Thread by @RuaidhriOC, No sport? No problem. I thought I'd put together a thread, compiling [...]

No sport? No problem. I thought I'd put together a thread, compiling some of the work coming from the @indosport rugby team since the curtain came down

All available for €2.50 a week on @Independent_ie

'It has been a whirlwind'

@slatterywill meets Ronan Michael - the 19-year-old rugby league star from Balbriggan taking England by storm https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/it-has-been-a-whirlwind-meet-the-19-year-old-rugby-league-star-from-balbriggan-taking-england-by-storm-39098225.html

'It has been a whirlwind' - Meet the 19-year-old rugby league star from Balbriggan taking England...

He could well be the best rugby prospect in Ireland you've never heard of.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/it-has-been-a-whirlwind-meet-the-19-year-old-rugby-league-star-from-balbriggan-taking-england-by-storm-39098225.html

'My country is calling for me. I have a duty'

My interview with Ireland prop Linda Djougang who has been working on the frontline as a nurse in Tallaght Hospital https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/from-the-ireland-front-row-to-the-irish-frontline-my-country-is-calling-for-me-i-have-a-duty-39083139.html

Coronavirus: From the Ireland front row to the Irish frontline: 'My country is calling for me. I...

She reels off the routine as a matter of fact. Sticking to the steps rigidly could be a matter of life and death.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/from-the-ireland-front-row-to-the-irish-frontline-my-country-is-calling-for-me-i-have-a-duty-39083139.html

'We have always had a unique journey, myself and Sarah. She has been through the wringer'

@des_berry spoke to USA coach @GregMcWilliams1 https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/other-rugby/we-have-always-had-a-unique-journey-myself-and-sarah-she-has-been-through-the-wringer-39051755.html

'We have always had a unique journey, myself and Sarah. She has been through the wringer'

It is the love for life and family that make the adventures worth the sacrifices. The life of a rugby coach is a perilous one, without a security net to catch you if you fall.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/other-rugby/we-have-always-had-a-unique-journey-myself-and-sarah-she-has-been-through-the-wringer-39051755.html

'Rugby clubs thought the IRFU were throwing them a lifeline - but it was more of an insult'

@BrendanFanning on union's support fund for their clubs https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/rugby-clubs-thought-the-irfu-were-throwing-them-a-lifeline-but-it-was-more-of-an-insult-39114062.html

Rugby clubs thought the IRFU were throwing them a lifeline - but it was more of an insult

You’ll be familiar with the heart-stopping feeling when the light at the end of the tunnel turns out to be an oncoming train.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/rugby-clubs-thought-the-irfu-were-throwing-them-a-lifeline-but-it-was-more-of-an-insult-39114062.html

'I know if I leave I won't be able to get back'

@CianTracey1 spoke to former Munster lock Paddy Butler who is caught in a coronavirus-enforced limbo in Japan https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/other-rugby/i-know-if-i-leave-i-wont-be-able-to-get-back-ex-munster-back-row-on-life-in-lockdown-in-japan-39115256.html

'I know if I leave I won't be able to get back' - ex-Munster back row Paddy Butler on life in...

To say that Paddy Butler's time in Japan thus far has been stop-start would be a massive understatement.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/other-rugby/i-know-if-i-leave-i-wont-be-able-to-get-back-ex-munster-back-row-on-life-in-lockdown-in-japan-39115256.html

'I could have done more'

I interviewed former Armagh footballer and IRFU performance coach Enda McNulty about his departure from the Ireland set-up and confidence in the team's future https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/i-could-have-done-more-enda-mcnulty-opens-up-on-irelands-world-cup-collapse-and-departure-from-the-set-up-39062305.html

'I could have done more' - Enda McNulty opens up on Ireland's World Cup collapse and departure from...

ENDA McNULTY does not believe in glass ceilings.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/international-rugby/i-could-have-done-more-enda-mcnulty-opens-up-on-irelands-world-cup-collapse-and-departure-from-the-set-up-39062305.html

'My Zebre team-mates are at the coalface, the anxiety is sky-high'

@CianTracey1 spoke to former Leinster and Connacht lock Mick Kearney about the situation in Italy https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/my-zebre-team-mates-are-at-the-coalface-the-anxiety-is-sky-high-mick-kearney-39070437.html

'My Zebre team-mates are at the coalface, the anxiety is sky-high' - Mick Kearney

Mick Kearney has spent the last two weeks self-isolating. Not because he was forced to, but rather he knew it was the right thing to do.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/my-zebre-team-mates-are-at-the-coalface-the-anxiety-is-sky-high-mick-kearney-39070437.html

'It's surreal'

@dk3lly spoke to Irish-born Italy international Ian McKinley about the reality of life at the heart of the pandemic right as it was taking off https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/its-surreal-trevisos-irishman-ian-mckinley-on-how-the-coronavirus-pandemic-has-affected-life-in-italy-39050061.html

'It's surreal' - Treviso's Irishman Ian McKinley on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected life...

Ian McKinley surveys Treviso from his apartment window on the eighth floor but all he can see are deserted streets.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/its-surreal-trevisos-irishman-ian-mckinley-on-how-the-coronavirus-pandemic-has-affected-life-in-italy-39050061.html

2021 Lions tour will be a huge boost for rugby - but there needs to be one important financial difference

Neil Francis ponders the Lions' future and picks his first Test 23 for SA in a year's time https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/lions-tour/2021-lions-tour-will-be-a-huge-boost-for-rugby-but-there-needs-to-be-one-important-financial-difference-39115258.html

2021 Lions tour will be a huge boost for rugby - but there needs to be one important financial...

In February, 1990, James 'Buster' Douglas, a 42/1 outsider, floored Mike Tyson in Tokyo to produce the greatest upset in boxing history.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/lions-tour/2021-lions-tour-will-be-a-huge-boost-for-rugby-but-there-needs-to-be-one-important-financial-difference-39115258.html

'There's a great project I'm involved in here'

@BrendanFanning interviewed Stuart Lancaster about life at Leinster https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/theres-a-great-project-im-involved-in-here-stuart-lancaster-opens-up-on-life-leinster-and-family-39044913.html

'There's a great project I'm involved in here' - Stuart Lancaster opens up on life, Leinster and...

Only last week a man in South Africa was telling us how lucky was Leinster's timing that their two-match tour there was next up. Gloriously sunny weather, an opportunity to give game time to lots of...

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/theres-a-great-project-im-involved-in-here-stuart-lancaster-opens-up-on-life-leinster-and-family-39044913.html

'I've done two laps of the world'

I spoke to Sligo's Highlander Conan O'Donnell who was self-isolating in Dunedin after playing in six continents in the last 12 months https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ive-done-two-loops-of-the-world-meet-the-irish-prop-who-has-played-on-six-continents-in-12-months-39086111.html

Conan O'Donnell: 'I’ve done two loops of the world' - Irish prop who has played on six continents...

In a bedroom of a house in Dunedin, the Bit O'Red are going strong. He may be the most travelled man in Irish rugby living 19,066km from home on the south coast of the south island in New Zealand,...

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ive-done-two-loops-of-the-world-meet-the-irish-prop-who-has-played-on-six-continents-in-12-months-39086111.html

'It's not like we are polar opposites'

In part one of a three-part series, @CianTracey1 talks to Ross and Harry Byrne of @leinsterrugby about their unique sibling rivalry https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/battling-brothers-part-one-leinsters-byrne-siblings-ross-and-harry-and-their-titanic-out-half-tussles-39101542.html

Battling Brothers - Part One: Leinster's Byrne siblings, Ross and Harry, and their titanic out-half...

For as long as Ross and Harry Byrne can remember, winning has been everything, especially when it comes to individual battles.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/battling-brothers-part-one-leinsters-byrne-siblings-ross-and-harry-and-their-titanic-out-half-tussles-39101542.html

Values and trust the key elements of Andy Friend's Connacht culture club

@BrendanFanning spoke to Connacht's coach about the value-system he's brought to the job https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/values-and-trust-the-key-elements-of-andy-friends-connacht-culture-club-39064273.html

Brendan Fanning: Values and trust key to Andy Friend's Connacht rugby culture club

When Connacht coach Andy Friend first went to Japan 20 years ago to coach Suntory, he was clear on a strategy of immersion. Partly this would have been driven by his upbringing - his old man, he...

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/values-and-trust-the-key-elements-of-andy-friends-connacht-culture-club-39064273.html

Club World Cup may never happen but Laporte plan shows all bets are now off

I wrote about the new front the battle for rugby's future https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/champions-cup/club-world-cup-may-never-happen-but-laporte-plan-shows-all-bets-are-now-off-39108897.html

Club World Cup may never happen but Laporte plan shows all bets are now off

Perhaps Bernard Laporte has been watching 'Mary Poppins' during the lockdown. Certainly, the French federation's head honcho decided to go fly a kite on Sunday, knowing that his words would gain...

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/champions-cup/club-world-cup-may-never-happen-but-laporte-plan-shows-all-bets-are-now-off-39108897.html

'I don't think other teams want to play us now'

Benetton's Ian Keatley spoke to @CianTracey1 about the reality of the situation in Italy https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/i-dont-think-other-teams-want-to-play-us-now-ian-keatley-facing-quarantine-on-return-to-italy-39038211.html

Coronavirus Crisis: 'I don't think other teams want to play us now' says Ian Keatley

Ian Keatley is facing a predicament in that he has been at home in Dublin with his family for the last few days, but he is due to fly back to Italy this weekend.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/i-dont-think-other-teams-want-to-play-us-now-ian-keatley-facing-quarantine-on-return-to-italy-39038211.html

'Living in a vacuum'

@BrendanFanning worked the phones to find out how lockdown is affecting people in every part of the game https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/living-in-a-vacuum-how-rugby-players-are-dealing-with-the-biggest-challenge-they-have-ever-faced-39103156.html

Living in a vacuum... How rugby players are dealing with the biggest challenge they have ever faced

There is not a corner of the world untouched by coronavirus. In rugby, it has impacted on those who once were warriors, those who still are, and others who don't know if there is a contract or a...

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/living-in-a-vacuum-how-rugby-players-are-dealing-with-the-biggest-challenge-they-have-ever-faced-39103156.html

'Rugby players are no different to everyone else - they're worried'

@RugbyPlayersIRE chief Simon Keogh spoke about the impact of the crisis on those in the game https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/rugby-players-are-no-different-to-everyone-else-theyre-worried-39057033.html

'Rugby players are no different to everyone else - they're worried'

Professional sports people thrive on routine and on certainty, so the current situation is far from ideal. With the rugby season on hold and training across the country cancelled until further...

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/rugby-players-are-no-different-to-everyone-else-theyre-worried-39057033.html

That's it for now, but I'll continue to post links to this thread as we go. We've some good stuff lined up. Cheers to those who've subscribed, hope this encourages one or two more to sign on

You can follow @RuaidhriOC.

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