462 : Leinster v Sharks wrap

11 October 2025; Josh van der Flier of Leinster is tackled by Fez Mbatha of Hollywoodbets Sharks during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Hollywoodbets Sharks at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile


🏉  Cohesion back

🏉  Gunne firing

🏉  Josh the skipper

🏉  Sleeping giants

🏉  Josh the debutante


CIARÁN DUFFY


FULL TIME TAKES

Gavin Hegarty

Normal (ISH) service resumes!

I thought Osbourne was great, most likely Irelands 15 for the autumn internationals in winter. Harry looked confident but did try a tad to hard in parts.

We were south lower and watched the ground covered by Baird to make a tackle, unreal!

Far from perfect but a step in the right direction

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URC WRAP


NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

BONUS CHAT : “THE FRAWLEY DILEMMA”

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN 


461 : Leinster v Sharks preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

Our guest : CIARÁN DUFFY


LEINSTER : 15. Jamie Osborne 14. Jimmy O’Brien 13. Robbie Henshaw 12. Ciarán Frawley 11. James Lowe 10. Harry Byrne 9. Fintan Gunne

1. Paddy McCarthy 2. Rónan Kelleher 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Brian Deeny 5. Ryan Baird 6. Alex Soroka 7. Josh van der Flier (c) 8. Max Deegan 

16. Gus McCarthy 17. Jack Boyle 18. Thomas Clarkson 19. Diarmuid Mangan 20. James Culhane 21. Luke McGrath 22. Hugh Cooney 23. Joshua Kenny


SHARKS : 15 Edwill van der Merwe 14 Ethan Hooker 13 Jurenzo Julius 12 Lukhanyo Am 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Jean Smith 9 Jaden Hendrikse

1 Simphiwe Matanzima 2 Fez Mbatha 3 Ruan Dreyer 4 Jason Jenkins 5 Marvin Orie 6 Phepsi Buthelezi 7 Emmanuel Tshituka 8 Vincent Tshituka (c)

16 Bongi Mbonambi 17 Dian Bleuler 18 Vincent Koch 19 Bathobele Hlekani 20 Nick Hatton 21 Ross Braude 22 Siya Masuku 23 Francois Venter


BKT United Rugby Championship 25/26 Rd 3

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria

KO 5:30pm Irish time  

Live on : Premier Sports 1, URC.tv


Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

AR 1: Keane Davison (IRFU)

AR 2:  Dan Carson (IRFU)

TMO: Keith David (WRU)

448 : Brumbies review, AUNZ & Portugal previews

@harpinonrugby

Mark joined me shortly after the FT whistle to quickly look back over Brumbies v Lions #rugbytiktok #lionsrugby

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.blog
@harpinonrugby

Mark Jackson joins me once more to look ahead to the Lions’ latest outing #lionsrugby #rugbytiktok

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.blog
@harpinonrugby

Ciarán Duffy joins me to look ahead to Ireland’s test in Lisbon on Saturday #rugbytiktok #Irelandrugby

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.blog

446 : WARvBIL & GEOvIRE previews

435 : Leinster v Zebre wrap

10 May 2025; Ryan Baird of Leinster celebrates after scoring his side’s third try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Zebre Parma at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile


🏉 12 different tries
🏉 Tyler’s attack
🏉 Sam’s starts
🏉 That JB narrative
🏉 Improved forwards



FULL TIME TAKES

Kevin Kelehan
Normal service is restored after last weeks slip

David Ryle
Better structure this week.

William Andrew
Flat track bullies. If they didn’t set up a drop goal, they have learnt nothing.


URC WRAP


NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

BONUS CHAT : “THE LIONS SQUAD”

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN 

THURSDAY

THROWBACK THURSDAY


434 : Leinster v Zebre preview

Our guest : CIARÁN DUFFY

(200th Harpin contribution)


LEINSTER : 15. Jamie Osborne 14. Jimmy O’Brien 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Jordie Barrett 11. James Lowe 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Luke McGrath

1. Jack Boyle 2. Rónan Kelleher 3. Thomas Clarkson 4. Joe McCarthy 5. Diarmuid Mangan 6. Ryan Baird 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Jack Conan (c)

16. John McKee 17. Andrew Porter 18. Rabah Slimani 19. James Ryan 20. James Culhane 21. Jamison Gibson-Park 22. Ciarán Frawley 23. Robbie Henshaw


ZEBRE : 15. Jacopo Trulla 14. Scott Gregory 13. Fetuli Paea 12. Enrico Lucchin 11. Simone Gesi 10. Giovanni Montemauri 9. Gonzalo Garcia

1. Luca Franceschetto 2. Giampietro Ribaldi 3. Juan Pitinari 4. Rusiate Nasove 5. Leonard Krumov 6. Bautista Stavile 7. Iacopo Bianchi 8. Davide Ruggeri (c)

16. Tommaso Di Bartolomeo 17. Muhamed Hasa 18. Ion Neculai 19. Matteo Canali 20. Giacomo Ferrari 21. Alessandro Fusco 22. Giacomo Da Re 23. Filippo Drago


BKT United Rugby Championship 24/25

Saturday, May 10, 2025

KO 5:15pm  Aviva Stadium

Live on : RTÉ News Channel, Premier Sports 1, URC.tv 


Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

AR 1: Keane Davison (IRFU)

AR 2: Dan Carson (IRFU)

TMO: Colin Brett (SRU)

429 : Leinster v Ulster wrap

19 April 2025; Tommy O’Brien of Leinster evades the tackle of on his way to scoring his side’s first try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Ulster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile


🏉  Late late change

🏉  Terrific TOB

🏉  Coach killers

🏉  Defensive stands

🏉  Triple Dan


DAVID CORDIAL


FULL TIME TAKES

Christy O’Connor

Tommy is flying, definitely in with a great shout to be playing in the cup games. Will definitely be on the irish summer tour

Greg Kelly

Tommy O’Brien looking like the real deal these days

Michael Branagan

Great result. Porter needs to be “seen to be in control”. He’s throwing penalties away, 50:50 calls, that are damaging us and his reputation. I do think it’s harsh on a number of fronts but he has to “ease back” as it were. For a little while.

William Andrew

Ulster had a lot go against them, but still hung in there.

Some unfortunate, some self inflected.

Leinster were good but you can see some players are not quite the standard of the 1st squad.

Others are pushing on. Highlights were the chip to Dan and Gunn delaying his pass to Dan.

Smart play

Warren Doyle

Right person won man of the match. Class act. Well done Tommy O’Brien.

John Peeters

Only one comment; is RG ok?



URC WRAP


NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

BONUS CHAT : “LEINSTER PLAYER PROFILES PT 1”

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO

THURSDAY

THROWBACK THURSDAY


425 : Leinster v Harlequins wrap

Josh van der Flier of Leinster scores his side’s fourth try during the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 match between Leinster and Harlequins at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile


🏉  Quins purple patch

🏉  Some Leinster tries

🏉  More tries

🏉  Even more tries

🏉  Shutout


CIARÁN DUFFY [Post to Post Sport blog]

HUGO GORDON


FULL TIME TAKES

David Ryle

I thought it was going to be a hard day at the office on the first 10 mins. I think the held up ball knocked the wind out of them.

Kevin Kelehan

Quins turned up, sadly only for 10 minutes, great to see JVdF back to his rampaging best, Ringrose lethal in defense and incisive in attack and Jordie Barrett’s team first and self second distribution showing why he was signed.

Chris McDonnell

As complete a performance as I have seen in ages.

Alan Murphy

Quins over 80 mins were never going to win that. Not taking the 6 points on offer for two kickable penalties in the first 10 mins was really naive. Aimless kicking to a Leinster back 3 was naive. Kicking all their restarts to the same space in the first half was naive. Very poor from a last 16 team. I hope they get rid of this round in future as very average teams are winning one game (Ulster) in 4 in the ‘group’ stages and making the knockouts. Others staggering in with 2 wins from 4. Go straight to the quarter finals in future.

Christy O’Connor

Dragons would’ve caused us more problems. I expect a much tougher game next week. I reckon Glasgow will beat Leicester and Glasgow will definitely give is a tough game


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CHAMPIONS CUP WRAP


NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

BONUS CHAT : “EPCR QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW”

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO

THURSDAY

THROWBACK THURSDAY


412 : Wales v Ireland wrap

2025 Guinness Six Nations Round 3, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales 22/2/2025Wales vs Ireland Ireland’s Jamie Osborne scores a try despite Tom Rogers of WalesMandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady


🏉 Solid start
🏉 Welsh purple patch
🏉 Ringer Red
🏉 Bundee Bloody Bundee
🏉 Crowning glory



FULL TIME TAKES

Kevin Kelehan

Wales were so much better today, played with width and offloaded really accurately. Doris certainly missed and Ringrose’s mistimed tackle didn’t help. Likely France only 3 points behind us after this weekend which makes a win essential in 2 weeks time.

Peggy Sibbald

Well done Ireland..but hats of to Wales they played a massive game of Rugby 👏👏👏

Craig Grehan

That was an epic battle. Sloppy but epic. I think it will stand to us better than if we’d gone out and hammered them. Not that it was gonna happen. Fair play Wales. But fair play Ireland for sticking it out and showing the grit between the teeth

Michelle Tobin

Scrum was an unmitigated disaster. We were lucky not to concede a yellow for the repeated penalties. So many players will watch that performance back and be embarrassed. Some dreadful stuff. A few bright sparks, Osborne, Lowe, Conan and Beirne but plenty of others sub-par.

Greg Kelly

Ireland were poor but did the job when needed. In fairness had we played well for 60 mins of that game we would have won comfortably and I think we allowed Wales to play well. Was surprised Ringrose was upgraded to red but there was some really bizzare interactions between referee and TMO in that game 🤷‍♂️

Jackie McEachern

Grateful for the win. We missed Doris, hoping he’s back for France and also hoping Conan’s injury isn’t serious. I thought it was a little strange that Crowley wasn’t brought on until so late in the game.


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MEN’S 6N WRAP


NEXT HARPIN’ – LIGHTER BLUE

TUESDAY

BONUS POD – “WOMEN’S 6N PREVIEW”

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO


404 : Leinster v Stormers wrap

25 January 2025; Jordie Barrett of Leinster scores his side’s third try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and DHL Stormers at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

also available on Apple and most major platforms

🏉  The Ross Byrne All-Stars

🏉  Skipper Dan

🏉  Missing cards

🏉  Stormer tears

🏉  Monkey off back


JAY LONG


FULL TIME TAKES

Jackie McEachern

Great to get the 5 points and see Lowe and Sheehan looking strong on their returns from injury.

Eamon Saunders

Good win and great to see some young lads get their chance and as usual great to see a couple of Wexford lads on the field

Josephine Boyd

Great win for our boys in blue and and to see our young future players getting there chance.👏👍👕💪🏈💙

Bernie Cunningham

Grt win and grt to see our future looks good with young players 💙💙


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URC WRAP


NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY JAN 28

BONUS CLIP ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL : “IRISH 23 V ENGLAND”

WEDNESDAY JAN 29

80+ COLUMN INCLUDING FRONT 5 VIDEO (ALSO ON YOUTUBE)