Latest news with #Gleeson
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Munster trio train with Ireland after James McNabney ACL injury
Munster trio Diarmuid Kilgallen, Brian Gleeson and Evan O'Connell have all linked up with the Ireland squad as additional training panellists ahead of the upcoming summer tour games against Georgia and Portugal. It comes after Ulster back row James McNabney was dealt a serious blow, with an ACL injury in training set to sideline him long-term. McNabney enjoyed a breakthrough season with Ulster, playing 17 times for Richie Murphy's side in 2024/25. While the 22-year-old wasn't set to tour with Ireland this summer, he had been named as an additional training panellist, having previously been in the extended squad at the start of the Guinness Six Nations. His former Ireland Under-20 back row partner Gleeson has been drafted in by interim head coach Paul O'Connell, while Kilgallen has also joined the wider group with Calvin Nash currently nursing a minor ankle injury which will limit him in training. Both Gleeson, Kilgallen and second row Evan O'Connell - nephew of interim head coach Paul - will train with the Ireland squad, who gathered at the IRFU high performance centre in Dublin today, but aren't set to travel to Tbilisi, barring an injury to a main squad member. The squad will train today and next week in the HPC before departing for Tbilisi on Wednesday, 2 July.
Sydney Morning Herald
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Don't drop it': Gleeson silences inner critic with Lions dream in sight
'I remember the second Reds game this year, I dropped a few balls and after the game, I saw my parents, my head was down, I was just in the dumps, worried about the next game, what's going to happen, and then my Mum (Elizabeth) helped me out with it, like mistakes are going to happen...' Gleeson's chosen position is a tough one for a man who doesn't relish attention. The trademark red headgear is also thanks to his Mum, who initially chose it to try and spot her son on Manly Oval alongside his brother Ben, now a regular at the Marlins. The No.8 is often the physical focal point of the team, used to provide inspiration when needed when defences are at their toughest. Gleeson has now established himself as one of the premier back rowers in Super Rugby, standing in contrast with the young man from Dee Why who arrived at the Waratahs in 2022. 'My first year of debuting for the Tahs, I was shitting myself on the bench. I was scared. I didn't want to play,' Gleeson said. 'But I reckon, once you're in the game, like physically in the game, and you make your first carry, everything else just goes out the window. 'If I'm looking at the crowd, my mind just wanders. Especially in the Wallabies it's daunting because you can't be perfect, but the coaches expect you to be perfect. So every little thing you have to think of, it's doing your job right.' At 23-years-old Gleeson was faced with a crucial decision early in his career at the start of this year, to stay or go. He had interest from Northampton and Exeter in England and Montpellier. Ultimately, he decided that a move to France would not only push him out of comfort zone off the field, he would return a far better rugby player to Australia. 'I thought I'd probably do it (move) later in my career. But I just feel like mentally and physically, I just feel a bit stagnant the last four years. I've sort of been in the same position,' Gleeson said. 'So I just thought, Top 14 is one of the biggest rugby competitions and as a player I need to adapt, I just want to learn a few new things as well. 'Obviously, money comes into play as well. I'm definitely going to come back, but I just feel like it's a good time in my career to do that (move).' Gleeson hasn't been in regular contact with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt since the start of the year when he was uninvited from training camp. Gleeson was told he would still be considered for selection if he played well enough, and he is not alone. Brumbies pair Noah Lolesio and Tom Hooper are also overseas-bound, but likely to be in the squad. 'It would mean everything (to get picked),' Gleeson said. 'It's either the Lions or the World Cup I think they're one of the biggest things in our sport, it would be a dream, if I don't play, I'll still come support the boys, I'll still try and either watch them on TV or come and see them. Loading 'It's hard because there are so many good performers this year, especially in the back row Carlo (Tizzano), Tom Hooper who's also leaving is killing it. 'I think it just depends on what Joe and the coaching group wants, I tried to give everything I could this year, especially to the Tahs. 'I just wanted to leave something there and leave it all on the field for the boys. Obviously I feel sad that I'm leaving, I just wanted to put my body on the line for this year and leave a legacy.'
The Age
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Don't drop it': Gleeson silences inner critic with Lions dream in sight
'I remember the second Reds game this year, I dropped a few balls and after the game, I saw my parents, my head was down, I was just in the dumps, worried about the next game, what's going to happen, and then my Mum (Elizabeth) helped me out with it, like mistakes are going to happen...' Gleeson's chosen position is a tough one for a man who doesn't relish attention. The trademark red headgear is also thanks to his Mum, who initially chose it to try and spot her son on Manly Oval alongside his brother Ben, now a regular at the Marlins. The No.8 is often the physical focal point of the team, used to provide inspiration when needed when defences are at their toughest. Gleeson has now established himself as one of the premier back rowers in Super Rugby, standing in contrast with the young man from Dee Why who arrived at the Waratahs in 2022. 'My first year of debuting for the Tahs, I was shitting myself on the bench. I was scared. I didn't want to play,' Gleeson said. 'But I reckon, once you're in the game, like physically in the game, and you make your first carry, everything else just goes out the window. 'If I'm looking at the crowd, my mind just wanders. Especially in the Wallabies it's daunting because you can't be perfect, but the coaches expect you to be perfect. So every little thing you have to think of, it's doing your job right.' At 23-years-old Gleeson was faced with a crucial decision early in his career at the start of this year, to stay or go. He had interest from Northampton and Exeter in England and Montpellier. Ultimately, he decided that a move to France would not only push him out of comfort zone off the field, he would return a far better rugby player to Australia. 'I thought I'd probably do it (move) later in my career. But I just feel like mentally and physically, I just feel a bit stagnant the last four years. I've sort of been in the same position,' Gleeson said. 'So I just thought, Top 14 is one of the biggest rugby competitions and as a player I need to adapt, I just want to learn a few new things as well. 'Obviously, money comes into play as well. I'm definitely going to come back, but I just feel like it's a good time in my career to do that (move).' Gleeson hasn't been in regular contact with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt since the start of the year when he was uninvited from training camp. Gleeson was told he would still be considered for selection if he played well enough, and he is not alone. Brumbies pair Noah Lolesio and Tom Hooper are also overseas-bound, but likely to be in the squad. 'It would mean everything (to get picked),' Gleeson said. 'It's either the Lions or the World Cup I think they're one of the biggest things in our sport, it would be a dream, if I don't play, I'll still come support the boys, I'll still try and either watch them on TV or come and see them. Loading 'It's hard because there are so many good performers this year, especially in the back row Carlo (Tizzano), Tom Hooper who's also leaving is killing it. 'I think it just depends on what Joe and the coaching group wants, I tried to give everything I could this year, especially to the Tahs. 'I just wanted to leave something there and leave it all on the field for the boys. Obviously I feel sad that I'm leaving, I just wanted to put my body on the line for this year and leave a legacy.'
RTÉ News
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Domhnall Gleeson relishing villain role in Echo Valley
Domhnall Gleeson has said he is relishing his role as villain Jackie Lawson in the acclaimed new thriller Echo Valley, coming to Apple TV+ on Friday 13 June. Gleeson stars opposite Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, and Fiona Shaw in the "gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and survival". Watch: The trailer for Echo Valley Speaking at the film's European premiere at BFI Southbank in London on Tuesday, Gleeson said: "It was a chance to do a totally different sort of character. He's very threatening in a very unusual sort of way. "[It was] a chance to work with Julianne and Sydney and our fantastic director Michael [Pearce (Beast)]. And the script was amazing. Brad [Ingelsby (Mare of Easttown, The Way Back ], who wrote the script, is fantastic. Across the board, [it was] an incredible opportunity, and I loved it." David Obzud, the Chief of the Easttown Police Department in Eastown Township, Pennsylvania, who worked on True Detective and Mare of Easttown, was a technical advisor on Echo Valley, and Gleeson also saluted him on the red carpet. "Brad [Ingelsby], the writer, had worked with Chief Dave, who's chief of police, on the script. And so, I went on a sort of... it wasn't a ride-along, but he brought me around a few neighbourhoods to try and get some research done. I found that really interesting, and [he] talked me through some case files and stuff like that, and [I] looked at a lot of videos. "It was fun. It was fun trying to make the character real, because he could just be a typical bad guy, but it was nice to make him real." Echo Valley is on Apple TV+ from Friday.
The 42
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Have expectations been set too high for Ireland after mixed Nations League group?
IT STARTED AND finished with 1-0 wins at home, but Ireland bookended their Uefa Women's Nations League group campaign quite differently. The opener was a scrappy, unconvincing victory over Türkiye at Tallaght Stadium in February, marking Carla Ward's first game in charge in a period of much change. The closer brought the best performance of her tenure, a dominant triumph against Slovenia at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, albeit just by the minimum — and revenge, of sorts, for the 4-0 humbling in Koper in game two. It wasn't enough to usurp the Slovenians atop Group B2 and secure automatic promotion: Ireland will go head-to-head with Belgium for League A status in the playoffs in October. The expectation at the outset was Ireland would easily win the group, like they did under Eileen Gleeson in 2023. 'But we didn't have Slovenia,' Ward warned in February. 'The teams are closer, but naturally we want to win all six and I'm sure I'll have a lovely summer.' She had to settle for five, and much to ponder ahead of two international friendlies against USA later this month, and the campaign-defining playoff against Belgium. In the autumn of 2023, Gleeson's side made light work of Northern Ireland, Hungary and Albania as they enjoyed a 100% record, scored 20 goals and conceded two. Slovenia, Türkiye and Greece were better opposition this time around as standards rise across Europe, but this was a patchy series as Ireland scored 10 and conceded six. Have expectations been set too high? Ward believes the team overachieved by reaching the World Cup in 2023, while they have certainly punched above their weight at times through the years. The Koper horror show was a wake-up call for Irish women's football as a whole, as we wrote at the time, with wider development coming into question. That will only continue as head of women and girls' football Hannah Dingley exits after an underwhelming year in the job, but the team, at least, appear to have put that shocking result in the rear-view mirror. Advertisement Ireland head coach Carla Ward and assistant head coach Alan Mahon during that defeat to Slovenia. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO The last few months have been a rollercoaster for the Irish women's game. Failure to qualify for Euro 2025 was a gut-punch last December, with the FAI opting for a change of management thereafter. The exit of Gleeson, and more so Colin Healy, dominated the headlines for weeks on end, the external noise undoubtedly taking a toll, with Ward appointed in the thick of it all. That wasn't the only major squad change: Ireland lost a combined total of 395 caps as Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell, Louise Quinn and Julie-Ann Russell all retired. Much has been made of the transition, leadership void and Euros play-off hangover, along with changes of system and style. Ireland had been wedded to a back three/five and direct approach under Gleeson, Vera Pauw and Colin Bell, with Ward preferring possession-based, attacking football in a fluid 4-3-3. Players have made no secret of their wishes to play a more expansive game, but the collective technical ability has been questioned in some quarters. Patience has been urged. Defensive solidity has always been Ireland's DNA, and this was often lost sight of in recent months. The quest to improve going forward seemed to come at the expense of strength at the back. They were torn apart too many times, not just in the first Slovenia implosion as player and positional experimentation backfired spectacularly. A four-goal second-half salvo away to Greece was the other end of the scale, attacking encouragement evident against lowly opposition. A balance was struck to good effect against Slovenia in Cork. 'Probably the way I'd put it would be a Carla Ward team on the ball and an Irish mentality off the ball,' the manager said afterwards. 'That's what we need to build on. If we want to play in an exciting way going forward, and that's the way I like my teams to play, we have to be better off the ball. 'The Irish have always been very good defensively. So let's go back to the Irish basics. It's tight, it's compact, it's together. And then add in how we want to play with the ball. 'If we can combine the two, the future is bright.' In all, Ward used 21 players through the six games. The former Aston Villa boss appears to have not yet settled on her first-choice XI, while the first and last matches were the only in which she didn't make half-time changes. Courtney Brosnan, Anna Patten and Denise O'Sullivan played every minute, while Aoife Mannion and Lucy Quinn started five games before injury and illness hampered their involvement in the finale. Katie McCabe was also a mainstay, barring suspension and an injury concern in the Greece double-header. The captain and Champions League winner is unavailable for the upcoming US friendlies — 'she's on the verge of burnout,' as Ward said — and several other players are unlikely to travel. That squad selection will be interesting, the door potentially open for younger and fringe players, and League of Ireland talent. Ireland captain Katie McCabe. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO Acid tests await against Emma Hayes' world number one in Colorado (Thursday 26 June) and Cincinnati (Sunday 29 June), but development will be stressed in these games ahead of the all-important playoff in October. Belgium are a consistent force in League A, and are preparing for this summer's Euros, grouped with world champions Spain, Italy and Portugal. Ireland will be disappointed watching from afar, the sense of missed opportunity deepening, but they must focus on the next job. Elísabet Gunnarsdótti's side are 20th in the world rankings, six places above Ireland, while the highlight of their mixed Nations League group campaign was a 3-2 win over European champions England. Belgium won 1-0 the last time they played Ireland in an international friendly in April 2021, and they'll have home advantage in the second leg, but Ward and co. will hope to upset the odds, return to League A, and in turn, boost their 2027 World Cup qualification chances. Maintaining a balance between Carla Ward football and the Irish way is the aim going forward. Compromise is key. The jury is still out on this first campaign. Only after October's playoff can definitive conclusions be drawn.
