Ireland won the Grand Slam at the Aviva Stadium this evening with a 29-16 victory over England. It is the country’s fourth time claiming the Grand Slam following wins in 1948, 2009 and 2018.

Two tries from Guinness Man of the Match Dan Sheehan were crucial in Ireland’s victory over England. In their final game of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship, Ireland were made to work hard by England, who had only 14 men on the field for all of the second half, and 13 for the last minutes of the eighty.

The home side had begun slowly and the quiet muted atmosphere of the Aviva Stadium didn’t help Andy Farrell’s side.

The visitors took the lead through kicker Owen Farrell in the eight minute, as the number 10 comfortably slotted over his effort from directly in front of the Irish posts.

The son of the Ireland Head Coach doubled England’s lead minutes later with another three-pointer, leaving the English in a 6-0 lead with only 15 minutes on the clock.

The hosts finally got on the scoreboard in the 19^th minute when Jonathan Sexton kicked a penalty to make him the highest points’ scorer in Six Nations history, as the Dubliner reached the 560 mark.

History in the making

The moment Johnny Sexton went past Ronan O'Gara on the all-time #GuinnessSixNations points list.#IREvENG | #SuperSaturday pic.twitter.com/bD8xxoarb0

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 18, 2023

Ireland took the lead for the first time in the game on 33 minutes. Hooker Dan Sheehan fought off three English challenges to make his way over the try-scoring line to touchdown for the game’s first try. A Sexton conversion gave the hot-favourites a 10-6 advantage, with half-time approaching.

Dan Sheehan out of nowhere!

A perfect lineout move and Ireland get the try.#IREvENG | #SuperSaturday pic.twitter.com/Py0ORelUX3

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 18, 2023

With the clock in red England soon received a red as a tackle by Freddie Steward on Ireland’s fullback Hugo Keenan saw him leave the field for the remainder of the game, to be replaced by Juimmy O’Brien.

Ireland reached the half-time whistle with a 10-6 lead and a one-man advantage.

Half-time: Ireland 10 England 6.

Despite only having 14 men on the field for the second half of the game, England drew first blood. Farrell kicked his third successful penalty of the evening to leave just the bare minimum between the sides, Ireland 10 England 9.

With the Irish crowd becoming ever more nervous, Robbie Henshaw helped settle some of those anxieties. The centre broke through for Ireland’s second try of the game, as the action entered the final quarter. With Sexton maintaining his accuracy at kicking for the posts, the Irish talisman pushed his side out to a 15-9 lead, with 19 minutes to play.

A huge moment!@henshawrob slices through and Ireland edge further ahead.#IREvENG | #SuperSaturday pic.twitter.com/Kv8FOEdrRD

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 18, 2023

Dan Sheehan soon scored his second try of this Six Nations’ fixture as Andy Farrell’s men extended their advantage to 22-9, before Sexton added the extras for a 15-point lead.

Sheehan’s England counterpart, Jamie George, crashed over for the visitors only try of the game inside the final 10 minutes; with Farrell knocking over the conversion, it was 26-16 to the home side.

Replacement Rob Herring touched down for Ireland’s fourth five-pointer of the evening. Though Ross Byrne’s conversion attempt was a shade right of the upright, it meant the crowd, team and management could enjoy the remaining minutes in the knowledge that the victory, the Triple Crown, Championship and Grand Slam were all secured.

"I don't know what to say really!"

A special moment for Dan Sheehan #IREvENG | #SuperSaturday pic.twitter.com/SP4PnpxtGC

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 18, 2023

Full-time score: Ireland 29 England 16.

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The Grand Slam of Darts will see Jose de Sousa defending his title at the Aldersley Leisure Village from November 13-21, with £550,000 in prize money and the Eric Bristow Trophy on offer.

With the players split into eight groups of four for the first round stage, the round-robin action begins with a double session on Saturday November 13.

Groups A-D will be in action during the afternoon session, which is headlined by Gerwyn Price – the 2018 and 2019 winner at the Aldersley Leisure Village – meeting Northern Ireland’s Nathan Rafferty in their opening Group A tie.

Premier League and World Grand Prix champion Jonny Clayton plays Rusty-Jake Rodriguez in their Group B opener, after the Austrian topped the PDC Unicorn European Development Tour rankings to secure his qualification on Saturday.

UK Open champion James Wade, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, will meet Jim Williams in their Group C opener before European Championship winner Rob Cross meets Boris Krcmar.

Saturday afternoon’s action also sees former World Matchplay champion Dimitri Van den Bergh and reigning World Youth Champion Bradley Brooks also in action.

The evening session sees Groups E-H commence their challenge for the title, with De Sousa up against Matt Campbell in Group F.

The night is headlined by clashes between Michael van Gerwen and Lisa Ashton and Peter Wright’s meeting with Fallon Sherrock as the two PDC Women’s Series qualifiers take on two superstars of the sport.

Dutch legend Raymond van Barneveld also makes his Grand Slam of Darts return in Saturday’s final game, as he faces Michael Smith.

Sunday’s second group matches will see Saturday’s winning players face each other and the losing players also meet, before the final group matches are held on Monday and Tuesday.

The top two players from each group will progress to the knockout stage of the event, with the last 16 action beginning on Wednesday November 17 and running through to the semi-finals and final on Sunday November 21.

Tickets for the Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts can be purchased through ticketmaster.co.uk.

2021 Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts

Schedule of Play

Saturday November 13

Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)

8x Group Matches

Stephen Bunting v Ryan Joyce (D)

Krzysztof Ratajski v Martin Schindler (A)

Mervyn King v Bradley Brooks (B)

James Wade v Jim Williams (C)

Rob Cross v Boris Krcmar (C)

Jonny Clayton v Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (B)

Gerwyn Price v Nathan Rafferty (A)

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Rowby-John Rodriguez (D)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

8x Group Matches

Gabriel Clemens v Mike De Decker (E)

Jose de Sousa v Matt Campbell (F)

Luke Humphries v Mensur Suljovic (F)

Gary Anderson v Joe Davis (H)

Michael van Gerwen v Lisa Ashton (G)

Joe Cullen v John Henderson (G)

Peter Wright v Fallon Sherrock (E)

Michael Smith v Raymond van Barneveld (H)

Sunday November 14

Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)

8x Group Matches

Groups A-D Second Matches

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

8x Group Matches

Groups E-H Second Matches

Monday November 15 (1900 GMT)

8x Group Matches

Groups A-D Final Matches

Tuesday November 16 (1900 GMT)

8x Group Matches

Groups E-H Final Matches

Wednesday November 17 (1900 GMT)

4x Second Round

Thursday November 18 (1900 GMT)

4x Second Round

Friday November 19 (1900 GMT)

2x Quarter-Finals

Saturday November 20 (1900 GMT)

2x Quarter-Finals

Sunday November 21

Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)

Semi-Finals

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

Final

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