Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

'Would I be frustrated? I'd be really frustrated'

McFarland backs Leinster frustration over cancellation

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland says he can understand the frustrations of Leinster and the Ospreys, after they were forced to give walkovers in round two of the Heineken Champions Cup.

Rugby • 18 Dec 21

Iain Henderson suffered a second half ankle injury

Ulster sweating on Henderson and McCloskey injuries

Dan McFarland says it's too early to tell the extent of the injuries suffered by Stuart McCloskey and Iain Henderson in their win against the Northampton Saints.

Rugby • 17 Dec 21

Duane Vermeulen has yet to train with Ulster

Ulster coy on Vermeulen availability

Duane Vermeulen still hasn't trained with Ulster and it's not clear whether he will feature for their Champions Cup clash in Clermont.

Rugby • 07 Dec 21

Rob Lyttle and Billy Burns celebrate Ulster's win against Leinster

Ulster riding a wave after passing the 'ultimate test'

Throughout Leinster's dominance of the previous incarnations of the United Rugby Championship, any and every available cliche has been used to describe how tough it is to face them.

United Rugby Championship • 29 Nov 21

Ulster's players celebrate their win at the RDS

McFarland delighted with Ulster's 'mental resilience'

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland praised the mental resolve of his players, after they ended their long wait for a win away to Leinster.

Rugby • 28 Nov 21

Iain Henderson is set to be out for 'a few weeks'

Henderson a doubt for Ulster's Champions Cup openers

Iain Henderson's hamstring injury may see him miss out on Ulster's Heineken Champions Cup games next month.

Rugby • 24 Nov 21

Ulster's defeat to Connacht was their sixth Interpro defeat in a row

McFarland challenges Ulster players after Connacht loss

Dan McFarland let it all out on Saturday night. Having see his Ulster side well and truly humbled by Connacht at the Aviva Stadium - their sixth Interpro defeat in a row - he wasn't in a mood for excuses.

Rugby • 25 Oct 21

Conor Oliver (right) was Man of the Match for Connacht

Friend delighted after 'crucial' Connacht win

Connacht head coach Andy Friend says his side showed what they are capable of after a resounding 36-11 win against Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 23 Oct 21

Ulster top the table after their third bonus-point win in a row

'Was I expecting better performance? Probably not'

Ulster boss Dan McFarland praised his side's efforts after they made it three United Rugby Championship wins from three with a bonus-point win over Benetton.

Rugby • 08 Oct 21

Jacob Stockdale and John Cooney are named in an exciting backline

Stockdale and Cooney named in strong Ulster XV

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland has been able to call on several of his Irish internationals for their United Rugby Championship opener against the Glasgow Warriors tomorrow evening.

Rugby • 23 Sep 21

RTÉ Rugby Podcast: The big URC preview pod

Hugh Cahill, Bernard Jackman and Jared Wright preview the United Rugby Championship, which kicks off this weekend.

Rugby • 23 Sep 21

Duane Vermeulen's move to Ulster was confirmed last week

Patient approach saw Ulster land Vermeulen - McFarland

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland says they have reaped the rewards of a patient approach, after completing the signing of Duane Vermeulen last week.

Rugby • 21 Sep 21

Ulster aiming to hit next level in URC

Ulster want to take the next step after two positive seasons.

Rugby • 16 Sep 21

McFarland has been in charge at Ulster since 2018

Dan McFarland extends Ulster tenure

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland has signed a two-year contract extension.

Rugby • 07 Jan 21

Leinster suffered a rare Pro14 defeat on Saturday

McFarland not buying 'vulnerable Leinster' tag

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland refuses to believe that Leinster are more vulnerable after their 26-match winning run came to an end.

Rugby • 05 Jan 21

Cheslin Kolbe, left, is congratulated by Toulouse team-mates after scoring his side's fourth try

McFarland: Ulster 'not as good as we can be' in defeat

Ulster coach Dan McFarland bemoaned his side's wasted opportunities and the conceding of "soft tries" after they opened their Heineken Champions Cup campaign with a 29-22 home defeat to Toulouse.

Rugby • 11 Dec 20

Ulster players dejected following the full-time whistle at Stade Ernest Wallon

McFarland: We didn't look like a quarter-final team

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland admitted his side were outclassed in their heavy Champions Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Toulouse.

Rugby • 20 Sep 20

Dan McFarland has launched a stirring defence of his squad

McFarland firmly behind his Leinster-born Ulstermen

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland has spoken passionately about the commitment of his players to their jersey, particularly those born outside the province.

Rugby • 16 Sep 20

'That was definitively the most difficult selection decision that I've ever been involved in'

'Alby playing better rugby' - McFarland on Cooney call

Dan McFarland says the decision to leave John Cooney out of the Ulster starting team for the Guinness Pro14 final is the toughest he has had to make as a coach.

Rugby • 11 Sep 20

Henderson featured in Ulster's last final appearance seven years ago

Henderson aiming to scratch Ulster's seven-year itch

Ulster lock Iain Henderson has made a timely return to the team as the province get a shot at silverware against Leinster this weekend and memories of the final defeat from 2013 against the same opponents remain fresh in the memory.

Rugby • 11 Sep 20

Ulster lost 28-10 to Leinster when the teams met at the end of August

McFarland: We have 'puncher's chance' against Leinster

Ulster boss Dan McFarland says his side can't rely on Leinster mistakes if they are to win their first trophy in 14 years in Saturday night's Guinness Pro14 final.

Rugby • 09 Sep 20

'We'll come up with a game plan we hope will work and we'll give it a shot'

McFarland: No one will give us a chance versus Leinster

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland is remaining hopeful about his side's chances of causing an upset in the Guinness Pro14 final against Leinster after a dramatic comeback win over Edinburgh.

Rugby • 06 Sep 20

Ulster and Connacht players made an ant-racism gesture before the game

'That game was won and lost on the sofa'

Ulster coach Dan McFarland felt his side lost their spark when yesterday's game against Connacht turned out to be a dead rubber.

Rugby • 24 Aug 20

Head coach Dan McFarland, centre, John Cooney, left, and Kyle McCall in early August

McFarland: First game back will be 'unknown territory'

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland admits his team and their rivals are going into unknown territory this weekend in their first games back since rugby ground to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Rugby • 21 Aug 20

Madigan has been with Bristol for the last three years

Ulster confirm Ian Madigan signing

Ulster have announced the signing of former Leinster out-half Ian Madigan who will link up with the province this summer.

Rugby • 14 Mar 20