Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

20 September 2025; Head coach Stuart Lancaster during a Connacht Rugby open training session at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Lancaster excited by Connacht but hopes for Test return

Stuart Lancaster says he would love to return to Test rugby some day, but he doesn't believe his role with Connacht is a stepping stone to becoming the next Ireland head coach.

United Rugby Championship • 22 Sep 25

New Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster and Ulster head coach Richie Murphy

Pressure on Connacht and Ulster to come back stronger

With the new United Rugby Championship just over a week away, it's time to remind ourselves how the four provinces fared in 2024/25, and what lies ahead for the coming year.

United Rugby Championship • 21 Sep 25

16 August 2025; Kathy Baker of Leinster on her way to scoring her side's second try despite the efforts of Munster players Aoife Fleming, left, and Gráinne Burke during the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship Round 2 match between Leinster and M

Women's interprovincial finals: All you need to know

Today sees the 2025 Women's Interprovincial Championships draw to a close with a familiar 'finals day' in Donnybrook. The third-place play-off once again pits Connacht against Ulster, with Munster and Leinster battling it out for silverware.

Rugby • 30 Aug 25

23 August 2025; Vicky Elmes Kinlan of Leinster in action against Connacht players Fódhla Ní Bhraonáin, left, and Orla Dixon during the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship Round 3 match between Connacht and Leinster at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. P

Leinster pip Connacht to qualify for Interpro final

Vicky Elmes Kinlan's 68th-minute try split the sides at Dexcom Stadium where three-in-a-row hopefuls Leinster beat Connacht 17-12 to qualify for next Saturday's Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship final.

Rugby • 23 Aug 25

Munster storm Leinster to reach interpro final

Munster sealed their place in the final of the 2025 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship after a convincing 33-22 win over Leinster in Donnybrook.

Rugby • 17 Aug 25

31 August 2024; Leah Tarpey of Leinster in action against Alana McInerney of Munster during the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final between Leinster and Munster at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Women's Interpro's Round 2: All you need to know

Round two of the Women's Interprovincial series promises to be a gripping weekend as we get a repeat of last year's final between Leinster and Munster, while Connacht welcome a strong-looking Ulster squad to Galway.

Rugby • 16 Aug 25

10 August 2025; Emma Brogan of Leinster in action against Ulster players Paige Smyth, left, and Siobhan Sheerin during the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship Round 1 match between Leinster and Ulster at Energia Park in Dublin. Photo by Shauna C

Leinster and Munster off to perfect start in interpros

Last year's champions Leinster and runners-up Munster got their 2025 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship campaigns off to perfect starts courtesy of home bonus-point wins over Ulster and Connacht respectively.

Rugby • 10 Aug 25

REPRO FREE ***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY 2025 Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship Launch, IRFU High Performance Centre, Dublin 1/8/2025Connacht's Ava Ryder, Munster's Maeve Óg O’Leary, Leinster's Molly Boyne and Ulst

Women's Interpros 2025: All you need to know

The Vodafone Women's Interprovincial series kicks off this afternoon with a double header that sees defending champions Leinster host Ulster at the Energia Stadium and Connacht visit Munster in Cork.

Rugby • 10 Aug 25

Leinster thumped La Rochelle 40-13 in Dublin last January

Champions Cup draw: Leinster and La Rochelle meet again

Leinster have been drawn with familiar foes La Rochelle for the 2025/26 Champions Cup.

Rugby • 01 Jul 25

24 June 2025; Ben Murphy during the Ireland rugby squad training at the IRFU High Performance Centre at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Murphy: Lancaster can bring Connacht to next level

Ben Murphy believes Stuart Lancaster can take Connacht to the next level when he takes over as head coach next season.

Rugby • 26 Jun 25

10 February 2023; Head coach Andy Farrell, left, and Finlay Bealham during the Ireland rugby captain's run at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Bealham a 'great fit' for Lions, says Farrell

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell believes replacement call-up Finlay Bealham will prove a "great fit" for the squad following the "heartbreaking" withdrawal of injured Scotland prop Zander Fagerson.

Rugby • 11 Jun 25

Finlay Bealham will go on his first Lions tour

Connacht's Bealham called up to Lions squad

Connacht and Ireland prop Finlay Bealham has been called up to the British and Irish Lions squad in place of the injured Zander Fagerson.

Rugby • 09 Jun 25

7 April 2023; Leinster senior coach Stuart Lancaster during the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final match between Leinster and Leicester Tigers at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Jackman: Connacht rugby 'invigorated' by Lancaster news

Bernard Jackman believes Stuart Lancaster is an "amazing" appointment for Connacht Rugby, after what had been a couple of "rudderless" seasons for the western province.

United Rugby Championship • 04 Jun 25

16 December 2023; Racing 92 head coach Stuart Lancaster before the Investec Champions Cup Pool 2 Round 2 match between Ulster and Racing 92 at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Lancaster says Connacht can be up to '40%' better

New Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster feels the club have plenty of room for improvement and says the hurt of his Racing 92 experience will spur him on.

Rugby • 05 Jun 25

Connacht land Lancaster as URC play-offs provide drama

Neil Treacy, Bernard Jackman and Jonny Holland react to the big news of the week in Irish rugby.

United Rugby Championship • 04 Jun 25

Bordeaux's Mahamadou Diaby (6) in action during yesterday's Champions Cup final

Five-star French domination 'scary' for Irish teams

For the fifth year in a row the Champions Cup has been won by a French team and Bernard Jackman believes more "inclusive" pathways in the country have played a big role.

Rugby • 27 May 25

Leinster last played at DHL Stadium in April 2024

Leinster to start 2025/26 URC campaign in South Africa

Leinster will kick off the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship season with a double-header in South Africa.

Rugby • 21 May 25

Munster survive, Leinster labour and a Sevens shutdown

Neil Treacy is joined by former Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan, as we recap the final round of regular season games in the URC, and look ahead at the play-offs.

United Rugby Championship • 21 May 25

The RTÉ Rugby panel discussed the varying fortunes of the provinces

Watch: RTÉ Rugby panel on underperforming provinces

As the BKT URC regular season comes to a close, the RTÉ Rugby panel of Eddie O'Sullivan, Darren Cave and Jamie Heaslip review the fortunes of Munster, Connacht and Ulster.

Rugby • 19 May 25

Connacht captain Cian Prendergast scored the first of their three tries

Connacht finish above Ulster after win v Zebre

Connacht have finished 13th in the BKT United Rugby Championship, ending their season with a 22-12 win away to Zebre in Parma.

United Rugby Championship • 17 May 25

James Ryan comes into the Leinster starting XV

Leinster make nine changes for visit of Glasgow

James Ryan will start for Leinster against Glasgow Warriors in Saturday's BKT URC clash as Leo Cullen makes nine changes to his side.

United Rugby Championship • 16 May 25

Peter O'Mahony will play his final Munster game in his native Cork

Munster unchanged for crucial Benetton meeting

Munster interim coach Ian Costello is doubling down for Friday's must-win United Rugby Championship meeting with Benetton, naming an unchanged matchday squad for the visit of the Italians to Cork.

Rugby • 15 May 25