Tag Archives: ulster rugby

Jacob Stockdale is relishing the prospect of increased competition within the Ireland setup. Earlier this week it was announced that James Lowe has signed with Leinster for a further three seasons meaning the New Zealand native will be eligible for Ireland selection in the near future. Since joining the eastern province in 2017, Lowe has become a fan favourite among …

The resumption of the northern hemisphere rugby season is getting closer.  Many clubs across Europe are already back in training. In Ireland, Munster and Leinster will return to training next week while Connacht and Ulster will be back out on the paddock on June 29. For the Irish provinces, the Guinness PRO14 season is expected to return at the end …

Rory Best has outlined why he felt it easier to adjust to life as captain of Ireland than when he took over the mantle at his native Ulster. The 124-time capped international took over from his brother Simon as Ulster captain prior to the 2007/08 season and had been captain of the provincial side for eight years before Joe Schmidt …

Four Ulster players have been named in the PRO14’s Team of the Season so far following the league’s suspension due to the ongoing pandemic. The northern province’s high selection number on the team, which was selected using stats from Opta, sees them tied with Edinburgh as the most represented club on the selection team. European Player of the Year nominees …

With the 2019/20 rugby season postponed indefinitely, we’re already casting our eyes to next season and what it might have in store.  Of course, the current campaign may still be fulfilled but due to the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 and what is an already congested rugby calendar, it’s looking increasingly unlikely. So that brings us to what will hopefully be an …

There will be no shortage of headaches for competition organisers over the coming weeks and months as the Covid-19 pandemic puts a shuddering halt to the 2019/20 season.  With the current rugby season likely to be cancelled, we immediately cast our minds to the 2020/21 campaign and the potential ramifications that this unprecedented time will have on the new season. …

The EPCR have confirmed that this season’s Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals have been postponed.  The news comes as no surprise and was expected following the ongoing spread of COVID-19 which continues to spread across the globe. The organisation confirmed that the decision was made following a conference call today and that the eight games will be postponed with the entire …

Ian Madigan will join Ulster ahead of next season the province has confirmed after agreeing on terms with the out-half last month. The 30-time capped Irish international made 147 appearances for Leinster between 2009 and 2016 before joining French outfit Bordeaux Béagles. After playing just 20 times in France, Madigan linked up in Pat Lam and Bristol in 2017 where …

The PRO14 have confirmed that two games scheduled to take place this weekend have been postponed due to the threat posed by the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Italian authorities have applied restrictions on public gatherings and sporting events in the Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto regions. This has already led to the postponement of the Italy v Scotland clash in the women’s …

Former Ireland international Dan Tuohy announced his retirement from rugby yesterday claiming the game is “starting to look like it’s rotten from the core.” The 11-time capped international announced his retirement via Twitter having spent the last few seasons at French second division club Vannes. Tuohy claimed that while he loved the professional lifestyle, integrity and loyalty are now a …

Iain Henderson has admitted he’s not ready to take on the role of Ireland captain.  The Ulster lock took over the role as captain of his provincial side in the wake of Rory Best’s retirement at the end of last season. Best also relinquished his Ireland captaincy with his successor unknown, as of yet. While Johnny Sexton, Peter O’Mahony and …

Clermont Auvergne 29 – 13 Ulster  A powerful second-half performance from Clermont Auvergne saw the French side secure the win over Ulster in the top of the table Pool 3 clash. Ulster got off to a great start and showed their running intent from the off. A Stuart McCloskey linebreak and offload to Jacob Stockdale saw Ulster go deep into …

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland has named his team to take on Munster at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night (KO 7.35pm).  Ulster have made three changes to the team which recorded a bonus-point victory over Connacht in Belfast last time out. Two of those three changes sees Ireland internationals Iain Henderson and Jacob Stockdale return to the fold. Henderson …

Joey Carbery and Conor Murray have both been named in the starting XV for Munster’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium (KO 7.35pm).  Carbery made his return from an ankle injury as a replacement in last Saturday’s loss to Leinster at Thomond Park but he has now been handed a start as he looks to step up …

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has named an exciting team for the visit of Ulster to the RDS on Friday night (KO 7.35 pm) in the Guinness PRO14.  The eastern province have made wholesale changes to their matchday squad from their bonus-point win over the Northampton Saints at the Aviva Stadium last weekend. There is, however, an interesting blend of …

Harlequins 10 Ulster 34 Ulster travelled to The Stoop on Friday night to take on a Harlequins side desperate for revenge after letting a nine-point lead slip in the dying minutes last weekend in Belfast. Both sides attempted to feel one another out early on by sending long balls down on top of each other. There were early chances for …

Both Ruan Pienaar and the whole of Ulster Rugby were left devastated when the influential scrum-half was denied the chance to see out his career in Belfast. After joining the northern province in 2010, Pienaar’s family settled into life well as the South African became an integral part of the team as well as a fans favourite. However, despite longing …

Will Addison has been suspended for four weeks after being cited following a tackle on Clermont Auvergne’s Paul Jedrasiak in Round 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup. The Ulster full-back was cited by the match Citing Commissioner John Byett for a tackle on the second-row forward that was deemed to be done in a dangerous manner. The Irish international was …