Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

13 December 2024; Peter O'Mahony of Munster and Rémy Baget of Castres Olympique during the Champions Cup Pool 3 match between Castres Olympique and Munster at Stade Pierre Fabre in Castres, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Champions Cup round 4: All You Need To Know

All four Irish provinces round off their Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup pool stage campaigns this week. Here's everything you need to know ahead of this weekend's games.

Rugby • 16 Jan

27 December 2025; Ulster head coach Richie Murphy before the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Ulster at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Ulster v Cheetahs game to be played behind closed doors

Ulster's EPCR Challenge Cup clash with Toyota Cheetahs will be played behind closed doors after a severe freeze in the Netherlands forced a change of venue for the game.

Rugby • 09 Jan

11 January 2026; Munster supporters, from left, Ben Leahy, Patricia Vieira, Dave O'Keefe and Caolan Scully before the Investec Champions Cup match between RC Toulon and Munster at Stade Felix Mayol in Toulon, France. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Champions Cup round 3: All You Need To Know

All four Irish provinces are back in action this week across the Investec Champions and EPCR Challenge Cup pool stages. Here's everything you need to know ahead of this weekend's games.

Rugby • 11 Jan

6 April 2024; Jack Conan of Leinster dives over to score his side's fifth which was subsequently disallowed during the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 match between Leinster and Leicester Tigers at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Spo

Champions and Challenge Cup R2: All You Need To Know

All four Irish provinces are back in action this week across the Investec Champions and Challenge Cup pool stages. Here's everything you need to know ahead of this weekend's games.

Rugby • 13 Dec 25

Australia's prop #01 Angus Bell runs to score a try during the Autumn Nations Series international rugby union test match between France and Australia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on November 22, 2025. (Photo by Thibaud MORITZ /

Ulster ready for Bell to step up against Racing

New Ulster signing Angus Bell is in line to make his debut for the province in this weekend's Challenge Cup opener against Racing 92 in Belfast.

Rugby • 02 Dec 25

Connacht hopeful of Prendergast return for Racing tie

Connacht are hopeful that captain Cian Prendergast will be fit in time for Saturday's EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final against Racing 92 at Dexcom Stadium.

Rugby • 08 Apr 25

Ronan O'Gara welcomes his former side Munster to La Rochelle in the pick of this weekend's Champions Cup games

Champions Cup Round of 16: All You Need to Know

After two fascinating weeks of URC rugby, the Investec Champions Cup takes over for a couple of weekends, as we look to whittle down 16 teams to the final four across the next fortnight.

Rugby • 05 Apr 25

Rob Herring (centre) has missed Ulster's last two games

Herring starts for Ulster, Hanrahan back for Connacht

Ireland international Rob Herring returns for Ulster on Friday night, one of five changes to Richie Murphy's side as they look to keep their slim hopes of reaching the Investec Champions Cup knockout stage alive.

Rugby • 16 Jan 25

L-R: Munster's Tadhg Berine, James Ryan of Leinster and Ulster's Cormac Izuchukwu

Champions Cup Round 4: All You Need to Know

It's the final round of pool games in the Investec Champions and Challenge Cups. Find out all you need to know here.

Rugby • 17 Jan 25

Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Niall Scannell (Munster), David McCann (Ulster) and Paul Boyle (Connacht)

Champions Cup permutations ahead of final pool games

Leinster, Munster and Ulster all have something to play for across the weekend, as do Connacht in the Challenge Cup.

Rugby • 15 Jan 25

Champions Cup permutations ahead of final pool games

Leinster, Munster and Ulster all have something to play for across the weekend, as do Connacht in the Challenge Cup.

Rugby • 16 Jan 25

Shayne Bolton is currently sidelined with a foot injury

Connacht sweating on foot injury for luckless Bolton

Connacht could be without Shayne Bolton for an extended period, with the winger set to see a specialist regarding his foot injury.

United Rugby Championship • 10 Dec 24

Bundee Aki is set to make his first appearance since the Six Nations

Connacht boosted by Aki and Bealham availability

Connacht are set to be boosted by the return of both Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham for this Sunday's Challenge Cup Round of 16 trip to French side Pau.

Rugby • 02 Apr 24

The top eight teams from the URC will qualify for the Champions Cup from this season

URC announces changes to European qualification

Organisers of the BKT United Rugby Championship have announced changes to their European qualification system which they say will now offer 'full meritocracy'.

Rugby • 17 Oct 23