys - URC Review | 18 May 2026 | 00:24:46 | |
Before we get into the rugby, a massive shoutout to Westmeath this weekend. The senior men claimed the Leinster GAA football title and the intermediate women's side did the same. A proud weekend for the county and well worth acknowledging before we dive in. Back to Province business, and Leinster saved their best for last in the regular season, putting the Ospreys to the sword in a dominant display at the Aviva that sent them into the play-offs with real momentum and a statement made.
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| #48: Leinster (H) vs Ospreys - URC Preview | 15 May 2026 | 00:12:26 | |
One last outing before Bilbao. Leinster sit third in the table and can still finish as high as second since the Stormers slip up in Cardiff, but with a Champions Cup final looming next weekend, rotation and freshness will be just as much on Leo's mind as the final league position. The Ospreys arrive in 11th place with nothing to play for but also nothing to lose.
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| #47: Leinster (H) vs Fidelity SecureDrive Lions - URC Review | 11 May 2026 | 00:24:13 | |
Leinster got the job done, but the Lions made them work every minute of it. The scoreboard flatters the hosts somewhat, with the South Africans causing real problems throughout and pushing Leinster closer than most expected. An individual masterclass ultimately proved the difference, and the top four is secure heading into the final round. One eye is already on Bilbao.
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| #46: Leinster (H) vs Fidelity Securedrive Lions - URC Preview | 09 May 2026 | 00:14:24 | |
Fresh off a nervy Champions Cup semi-final win over Toulon, Leinster return to URC action this Saturday for a penultimate round blockbuster at the Aviva. The Lions and Leinster are level on points with two games to go, with a win crucial for securing a place in the top four. The Lions arrive on a six-match winning streak and full of confidence. The Aviva fortress awaits
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| #45: Leinster (H) vs Toulon - Investec Champions Cup Review | 04 May 2026 | 00:36:52 | |
We got there, but only just. Leinster were the better side for large stretches of a gripping semi-final at the Aviva, building a 29-11 lead before Toulon came roaring back to make it a nerve-shredding finish. Job done, Bilbao booked, but there will be plenty to fix before the biggest day of the season.
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| #44: Leinster vs Benetton (H) - URC Review | 26 Apr 2026 | 00:28:15 | |
Leinster had it all sewn up and let it slip. A dominant first half gave every indication of a comfortable away win, but the second half told a completely different story as Benetton grew into the game and nicked it with a penalty in the dying moments. A result that stings, and one that will have serious implications for Leinster's push for the top two.
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| #43: Leinster vs Benetton (H) - URC Preview | 24 Apr 2026 | 00:11:40 | |
Leinster head to Treviso looking to keep the pressure on at the top of the table, with the top two still very much in their sights. Leinster sit third, level with the Stormers on 51 points and four behind Glasgow, so a bonus point win in the Italian sunshine is the target. Benetton are in 13th place and have only won once in their last seven URC matches, but Leinster have a poor away record outside Ireland this season and these points are crucial for us.
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| #42: Leinster (H) vs Sale Sharks - Investec Champions Cup Review | 12 Apr 2026 | 00:19:10 | |
Job done, but it took a while to get going. Leinster were flat in the first half, giving Sale just enough hope to hang around, before turning on the afterburners after the break and putting the Sharks to the sword in ruthless fashion. The Aviva crowd got their European night in the end, and Leinster are into the last four.
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| #41: Leinster (H) vs Sale Sharks - Investec Champions Cup Preview | 10 Apr 2026 | 00:15:37 | |
European knockout rugby is back at the Aviva. Leinster host Sale Sharks in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final on Saturday evening, unbeaten in Europe all season and with a home crowd behind them. Sale arrive as proper underdogs with a front row crisis, but they have nothing to lose and Alex Sanderson's side are not coming to Dublin to make up the numbers. One slip in discipline and this could get uncomfortable.
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| #40: Leinster (H) vs Edinburgh - Investec Champions Cup Review | 06 Apr 2026 | 00:22:44 | |
Back to the blue, and what a rollercoaster it was. After the Easter Sunday fireworks at the Aviva, Leinster have secured their spot in the final eight, but not without a serious scare from a resilient Edinburgh side. It was a game that had everything: tries, a shock lead for the visitors in the second half, and a clinical late surge led by our All Blacks recruit. While the 49–31 scoreline looks comfortable, the "generosity" shown in the first half will have Leo Cullen and Jacques Nienaber working overtime before the Sharks arrive in town.
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| #39: Leinster (H) vs Edinburgh - ICC R16 Preview | 03 Apr 2026 | 00:14:56 | |
Back to the heavy-duty stuff. After the Six Nations dust settles, the focus shifts from green back to blue as Leinster return to the Aviva this Easter Sunday. It’s a massive Round of 16 clash against an Edinburgh side that always travels with a point to prove. The road to Bilbao starts now.
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| #38: Leinster (H) vs Scarlets - URC Review | 30 Mar 2026 | 00:22:42 | |
Leinster needed a response after Glasgow and they got one in style. A dominant display at the Aviva put the Scarlets to the sword, with an individual masterclass lighting up the night and reminding everyone what this squad is capable of when they're firing on all cylinders. Back to winning ways and back in business.
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| #37: Leinster (H) vs Scarlets - URC Preview | 27 Mar 2026 | 00:15:48 | |
Back to Province business. After the Six Nations dust settles, Leinster return to the Aviva on Friday night with something to prove after a chastening defeat up in Glasgow. The Scarlets arrive in 14th place and fighting for their season, but wounded Leinster sides can be dangerous, and with Porter back and the top two still very much in their sights, there's plenty riding on this one.
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