OTB Rugby

Welcome to Tuesday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your FREE bitesize taster of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show, we were honoured to be joined by European Athletics bronze medalist, Kate O'Connor. We continued our inquest into Saturday's Six Nations defeat to France with Mike Sherry. John Duggan set the table for the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. Newstalk's Jess Kelly joined us to discuss her involvement in the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, which is supporting the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.And Football Pod host Tommy Rooney provided the latest update on his Football Power Rankings.Catch Off The Ball Breakfast LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join

On Monday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest on the health of an Ireland squad still licking their collective wounds after Saturday's defeat to France. FFR president Florian Grill seethes over their treatment at the hands of match officials. England's Ollie Lawrence is now a doubt for the Lions tour this summer. And Richie has the latest on Rabah Slimani's status as a Leinster player.

Welcome to Monday's Off The Ball Breakfast Bite - your FREE bitesize sample of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast. You can listen to that here. On this morning's show, Alan Quinlan joined us for the post mortem on Ireland's Six Nations defeat to France. Football writer Jonathan Wilson reviewed the weekend's Premier League action, and the further dwindling of Arsenal's title hopes. Sarah O'Donovan and Jamie Wall looked back on the weekend's hurling. And John Duggan began our coverage of this week's Cheltenham Festival.And, as ever of a Monday, we brought you the Performance Rankings. But this morning's Bite takes in some of Quinny's dissection of the Ireland loss on Saturday before we cross to Prestbury Park for the first time this week. Catch Off The Ball Breakfast LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join

On Friday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack completes your build-up to tomorrow's titanic battle between Ireland and France at the Aviva. We speak to Caelan Doris and Simon Easterby at today's captain's run, plus Antoine Dupont piles further pressure on tomorrow's referee Angus Gardner. Ronan O'Gara, Alan Quinlan and Andy Dunne all have their say on tomorrow's crunch clash. Plus Italy make half a dozen changes for their test with England on Sunday.

Welcome to Friday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your bitesize, and FREE, taster of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show, we've a bumper preview for Ireland v France in the Six Nations with both Ronan O'Gara and Alan Quinlan. Former Kerry player, and ex-Laois manager Mike Quirke joined us to discuss football's new rules. Plus, football writer Mark Critchley reflected on last night’s 1-1 draw between Man United & Real Sociedad in the Europa League. This morning's Bite begins with Quinny's take on tomorrow's game at the Aviva, and then we check in with Mike on football's new era.Catch Off The Ball Breakfast LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join

As we approach the Guinness 0.0 Six Nations showdown of France V Ireland, OTB's own Brian O'Driscoll joined us for an exclusive event at the Open Gate Brewery, where we previewed the big game as well as looking back on his last ever game for Ireland - against France 11 years ago! He was joined by his former team mates, Mike Ross, Gordan D'Arcy & Devin Toner, who recounted their memories in the green jersey.  Settle in is brought to you by Guinness 0.0. 

On Thursday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack has your team news ahead of that huge meeting of Ireland and Scotland. Mack Hansen is out of that game, and Simon Easterby explains why. He also discusses his bench composition, Tadhg Furlong's progress and more. Fabien Galthié has begun piling the pressure on Saturday's referee Angus Gardner + he discusses Thierry Henry's visit. And we hear from Gregor Townsend and Matt Sherratt on Saturday's meeting of Scotland and Wales.

Off The Ball's Ruairi O'Hagan is joined by Munster legends Alan Quinlan and Fiona Hayes to discuss the disappointing defeat to Edinburgh in Cork, Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray's impending departures and Ireland v France. 

Welcome to Thursday's OTB Breakfast Bite - your FREE bitesize taster of this morning's full Off The Ball Breakfast. On this morning's show, we were joined by the one and only Danny Dyer for a very special edition of 'You Had To Be There'. We previewed the Six Nations clash of Ireland and France with Les Bleus legend Philippe Saint-André. And Jean-Philippe Leclaire reviewed Liverpool's smash-and-grab win away to Paris Saint-Germain. And this morning's Bite has a distinctly French flavour as we check in with Saint-André, and first we look back on last night's events at the Parc des Princes. Catch Off The Ball Breakfast LIVE weekday mornings from 7:30am or just search for Off The Ball Breakfast and get the podcast on the Off The Ball app. SUBSCRIBE at OffTheBall.com/join

On Wednesday's Rugby Daily, Richie McCormack brings you the latest from the France camp ahead of their departure for Dublin. And there's an update on the fitness of Gregory Alldritt. We hear from Mack Hansen and John Fogarty on France's deployment of a 7-1 bench. Marcus Smith has been sensationally dropped by England for the visit of Italy to Twickenham. And Rassie Erasmus addresses chatter that Felix Jones was sent to 'spy' on England.