The IRFU has once again poured cold water on the idea of Ireland playing a home Six Nations game in the USA. The comments come after World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin cited an Ireland versus Italy game as a potential opportunity to play a Six Nations match in America. World Rugby is keen to broaden the American market ahead of hosting the 2031 World Cup. Although the IRFU has always welcomed playing certain Test matches in the USA, the governing body has highlighted the importance of supporters in Ireland being able to watch their team on home soil. Speaking in Chicago last November ahead of Ireland's clash with New Zealand at Soldier Field, IRFU CEO Kevin Potts strongly shut down the notion of a Six Nations game leaving Dublin. However, Potts’s World Rugby counterpart Gilpin has again raised the prospect in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, as he pointed to the commercial success of the recent game between South Africa and New Zealand in Baltimore. As it stands, the IRFU cannot move games out of Aviva Stadium because of the terms of its sponsorship agreement, but they probably could play an away game against Italy in the USA. Italy are due in Dublin next February, but if an agreement was reached the Italy-Ireland game in 2028 could possibly be played in the USA.
USA DEFEAT IRISH
On Sunday the Irish Women’s rugby team threw away a 19-point lead to eventually lose 36-40 to United States in Tallaght Stadium in their first game of the new WXV Global series. It was in the first women’s rugby international played at the Tallaght venue and next Sunday the Irish team play Japan at the Dexcom Stadium in Galway
Meanwhile, Ireland hooker Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald has made clear she disagrees with the introduction of a smaller ball for women in the new WXV Global Series and warns that any permanent switch could have the potential to make women's rugby more inaccessible. World Rugby is trialling a size 4.5 ball, as opposed to the standard size 5 ball, for the new global women’s competition which kicked-off last weekend. The trialling of the smaller ball has come under fire from players, including England out-half Zoe Harrison, who called it the ‘‘worst decision someone has ever made.’’ The new ball is about three percent smaller and is said to be the same weight as the regulation size 5.
SENIOR FOOTBALL
FOR CLIFFORDS
The Clifford brothers David and Paudie will be playing senior club football in Kerry next year. The brothers recently helped their club Fossa to win the Kerry Intermediate championship, beating another East Kerry club Kilcummin 0-26 to 0-22 in the club final in Fitzgerald Stadium. David scored 15 points and Paudie got four. That win mean promotion to the senior football and it will also mean that the brothers will not be able to play with Divisional side East Kerry for the first time since they were founded in 1970.
MAYO VS. KERRY
GETS THUMB’S UP
All-Ireland senior football finalists Mayo and Kerry have been granted permission by GAA to play an exhibition game in London on Nov. 28. Andy Moran’s Sam Maguire Cup winners will face Jack O’Connor’s Kerry in a repeat of this year’s All-Ireland final when the teams will meet at the StoneX Stadium, in Hendon the home of English rugby club Saracens. Meanwhile my home town club Rathmore won the Kerry club championship for the first time since 2011 on Sunday, beating East Kerry rivals Dr. Crokes 2-6 to 0-12 at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.
300 FOR LIFFEY SWIM
More than 300 swimmers braved the waters of the River Liffey in Dublin, for the annual swim through the heart of the capital at the weekend. Now in its 106th year, this swim formed part of a new two-day festival, celebrating the River Liffey. The women’s race was won by Sadbh Byrne of Tallaght Masters SC, in her first-ever attempt at the swim. The men’s race was won by Bruno Delmonte from the Templeogue Open Water squad. The Swim Ireland race is hosted in partnership with Dublin City Council and featured a series of sporting, cultural and family-friendly maritime event, including live music and water-based activities. The 2.2 metre course began at the Rory O’More Bridge and passed beneath 11 bridges before finishing at North Wall Quay in front of the Custom House.
RHASIDAT IS 4TH
Dublin-born Rhasidat Adeleke finished her season with a fourth-place finish in the 200 metres at the Athlos meeting in London on Friday last, clocking 22.64 seconds behind Olympic champion Gabby Thomas. The Tallaght athlete came off a demanding schedule that included a national record-breaking run of 22.28 seconds to claim silver at the European Championships in Birmingham, and a recent outing at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest where she clocked 22.81 seconds. Sophie O’Sullivan finished 5th in the 800 metres race. The brainchild of Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in 2024, it has been held twice previously, with this year’s invitation-only event at the StoneX Stadium in north London the first time it has been held in Europe. With just six athletes invited for six premium events, lucrative cash prizes incentivised some the cream of the crop to attend as part of Ohanian’s ambition to develop more elite women-only sporting events across the globe.
NEW LOOK
TIPP TEAM
Tipperary senior hurling manager Liam Cahill will have a new-look management team in place for 2027. Cahill, who has been confirmed as manager of Tipp until 2029, has given his backroom team a major overhaul after a disappointing defence of the MacCarthy cup this year. Brian O’Meara, Sean O’Meara and Paul O’Brien come on board as a selectors, with Aidan Stakelum joining as coaching support. Declan Laffan, TJ Ryan and Angelo Walsh have left their respective roles, with John Murphy replacing Walsh as S&C coach. Former Kilkenny goalkeeper David Herity left the set-up in July to join Henry Shefflin's new management in his native county. Diarmuid Cahill, who recently stepped down as Longford manager, will be goalkeeping coach with Anne Marie Kennedy overseeing sports performance. Tipperary have also confirmed the appointment of their 2010 All-Ireland winning captain Eoin Kelly as their new minor hurling manager
GLEESON RETIRES
In Waterford Austin Gleeson has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling, ending a senior career that began in 2014. The 31 year-old Mount Sion clubman, who established himself as one of the outstanding talents of his generation, confirmed his decision, saying injuries and the wear on his body had convinced him it was time to step away. ‘‘I am fully done now,” he said. The decision closes the book on a remarkable inter-county career in which Gleeson became one of Waterford’s most influential and popular players. He helped the Déise win the National League in 2015 before enjoying an outstanding individual season the following year when he was voted both Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year.
SHINTY GAMES
NEXT MONTH
Former Tipperary senior hurling manager Eamon O’Shea and Cork All-Ireland winning Camogie manager Ger Manley will take charge of the Ireland teams for next month’s Shinty-Hurling and Shinty-Camogie internationals against Scotland. The games will be played as a double-header at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Oct. 24 O’Shea’s management team includes John Considine , Cork), Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett ( Laois), Patrick Hannon ( Monaghan) and Conor Hayes (Galway). Manley will be joined by Gemma O’Connor (Cork), Elaine Dowds (Antrim), Jennifer Mehigan ( Cork), Kieran McCarthy ( Cork) and Pat O’Neill (Kilkenny) in her Ireland management team. The squads will be confirmed at a later date.
MCNULTY TO STAY
WITH LAOIS SQUAD
Justin McNulty looks set to stay on as Laois senior football manager for 2027. McNulty’s name will be put before delegates for ratification at this week’s county board meeting, with the Armagh native seeking to stay at the helm for a fourth year in what is his second term with Laois. The former Armagh star is also an SDLP member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
In Meath former county hurler Mickey Cole is the new manager of the Royals’ hurlers where he replaces Westmeath native Johnny Greville. The Rathmolyon clubman, who played senior hurling for Meath for many years, is revered in Meath hurling circles having helped his club claim the Jubilee Cup on three occasions. Cole also managed Ratoath when they won their first Meath senior hurling title in 61 years in 2024. His most recent club management job was with Kildalkey.
ANDY GALLAGHER, 89
The death occurred last week of Andy Gallagher (89), who was manager of the Offaly hurlers when they won the MacCarthy Cup for the first time in 1981. The Tullamore man was a goalkeeper in his playing days, lining out for both his club’s football and hurling teams. He was appointed Offaly senior hurling manager in 1977 and oversaw a golden period for the Faithful County. He guided Offaly to a first Leinster title in 1980 and 12 months later he was in the dug-out when Offaly beat Galway to win their first-ever senior final. He was also was also a selector for Offaly's All-Ireland wins in 1985 and 1994.
