Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Johnny Sexton shone on his first start of the season

URC team of the week: Irish provinces impress

There were big wins for Connacht, Leinster and Ulster in round four of the BKT United Rugby Championship as the South Africans' winning run against European opponents came to a halt.

Rugby • 10 Oct 22

Robbie Henshaw dives in to score one of Leinster's eight tries

Eight tries for Leinster in thrilling win over Sharks

Leinster scored eight tries to prevail 54-34 in a back and forth tussle with the Sharks, maintaining their 100% record in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 08 Oct 22

Furlong is yet to feature for Leinster this season

Leinster hopeful of Furlong return against Connacht

Tadhg Furlong is on track to make his first appearance of the season for Leinster in next week's trip to face Connacht.

Rugby • 07 Oct 22

The 2023 finals will be held at the Aviva Stadium

EPCR confirms South African teams to join Champions Cup

EPCR has confirmed the addition of South Africa's URC franchises to next season's Champions and Challenge Cup competitions, with the Cheetahs also being welcomed into the latter tournament.

Rugby • 02 Jun 22

Ulster pair Andrew Warwick and Alan O'Connor put in a big tackle on Sharks prop Thomas du Toit

McFarland delighted by determined Ulster performance

Dan McFarland has praised the determination of his players after they secured a top four finish in the URC regular season.

Rugby • 21 May 22

Stuart McCloskey, Tom O'Toole and John Cooney celebrate McCloskey's second half try

Ulster fight off Sharks to book home quarter-final

Ulster survived a late fightback from the Cell C Sharks to book a home quarter-final in the United Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 20 May 22

Mike Lowry in action against Munster earlier this month

Lowry still has sights set on 10 time

Ulster's Mike Lowry says he wants to keep pushing for more game time at out-half.

Rugby • 20 May 22

Stuart McCloskey (l) and Iain Henderson will line out against the South Africans

Henderson and McCloskey fit to face Sharks

Iain Henderson and Stuart McCloskey have been named in the Ulster side to face Cell C Sharks in the final round of the URC regular season on Friday evening.

Rugby • 19 May 22

RTÉ Rugby podcast: Super Leinster and must-win Munster

The panel review Leinster's excellent performance against Toulouse in the Champions Cup and look ahead to the weekend's URC games.

Rugby • 18 May 22

Dan McFarland's side have tuned their attention to the URC

Toulouse hard watch after Euro heartbreak - McFarland

Ulster didn't have much time to stew in the immediate aftermath of their Heineken Champions Cup loss to Toulouse but the last two weekends have proved particularly unpleasant for Dan McFarland.

Rugby • 16 May 22

Ciaran Frawley starts at out-half for Leinster

United Rugby Championship R17: All you need to know

All four Irish provinces are in action in the United Rugby Championship this weekend. Find out all you need to know here.

Rugby • 30 Apr 22

United Rugby Championship: Sharks 28-23 Leinster recap

The Sharks have leapfrogged Ulster into the top four of the URC, after a nailbiting win against leaders Leinster in Durban

Rugby • 23 Apr 22

URC: Cullen hands debut to Deeny, Connacht ring changes

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has handed academy graduate Brian Deeny his first start for the province, while John McKee is also named among the replacements for Leinster's game away to Cell C Sharks tomorrow evening.

Rugby • 22 Apr 22

The sides are both looking to cement play-off places

Updated URC Round 16: All you need to know

All four Irish provinces are in URC action this weekend, find out all you need to know here.

Rugby • 22 Apr 22

Leinster had home advantage for last year's final against Munster

Cullen urges caution on South Africa URC final rumours

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says he wouldn't be keen on the United Rugby Championship final being played in South Africa, particularly if it's between two northern hemisphere teams.

Rugby • 19 Apr 22

Ronán Kelleher (r) is one of the more experienced players on the tour

Leinster to give young guns a run in South Africa

Leinster have left the bulk of their Ireland internationals at home for their two-game United Rugby Championship tour of South Africa.

Rugby • 18 Apr 22

Etzebeth has been granted early release form his contract at Toulon

Boost for URC as Etzebeth set to swim with Sharks

The Cell C Sharks have added to their growing list of World Cup winners with the signing of Eben Etzebeth.

Rugby • 17 Feb 22

Lukhanyo Am score a try for the Sharks on hsi return from international duty

Sharks beat Bulls as South Africa hosts first URC game

The Sharks battled to a 30-16 victory over the Bulls in Durban as the United Rugby Championship belatedly made its debut on South African soil on Friday.

Rugby • 03 Dec 21

Dylan Richardson featured against Munster at Thomond Park in September

Scotland call up Sharks flanker Richardson for November

South Africa-born loose forward Dylan Richardson has been included in a 36-man Scotland squad for next week's two-day training camp ahead of the autumn Tests.

Rugby • 13 Oct 21

Considered the strongest South African side, the Bulls have lost their opening matches heavily to Leinster and Connacht

Tale of two halves: South Africans need good 80 minutes

The opening two weeks of the URC have shown us that we're going to have to play the long game with the South African teams

Rugby • 04 Oct 21

Simon Zebo scores his second try, and Munster's sixth, in the 80th minute

Van Graan lauds Munster fans as Zebo and Snyman return

For the first time since early 2020 the Munster fans were back in their numbers, and they were given every reason to cheer.

Rugby • 26 Sep 21

Munster scrum-half Craig Casey celebrates his try against the Sharks

URC : Munster claim bonus-point win over Sharks - recap

Munster run in six tries - including a brace from the returning Simon Zebo - in a 42-17 win over Cell C Sharks in the opening round of the United Rugby Championship. Here is how the game unfolded.

Rugby • 25 Sep 21

Simon Zebo marked his return to Thomond Park in style

Zebo marks return with brace as Munster hammer Sharks

Simon Zebo scored two tries on his return to Thomond Park, as Munster ran in six tries to beat the Cell C Sharks 42-17 at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 25 Sep 21

Simon Zebo is back with Munster after three years in Paris

URC teams: Sexton starts, Zebo & Snyman in for Munster

Simon Zebo is set for his second Munster debut when the Cell C Sharks visit Thomond Park in the United Rugby Championship this evening (7.35pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

Rugby • 25 Sep 21

Gerbrandt Grobler played 11 games for Munster in the 2017/18 season

Grobler and Du Toit to face Munster in URC opener

Former Munster pair Gerbrandt Grobler and Thomas du Toit will both start against their former side, in the Cell C Sharks' United Rugby Championship opener at Thomond Park this Saturday.

Rugby • 23 Sep 21