Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

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.

Leinster players react late in the second half against Connacht

Bernard Jackman expects 'massive Leinster backlash'

Bernard Jackman tells the RTÉ Rugby Podcast that he expects a backlash from Leinster against Ulster after their setback against Connacht.

Rugby • 07 Jan 21

JJ Hanrahan was 100% accurate off the tee to score 24 points in his last game, against Clermont Auvergne

'We feel like we're in a good position' - Hanrahan

JJ Hanrahan believes that Munster are well placed to end their decade-long trophy drought this season but warns that they need to continue to build on their great start to the season.

Rugby • 07 Jan 21

Jack Carty's 'masterclass' will most likely put him in contention for the Ireland number 10 shirt

Carty 'back to his best' ahead of Six Nations - Lenihan

Jack Carty's 25-point haul in Connacht's emphatic victory over Leinster last weekend proves that the 28-year-old out-half is back to his best.

Rugby • 06 Jan 21

Chris Farrell carries the ball for Munster against Clermont

Munster 'still have momentum' from European exploits

Munster coach Stephen Larkham is confident the province can get back to the level of performance they showed against Clermont when they travel to the Sportsground to face Connacht on Saturday.

Rugby • 18 Jan 21

RTÉ Rugby Podcast: Carty masterclass & Irish 10s battle

On this week's RTÉ Rugby Podcast, Hugh Cahill is joined by Donal Lenihan, Bernard Jackman and Wes Liddy to discuss Connacht's win over Leinster and how Jack Carty's performance in the 10 jersey propels him back into the Ireland reckoning ahead of the 2021 Six Nations.

Rugby • 06 Jan 21

Tom Daly of Connacht during the win over Leinster

Daly hopeful toppling Munster opens door for Connacht

Tom Daly is hopeful that another big inter-provincial scalp for Connacht this weekend could propel his side into Guinness Pro14 contention.

Rugby • 06 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

Larmour back in training as Leinster injuries pile up

Leinster have confirmed that Jordan Larmour is back in training but a number of players are being assessed ahead of Friday's Guinnes Pro14 inter-pro derby against Ulster.

Rugby • 04 Jan 21

Jack Carty kicks during his team's win over Leinster

Carty: Something special was in the air for Connacht

Jack Carty hailed his Connacht team-mates after they inflicted Leinster's first league defeat in almost two years.

Rugby • 03 Jan 21

Recap: Ulster 15-10 Munster

The action as it happened from today's Guinness Pro 14 inter-provincial encounter between Ulster and Munster at Kingspan Stadium.

Rugby • 02 Jan 21

Connacht rise up to end Leinster's Pro14 unbeaten run

Connacht won in Dublin against Leinster for the first time since September 2002 as fly-half Jack Carty masterminded a seismic 35-24 bonus-point win over Guinness PRO14 kingpins at the RDS Arena.

Rugby • 02 Jan 21

Ulster overcame a dogged Munster in Belfast

Early tries help Ulster to overcome dogged Munster

Ulster maintained their 100 per cent start in the Guinness PRO14 as they began the new year by beating provincial rivals Munster 15-10, although they were made to fight all the way at the Kingspan Stadium.

Rugby • 02 Jan 21

Connacht say their trip to play Leinster will go ahead as planned

Connacht confirm positive Covid-19 cases in squad

Connacht Rugby has confirmed that "a number" of their players have tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of their game against Leinster on Saturday.

Rugby • 01 Jan 21

Leinster and Connacht both bring in new faces

Leinster hand debuts to academy duo Max O'Reilly and Andrew Smith in their Guinness Pro14 clash with Connacht at the RDS.

Rugby • 07 Jan 21

David McCann is set for a first senior start for Ulster

Ulster and Munster ring changes for Pro14 clash

Ulster Head Coach Dan McFarland has elected to make 10 changes, while his Munster counterpart Johann van Graan has gone with 14 ahead of their Pro14 clash in Belfast on Saturday.

Rugby • 01 Jan 21

Ryan: 'Ulster are on great form at the moment. They were under the pump last week against Connacht and turned the game on its head. It was a serious result'

Ryan looking to change Munster fortunes away to Ulster

John Ryan is hoping that Munster's recent form away to Ulster can be turned around on Saturday evening at Kingspan Stadium.

Rugby • 31 Dec 20

Dan Jones of Scarlets during the 2019 Pro14 clash with Leinster at RDS Arena

Pro14 announces details over rescheduled fixtures

Rescheduled Guinness Pro14 fixtures involving three of the Irish provinces have been confirmed.

Rugby • 30 Dec 20

Leo Cullen: 'It's a very tricky time'

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says the risks presented by the Covid-19 situation has made it a "tricky time" as the province confirmed that two senior players have tested positive for the virus and a number of other players have been identified as close contacts.

Rugby • 29 Dec 20

'Ulster were evidently up for the game judging by their reaction to even the smallest wins'

Ulster show inter-pro intent as Covid disrupts games

Ulster showed their intent with a determined victory against Connacht, but the threat of Covid-related postponements looms, threatening the Irish province's momentum, writes Jonny Holland.

Rugby • 29 Dec 20

Nick Timoney beats John Porch to score Ulster's second try

Ulster turn tables on Connacht to maintain 100% record

Ian Madigan helped himself to 22 points in Ulster's 32-19 Guinness Pro14 derby win over Connacht as Dan McFarland's men recorded their first victory at the Sportsground in five years.

Rugby • 27 Dec 20

Marcell Coetzee could be set to joins the Bulls according to Ulster CEO Jonny Petrie

Coetzee to depart Ulster as CEO vents frustration

Marcell Coetzee will leave Ulster to return to South Africa at the end of the 2020/21 season.

Rugby • 26 Dec 20

There will be a milestone appearance for Eoghan Masterson

Changes aplenty for Connacht and Ulster ahead of derby

Connacht have made six changes for the visit of Ulster on Sunday evening in the Pro14 encounter at The Sportsground.

Rugby • 26 Dec 20

Four South African teams will be involved

Pro14 season to end in March ahead of new competition

This season's Guinness Pro14 is set to conclude in March, with a new competition, dubbed the "PRO14 Rainbow Cup", involving 16 teams in total - four of which will be from South Africa - set to run from 17 April until 19 June.

Rugby • 23 Dec 20

Parc y Scarlets will host Ospreys home game against Scarlets

Ospreys to sacrifice home advantage for Scarlets game

Ospreys' Guinness PRO14 clash with Scarlets on St Stephen's Day will be played at Parc y Scarlets, the clubs have announced.

Rugby • 23 Dec 20