Championship attendances prove rugby still has a long way to go

Leinster celebrated being the best supported team in the Magners League for the second season running, but as gate numbers in lower league English football proved, rugby is still the poor cousin of the round ball game.

Ireland beat Warwickshire in Belfast

Ireland secured their first win of the Championship season with a fine victory over the English county at Stormont. However, despite the comfortable win, priorites still lay further afield for Irish cricket.

Ireland fail to look forward

Interim coach Michael Bradley has chosen damage liability over player development for the unforgiving tour of Australasia this summer.