Tag Archives: ulster

Ulster have made one change to their side ahead of their final Heineken Champions Cup Pool 3 game against Bath at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday.  Despite their loss to Clermont Auvergne at the weekend, Ulster remain confident of securing a Champions Cup quarter-final spot knowing that any manner of victory against Bath will see them progress. Tom O’Toole – who …

Munster have named their starting XV ahead of their crucial Heineken Cup Champions Cup against Racing 92 in Paris on Sunday afternoon. Johann van Graan’s side have been handed a timely boost with the return of out-half JJ Hanrahan to the starting XV which contains eight changes from the team that faced Ulster last weekend. Niall Scannell starts at hooker …

Dan McFarland has rung the changes for Ulster’s PRO14 inter-provincial derby against Leinster on Friday evening in the RDS Arena.  On the back of a successful run in Europe which saw the Irish provinces record back-to-back wins over Harlequins, McFarland has rested his star players for the trip to Dublin. Alan O’Connor will captain the side on the occasion of …

Ulster Rugby have banned an individual from all future games following reports of abusive behaviour during this month’s game against Harlequins at the Kingspan Stadium. Ulster Chief Executive Jonny Petrie tweeted the decision on Wednesday saying complaints had been made by supporters attending the December 7 clash in Belfast. “As a result of complaints made by other supporters at the …

Ulster have made two changes to the side that defeated Harlequins last Saturday for their return Heineken Champions Cup clash at Twickenham Stoop on Friday. A penalty from John Cooney in the dying seconds of the game in Kingspan Stadium gifted Ulster a 25-24 win last weekend following a thrilling game. However, Dan McFarland’s side will be wary of the …

The Kingspan Stadium played host to Ulster’s Heineken Champions Cup clash with Harlequins this afternoon as the northern province took a big step towards qualification for the knockout stages with a 25-24 win. Dan McFarland’s side looked threatening early on and could have had the first score on the board after just four minutes only for a knock on giving …

What a way to get over the calamity that was the Rugby World Cup in Japan by getting stuck back into one of the best tournament’s European sport has to offer.  The Heineken Champions Cup provided Irish rugby fans with the perfect cure for our World Cup hangovers as each province lit up the opening weekend en route to four …

An emotional Alby Mathewson admitted that he has “no plans in the pipeline” as he nervously awaits news on his future with Munster. Mathewson originally joined the province in 2018 on a short-term contract as injury cover for Conor Murray. However, he signed further contract extensions that saw him remain with the province until the end of the World Cup. …

While Japan may continue to hold the focus of rugby fans, there is plenty of action at home as all four provinces feature in the PRO14 this weekend. On Friday evening, Leinster welcome Ospreys to the RDS for their first home game of the season. Meanwhile, both Munster and Ulster are in action in South Africa as they take on …

Summer signings Jack McGrath, Sam Carter and Matt Faddes will all earn their first Ulster caps in Friday’s Guinness PRO14 opener versus Ospreys at Kingspan Stadium. Head coach Dan McFarland has named McGrath in the front row alongside captain Rob Herring and Tom O’Toole, with Carter partnering Kieran Treadwell in the second row. Matthew Rea, Jordi Murphy and Sean Reidy …

The full list of fixtures have been announced for this season’s Heineken Champions Cup with all four Irish provinces involved in the competition. Last year’s beaten finalists Leinster will fancy their chances in a pool containing Lyon, Benetton and Northampton and begin this year’s tournament against the Italian side on Saturday 16th of November at 15:15 in the RDS They …

Connacht duo Jack Carty and Colby Fainga’a are among seven Irish-based players in the PRO14 Dream Team of the Season 2019. The nod at fly-half caps off an impressive year for Carty after winning his first international cap against Italy during the Guinness Six Nations while he also became Connacht’s record point-scorer. In total, 11 clubs are represented in a …

Ulster have named their starting XV ahead of Friday’s PRO14 semi-final against Glasgow Warriors with Jacob Stockdale returning to the side after injury. The Irish international comes back into the XV and starts at fullback while Louis Ludik also returns on the wing for Dan McFarland’s side in the only two changes to the starting lineup. Darren Cave is named …

Six Irish players have been included in French publication Midi Olympique’s Champions Cup team of the tournament. Saracens were the victors in this season’s competition after they denied Leinster the chance to retain the crown beating them in Newcastle by 20-10 on Saturday. Despite finishing as runners up, Leo Cullen’s side managed three inclusions with Tadhg Furlong in at tighthead …

Ulster 21 Connacht 13 Ulster provided a fitting Kingspan Stadium farewell to Rory Best and Darren Cave as they secured a nervy win over Connacht to progress to the Guinness PRO14 semi-final against Glasgow. It was a typically tight affair between the inter-provincial rivals but Ulster were the deserved winners having taken many lessons from their defeats to Connacht earlier …

The final interprovincial derbies of the regular PRO14 season will take place this weekend with Munster welcoming Connacht to Thomond Park while reigning champions, Leinster, travel to Kingspan Stadium to face Ulster.  It is a must-win game for Johann van Graan’s side in Limerick if they are to have any hope of topping PRO14 Conference A and qualifying directly for the …

Ireland and Ulster captain, Rory Best, has confirmed that he will retire from rugby following the World Cup in October.  Best is Ulster’s most-capped international with 116 appearances (10 tries) and has helped Ireland win the Six Nations Championship on four occasions, including two Grand Slam successes (one as captain). He made his competitive debut for Ulster in 2004 and …

Captain, Rory Best, has praised Ulster’s signing of “world class” player, Jack McGrath who will join from Leinster at the end of the season.  The 29-year-old has won 54 caps for Ireland to date and featured in all three Tests on the 2017 British and Irish Lions Tour of New Zealand. Having fallen down the pecking order in Leinster, McGrath …