With the new BKT 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.
We put the spotlight on Leinster and Munster yesterday, so now it's time to see how Connacht and Ulster are shaping up, as they look to get back on track after poor seasons in 2024/25.
CONNACHT
Last season: A season that started off promisingly completely unravelled. Connacht were good on the eye last season, but defensively they were a mess.
A gunslinging defeat to Munster to open the season was followed by wins against Sharks and Scarlets, before a run of six defeats in seven games left them chasing a lost cause in the URC.
For a while, it looked like they could have been contenders in the Challenge Cup, but despite securing the top seed in the knockout stage, a quarter-final defeat to Racing 92 saw the back door route into the Champions Cup shut.
Like Munster, the province also had to deal with a mid-season coaching change. Pete Wilkins was placed on medical leave just after the Six Nations break, with Cullie Tucker coaching them on an interim basis for the remainder of the season, while Wilkins would eventually step down from his role by the end of the campaign.
What's new? Connacht made a real statement with their appointment of Stuart Lancaster (above) as head coach, with the former Leinster senior coach coming in on a two-year deal to replace Wilkins.
The ex-England head coach will also be coming to Galway with a point to prove, having departed Racing 92 just over 18 months after being appointed head coach in Paris.
Things are coming together for the province off the pitch, with their new high-performance facility and indoor pitch now open, while they are set to cut the ribbon on their new stand at Dexcom Stadium by the end of the year.
They were dealt a blow with highly regarded attack coach Mark Sexton moving to Ulster, and they have replaced him with experienced Australia Rod Seib, who joins from the Brumbies.
Scott Fardy has also departed his role of defence coach, but John Muldoon and Cullie Tucker remain part of the coaching ticket, covering lineout, maul, scrum and contact skills.
John Devine, Finn Treacy and Harry West have all been promoted to the senior team, while there’s only one new signing in the door in Galway: versatile back Sam Gilbert (above) is set to join from Highlanders in Super Rugby once he finishes his commitments with Otago in the NPC.
Primarily a full-back, the 26-year-old goal-kicker has also played centre, wing and out-half in his career, and has scored 14 tries in 50 Super Rugby appearances.
JJ Hanrahan and Andrew Smith have both moved to Munster, Santiago Cordero has departed after two seasons, with Piers O’Conor leaving for Edinburgh after one campaign. Surprisingly, the province also left back row Conor Oliver go at the end of last season.
First three fixtures: Benetton (H), Scarlets (H), Cardiff (A)
One to watch: He made a real splash in the second half of last season, and it will be fascinating to see how Finn Treacy (below) continues his development in 2025/26.
The Wicklow native only made his debut for the province in January, but scored five tries in eight appearances, one of the few positives for the province in the final third of last season.
Treacy only turned 21 in August, and the former Ireland U20 international has skipped the final year of the academy to sign a senior contract at the province.
An injury has prevented him from featuring in the province’s two pre-season friendlies, but he’s back training again and looks well-placed to be a first-team regular for Stuart Lancaster.
ULSTER
Last season: There’s no way of sugar coating it. Missing out on qualification for the Champions Cup for the first time ever was a devastating blow to Ulster Rugby.
With four game to play last season, Richie Murphy’s side were keeping their head above water in what had been a very difficult season with a young side.
Sixth in the table at the time, they would pick up just one point in their final four games, finishing 14th overall, and the lowest of the Irish provinces.
Those final four defeats to Leinster, Sharks, Munster and Edinburgh sealed their fate, but several games earlier in the campaign is where they should have the real regrets.
In Round 6, they were 19-0 up away to Cardiff at half time, before losing 21-19. Just before Christmas it looked like they had eked out a win against Munster following Scott Wilson’s 75th minute try, only to lose the game in the final two minutes. Worse was to come in January, with back-to-back defeats to Zebre and Benetton.
While they reached the last 16 of the Champions Cup and went down fighting away to eventual champions Bordeaux-Begles, they limped into the knockout stages with just one win from their four pool games.
What’s new? This will be a second full season in charge for Richie Murphy, and he looks determined to put his own stamp on the team.
From a coaching point of view, Murphy has got the band back together again, reuniting with his assistant coaches from the 2023 U20 Six Nations Grand Slam win.
Mark Sexton has joined from Connacht to take charge of the attack, with Dan Soper moving to a new role in development and transition. Jimmy Duffy has stayed on as forwards coach, and Willie Faloon is now in as defence coach.
Murphy leaned on youth last season, and those players will now have to step up after the departure of several veteran players in the summer.
Ireland internationals John Cooney and Kieran Treadwell have joined Brive and Harlequins, respectively, while Matty Rea, Alan O’Connor and Andrew Warwick were all released, despite being first-team regulars last season.
Corrie Barrett and Michael McDonald have moved on, former Ireland U20 captain Reuben Crothers has been forced to retire, and Kiwi out-half Aidan Morgan has departed following a disappointing campaign in Belfast.
There are two exciting additions to the squad, however.
South African back row Juarno Augustus (above) was a key part of the Northampton Saints squad that reached the final of the Champions Cup, and was outstanding in their semi-final win against Leinster. The 27-year-old will add a lot of firepower to the pack.
On top of that, Ulster are following the lead of Leinster in bringing in a high-profile non-Irish qualified player on a short-term deal, with Wallabies loosehead prop Angus Bell set to arrive after the Autumn Nations Series.
The other arrivals see props Sam Crean and Rory McGuire come in from Saracens and Leinster respectively, while Joe Hopes, Charlie Irvine and Jack Murphy have been promoted from the academy.
First three fixtures: Dragons (H), Edinburgh (A), Bulls (H)
One to watch: We aren't picking out a deep sleeper with his choice, but after showing plenty of potential on his return to the XVs game last season, there will be a lot off interest in how Zac Ward (below) continues his development.
The former Sevens international was a back row earlier in his career, but returned from the programme as a winger last season, where a short-term trial at Ulster led to a full contract.
Ward made eight appearances last season, scoring five tries, and his potential has also been recognised by the national coaches, who have included him in Emerging Ireland, Ireland A, and as a training panellist with the senior team.
Player of the match in Ulster’s pre-season win against Edinburgh last week, he looks ready to hit the ground running.
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