Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Ulster coach McFarland left to rue missed opportunity

Ulster coach Dan McFarland believes his side let slip a golden opportunity to win in France as they slipped to a 29-13 defeat to Clermont Auvergne.

Rugby • 11 Jan 20

Will Addison featured at full-back for Ireland against Wales in the World Cup warm-up series, but didn't make the cut for Japan

Will Addison ready to stake Ireland full-back claim

Will Addison is in the frame for the Ireland full-back position, backed by some impressive showings for Ulster in the 15 jersey this season.

Rugby • 09 Jan 20

Marcell Coetzee is back in the reckoning for Ulster

Fitness boost for Ulster ahead of Clermont clash

Ulster have been handed a timely fitness boost ahead of their Champions Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne this weekend with Marcell Coetzee, Jordi Murphy and John Cooney all getting a clean bill of health.

Rugby • 07 Jan 20

Exciting Clermont Auvergne prospect Samuel Ezeala bagged a brace for the visitors at the Rec

Clermont Auvergne finish with a flourish to beat Bath

Bath suffered a third successive Heineken Champions Cup defeat after Clermont Auvergne turned on the pace and power to secure a bonus-point 34-17 win with three late tries at the Rec.

Rugby • 06 Dec 19

Cooney touches down for Ulster's second try

Cooney magic drives Ulster forward

John Cooney helped Ulster to a well deserved win over Clermont Auvergne at a wet and windy Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

Rugby • 23 Nov 19

Ulster maintain perfect start with Clermont victory

A second-half try from John Cooney saw Ulster beat Clermont Auvergne 18-13 at the Kingspan Stadium to go top of Pool Three after two rounds of Heineken Champions Cup games.

Rugby • 22 Nov 19

Will Addison of Ulster in action against Fritz Lee, left, and Jake McIntyre of Clermont

Ulster 18-13 Clermont Auvergne: recap

Two unbeaten sides clash this evening in the Champions Cup in Belfast, as Ulster host Clermont Auvergne.

Rugby • 22 Nov 19

The Toulouse players celebrating their win

France star's double helps Toulouse to Top 14 triumph

Two tries by Yoann Huget proved the difference as Toulouse capped a superb season by beating Clermont Auvergne 24-18 in the French Top 14 final in Paris on Saturday to lift the trophy for the first time since 2012.

Rugby • 15 Jun 19

Clermont Auvergne won their third Challenge Cup with victory over La Rochelle in St James's Park

Clermont overpower La Rochelle to win Challenge Cup

Clermont Auvergne clinched a record-equalling third European Challenge Cup final victory by beating La Rochelle 36-16 at St James' Park.

Rugby • 10 May 19

Ulster Rugby boss can't see Ireland return for Jackson

Ulster Rugby's CEO says he cannot see Paddy Jackson or Stuart Olding returning to play with the province or country in the future.

Rugby • 16 Apr 18

Clermont's Greg Laidlaw in action against Ospreys in the Champions Cup

Clermont given fright before pipping Ospreys

French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne were given a major fright by the Ospreys before claiming a 26-21 European Champions Cup victory at the Liberty Stadium.

Rugby • 15 Oct 17

Recap: Clermont Auvergne 17-28 Saracens

Saracens fended off a determined Clermont side to become the fourth club to successfully defend the European Cup

Rugby • 13 May 17

David Strettle celebrates Clermont's semi-final victory against Leinster

Clermont hungry to write new chapter in proud history

Clermont Auvergne head coach Franck Azema insists they will proudly carry their history into the Champions Cup final while trying to write a new chapter.

Rugby • 12 May 17

Recap: Clermont Auvergne 27-22 Leinster

Clermont Auvergne held off a valiant second-half fightback to claim a five-point victory over Leinster and secure passage to a third Champions Cup final

Rugby • 23 Apr 17

Sexton and Leinster were left to rue their poor start

Sexton admits first-half mistakes cost Leinster

Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton admitted his team made too many first-half mistakes to win their Champions Cup semi-final against Clermont Auvergne.

Rugby • 23 Apr 17

Abendanon's try wasn't enough to help Clermont to victory in the 2015 final against Toulon

Clermont's Abendanon: 'We can go all the way in Europe'

Nick Abendanon believes Clermont Auvergne can make it a case of third time lucky in this season's European Champions Cup - if they make it past Leinster in Sunday's semi-final.

Rugby • 22 Apr 17

Leinster will play in their ninth European Cup semi-final on Sunday

Confident Leinster up against history away to Clermont

History is against Leinster when they travel to France to take on Clermont Auvergne in Sunday's Champions Cup semi-final, but Jordi Murphy says his team-mates are brimming with confidence.

Rugby • 20 Apr 17

Cian Healy will miss out on the ERC semi-final on Saturday

Cian Healy suspended for European semi-final

Leinster will be without prop Cian Healy for their European Champions Cup semi-final against Clermont Auvergne after he was hit with a two-week ban.

Rugby • 20 Apr 17

Scotland entertain Ireland in the Six Nations opener

Scotland plotting Irish downfall at Murrayfield

Ireland have had the bragging rights over Scotland in the last decade, but the home side say they are targeting Irish weaknesses ahead of the Six Nations clash at Murrayfield.

Rugby • 26 Jan 17

Connacht players celebrate with winning goal kicker Jack Carty

Ref's mistake doesn't take from magic win - Ward

Tony Ward doesn't believe that the controversial circumstances surrounding Connacht's decisive try against Wasps takes away from what was a 'magical' day at the Sportsground.

Rugby • 19 Dec 16

Ulster will now need to win both their remaining homing games to qualify for the knockout stages

Best 'massively disappointed' with Clermont defeat

Ulster captain Rory Best was disappointed to leave the Stade Marcel Michelin empty-handed as their second-half fightback fell short at Clermont Auvergne.

Rugby • 18 Dec 16

Clermont winger Noa Nakaitaci evades the challenge of Rory Best

Ulster fightback not enough to thwart Clermont

Clermont avenged last week's Champions Cup defeat to Ulster, but were made to sweat after a stirring Ulster fight-back before eventually emerging victorious 38-19 at the Stade Marcel Michelin.

Rugby • 18 Dec 16

Nick Abendanon crosses the line for Clermont

Recap: Clermont Auvergne 38-19 Ulster

Ulster's Champions Cup hopes were dashed at Stade Marcel-Michelin despite a gallant second-half fightback.

Rugby • 18 Dec 16

Charles Piutau scores Ulster's fifth try

Ulster down Clermont in nine-try thriller

Ulster and Clermont Auvergne served up an early Christmas cracker at Kingspan Stadium as Les Kiss' side earned a 39-32 victory in the Pool 5 encounter.

Rugby • 10 Dec 16

Recap: Munster & Ulster reign in Europe

Following Ulster's bonus point win over Clermont, Munster hammered Leicester Tigers in Thomond Park to make it a good day for the provinces in Europe.

Rugby • 10 Dec 16