Brian Moore: Rebel league, which lacks any real details, is not for the good of rugby, it is a simple cash grab

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Watching the exciting English Premiership semi-final between Bath and Bristol, I realised how much I enjoyed the game. We know the Premiership has its difficulties, but the present product is not one of them. This was a game that was as fast-paced and exciting as you could realistically hope to see.
This reaction led me to revisit the news about the creation of R360. Their released prospectus for a rebel league proposes the establishment of a 'grand prix' model of 12 franchises (eight male; four female) and it has been reported that they want to attract the top 300 male and female players, many of whom have allegedly signed heads of agreement to participate.

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RTÉ News​

7 hours ago

• RTÉ News​

Jack Conan yet to revisit Northampton semi-final loss with Lions team-mates

With 12 Leinster players and four Northampton Saints in this Lions squad, it would be interesting to know when, or if, their Champions Cup semi-final comes up in conversation behind the four walls. Tommy Freeman, Henry Pollock, Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell all returned to Aviva Stadium last night for the first time since their 38-35 win against Leinster in early May, although this time they were on the losing side, as Los Pumas pulled off a 28-24 win against the Lions. Only a couple of those Leinster players were involved last night, with Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong appearing off the bench, with the rest held back either to rehab injuries or to stay fresh from their URC final exploits last week. Many of them were in UCD on Friday morning as some of the Lions squad held a skills session with a group of 90 school kids, with Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Joe McCarthy, Andrew Porter and James Lowe the Leinster players involved. Having missed the training camp in Portugal last week, the Leinster crew joined up with the squad on Monday, along with the Bath and Leicester Tigers players involved in last week's Premiership final. And Conan says the Leinster and Northampton players are yet to revisit that game between them, although he's not ruling it out. "No, no... It's long in the memory at this stage," he said. "I'm sure they were happy enough to get the win over us but nothing has been said. Maybe after a few pints it might come up, but at the moment it's all pleasantries and all that." The number 8 - who captained the province down the final stretch of the season, following an injury to Caelan Doris – admitted the defeat knocked the wind out of Leinster for a couple of weeks, before they fronted up to impressively beat Glasgow Warriors and the Bulls to win the URC final, their first trophy since March 2021. "It was a bit weird in the changing room after, like we didn't know how to win. Lads were a bit awkward or something like that, but it was good craic. "The afterglow went pretty quickly on Monday morning when you had to pack up for the next eight weeks of your life, and get organised and do everything else and get into camp. The anxiety was pretty high, like first day of school going in." While they ended the season with silverware, the nature of their Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton has sparked debate around whether the season was a success or a failure. When the range of opinions varies so much, often the answer is somewhere in the middle. "I think any season where you win something can never be deemed a failure," Conan added. "Obviously we want to go well in both competitions, and I think if it hadn't been for the performance against Northampton, even if we had lost that game, but we performed really well, I don't think people would have said much about it. "They [Northampton] are a quality side, but I think it was just the way we didn't show up that day, and had a bit of a hangover for a few weeks. "Maybe we don't get the result over the last two weeks, if it wasn't for that game. Maybe it was the bit of a kick that we needed. "The problem is when you win most of the time, it papers over cracks a little bit, so we had to have a good hard look at ourselves and it was tough for a lot of lads, for everyone in the building. You get to win a trophy at Croke Park with all your mates, at the end of the day, I would have taken then. "I definitely wouldn't say it was a failure, but there's definitely some more in this club and more in the lads, so hopefully there'll be a few years still ahead of us." Conan played all three Tests on the 2021 tour of South Africa, although that tour was a world away from what he's expecting to see in Australia, with Covid-19 still a major part of everyday life four years ago. And as the squad prepare to depart for Perth this morning, the 32-year-old is eager to soak it all up. "I can't wait to get over there, everyone says it's just a different fanfare, a different level of excitement when you get properly on tour. "But you can even see it walking around town at the moment, people in jerseys, there's a pop-up shop, so many kids outside the Shelbourne. It's special and I'm looking forward to getting a proper run-out at some stage. "Four years ago was still great, I loved it and had a great experience. "In a way, you get to know the lads in such a different way because it was eight weeks of kind of solitary confinement. You have to mix. "You still have to mix now but you're getting out and about in smaller groups whereas four years ago, everyone was just kind of sitting around."

The 42

15 hours ago

• The 42

Defeat doesn't detract from sense Lions should do this more often

THE FIRST WAVES of red hit Dublin sometime around Thursday afternoon. Strolling from Aungier Street toward the north side of the city, the pubs and streets were swarming with pockets of red jerseys. Today it lifted another notch, with groups of supporters making a day of it in the city and adding a notably more lively atmosphere to the areas surrounding Lansdowne Road than your typical Ireland matchday experience. Something was brewing. There was chanting in the streets, groups video calling friends and family back home and younger supporters snapping selfies with their newly-acquired Lions merch. There was no denying the sights and sounds on show. Lions fever had hit Dublin. It would be easy to be sneering about the occasion, and if you're that way inclined, the very existence of this team, tour and brand. Tickets were touching €200, and all for a game that wasn't being capped. A core of Andy Farrell's squad enjoyed it with their feet up, with most of those involved in last weekend's URC and Premiership finals given the night off. But on the day it looked and felt big time. This was a loud and lively launch night for the Lions' 2025 tour. The Aviva Stadium was alive with noise and colour before kick-off. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Many were already in their seats an hour before kick-off. A lull in the pre-match music 30 minutes out allowed a small smattering of Argentina supporters to break out in song. The vast majority of those present to cheer on the home side came wearing that distinctive shade of red. You couldn't help but think about how it will feel even more vibrant when the tourists get down to the real work in Australia. Or about how they should do these 'home' Lions games more often. Or about how the source of the atmosphere might have been rooted in how, and to who, those pricey tickets were sold. Those who forked out came wanting a show and to see the home favourites. Bundee Aki received the loudest cheer when the teams were read out pre-game. Tadhg Beirne got the first touch of the Lions' 2025 campaign, leaping to collect Argentina's kick-off as firework smoke slowly cleared. Advertisement You could argue that what followed doesn't overly matter. Win or lose for the Lions, this was a worthwhile occasion and something that should be visited again ahead of future tours. Tonight the Lions played a home game for only the second time, and their fans loved it. You could also argue that Argentina taking the spoils only added to it all. Maybe it's time these tours visited new parts of the world. Those who were here will remember it as a rip-roaring game sprinkled with moments of real quality, many of which came from the swaggering crowd wearing blue and white. Aki took the distinction of being the 2025 Lions' first try-scorer, finishing a wonderful move at the end of the first quarter – Luke Cowan-Dickie, Marcus Smith, Sione Tuipulotu and Fin Smith all showing sharp handling before Aki became the focus. The Connacht man had Tommy Freeman in space on his right but took the more challenging option, barreling three Argentina defenders out of his way to score. This didn't look like a group thrown together for the first time just a couple of weeks ago. THE FIRST TRY OF THE 2025 LIONS TOUR ‼️ Bundee Aki finally gets the Lions opening try on familiar territory 🔥 — Sky Sports (@SkySports) June 20, 2025 They had for patches of the previous 18 minutes. Duhan van der Merwe burst through a hole but didn't spot Alex Mitchell off his shoulder. Van der Merwe was also the unfortunate man sent flailing as Ignacio Mendy finished the game's opening try, slicing inside the Scotland winger to seal a flowing move that saw the Pumas cut Farrell's men open. The Lions were frustrated to see two tries crossed off before Aki chalked his in. Otherwise there was plenty to like. Tom Curry started like steam train. Fin Smith looked confident and sharp. Bealham was powerful in the scrum, with Ellis Genge doing similar on the far side. Around the half-hour mark, a dip in the game sparked a stream out toward the bars. Only then we noticed how the familiar conveyor belt of pints alongside the press box had been operating at a slower pace than usual. Those still in their seats looked to lift the tempo by starting into The Fields of Athenry. Argentina were making this a proper challenge, and finished the first half with another sumptuous score, stitching together a series of passes to run one in from their own 22. The Lions went in 11 points down at the break. Which one was the 'dream team' again? Five minutes after the restart a penalty try brought the Lions back to within touching distance. Moments later the introduction of Henry Pollock, who dominated this pitch on his last visit with Northampton Saints, injected a jolt of anticipation. The sight of Beirne punching through to push the Lions into the lead had the crowd on their feet. Another roar erupted when the cameras flashed to Mack Hansen on the sideline. His former Connacht teammate, Santiago Cordero, turned the game again by beating Marcus Smith in the chase to a kick-through, another scintillating swipe from the South Americans which again started in their own half. It was perhaps even their best of the night. Mack Hansen was introduced midway through the second half. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Aki departed, but Hansen and the lesser-spotted Tadhg Furlong came in to keep the Irish interest up. Across the final quarter the Lions looked increasingly like the strangers they essentially still are. Rónan Kelleher threw a lineout that sailed past the target. Freeman dropped a ball he should have gathered. Beirne was caught for a costly neck roll as the Pumas held out on the line. The crowd revisited The Fields. Argentina protected their four point lead to take a deserved victory. They celebrated it full-heartedly. It was clear to see what it meant to Felipe Contepomi's men. It was harder to know what to really make of it all from a Lions point of view. Farrell's squad will need improvement against Joe Schmidt's Wallabies but it would have been startling to see a fully cohesive, commanding display on this first run out. By the time that first Test rolls around on 19 July the cobwebs will be long blown off and this group will be much more familiar with each other. The real stuff starts in Australia, but this was a fine way to pop the cork on what promises to be a memorable Lions tour.

Irish Examiner

15 hours ago

• Irish Examiner

Jack Conan eager to witness fanfare of a full-blown Lions tour

Jack Conan has been a British & Irish Lion before but given it was the Covid-hit tour to South Africa of 2021, the Ireland No.8 is relishing the opportunity to embrace a proper Lions touring experience when the squad leaves for Australia on Saturday. Conan, 32, was in the stands at Aviva Stadium on Friday night as Andy Farrell's squad faced Argentina ahead of departure for Perth and an opening tour match against Western Force next Saturday. Like another eight of the 12 Leinster players heading Down Under as Irish Lions, the back-rower was held at bay six days after lifting the URC trophy at Croke Park but he was kept busy on matchday. He and four provincial team-mates Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan, Andrew Porter and Josh van der Flier as well English Premiership final participants, Finn Russell and Will Stuart from newly crowned champions Bath and runner-up Ollie Chessum of Leicester Tigers were on Lions duty at Dublin's UCD Bowl earlier in the day, hosting a training session for 90 school children, girls and boys ranging from 8-12 years of age, and from four primary schools nominated by the Irish provinces. Even a meet and greet with young rugby fans was out of bounds for the Lions on their last tour, with South Africa in lockdown and matches played in empty stadiums as Conan started all three Tests at No.8 against the Springboks, each game behind closed doors in Cape Town with the players bussed in and out from a secluded team hotel and training base outside of the city. The chance to experience a proper tour, backed by tens of thousands of travelling supporters forming a 'Sea of Red' in Australia, is a return to tradition, albeit one eagerly awaited by Conan. "Four years ago was still great, I loved it and had a great experience,' he said. 'In a way, you get to know the lads in such a different way because it was eight weeks of kind of solitary confinement. You have to mix. 'You still have to mix now but you're getting out and about in smaller groups whereas four years ago, everyone was just kind of sitting around.' Conan was even looking forward to watching the Lions on Friday night as they played on Irish soil for the first time in their illustrious 137-year history, just to see those red jerseys play in front of the fans, giving him a taste of what is to come over the next six weeks across 10 tour matches and three Tests against the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. "The only taste we got of that was four years ago against Japan in Edinburgh (pre-tour) and there was around 16,000 there with spaced seating, so definitely a bit different. 'I can't wait to get over there, everyone says it's just a different fanfare, a different level of excitement when you get properly on tour. But you can even see it walking around town at the moment, people in jerseys, there's a pop-up shop, so many kids outside the Shelbourne (Hotel). It's special and I'm looking forward to getting a proper run-out at some stage." Conan does believe the 2021 tour, which ended in a 2-1 Test defeat to Rassie Erasmus's 2019 World Champions, can stand him in good stead for this summer's tour, with certain provisos. 'You know what's expected of you when you put on the jersey and when you come into this environment, into camp. Other than that, it's more just the detail, the plays, calling structures and all that, it's different. 'You've lads from other countries coming in is a little bit differently than we would do, so it's just getting used to each other a little bit. 'Now, luckily, the way we want to play is quite similar to how Ireland would play so it's not that difficult to get up to speed, but the calls are all different. There's a bit of overlap with a few Leinster calls but they're different things. The same wording, so I was caught out a few times on Tuesday when you just go into autopilot a little bit. 'So that's the real challenge. But no-one expects it to be perfect in the first few days. Even in the first few games we're going to build throughout the tour and continue to get better. That's the challenge, more than anything else.'