Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Belfast , United Kingdom - 28 November 2025; Werner Kok of Ulster is tackled by Louis Werchon of Benetton during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Benetton at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Ima

Ulster turn on jets after break to burn off Benetton

Ulster peeled off 35 unanswered second-half points as they turned a slender deficit at the break into a comprehensive 47-13 victory over Benetton.

Rugby • 28 Nov

18 October 2025; Munster captain Tadhg Beirne leads his side onto the pitch before the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Munster at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

URC teams: Munster & Ulster welcome back internationals

Munster captain Tadhg Beirne, who earlier this week was named on the World Rugby men's Team of the Year for the second time, is among five returning Ireland internationals for Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship clash against the DHL Stormers at Thomond Park.

Rugby • 27 Nov

10 November 2025; Angus Bell during the Australia Rugby media conference at the Radisson Blu St Helen's Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Belfast-bound Bell focussing on Ireland first

Australia prop Angus Bell doesn't feel his impending move to Ulster puts any extra pressure on him to perform against Ireland on Saturday.

Rugby • 10 Nov

25 October 2025; Ciarán Mangan of Leinster is presented with his first cap by teammate and brother Diarmuid Mangan, left, after the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Zebre Parma at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Spo

Leinster to 'reflect' on shock opening block

The November international break will give Leinster boss Leo Cullen time to "reflect" on his side's opening block in which the defending URC champions won just two out of five games.

Rugby • 27 Oct

25 October 2025; Robert Baloucoune of Ulster dives over to score his second try during the United Rugby Championship match between Emirates Lions and Ulster at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile

Baloucoune hat-trick helps Ulster to bonus in defeat

Ulster lost their first game of the URC season but came away with a try-bonus point from their 49-31 defeat to the Lions in Ellis Park, with Robert Baloucoune scoring a hat-trick.

Rugby • 25 Oct

28 September 2024; Werner Kok of Ulster in action during the United Rugby Championship match between Emirates Lions and Ulster at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile

United Rugby Championship Round 5: All You Need to Know

It's round five of the BKT United Rugby Championship - find out all you need to know here about the last games in the opening block.

Rugby • 24 Oct

29 August 2021; Harry West of Connacht misses a conversion to draw the game during the IRFU U19 Men’s Clubs Interprovincial Championship Round 2 match between Leinster and Connacht at Energia Park in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

West debuts as Connacht make nine changes for Munster

Connacht have made nine changes, including handing a debut to Harry West, to the side that lost to Bulls to take on Munster in the URC.

Rugby • 24 Oct

Provinces looking to end contrasting starts on a high

With the opening block of BKT United Rugby Championship action drawing to a close this weekend, a win would do wonders for both Leinster and Ulster's seasons.

Rugby • 25 Oct

29 March 2025; Munster players, including Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes, Jack Crowley and John Hodnett, celebrate their side's first try, scored by Tom Ahern, right, during the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Munster at Hastings Insuranc

Donal Lenihan's URC verdicts as Munster host Connacht

Donal Lenihan assess the province's weekend tasks in the United Rugby Championship, including the meeting of Munster and Connacht in Thomond Park.

Rugby • 24 Oct

18 October 2025; Werner Kok of Ulster dives over to score Ulster’s second try during the United Rugby Championship match between Sharks and Ulster at Kings Park in Durban, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile

Ulster catch Sharks cold with bonus-point away win

Ulster extended their 100% record to three matches in the United Rugby Championship with a superb 34-26 bonus-point win over the Sharks in Durban.

Rugby • 18 Oct

Ulster are looking to make it back-to-back wins against South Africa opposition

Ulster make five changes for Sharks encounter

Ulster have made five changes to the team that beat Bulls for tomorrow's URC meeting with the Sharks in Durban.

Rugby • 17 Oct

29 November 2024; Werner Kok of Ulster during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Leinster at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Updated United Rugby Championship round 4: All you need to know

The Irish derby clash between Leinster and Munster is the standout fixture of round four of the United Rugby Championship.

United Rugby Championship • 18 Oct

Munster and Leinster set to turn it up to 10 at Croker

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Jonny Holland on this week's RTÉ Rugby podcast to discuss the major news of the week in Irish rugby.

United Rugby Championship • 15 Oct

11 October 2025; Stuart McCloskey of Ulster celebrates with Nathan Doak, right, after scoring their side's first try during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Vodacom Bulls at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfil

Ulster trample Bulls to claim bonus-point victory

Ulster recorded a 28-7 win over last season's beaten URC finalists Bulls at Affidea Stadium.

Rugby • 11 Oct

26 September 2025; Jimmy O'Brien of Leinster in action against Leolin Zas of DHL Stormers during the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Leinster at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile

United Rugby Championship Round 3: All You Need to Know

It's round three of the United Rugby Championship with all four provinces in action following last weekend's storm-affected fixture list. Find out all you need to know here.

Rugby • 16 Oct

20 September 2024; A general view inside the stadium before the United Rugby Championship match between Edinburgh and Leinster at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Ulster's clash with Edinburgh postponed due to storm

Ulster's United Rugby Championship match away to Edinburgh scheduled for tonight has been postponed due to Storm Amy.

Rugby • 03 Oct

22 March 2025; Scott Penny of Leinster in action against Harold Vorster, left, and Jannes Kirsten of Vodacom Bulls during the United Rugby Championship match between Vodacom Bulls and Leinster at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo by

United Rugby Championship Round 2: All You Need to Know

Everything you need to know ahead of this weekend's Round 2 games in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

United Rugby Championship • 03 Oct

Storm warning sees Ulster kick-off brought forward

The kick-off time for Ulster's United Rugby Championship clash against Edinburgh on Friday evening has been brought forward to 7pm due to Storm Amy.

Rugby • 02 Oct

26 September 2025; Harry Sheridan of Ulster is tackled by Fine Inisi of Dragons during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Dragons at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Ulster tame Dragons to make winning start to URC season

Ulster ran in six tries as they opened up their United Rugby Championship campaign with a 42-21 victory over Dragons in Belfast.

Rugby • 26 Sep

14 June 2025; Leinster captains Caelan Doris and Jack Conan and retiring teammate Cian Healy lift the URC trophy as they team celebrate after the United Rugby Championship Grand Final match between Leinster and Vodacom Bulls at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo

Familar faces and new blood as URC kicks off

The URC returns this weekend with some familiar faces and some new blood on the scene as Munster, Connacht and Ulster aim to close the gap to defending champions Leinster.

Rugby • 26 Sep

7 June 2025; Sam Prendergast, right, and Jimmy O'Brien of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship semi-final match between Leinster and Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

URC teams: Internationals back for Irish provinces

Sam Prendergast will start at out-half for Leinster, as Leo Cullen's side get the defence of their BKT United Rugby Championship title under way on Friday against the Stormers in Cape Town.

United Rugby Championship • 25 Sep

27 April 2024; Gus McCarthy of Leinster is tackled by Marcel Theunissen and Ruben van Heerden of DHL Stormers during the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Leinster at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Harry Murphy

United Rugby Championship Round 1: All you need to know

The new BKT United Rugby Championship gets under way this weekend, the fifth season of this iteration of the competition.

United Rugby Championship • 26 Sep

Who is playing to impress in the URC this season?

With the United Rugby Championship season kicking off this week, Bernard Jackman and Johne Murphy pick out some of the young - and not so young - players who could make an impact in 2025/26.

United Rugby Championship • 25 Sep

Provinces asked to do more with less as URC returns

As a new United Rugby Championship season begins, Jonny Holland writes that the provinces are being asked to do more with less resources.

Rugby • 23 Sep

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

Ulster Rugby

Ulster turn on jets after break to burn off Benetton

URC teams: Munster & Ulster welcome back internationals

Belfast-bound Bell focussing on Ireland first

Leinster to 'reflect' on shock opening block

Baloucoune hat-trick helps Ulster to bonus in defeat

United Rugby Championship Round 5: All You Need to Know

West debuts as Connacht make nine changes for Munster

Provinces looking to end contrasting starts on a high

Donal Lenihan's URC verdicts as Munster host Connacht

Ulster catch Sharks cold with bonus-point away win

Ulster make five changes for Sharks encounter

Updated United Rugby Championship round 4: All you need to know

Munster and Leinster set to turn it up to 10 at Croker

Ulster trample Bulls to claim bonus-point victory

United Rugby Championship Round 3: All You Need to Know

Ulster's clash with Edinburgh postponed due to storm

United Rugby Championship Round 2: All You Need to Know

Storm warning sees Ulster kick-off brought forward

Ulster tame Dragons to make winning start to URC season

Familar faces and new blood as URC kicks off

URC teams: Internationals back for Irish provinces

United Rugby Championship Round 1: All you need to know

Who is playing to impress in the URC this season?

Provinces asked to do more with less as URC returns

Pressure on Connacht and Ulster to come back stronger