#worldrugby

Credit: joe.ie 

Finally, we’re onto the province that makes up the basis of the Irish team, my home province, the most talented province. Shall I go on?

 There are many players that are worthy to be noted here; Johnny Sexton, our fabulous Wexford beast Tadhg Furlong alongside an oldie but a goodie Brian O’Driscoll but instead we are ONCE AGAIN back on the International stage again for Leinster with our newly capped, national treasure… JAMES LOWE! Literally the most smiley person to ever live.

Born in New Zealand and of Maori descent, Lowe started playing rugby in high school. He played rugby for a local club for 5 years, as well as playing with the All Blacks on an international level for 3 years before moving to Ireland and signing with Leinster in 2017. He gave up playing with the All Blacks to care for his mother who had a serious stroke, which has left her unable to walk.

He recently qualified for the Irish national team after 3 years residency in the country. He is proud of his Maori roots but has openly stated how much he loves playing for the province, saying ‘Shit man, I love this team.’ He recently signed another 3-year contract with the province. He plays as a wing and has scored 33 tries for the province in the space of 4 years!  He is a fan favourite for the club. Its fair to say that we’re incredibly lucky to have our hands on a former All Black, who is unbelievably proud to be Irish! 

The winger got very emotional during his first international match on the 13th of November 2020. He was clearly holding back tears during the anthems and told the media how much he missed his family being there, as they always pushed him to pursue his rugby career in Ireland! Awww! He then went on to score a try in his first international match!

I have gotten the chance to watch him live in 2 different Leinster vs Munster matches in the 2018-2019 Champions Cup and Pro14 respectively. I watched him get unfairly red carded and disqualified for 4 weeks, which infuriated the entire population of Leinster!   A few months after that, we were in the RDS in Dublin watching Leinster vs Munster again and as the squad was doing the warmups and practice kicks...I got walloped by one of the balls he kicked and expected a rugby ball shaped bruise on my body!  It’s my biggest claim to fame! :)

This ends my series on my top 4 favourite players in each province  *cries in rugby* 

Credit: Getty Images

We cannot go into this week without mentioning Rory Best. C’mon, great captain, very level-headed on the pitch. I actually got the chance to go to both his and Joe Schmidt’s last match on home soil before they headed to the Rugby World Cup… and I’ll be honest… I cried.

We’re finally staying on home soil with this player, he is NOT an international *sigh* We get the best internationals. BUT he is an absolutely magnificent player with fantastic speed… Yep- you guessed it, it is OF COURSE, Jacob Stockdale.

We’re going to IGNORE the shambles of a performance that oul butterfingers Stockdale provided us with against France.. IT WAS VERY RAINY!  All jokes aside, he is an amazing player with intense pride for his province and his country. His celebrations after numerous tries have provided us with pictures that narrate the intensity of his pride for Ireland, as he grabs the crest on his jersey or kneels to the ground.

2018 was a massive year for the entire squad, they won the Six Nations, Grand Slam and Triple Crown, we bet England at home in Twickenham Stadium on St. Patricks Day, a momentous occasion for the squad and Stockdale, who had scored 7 tries in 4 games, a new record in the Six Nations Championship. In that same year, they bet the All Blacks on Irish soil for the first time ever!

It’s fair to say that Stockdale has an amazing repertoire. He played some amazing games at the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019, however the losing game against the All-Blacks was an all time low for both him and rugby fans. We all make mistakes, we are human, but telling a normally amazing rugby player to ‘go kill himself’ over Twitter, was where fans hit their all time low. He has off days on the pitch, it’s only natural to not be at 100% every game.

Despite this, he is the most driven player and pushes himself every time, the speed he has is like that of a superhuman.

And last...and by NO MEANS LEAST... 

Picture Cred: the42.ie 

This week we’re off to Connacht!

I need to start by saying, honourable mention to the great Bundee Aki, I think we all know he’s one of the greatest players to come out of the province. Like Stander last week, Aki is a man to belt out the anthems like there’s nobody watching. We’re proud to call him Irish and to have our hands on such a talented player.

HOWEVER, my choice for favourite Connacht player is Australian-born (are we seeing a trend here of my favourites being international? You bet your ass we are, just wait until Leinster!) Finlay Belham. (pictured below)

Picture Cred: connachtrugby.ie

Belham grew up in Canberra and has played rugby basically all his life. He decided to move to Ireland in 2010 after being rejected by an academy team in Australia. He began playing in Ulster, where his grandmother was from, but was eventually offered a place in the Connacht academy. He plays as a prop as well as either a tighthead or loosehead depending on the situation.

He made his Irish international debut on the U20s team in the 2011 World Cup and has since moved up the ranks. From his 100 Connacht caps, he then got his first Ireland cap in 2016 with the senior team and by the 2019 World Cup had 9 caps for the country. He is generally put on as a replacement and has replaced the likes of Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong.

He is an underrated player but at only 26 years of age, he has many years left in him. He has a fighting spirit in him and has been lucky to not have suffered as many injuries as his prop counterparts. His most notable injury was a fractured ankle in a Connacht match in early 2020, which caused the ref to immediately stop the match. He has made a great recovery and is currently on our Autumn Nations squad.

 Next week we will travel to Ulster, leaving the LEGENDARY LEINSTER (can you tell I’m a Leinster fan? Is it too obvious?!) until last.

Rugby’s global landscape is bracing for a seismic shift as eight of the world’s most powerful national unions — including those of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, England, Scotland, France, and Italy — have announced they will ban players who sign with the upcoming R360 global franchise league from international selection. The unions released a joint declaration warning players and coaches about the potential consequences of joining the privately funded competition, which aims to debut in 2026 under the leadership of former England star Mike Tindall. The announcement has ignited a fierce debate about the future of rugby — and whether the sport’s evolution will come through tradition or innovation.

National Unions Stand United

In a rare show of unity across both hemispheres, rugby’s major unions have drawn a firm line: those who align with R360 will lose eligibility to represent their countries. The unions described international rugby as the “cultural and financial backbone” of the sport, stressing that its integrity must be protected from commercial experiments that could undermine established systems.

Their statement urged “extreme caution” for players tempted by the lucrative contracts R360 is rumored to offer, arguing that the competition risks destabilizing global rugby structures by prioritizing profit over player welfare and heritage.

Inside the R360 Vision

R360 is being pitched as a revolutionary, franchise-based competition featuring eight men’s and four women’s teams in a compact, grand prix-style season played in major global cities. Promoters promise a modern sports experience: short seasons, entertainment-driven matches, and free sports live streaming aimed at attracting younger, digitally native audiences.

Fronted by Mike Tindall and backed by substantial private investment, the R360 model resembles that of cricket’s IPL or football’s MLS — independent franchises operating under a central brand, free from national union oversight. Its founders claim the league will “redefine how rugby connects with the world.”

Concerns About Player Welfare and Governance

Unions argue the proposed format threatens to create scheduling chaos, forcing players to choose between lucrative R360 contracts and representing their countries. They also question the league’s governance and its lack of clarity on player safety, welfare, and compensation distribution.

A joint statement from the unions warned that R360 appears “structured to enrich a small elite,” with limited reinvestment in grassroots development — a claim that echoes broader concerns about growing commercialization in modern sports.

R360 Fires Back

In a direct rebuttal, R360 said its mission is to “enhance, not replace” the existing rugby framework. The league’s organizers stated that the shorter, more sustainable season model was designed with player health in mind and that collaboration with governing bodies remains a priority.

“R360 is about working with rugby, not against it,” the statement read. “We believe players should not have to choose between innovation and national pride. The sport deserves both.”

The organization also highlighted its commitment to accessibility and audience engagement, including plans for free sports live coverage that would make global rugby more visible to fans worldwide.

The Players’ Voice

The International Rugby Players Association (IRPA) has urged caution among athletes, recommending that players seek legal advice before committing to R360 contracts. While the IRPA has not condemned the league outright, it warned that without World Rugby’s formal approval, participants could face suspensions or bans from sanctioned competitions.

“Transparency is key,” the IRPA stated. “Until all details are presented, players must understand the potential long-term implications.”

Tradition vs. Transformation

At its core, the clash between the unions and R360 represents rugby’s ongoing identity crisis: whether to remain anchored in tradition or embrace a modern, entertainment-first future. Supporters of R360 argue that the sport must evolve to attract new fans through digital media, global events, and free sports live accessibility. Critics fear that in doing so, rugby could lose its heart — the community-driven spirit that has sustained it for over a century.

The Future of the Game

The conflict over R360 is still unfolding, but its implications are massive. The project’s success could usher in a new era of commercial rugby — or trigger a deeper divide between unions, players, and fans. What’s clear is that rugby stands at a crossroads: one path preserving heritage, the other pushing toward global entertainment.

As fans debate and unions hold their ground, the question looms larger than ever — who will decide what the future of rugby looks like?

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