United Rugby Championship

Confident Munster looking to extend good run

Edinburgh away always a difficult assignment but Munster can maintain their bid for a high placing on the league table and the home knockout benefits that accrue

James Ryan and Hugo Keenan set to boost Champions Cup chances by playing against Ulster

Garry Ringrose’s participation remains in doubt due to ‘frustrating’ injury

Richie Murphy confirmed as Ulster’s permanent head coach

Former Ireland U20s boss signs a two-year deal after leading Ulster to four wins and three defeats so far in his tenure

‘I gave them a bit of a rocket af half-time’ - Richie Murphy demands more of Ulster after Scarlets win

Despite trailing at half-time, Ulster scored four times against an ill-disciplined Welsh outfit to keep playoff hopes alive

Leo Cullen still seeks improvement as Leinster thrash Ospreys to move into second

Welsh outfit kept in touch as Leinster mistakes ensured a sluggish first half

Connacht left ‘hurting’ as Munster run in seven tries in Thomond thumping

Pete Wilkins ‘hugely disappointed’ as Munster show their class in URC encounter

Leinster pick strong lineup for Ospreys clash as they chase success on two fronts

Leo Cullen makes only five changes to side that started against Northampton last week

Munster focused on URC drive up table when Connacht come to Thomond Park

With 19,000 tickets already sold, Munster will have the crowd behind them and be keen to nail an interprovincial success

Scarlets host Ulster who continue to eye URC playoffs and come into game on the back of two wins

Home side worst-performing team in league but visitors far from convincing in victories against Cardiff and Benetton

URC team news: Munster and Connacht announce sides for Thomond Park clash

Jimmy O’Brien makes first Leinster start since December against Ospreys; Ulster make five changes for trip to Scarlets

Ospreys firmly in Ryan Baird’s sights as he focuses on next business

Ryan Baird eager to follow up memorable Champions Cup semi-final win by getting Leinster’s URC title ambitions firmly back on track

Conor Oliver relishes return to Munster as Connacht seek crucial win

‘When these pressure situations come, I think we react very well,’ says flanker

Rugby referee mailbag: Send your questions to our refereeing expert Owen Doyle

Send in your question to our columnist, former Test referee and former director of referees at the IRFU, Owen Doyle

Munster’s Denis Leamy on Simon Zebo: ‘His God-given talent is massive’

Defence coach praises the 34-year-old as province move towards their last three URC matches before knockout phase

Ulster jostle for playoff place with no leeway for slip-ups

Rob Herring, Kieran Treadwell and Stewart Moore back from injury for the visit to Parc y Scarlets

Will Connors pushing hard for more game time at Leinster

Flanker has signed a new contract with Leinster and is in the mood to challenge established players

‘It’s 100 per cent a big motivation’ - RG Snyman aiming to leave Munster on a high

The fit-again Springbok hopes to help Munster to back-to-back URC titles before he departs for Leinster

Connacht lose outhalf JJ Hanrahan for remainder of season due to ACL injury

31-year-old suffered knee injury in win over Dragons; Jack Carty returns to action after hamstring injury

Connacht move into URC playoff places but Dragons win comes at a cost

A red card for Ben Carter swung the contest in Connacht’s favour as they prevailed with a bonus point

Leinster fall again in South Africa as Stormers run rampant

Leo Cullen’s side loses top spot in the URC as Glasgow Warriors leapfrog them thanks to their win over Zebre

Munster secure another victory over the Lions to wrap up stellar South Africa tour

Two bonus-point victories in as many weeks in South Africa leaves Graham Rowntree’s men in a healthy spot on the URC ladder

Ulster hold on for crucial bonus point win over Benetton

A frenetic, forward and back contest sees Richie Murphy’s side boost their URC playoff hosts

Gavin Thornbury returns from injury as Connacht look for back-to-back wins in Dragons clash

Pete Wilkins’ side could build some much-needed momentum having beaten Zebre last weekend during this URC playoff run-in

Leo Cullen rings the changes with Leinster facing another storm in South Africa

A young, inexperienced 23 will look to bounce back from a resounding defeat to the Lions last time out in Johannesburg

Munster make one change ahead of Lions trip as Seán O’Brien starts at centre

O’Brien starts in the centres alongside Antoine Frisch as Graham Rowntree largely keeps faith in the XV which secured a win over the Bulls

Young tighthead Scott Wilson a rare shining light for Ulster

Richie Murphy’s side go in search of a much-needed victory over Benetton on Friday night to boost URC standing

Stuart McCloskey returns to much-changed Ulster backline ahead of Benetton clash

Richie Murphy makes seven changes to his backline ahead of home fixture with significant URC playoff ramifications

It seems the 6-2 split is here to stay as Munster prepare to face the Lions

When Munster winger Calvin Nash failed a head injury assessment, Leinster’s Ciarán Frawley came on. Then Frawley also went down, leaving Conor Murray as Ireland’s other backline replacement

‘We just like the place’: Mood music is good on Munster’s URC road show

Before taking on the Lions as part of their attempt to finish the season on a high, Graham Rowntree’s side have returned to a familiar spot in Cape Town

Knee injury ends Steven Kitshoff’s brief Ulster stay earlier than expected

South African loosehead prop will head home to undergo knee surgery

Struggles in South Africa complicate Leinster’s run-in

Leo Cullen says injured trio may be fit in time for Champions Cup showdown with Northampton

Brilliant win over Bulls suggests Munster fans need to raise their game at Thomond

A long-term successor to Conor Murray and Jamison Gibson-Park may be emerging in Connacht

Mack Hansen in line for Connacht return for Munster derby date

Argentina fullback Santiago Cordero also set to return before the end of the season

Eight-try Connacht sweep past Zebre for much-needed URC win

Matthew Devine named player of the match after a two-try display at the Dexcom Stadium in Galway

Late Conor Murray try hands Munster surprise away victory over the Bulls

Pretoria-based side hindered by a 54th minute red card for Johan Goosen after a high tackle on Craig Casey

Understrength Leinster blown away by the Lions in Johannesburg

Home side scores three tries in the first 15 minutes to blow away Leo Cullen’s side in a rare URC defeat

Jordie Barrett’s signing is a compliment - Leinster and Ireland garner more intrigue than ever before

It’s hard to think of a week when the province flexed their collective muscle to the extent they could announce signings, new coaches and a new home venue

Late drama sees Ulster pip Cardiff in Richie Murphy’s first home game in charge

Last gasp John Cooney penalty hands Ulster a much-needed win in a scrappy affair at the Kingspan Stadium

Gerry Thornley: Munster’s coffers would benefit from a rare home knockout tie

Province hasn’t hosted a playoff game in Thomond Park in either the URC or Champions Cup since the European tie two seasons ago against Exeter

Finlay Bealham to make 200th Connacht appearance in must-win clash with Zebre

Home fixture with the struggling Italian side must lead to vital league table points as Connacht battle for a top-eight finish

Munster face tough task to get back on track against Bulls

Graham Rowntree makes six personnel changes and one positional switch to the side beaten by Northampton

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...
The Irish Times ePaper

Common Ground

How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands

Stardust

Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people