News

Highlights: September 2026

WXV

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Ireland responded to a disappointing opening 40-36 defeat to the USA at Tallaght Stadium with a 36-21 victory over Japan at Dexcom Stadium, getting their WXV Global Series campaign back on track.

There were also two significant individual milestones across the opening games. Jemima Adams Verling earned her first cap against the USA, while Beth Buttimer made her long-awaited senior international debut from the bench against Japan.

Ireland now have a second meeting with Japan in Cork before their WXV campaign resumes with two Tests against South Africa in Cape Town later in October.

The Painter

Leinster and Ireland prop Paddy McCarthy recently put another side of himself on show, with the MSL Motor Group hosting his first art exhibition and displaying 35 of his paintings at the BYD showroom in Dublin 7. 

Paddy first picked up a paintbrush during a spell out injured in 2024, looking for a mental reset from rugby. What started in a small shed at his parents’ home soon became an important outlet, giving him a sense of achievement and confidence away from the pitch.

There’s also a nice Tackle Your Feelings connection to the story. Paddy’s first ever sale was to the campaign and proudly sits in his Player Development Manager’s office, while proceeds from his exhibition night were donated back to TYF to support our work promoting positive mental wellbeing.

As Paddy puts it, painting has helped him become “more comfortable in my own skin.”

Read an interview about his off-field passion with the Irish Independent. 

Kick-Off

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

The opening weekend of the United Rugby Championship proved a difficult one on the scoreboard, with all four Irish provinces beginning their campaigns on the losing side.

There were, however, plenty of individual milestones to mark. The likes of James McNabney and Mack Hansen both made welcome returns to competitive action following lengthy spells on the sidelines, while a number of academy players and new signings made their senior provincial debuts.

Connacht Rugby: Max Flynn, Francois van Wyk

Leinster Rugby: Todd Lawlor, Dylan McNeice

Munster Rugby: Kieran Brookes, Marnus van der Merwe, Charlie O’Shea

Ulster Rugby: Eduardo Bello, Jamie Benson, Matthew Devine, Ben Donnell, Keynan Knox,  Moloney, Eli Snyman, Henry Walker

Gearing up for the New Season

We caught up with Jimmy O’Brien as he returned to Leinster with some big ambitions for the season ahead. The MSL Motor Group ambassador spoke about his goals on the pitch, embracing change, maintaining connections away from rugby and continuing his studies alongside the demands of the professional game.

Read the interview here.

EAPA General Assembly

Rugby Players Ireland played a leading role at the recent European Athletes and Players Association (EAPA) General Assembly in Kisakallio, Finland, contributing to a series of workshops focused on how player associations can better support and represent athletes across Europe.

The gathering provided an opportunity to share RPI’s experience across the wider European player association network, while also learning from colleagues representing athletes across a diverse range of sports and countries.

There was a particular focus on mental health and wellbeing, with RPI’s Dr Hannah McCormack leading a number of workshops through Tackle Your Feelings Europe (TYFE). Sessions explored practical areas including practitioner wellbeing and emergency action planning, helping associations consider not only the supports available to athletes, but how those delivering that support can be better equipped.

Jack’s TYF Impact

Jack O’Donoghue reflects on his involvement with Tackle Your Feelings and how it encouraged him to speak more openly about his experience of dyslexia. Here Jack looks back on the impact of sharing his story, from conversations with teammates to connecting with young people facing similar challenges.

Familiar faces reunite at London 7s

There was a strong Irish contingent at the recent London 7s, with a Barbarians side featuring plenty of familiar faces from the Irish Sevens programme.

Mark Roche, Bryan Mollen, Jordan Conroy, Harry McNulty, John O’Donnell and former World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Terry Kennedy were all back in action together.

Contract News

Sean Jansen has extended his time at Connacht Rugby by a further two years. 

Having been released at the end of last season, Tony Butler has linked up with Munster Rugby as short-term cover. 

Clubhouse

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie

It was great to see many of Connacht Rugby’s victorious 2016 PRO12-winning squad reunited ahead of the province’s URC opener against the Stormers.

Former Ireland and Munster player Donncha O’Callaghan has been busy on screen and page, with his new RTÉ series Donncha’s Away Games seeing him take on some of the world’s more unusual sporting challenges. This month he also released Disaster Dad: Animal Antics, the latest instalment in his popular children’s book series.

Jonny Murphy aka The Hungry Hooker called into the Ulster Rugby players ahead of their season kick-off with some pre-match treats. 

Our congratulations to Ronan O’Gara on extending his La Rochelle stay until 2031. 

A huge congratulations to Rory Best on completing the third and final Rory’s Miles to Mayo challenge in aid of Cancer Fund for Children. Rory and his team tackled nine marathons in nine days, covering more than 235 miles across Ireland before finishing in Cong, Co. Mayo. 

RPI PDM Paul Marshall and a number of current and former players joined Rory for stages along the way, lending their support to a challenge that has now raised millions for children and families impacted by cancer.