A top strength and conditioning coach fears training demands placed on leading GAA players are “not sustainable.” Alan O’Connor, currently working alongside Wexford senior football manager David Power, predicts a doomsday scenario unless the situation is addressed. O’Connor was involved with Loughmore-Castleiney as the Tipperary dual stars won three county senior titles in just two […]
‘We’re collecting data because we want answers . . . The findings will be reported in due course’ Ben Ransom of Saracens wears an impact sensor behind his ear to help determine the effects of possible concussion during the Aviva Premiership match between Saracens and London Irish at Allianz Park on Saturday. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty […]
Happy Christmas Everyone Armagh City Rugby: A presidents select game! Boxing Day fun rugby! Armoy RFC: The annual Boxing Day fixture takes place 26/12 with the married men vs the single men. Last year the spoils went to the married men after a hard fought contest. Old, retired and current players all invited and the […]
PROFESSIONAL in everything but name. Professional everywhere but pocket. Long-standing entries into the GAA vernacular but irritating and, let’s be honest, inaccurate too. While it was encouraging to see Gaelic inter-county players stand up for themselves in the wake of Stephen Hunt’s comments, they just aren’t professional. Let us rephrase that — they aren’t just […]
Andy Goode is discussing how strength has displaced skill as the foremost requirement in modern academies when he delivers a mightily depressing yet prescient snapshot of the culture within the English game. “I have played with players who have told me they are happiest if they don’t touch the ball once during a game; they […]
Pic: Laurent Benezech in his playing days A message to my fellow rugbyman, Alan Quinlan. Mon Cher Alan, It was with great interest that I read your column in Wednesday’s Irish Times. It arrived via email with a cover note from the journalist Paul Kimmage: “Alan Quinlan is speaking your language – he just doesn’t […]
Grave warning: UK Anti-Doping chief Andy Parkinson is concerned about the availability of drugs online Photo: GETTY IMAGES Britain’s outgoing anti-doping tsar claims the biggest risk to sport is the use of performance-enhancing substances by those looking to secure their first professional contract The availability of drugs on the internet is fuelling a growing culture […]
10 December 2014; Special Olympics Leinster are one of Leinster Rugby’s charity partners for 2014/15 and as part of the association they nominated Daniel Dunne as a mascot for the Champions Cup game against Harlequins this Saturday in the Aviva Stadium. Leinster Rugby players Martin Moore and Dominic Ryan surprised Daniel Dunne (11) from Ballinamere […]
Black Friday ‘Fair Play Sales’ Black Friday shoppers kept in check by rugby legends at Highcross and Brent Cross Last year’s ‘Black Friday’ saw people across flock to the shops for incredible deals ahead of the festive season. To keep eager shoppers in check this year, Brent Cross (London) and Highcross (Leicester) shopping centres have […]
A typical collision in an NFL game. Retired footballers abuse opioid pain pills at a rate more than four times the general population. Photograph: Christian Petersen/Getty Images. Powerful league under pressure from class action lawsuit and DEA investigation Some former NFL players are alleging that before games they were given Toradol, an anti-inflammatory drug commonly […]