Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Munster are looking to bounce back from three defeats in a row

Prendergast calls on Munster players to 'stand up'

Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast admits stewing over three defeats over the last month has been "challenging" but is adamant the club can make the top-eight of the URC.

Rugby • 05 May

Leinster's Rónan Kelleher, Connacht's Shayne Bolton and Ulster's Stuart McCloskey

URC team news ahead of Round 16

Rónan Kelleher will captain Leinster for the first time, as head coach Leo Cullen makes nine changes to his side for Saturday's trip to Scarlets.

United Rugby Championship • 25 Apr

Munster won 20-15 in their last meeting with Cardiff in March 2024

URC Round 16: All you need to know

With just three rounds of games left in the URC regular season, here's everything you need to know leading into Round 16.

United Rugby Championship • 25 Apr

An officiating mess, Ireland march on in Newport

Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Johne Murphy to look back on the week's big talking points in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

United Rugby Championship • 23 Apr

Alan O'Connor has played 210 times for Ulster

O'Connor and Warwick among eight players leaving Ulster

Veterans Alan O'Connor and Andrew Warwick will both leave Ulster at the end of the season, as Richie Murphy's rebuild continues at the province this summer.

Rugby • 22 Apr

'Ulster could be a lot higher up the table with a small bit more consistency and luck from an injury front'

Lack of selection consistency is harming Ulster's push

Ulster are an exciting team with a huge amount of potential, but currently they don't have the consistency of selection or the ability to pick their most experienced players at one time.

Rugby • 22 Apr

Dan Sheehan was the fourth different try-scorer for Leinster and managed a second-half hat-trick

Leinster thrash Ulster as Sheehan scores hat-trick

Dan Sheehan scored a second-half hat-trick of tries in Leinster's 41-17 United Rugby Championship win over Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 19 Apr

Leinster winger Tommy O'Brien races in for the opening try of the game

United Rugby Championship recap: Leinster 41-17 Ulster

Leinster enjoyed another dominant victory as they beat Ulster at Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 19 Apr

(L-R) Ulster coach Richie Murphy, Munster's Ian Costello, and Connacht interim coach Cullie Tucker

Play-off fight heating up in URC's packed middle tier

Before Richie Murphy's Ulster can think about winning against Leinster at the Aviva this evening, they first must find a way to score.

United Rugby Championship • 19 Apr

(L-R) Leinster's Garry Ringrose, Ulster's Cormac Izuchukwu, Munster's Lee Barron and Connacht's Jack Carty

URC: Provinces name teams for Round 15

Leinster have made 12 changes to their side for Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship Interpro against Ulster at Aviva Stadium, although head coach Leo Cullen has retained several of his frontline internationals across his matchday squad.

United Rugby Championship • 18 Apr

Leinster were 27-20 winners against Ulster when the sides met in November

URC Round 15: All you need to know

Four rounds of games to go, and aside from Leinster who are a mile clear at the top, and Dragons, who are cut adrift at the bottom, there's a lot to be played for in the BKT United Rugby Championship, starting with this weekend.

United Rugby Championship • 18 Apr

Irish provinces will now pay 40% of the cost of central contracts

Provinces to pay more towards IRFU central contracts

The IRFU have confirmed that provinces will have to make a greater contribution towards the cost of central contracts from next year following a review of the national player contracts system.

Rugby • 15 Apr

Murphy proud after Ulster go down fighting in Bordeaux

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy was proud of his battling players as they slipped out of the Champions Cup following a 43-31 defeat at Bordeaux-Begles in the last 16.

Rugby • 06 Apr

Joey Carbery had four successful kicks in the first half

Bordeaux too strong for Ulster with Carbery on song

Ulster saw their Champions Cup campaign come to an end in France as Bordeaux Begles registered a narrow victory, which included a brilliant first half performance by Joey Carbery.

Rugby • 06 Apr

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

Could Munster's meeting with La Rochelle be Peter O'Mahony's final game in the Champions Cup?

Old friends and new rivalries in Champions Cup last 16

After another pool stage that failed to deliver in the Investec Champions Cup, the EPCR would have been rubbing their hands with glee after the Round of 16 threw up the game that pretty much everyone has wanted to see for the last four years.

Rugby • 05 Apr

Alex Nankivell (right) will miss Munster's game against La Rochelle

Team news: Nankivell two-match ban, Leinster 15 changes

Alex Nankivell has failed in his appeal against his red card in last weekend's BKT United Rugby Championship win against Connacht, and will miss Munster's Investec Champions Cup last-16 meeting with La Rochelle in France.

Rugby • 04 Apr

Rob Baloucoune last played for Ulster in April

Baloucoune boost for Ulster as Stormers hit town

Rob Baloucoune is set for his first appearance of the season when Ulster welcome Stormers to Belfast on Friday night.

Rugby • 27 Mar

URC Round 14: All you need to know

The novel derby clash of Connacht and Munster at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park is the standout fixture in round 14 of the BKT United Rugby Championship.

Rugby • 29 Mar

Ulster dampen down Dragons fire to claim win

Ulster made it back-to-back wins in the United Rugby Championship as they recorded a 34-30 victory over Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Rugby • 22 Mar

Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman are in South Africa to take on the Bulls

URC: Leinster start Barrett and Snyman for Bulls clash

Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman have been named in the Leinster side to take on Bulls in Saturday's URC clash in Pretoria.

United Rugby Championship • 21 Mar

Leinster's Jordie Barrett and Jimmy O'Brien at the captain's run on Friday

Rainbow lessons learned for Leinster

Leinster are sitting pretty at the top of the table but Connacht and Ulster are in catch-up mode as the URC season goes down the final stretch.

Rugby • 22 Mar

Bulls beat Leinster when the sides last met in the 2024 semi-final

URC Round 13: All you need to know

The home stretch of the BKT United Rugby Championship is coming into view with all four provinces having something to play for.

Rugby • 22 Mar

Richie Murphy's side beat Dragons 12-0 when the sides last met in Wales in 2022

Murphy: Ulster have no more room for 'slip-ups'

Sitting three places off the bottom of the United Rugby Championship table, Richie Murphy knows there's no margin for error as they bid to reach the play-offs.

Rugby • 20 Mar

John Cooney has scored over 1,000 points for Ulster

Cooney to leave Ulster for France at end of season

Ulster Rugby have confirmed that scrum-half John Cooney will leave the province at the end of the season to join CA Brive in France.

Rugby • 17 Mar