Another jam-packed weekend of live, free-to-air Sport across RTÉ
The World Athletics Championships, Ireland v France in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final, the Irish Champions Festival, and two Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup quarter-finals among the highlights
The World Athletics Championships and Ireland’s Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final v France are the highlights of another busy weekend of live, free-to-air sport across RTÉ.
The action kicks-off on Friday night with the first of two Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup quarter-finals as holders Drogheda United face Shamrock Rovers at Sullivan and Lambe Park (7.30pm, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player).
Overnight on RTÉ Player (11.55pm – 4.00am) and from 9.45am on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player (Saturday 13 September) sees the first day of action from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Paul O’Flynn will be joined in studio for the duration of the championships by Derval O’Rourke, Rob Heffernan and Sonia O’Sullivan for live coverage from Tokyo. Commentary comes from Greg Allen and David Matthews.
New Zealand take on South Africa at Saturday lunchtime (12.45pm, RTÉ One & RTÉ Player) in the first Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final. Canada v Australia in the second quarter-final will be live on RTÉ Player from 3.50pm.
Meanwhile on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player (2.45pm) Ruby Walsh will have Emmet McNamara, Jane Mangan and Lisa O’Neill alongside for the Irish Champions Festival from Leopardstown.
RTÉ Player will again have overnight coverage of the World Athletics Championships 2025 from Tokyo.
Sunday begins with highlights from Rás na mBan 2025 (10.00am, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player) followed at 10.30am by continuing coverage from Tokyo of the World Athletics Championships 2025.
Then it’s the big one when Jacqui Hurley will be joined on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player by Bernard Jackman, Lindsay Peat and Niamh Briggs for live coverage of Ireland v France in the third Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final from Sandy Park, Exeter. KO 1.00pm.
There’s a second day’s Irish Champions Festival action, this time from the Curragh, on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player (2.30pm) while the fourth Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final between England and Scotland will be live on RTÉ Player from 3.50pm.
St. Patrick’s Athletic will take on Galway United at Richmond Park on Sunday at 5.30pm (RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player) in their Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup quarter-final.
Across the weekend RTÉ Radio 1 will bring all the action to listeners on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport.
On Saturday Sport from 2.00pm, Joanne Cantwell and Des Cahill will have full coverage of the opening day of the Champions Festival, plus the Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup semi final, and will be live at the opening day of the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo.
On Sunday, the first half of Ireland v France in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final will be live on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra from 12.45pm with the second half live on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Michael Corcoran will be joined by Tania Rosser on commentary with Hannah O’Connor and Alison Miller in studio.
Meanwhile, coming up on Game On next week on RTÉ 2FM, all the usual reviews, previews and weekend sporting highlights, plus Ruby Walsh will be joined by Conor Murray for an extended interview, Marie Crowe will catch up with journalist Michael Moynihan to discuss his new book ‘More Than A Game: The GAA and where it’s going’, and Shane Dawson will be across Matchday 1 in the UEFA Champions League.
RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player will have coverage from Tokyo across the week as the World Athletics Championships continues.
Follow all the action on the RTÉ Sport website and RTÉ News app with our live blogs, match reports and reaction.
– ENDS –
Date: Thursday 11 September 2025
For more information please contact:
Fergus McCormack, RTÉ Communications Lead.