Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Ulster coach Richie Murphy (left) with his son Jack prior to Friday's defeat to Munster

Family ties give Murphy solace after Ulster defeat

After seeing his team fall to a fifth defeat in a row on Friday night, Ulster coach Richie Murphy cut a frustrated figure as he tried to make sense of their 22-19 loss to Munster.

Rugby • 22 Dec 24

Costello hails Munster character after win in Belfast

Munster interim coach Ian Costello says the result was far more important than the performance, after his side pulled off a dramatic 22-19 win away to Ulster.

United Rugby Championship • 20 Dec 24

Tom Farrell scored a hat-trick for Munster

Farrell heroics give Munster late win against Ulster

Tom Farrell pulled off a Christmas miracle as Munster snatched a dramatic 22-19 bonus-point win away to Ulster, and inflicted a fifth defeat in a row on their hosts.

United Rugby Championship • 20 Dec 24

Michael Lowry will be ten years at Ulster at the conclusion of this contract extension

Lowry the latest player to extend his Ulster stay

Michael Lowry is the latest player to commit his future to Ulster, penning a three-year extension that will keep him at the province until 2028.

Rugby • 20 Dec 24

Ward made his Ulster debut against Bordeaux-Begles last week

Ward earns Ulster contract after impressive trial

Ireland Sevens international Zac Ward has committed long term to the XVs game, signing a three-year contract at Ulster following a successful trial.

Rugby • 19 Dec 24

John Cooney (l) and Gavin Coombes (r) are among those to return for Ulster and Munster respectively

Ulster and Munster make changes for Belfast Interpro

Ulster and Munster have both named much-changed sides for Friday night's United Rugby Championship Interpro at Kingspan Stadium, as they count the cost of last week's Champions Cup defeats.

United Rugby Championship • 19 Dec 24

Ulster were 21-14 winners when they last played Munster in Belfast

United Rugby Championship Round 8: All You Need to Know

Here's everything you need to know ahead of the Round 8 games this weekend in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

United Rugby Championship • 19 Dec 24

Ben Carson has scored three tries this season

Carson signs Ulster contract extension until 2028

Ulster centre Ben Carson has put pen to paper on a three year-extension that will keep him in an Ulster jersey until at least 2028.

Rugby • 18 Dec 24

Joey Carbery had his first start for the Begles in the Champions Cup against Ulster

Carbery finding his bearings in Bordeaux

Ex-Munster player Joey Carbery made the move to French side Bordeaux Begles in the summer, and has got his Champions Cup campaign with the French Top 14 side off to a flying start after getting the nod for the number 10 jersey this week.

Rugby • 15 Dec 24

Louis Bielle-Biarrey of Bordeaux-Begles on his way to scoring his side's fifth try

Bordeaux toast victory as Ulster wilt in second half

Ulster's hopes of progressing from Pool of the Champions Cup suffered another setback after they lost 40-19 against Bordeaux-Begles in Belfast.

Rugby • 14 Dec 24

Jordie Barrett starts at full-back for Leinster

Barrett set for first Leinster start against Clermont

Jordie Barrett will get his first Leinster start against Clermont in tomorrow's Champions Cup tie, while Sam Prendergast retains the out-half shirt.

Rugby • 13 Dec 24

Bordeaux beat Leicester 42-28 last weekend

Vintage Bordeaux set to test Ulster stomach for fight

Richie Murphy's Ulster may have had their sights on the visit of Bordeaux for a while, but the French flyers will also have targetted this fixture.

Rugby • 14 Dec 24

Vintage Bordeaux set to test Ulster stomach for fight

Richie Murphy's Ulster may have had their sights on the visit of Bordeaux for a while, but the French flyers will also have targetted this fixture.

Rugby • 13 Dec 24

Champions Cup Round 2: All You Need to Know

All four Irish provinces are in European action this weekend across the Investec Champions and Challenge Cups. Find out all you need to know here.

Rugby • 12 Dec 24

Updated Champions Cup Round 2: All You Need to Know

All four Irish provinces are in European action this weekend across the Investec Champions and Challenge Cups. Find out all you need to know here.

Rugby • 13 Dec 24

"Meafou in the second row was just like a bowling ball, skittling Ulster players out of the way."

Ferris: Outclassed Ulster are a 'long way off it'

Ulster were given a bracing reminder of their current place in the pecking order in the 40-point hammering away to reigning champions Toulouse, according to former flanker Stephen Ferris.

Rugby • 10 Dec 24

Aaron Sexton is leaving Ulster to join the NFL International Player Pathway

'I have the speed' - Sexton swapping rugby for NFL

Ulster's Aaron Sexton has made the decision to quit rugby and join the NFL's 2025 International Player Pathway Program.

Rugby • 09 Dec 24

Antoine Dupont scored one of Toulouse's nine tries

Ulster set unwanted record in Toulouse shellacking

Ulster claimed an unwanted record when they conceded their biggest ever Investec Champions Cup points total as Toulouse swept past them 61-21 at Stade Ernest-Wallon.

Rugby • 10 Dec 24

Champions Cup: Toulouse 61-21 Ulster - recap

Follow our minute by minute coverage as Ulster face defending champions Toulouse away from home in the opening round of the Investec Champions Cup

Rugby • 08 Dec 24

Jordie Barrett will make his Leinster debut off bench

Team news: Provinces name squads for European openers

Jordie Barrett looks set to make his Leinster debut in Sunday's Investec Champions Cup opener against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate, with the New Zealand international named among the replacements.

Rugby • 08 Dec 24

Leinster lost out to Toulouse in last season's final

Deserve has nothing to do with it - Can Blues add star?

Another year on and another final defeat older for Leo Cullen's Leinster. The big question is can the perpetual bridesmaids, fallers at the last hurdle in four of the last six renewals, get over the line this time.

Rugby • 06 Dec 24

Ulster and Toulouse meet for the sixth time in six seasons

Champions Cup Round 1: All You Need to Know

The Champions Cup gets under way this weekend with three Irish provinces starting their campaigns. Find out all you need to know here.

Rugby • 08 Dec 24

John Cooney limped off in Ulster's loss to Leinster in Belfast

Ulster to take on Toulouse without Cooney and Moxham

Ulster will be without injured pair John Cooney (hamstring) and Ben Moxham (knee) for their opening Champions Cup clash in Toulouse on Saturday.

Rugby • 03 Dec 24

Alex Kendellen celebrates after Munster got back to winning ways

URC: Leinster roll on as Munster find a way

It flew under the radar somewhat but the URC was back last weekend, with wins for Leinster and Munster, while Ulster and Connacht tasted defeat.

Rugby • 02 Dec 24

URC: Leinster roll on as Munster find a way

It flew under the radar somewhat but the URC was back last weekend, with wins for Leinster and Munster, while Ulster and Connacht tasted defeat.

Rugby • 02 Dec 24

Ulster Rugby

Family ties give Murphy solace after Ulster defeat

Costello hails Munster character after win in Belfast

Farrell heroics give Munster late win against Ulster

Lowry the latest player to extend his Ulster stay

Ward earns Ulster contract after impressive trial

Ulster and Munster make changes for Belfast Interpro

United Rugby Championship Round 8: All You Need to Know

Carson signs Ulster contract extension until 2028

Carbery finding his bearings in Bordeaux

Bordeaux toast victory as Ulster wilt in second half

Barrett set for first Leinster start against Clermont

Vintage Bordeaux set to test Ulster stomach for fight

Vintage Bordeaux set to test Ulster stomach for fight

Champions Cup Round 2: All You Need to Know

Updated Champions Cup Round 2: All You Need to Know

Ferris: Outclassed Ulster are a 'long way off it'

'I have the speed' - Sexton swapping rugby for NFL

Ulster set unwanted record in Toulouse shellacking

Champions Cup: Toulouse 61-21 Ulster - recap

Team news: Provinces name squads for European openers

Deserve has nothing to do with it - Can Blues add star?

Champions Cup Round 1: All You Need to Know

Ulster to take on Toulouse without Cooney and Moxham

URC: Leinster roll on as Munster find a way

URC: Leinster roll on as Munster find a way