Each weekend, we select performances from Irish sports worthy of highlighting. This weekend, we highlight action in rugby, Gaelic football, hurling, darts, athletics, rowing, hockey and triathlon
This week’s Champions of the Weekend is brought to us by KPMG, one of Sport for Business’s key partners, and partner of our coverage of Golf and Innovation.
Leinster Rugby
Leinster’s BKT URC victory at Croke Park on Saturday ends a title drought that had lingered since 2021 and reaffirms their status as one of European rugby’s elite forces. After successive near misses in both the URC and Champions Cup, the win delivers not just silverware but a crucial psychological lift for players, coaches, and supporters alike.
Gaelic Football
Another weekend of incredible drama in the All-Ireland series. With less than a minute to play, Mayo scored an equaliser that put them top of their group and straight into the Quarter-Finals. Then Donegal won the kick-out, went straight up the pitch and scored a winner, which put the Mayo men out of the tournament in fourth place in the group.
Sophie O’Sullivan
Sophie O’Sullivan stormed to gold in the Women’s 1500m at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene on Saturday night, becoming just the fourth Irish woman to win an NCAA Division 1 outdoor title, following in the footsteps of her mother Sonia, who twice achieved the feat.
Tiernan O’Donnell
Tiarnán O’Donnell delivered a dominant performance at the 2025 World Rowing Cup in Varese, Italy, winning both of his races in the PR2 Men’s Single Sculls (PR2 M1x). This marks Tiarnán’s first gold medal on the international circuit, just one year after making his international debut.
Irish Men’s Hockey
The team picked up their first win in this season’s FIH Pro League with a 3-2 victory over Belgium in Antwerp on Sunday.
Para Triathletes
There were bronze medals for Tom Williamson, Judith MacCombe and Eimear Nichols at the European paratriathlon Championships over the weekend.
Clare and Waterford Minor Hurlers
The two counties will contest the Electrtic Ireland All Ireland Minor Hurling Championship final after defeating Cork and Kilkenny over the weekend.
Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney
There was high drama as Northern Ireland won the World Cup of Darts in Germany on sunday, with Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney beating Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton of Wales 10-9.
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SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
Irish success on the international stage across a number of different sports this weekend, showing that we have the capacity to excel in so many different ways, and that there are paths to success beyond the most obvious ones.
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