Irish Rugby

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Fly-half Jack Murphy has signed a two-year contract extension to remain at Ulster until 2028.

The 21-year-old arrived at the province in the summer of 2024 from Leinster and initially linked up with Ulster's academy side.

He was then promoted to the first team by his father and Ulster head coach Richie and made his debut against Munster in December 2024.

Murphy was the top points scorer in the 2024 Under-20 Six Nations Championship and his impressive form for Ulster this season has earned him a call-up to the Ireland XV side for February's fixture against England 'A' in Limerick.

"I'm very happy to be staying at Ulster for another two years. From the minute I joined I have felt very welcomed by the staff, players and the Ulster supporters," said Murphy, who has made 25 appearances for the province.

"I'm enjoying my time here and the opportunities to play in both the URC and Europe.

"We have showed the clear progress we are making together and I'm very driven to continue that development with my teammates in the future."

Ulster's general manager Rory Best added that tying Murphy down to a new deal was "another key contract priority" for the province following the recent extensions handed out to the likes of Nathan Doak and Cormac Izuchukwu.

"Jack has shown an impressive maturity for his age and has already shown that he can lead our attack from number ten," he said.

"His kicking game is a real point of difference for our style of play and the way we want to put pressure on the opposition.

"The exciting thing about Jack is the potential that he has, and we must continue trying to make the most from his talent over the seasons ahead."

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All Black Reiko Ioane returns to start in a much-changed Leinster side for their United Rugby Championship game against Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Leo Cullen is without a host of Ireland internationals and makes 12 changes in total to the side that beat Connacht last weekend, a result that moved them up to third in the URC table.

Only Joshua Kenny, RG Snyman and Charlie Tector retain their places, with Tector switching to fly-half as Luke McGrath comes in to captain the side from scrum-half.

Ciaran Mangan and Andrew Sparrow will make their first starts for Leinster while Ruben Moloney, John McKee and Jerry Cahir come into the side.

Brian Deeny, Max Deegan, Scott Penny and Diarmuid Mangan are also included as Niall Smyth, Gus McCarthy, Will Connors and Fintan Gunne all drop to the bench.

Leinster: A Osborne; J Kenny, R Ioane, C Mangan, R Moloney; C Tector, L McGrath (capt); J Cahir, J McKee, A Sparrow; RG Snyman, B Deeney; M Deegan, S Penny, D Mangan.

Replacements: G McCarthy, A Usanov, N Smyth, C O'Tighearnaigh, J Eriscon, W Connors, F Gunne, H McLaughlin.

Five switches for Connacht for Zebre game

Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster has made five changes for their trip to Parma take on Zebre on Saturday.

Darragh Murray, Billy Bohan, and captain Cian Prendergast, who started in last week's defeat to Leinster, all miss out with the latter pair away with Ireland at their Six Nations training camp in Portugal.

They are replaced by Niall Murray, Jordan Duggan and Sean O'Brien.

Jack Aungier comes in for the injured Sam Illo at tight-head prop while Chay Mullins starts in place of Finn Treacy on the left wing.

Oisin McCormack is amongst the replacements as he is named in the matchday squad for the first time this season.

Bundee Aki is not in the squad as he begins a four-game ban for "verbal abuse and disrespect" towards match official.

Connacht: S Gilbert; S Jennings; H West, C Forde; C Mullins, J Ioane; C Blade; J Duggan, D Tierney-Martin, J Aungier; J Murphy, J Joyce; P Boyle, S O'Brien, S Jansen.

Replacements: M Victory, P Dooley, F Barrett, D O'Connor, N Murray, B Murphy, S Naughton, O McCormack.

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Ulster hooker Rob Herring and wing Zac Ward have both been recalled for the province's United Rugby Championship game against Cardiff at the Affidea Stadium.

Herring, who was amongst the replacements for the late 27-22 defeat by Scarlets last weekend, joins Scott Wilson and Angus Bell in the front row.

The second row remains unchanged, with captain Iain Henderson joined by Charlie Irvine.

In the back row, Marcus Rea makes his first start of the season while scrum-half Conor McKee comes into the team.

Ward returns to the backline alongside Ethan McIlroy, who makes his first start of the season at full-back after recovering from a knee injury.

Ben Carson will make his first URC start of the campaign at inside centre, while Richie Murphy opts for a 5:3 split among the replacements.

Bryan O'Connor, Lorcan McLoughlin and Ben Moxham are all in line for their first appearances of the season off the bench.

Jacob Stockdale, Nathan Doak, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Baloucoune, Tom O'Toole, Jude Postlethwaite, Tom Stewart, Cormac Izuchukwu and Nick Timoney are all away on Ireland duty.

Ulster: McIlroy; Kok, Hume, Carson, Ward; Murphy, McKee; Bell, Herring, Wilson; Henderson (capt), Irvine; Dalton, Rea, McCann.

Replacements: McCormack, Crean, O'Connor, Sheridan, McLoughlin, Shanahan, Flannery, Moxham.

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Ireland Under-20s fly-half Tom Wood is set for his senior debut when Munster travel to Glasgow in the United Rugby Championship on Friday night (19:45 GMT).

The 19-year-old, who is the son of former Ireland captain Keith Wood, has been named on the bench with Jack Crowley among the Ireland internationals missing to prepare for the Six Nations and JJ Hanrahan injured.

Hanrahan had been set to start Munster's win over the Dragons last week but pulled out late, with Tony Butler instead starting at Musgrave Park.

Butler has kept the 10 jersey for the trip to Scotstown and will again form the half-back pairing with Ethan Coughlan.

Munster head coach Clayton McMillan has made four changes to the side that beat Dragons.

Centre Alex Nankivell will miss three to four weeks with a foot injury, meaning Diarmuid Kilgallen comes on to the wing with Shane Daly switching to midfield.

Props Josh Wycherley and Oli Jager take the places of Jeremy Loughman and Michael Alaalatoa respectively, while lock Evan O'Connell replaces South African World Cup winner Jean Kleyn in the second row.

Munster go into the game fifth in the URC, five points behind league leaders Glasgow.

Munster Rugby: M Haley; T Abrahams, S Daly, D Kelly, D Kilgallen; T Butler, E Coughlan; J Wycherley, D Barron (C), O Jager, E O'Connell, F Wycherley, S Edogbo, R Quinn, B Gleeson.

Replacements: L Barron, M Donnelly, J Ryan, G Coombes, J O'Donoghue, P Patterson, T Wood, S O'Brien.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

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Having missed last year's Six Nations because of his British and Irish Lions commitments, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has been quickly reminded of the headaches that are part and parcel of preparing a squad before the championship.

Farrell is, of course, no stranger to squad-related stresses. In 2023, Jamison Gibson-Park and Cian Healy both withdrew injured from the matchday squad just hours before Ireland's Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.

Ireland won that game 34-10 and went on to secure the Grand Slam, but the build-up to next week's curtain-raiser against holders France in Paris has felt particularly trying.

A few issues at least emerged well in advance. In early December, Connacht said it would be "months for sure" before Mack Hansen, a strong option at wing or full-back, returns from a foot injury.

But the problems have continued to mount for Farrell since he named a 37-man squad on 21 January.

With Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy already sidelined, Farrell's hand at loose-head prop was further weakened when Jack Boyle withdrew from the squad after sustaining a bad leg injury in Leinster's win over Connacht last weekend.

Given Ireland's chastening evening against South Africa's scrum in November, their absence may be keenly felt.

Munster flanker Tom Ahern also withdrew, with the uncapped Billy Bohan and Cormac Izuchukwu drafted in, but further problems have emerged after Ireland touched down in Portugal for their usual pre-tournament training camp.

Having already admitted that his injury list is "larger than normal", Farrell has lost full-back Hugo Keenan to a fractured thumb.

Keenan's training-ground injury is a cruel blow for the 29-year-old after having only returned from the hip problem that has kept him out since his star turn for the Lions last summer.

With the fly-half debate ongoing, 15 is now a problem position for Farrell. Jamie Osborne started there against New Zealand and Japan in November, and while he is in the squad, he has not played since the win over the Brave Blossoms.

Ulster's Jacob Stockdale, Leinster's Ciaran Frawley and Munster's Jack Crowley - who is also battling Sam Prendergast and Harry Byrne for the 10 shirt - are all options for Farrell to consider.

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Farrell will also be without veteran centre Bundee Aki for the France, Italy and England matches after he was suspended for verbally abusing match officials.

Aki was the subject of a misconduct complaint following Connacht's Unuted Rugby Championship loss to Leinster and was handed a four-game ban by an independent disciplinary committee that includes his club's game against Zebre this weekend.

While Aki will be available for Ireland's matches against Wales and Scotland, it remains to be seen whether Farrell brings him back into the squad.

Last year, Aki's Connacht team-mate Hansen was handed a three-match ban for comments he made about now-retired referee Chris Busby.

With Aki absent, Stuart McCloskey appears in pole position to start at inside centre in Paris next week after impressing there during an injury-hit autumn campaign.

The France game's unusual Thursday night slot had already shortened Farrell's preparation window, and with a growing list of absentees, leaving Paris with a victory next week would represent one of the most impressive achievements of the Englishman's six-year reign.

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Leinster flanker Will Connors will join Connacht on a two-year deal next summer, the provinces have confirmed.

The 29-year-old has won 62 caps for Leinster having made his debut in February 2018 and started the 2024 Investec Champions Cup final loss to Toulouse.

He has nine caps for Ireland, the last of which came in the 2021 Six Nations.

Connors is the second Ireland international to swap Leinster for Connacht in recent weeks after the western province confirmed a deal to bring Ciaran Frawley in ahead of the 2026-27 season.

"I've had a fantastic nine seasons with Leinster, and am very grateful for all that was achieved in that time," said Connors.

"I look forward to finishing the season strongly before making the move West in the summer and joining up with a really exciting and talented group.

"After chatting to Stuart and the team, it's clear there's enormous ambition in the club to be successful in the years ahead."

Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster said Connors will be a "big asset" having previously worked with him at Leinster.

"His tackling ability and defensive work rate is well known, but he has real attacking strengths too which I am looking forward to developing," said Lancaster.

"He also has a positive personality who brings great energy to the group and real potential as a leader."

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Ulster have confirmed utility back Stewart Moore is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Moore, who posted about his injury on social media last week, will undergo surgery in early February, likely ruling him out until next season.

Full-back Mike Lowry is following return to play protocols after sustaining a concussion in the opening minute of last weekend's defeat by the Scarlets and will not be available to face Cardiff in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game in Belfast (19:45 GMT).

With Jacob Stockdale away on Ireland duty, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy, there may be an opportunity at full-back for Ethan McIlroy, who has made one substitute appearance for the province this season or Jake Flannery, who replaced Lowry last weekend.

"Jacob's not here, Ethan McIlroy's back, he played AIL (All-Ireland League) last weekend. Jake Flannery has played there as well and there's a couple of young lads knocking around as well," said Murphy.

"We still have some options and it'd be nice to see some other guys put their hand up because our team has been quite settled over this period."

There is a similar dilemma in the front row with Rory McGuire ruled out for the next number of weeks because of a shoulder injury.

With Tom O'Toole's Ireland call-up, Murphy is without two of his tight-head props before Saturday's United Rugby Championship game at home to Cardiff (19:45 GMT).

Murphy also said that in-form wing Rob Baloucoune has carried a "light strain" into Ireland camp before next week's Six Nations opener against France in Paris.

"He's travelled with Ireland and they're looking after him," he said.

"I don't think there will be any problem with availability for him for next Thursday's game."

He added: "He's not in our hands so it's hard to know but looking at what showed up and how he presented after the game, people are quite positive that he'll be available."

Murphy is also without Cormac Izuchukwu, Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Nathan Doak, Bryn Ward and Stuart McCloskey, who are with the Ireland squad in Portugal.

After the Portugal camp, training panellist Ward will link up with the Ireland XV squad before the 6 February game against England A at Thomond Park.

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Captain Caelan Doris says Ireland are determined to atone for a disappointing end to last year's Six Nations, starting with next week's tournament opener against holders France.

Ireland beat England, Scotland and Wales to secure the 2025 Triple Crown before their bid for a third successive title fell apart in a hugely demoralising 42-27 loss to France in Dublin.

While Ireland endured a mixed autumn campaign that included losses to New Zealand and South Africa, Doris says the squad are targeting a statement win over Les Bleus in the Thursday night curtain-raiser at Stade de France.

"The way the fixtures fell last year we obviously had the Triple Crown after three games and it was the last two games that let us down," the 27-year-old Leinster back row told the BBC.

"We obviously won in Rome but the nature of the performance wasn't where we would have liked it and having lost to France the week before, it left a bit of a sour taste in the mouth.

"So there's excitement for upping the performances and getting the results we're after from the start this year."

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Doris, who has made 23 Six Nations appearances, will lead Ireland out against a France side shorn of some high-profile players.

While fit-again captain Antoine Dupont is back, head coach Fabien Galthie opted not to select France's all-time top try-scorer Damian Penaud, veteran centre Gael Fickou and back row Gregory Alldritt, who skippered the side in Dupont's absence last year.

Having faced Alldritt on several occasions for both club and country, Doris admits he was surprised by the 28-year-old's omission.

"If you look at the Top 14 week in, week out, there's so many quality players at the top level, they've got an abundance of talent to choose from," added Doris.

"I was surprised Alldritt wasn't in it. I obviously faced him and La Rochelle a few weeks ago. I rate him very highly but they've got quality across the back row and I'm sure [Anthony] Jelonch will represent the eight shirt very well.

"It's always a big threat playing against France, especially away from home at a hostile place like Stade de France, so looking forward to it."

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has called Cormac Izuchukwu and the uncapped Billy Bohan into his squad for their Six Nations opener against France in Paris on 5 February.

Izuchukwu was described as "not currently available" when Ireland named their original 37-man panel on Wednesday and he did not feature in Ulster's defeat by Scarlets on Saturday.

However, he was part of the group that assembled at the Irish Rugby Football Union's (IRFU) High Performance Centre on Sunday, replacing Munster's Thomas Ahern.

Loose-head prop Bohan comes in to the panel after Jack Boyle became Ireland's latest injury worry up front.

Already without Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy, Leinster's Boyle suffered a leg injury after 20 minutes of his province's win over Connacht on Saturday.

After coming off at half-time for Ulster in Parc y Scarlets, Ireland say wing Robert Baloucoune will "continue to be assessed over the coming days".

Ireland will start their Six Nations on Thursday, 5 February in the Stade de France before hosting Italy and travelling to England in rounds two and three.

After a one-week break, they conclude with a pair of home games against Wales and Scotland.

Farrell's side will travel to Portugal on Tuesday for their final preparations before the championship.

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Dublin-born Joshua Brennan has been called into the France squad for their Six Nations opener against Ireland in Paris on 5 February.

The Toulouse lock, who is the son of former Ireland second row Trevor Brennan, has been added to Fabien Galthie's squad as a replacement for his club-mate Thibaud Flament.

On Thursday Flament said he would miss the game because it clashes with his wife's fertility treatment.

The 24-year-old Brennan made his France debut against the All Blacks in July, appearing twice on the tour of New Zealand when Galthie rested many of his front-line players.

He has again been a regular at the Stade Ernest Wallon this season, starting nine games for Toulouse and coming off the bench in a further three.

While primarily a lock, he has also appeared in the back row.

Trevor Brennan won 13 caps for Ireland between 1998 and 2001 before moving to play in France with Toulouse in 2002.

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said his side "need to be better" at taking their opportunities after they were beaten by a last-play try against Scarlets on Saturday.

The Irish province had led 22-20 as the clock went red at Parc y Scarlets but fell to their third United Rugby Championship (URC) loss of the season when Ellis Mee went over in the 83rd minute.

Prior to the dramatic finish, Ulster had dominated the second half but failed to put the game away.

"Coming away to Wales is never easy. It's always tough," said Murphy after the loss to a side who had gone into the game bottom of the league.

"If you leave the game in the balance, you know that these Welsh clubs will come back at you later on. So when we look at from 40 minutes to probably 60 minutes, we had opportunities to take the game away from them there and we couldn't quite do that.

"So we need to be better in that area. We had plenty of opportunity across the game."

Murphy said it was "hard to believe" that Scarlets centre Eddie James was not shown a first-minute yellow card for a tackle on Mike Lowry and described the officiating around the maul as "interesting".

The former Ireland under-20s coach was also unsure of whether there was sufficient evidence to disallow a Jake Flannery score for a forward pass in the second half.

Despite his view on some of the big decisions, he felt his team were "just slightly under the level" they had previously shown this season.

"We've just got to keep trying to get better. This is a step backwards at the moment, but we can use that and learn from it and move on," he said.

"Our goal at the start of the season was always to get into the top eight and make sure that we get back into the Champions Cup. That goal hasn't changed."

Ulster have fallen to sixth in the table and are next in action at home to Cardiff on 24 January (19:45 GMT).