Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

James Lowe hasn't played since picking up a calf injury in the quarter-final win against Leicester Tigers

Lowe passed fit as Leinster make 12 changes for final

James Lowe has been passed fit to start for Leinster in Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup final at the Aviva Stadium.

La Rochelle's Irish trio of Ultan Dillane, Ronan O'Gara and Donnacha Ryan

La Rochelle: European champions developing Irish accent

A La Rochelle team with a growing Irish influence could put an end to Ulster's Heineken Champions Cup hopes on Saturday.

Rugby • 14 Jan 23

Ultan Dillane is leaving Connacht with fond memories

Dillane tackles 'phenomenal memories' after swansong

Ultan Dillane says he is leaving Connacht with "phenomenal memories" as his decade-long association with the province came to an end.

Rugby • 22 May 22

Saturday will be Ultan Dillane's final game for Connacht if he's selected

Juggling act for Andy Friend ahead of season finale

Andy Friend says he's hoping to give some of his departing players a Sportsground swansong in their final game of the season, but says he still needs to keep a "balance" in his squad to face Zebre Parma.

Rugby • 18 May 22

Ultan Dillane will leave Connacht at the end of the season

'Ultie is first and foremost a brilliant human being'

Connacht senior coach Pete Wilkins says there are no ill-feelings towards Ultan Dillane, after the second row confirmed he would leave the province at the end of the season.

Rugby • 22 Dec 21

Dillane has played 122 times for Connacht since his debut in 2014

Ultan Dillane to leave Connacht at end of season

Connacht second row Ultan Dillane has confirmed he will leave the province at the end of the season, with reports suggesting he is set to join Ronan O'Gara at La Rochelle.

Rugby • 21 Dec 21

Ireland trio in Connacht side to face Cardiff Blues

Ireland trio Bundee Aki, Ultan Dillane and Dave Heffernan have been named in the Connacht side for Saturday's Guinness Pro14 fixture against Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground.

Pro14 • 19 Feb 21

Ultan Dillane is hoping to add to his 17 Ireland caps, but the primary focus is on performing well for Connacht

Dillane hopeful Connacht will learn from confusion

Ultan Dillane isn't feeling unduly worried over contract talks and his international future, and instead is just hoping to put his best foot forward for Connacht.

Rugby • 20 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

Ultan Dillane is back for the Westerners

Pro14 teams: Dillane & Heffernan back to boost Connacht

Connacht welcome back Irish internationals Ultan Dillane and Dave Heffernan back into the fold for the Guinness Pro14 trip to Southern Kings this Sunday.

Rugby • 28 Feb 20

Ultan Dillane is still hopeful of reaching the quarter-finals

Dillane confident Connacht can qualify for knock-outs

Ultan Dillane remains confident that Connacht can still qualify for the knockout stages of this season's Champions Cup despite losing two of their opening three fixtures.

Rugby • 11 Dec 19

Bundee Aki makes his first start since the World Cup

Aki returns as Connacht name Champions Cup side

Ultan Dillane and Bundee Aki return to the Connacht starting line-up for their Champions Cup opener against Montpellier in the Sportsground on Sunday (1pm kick-off).

Rugby • 15 Nov 19

Jacob Stockdale has scored 14 tries in 19 games for Ireland

Stockdale: Nobody will be 'trotting around at 50%'

Jacob Stockdale admits that players cannot fully shake off concerns about picking up costly injuries as Ireland begin a four-game World Cup warm-up series.

Rugby • 05 Aug 19

Ultan Dillane starts for Connacht against Ospreys

Pro14 teams: Connacht welcome back big guns

Connacht have been boosted by the return of Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Tom Farrell and Caolin Blade from international duty who are named in the Connacht squad to play Ospreys in the Sportsground on Saturday.

Rugby • 01 Mar 19

Ultan Dillane is ready to press his case for Ireland after a tough 2018

Dillane eager to stake claim after difficult 2018

No player in a Joe Schmidt squad lacks for motivation, but few Ireland players can be looking forward to tackling the Italians in Rome as much as Ultan Dillane.

Rugby • 23 Feb 19

Ultan Dillane has signed a new deal with Connacht

Ultan Dillane signs new Connacht contract

Connacht have been handed a timely boost with the news that Ultan Dillane has signed a two-year contract extension with the province.

Rugby • 09 Jan 19

Andrew Trimble starts for Ulster against Scarlets

Trimble back for Ulster, Butler in for Connacht

Andrew Trimble returns to the Ulster starting line-up for their Guinness PRO14 Round 16 clash away to Scarlets on Saturday.

Rugby • 23 Feb 18

Dillane, Aki & Marmion boost Connacht's Euro push

Irish Internationals Ultan Dillane, Bundee Aki and Kieran Marmion return to Kieran Keane's Connacht side as they travel to Sixways to take on Worcester Warriors in the Challenge Cup on Saturday afternoon.

Rugby • 12 Jan 18

Connacht's Eoin Griffin gets his pass away despite Jacob Stockdale's tackle

Christmas came early to Galway as Connacht stuff Ulster

Ultan Dillane reminds Joe Schmidt of his worth with two-try salvo as Connacht rack up record win over a sorry Ulster side.

Rugby • 24 Dec 17

Dillane hasn't featured for Connacht since February.

Dillane on the bench as Lam names team for Northampton

Connacht head coach Pat Lam welcomes Ireland internationals Ultan Dillane and Matt Healy back to the match-day squad to face Northampton in a team selection that sees seven changes.

Rugby • 19 May 17

Ultan Dillane gives Connacht welcome boost

Ultan Dillane is ready to return to Connacht training ahead of their Champions Cup play-off collision with Northampton Saints on Saturday.

Rugby • 16 May 17

Ultan Dillane ruled out for rest of season

Ultan Dillane has been ruled out for the rest of the season after going under the knife to rectify a shoulder problem.

Rugby • 21 Mar 17

Ultan Dillane will miss the rest of the Six Nations for Ireland

Trimble and Dillane out of the Six Nations

Ireland's Andrew Trimble and Ultan Dillane will miss the rest of this year's Six Nations through injury.

Rugby • 06 Mar 17

Aki returns as Connacht make 6 changes for Treviso

Bundee Aki makes a welcome return to the Connacht team as Pat Lam has made six changes to his side to take on Benetton Treviso in Italy.

Rugby • 24 Feb 17

Dillane in action against Wasps in the ECC at the Sportsground before Christmas

Dillane a Six Nations doubt due to ankle injury

An ankle injury could keep Ireland lock Ultan Dillane out of the forthcoming Six Nations, dealing a blow to head coach Joe Schmidt's plans.

Rugby • 04 Jan 17