Irish Rugby

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Australia prop Angus Bell will make his first Ulster start in Friday's United Rugby Championship game against Leinster at Aviva Stadium (19:45 GMT).

Short-term signing Bell, who came off the bench in the Challenge Cup fixtures against Racing 92 and Cardiff, starts at loose-head with Ireland internationals Tom O'Toole and Tom Stewart completing the front row.

Centre Stuart McCloskey returns from the groin injury he sustained on Ireland duty last month. He is joined in midfield by Jude Postlethwaite, who missed last weekend's defeat by Cardiff because of concussion.

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has recalled several players after rotating his squad for the Cardiff game, with Nick Timoney and Juarno Augustus returning to the back row.

Jacob Stockdale is restored at full-back, while Rob Baloucoune - who has scored five tries this season - returns to the right wing. The first-choice half-back pairing of Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy are also recalled.

Ethan McIlroy is set for his first appearance since January from the bench after recovering from a knee injury.

Ireland forward James Ryan will earn his 100th Leinster cap in Friday's interprovincial derby.

URC holders Leinster will be captained by Jack Conan, who came through graduated return to play protocols, with Caelan Doris not named in the squad.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made 11 changes from last weekend's Investec Champions Cup win at Leicester.

New Zealand international Rieko Ioane will play his first URC game after a couple of Champions Cup appearances, while Sam Prendergast is restored at fly-half after Harry Byrne was preferred for the Leicester game.

Ulster have won four out of five URC games this season while Leinster have three wins and three defeats from six. Leinster won both meetings last season, including a comprehensive 41-17 win at Aviva Stadium in April.

Leinster: Frawley; Kenny, Ioane, Tector, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Boyle, G McCarthy, Slimani, Deeny, Ryan, Soroka, Penny, Conan (capt).

Replacements: Sheehan, P McCarthy, Furlong, J McCarthy, Deegan, Gunne, Byrne, Moloney.

Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Postlethwaite, McCloskey, Kok; Murphy, Doak; Bell, Stewart, O'Toole, Sheridan, Irvine, McCann, Timoney (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: Andrew, Crean, Wilson, Hopes, B Ward, McKee, Flannery, McIlroy.

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British and Irish Lions legend Willie John McBride believes reverting to only using the bench to replace injured players would leave rugby as a "far better game".

Ulster hero Mike Gibson was Test rugby's first substitute when he took the place of Barry John for the Lions against South Africa in 1968.

Tactical replacements in the international game were not introduced until 1996, however.

In recent years, led by back-to-back World champions South Africa and their use of the so-called 'Bomb Squad', deployment of the bench is now considered an integral part of the game.

"We didn't have any reserves. If you got injured with Ireland, they put you on the wing because you knew the ball wasn't going to get there," McBride told the Ireland Rugby Social podcast.

"If you could stay on the field you stayed on and if not, you played with 14. So replacements were very important for injury."

McBride has little time for the modern-day approach to rugby as a squad game.

"I'll be quite honest, that's one of the things that annoys me terribly," he added.

"We have changed rugby from a 15-man game into a 23-man game and that drives me crazy. They talk about bomb squads...absolute nonsense.

"I think we should get back to a 15-man game with reserves for injury only and I think we'd have a much better game."

In their most recent Test match, a dominant 73-0 victory over Wales, South Africa named Cobus Reinach as their only back on the bench, bringing on seven forwards across the contest.

Chief amongst McBride's concerns is the fear that bringing on an almost a fresh pack during a game will increase the risk of injury.

"It's just not fair," he said. "The chances of injury are so much more because you've fresh men against tired men.

"These guys that they rush on at the end are 25 stone probably, huge guys who couldn't play 80 minutes of rugby.

"That's unfair for a start. The whole game is wrong the way they've done this."

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Ireland back row Jack Conan will be available for selection when Leinster welcome Ulster to Dublin on Friday night.

The return to United Rugby Championship (URC) action after the two-week break for European competitions sees Ulster visit the Aviva Stadium (19:45 GMT) for their first interprovincial derby of the 2025-26 campaign.

Conan, 33, started Leinster's 23-15 Champions Cup victory over Leicester on Friday night but was taken off after an early collision with Tigers full-back Freddie Steward.

Leinster said the number eight has "come through the graduated return to play protocols", while the availability of Tadhg Furlong, Will Connors and Jimmy O'Brien will be assessed as the week progresses.

Leo Cullen's side offered no updates on the respective injuries of Hugo Keenan, Jamie Osborne, Jordan Larmour, Ryan Baird, Andrew Porter, Garry Ringrose and RG Snyman.

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy believed his side were "in control" of the game before giving up a 14-point advantage to lose to Cardiff in the Challenge Cup.

The northern province were 26-12 ahead after 65 minutes of the game but tries from Danny Southworth and Dan Thomas levelled matters before Callum Sheedy won the game for the hosts with the last kick of the contest.

It was the second large lead surrendered by Ulster at the Arms Park in as many seasons after they fell 21-19 having led 19-0 at half-time in the United Rugby Championship (URC) last October.

"We're 14 points up, we're in control of the game, but we stopped playing a little bit and a couple of loose kicks sort of brings Cardiff back into the game and puts us under pressure," said Murphy.

"[It was a] disappointing way to finish."

'Their second try can't be a try'

Murphy was frustrated that Cardiff's second try of the game, a score which gave the hosts a 12-0 lead, was allowed to stand having felt Leigh Halfpenny had knocked the ball on in the build-up.

"Their second try can't be a try because it hits his [Halfpenny's] hand, hits his chest and goes forward. I'm not sure what the rules are, except for that's definitely a knock on," said Murphy.

"There was quite a few questionable moments within the game. I suppose we don't want to talk about the officiating, but it's hard when things like that go amiss."

Having still taken two points from the defeat, coupled with the bonus-point win over Racing 92 in their Challenge Cup opener last weekend, the 1999 European champions have seven points at the halfway stage of Pool 3.

Despite rotating for the loss against their URC rivals, Ulster remain in a strong position in a competition where four teams from the six in each pool advance to the knock-out stages.

"If you had said two points before the game, would we have taken it? Maybe, but I suppose the big feeling at the moment is just disappointed with how we finished the game," Murphy added.

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European Challenge Cup

Connacht: (38) 52

Tries: Boyle (3), Blade (2), Illo, Bolton (2) Cons: Gilbert 6

Black Lion: (0) 0

Back row Paul Boyle scored a first-half hat-trick as Connacht eased to a 52-0 Challenge Cup victory over Black Lion in Galway.

The Georgian visitors were overpowered at the Dexcom Stadium with Connacht scoring six tries in the first-half alone.

The westerners surrendered a 21-0 advantage to lose to Ospreys in their European opener last week but the result was never in danger this time around.

Boyle, who was a try scorer for Ireland 'A' in their victory over Spain last month, opened the scoring after only 54 seconds with Shalva Aptsiauri then sent to the sin bin for a trip on Chay Mullins.

Boyle got his second before the visiting winger returned to the field in the 16th minute, with Caolin Blade the next to go over after good work from Hugh Gavin.

The once-capped Boyle completed his hat-trick on the half-hour mark with both Sam Illo and Shay Bolton following him across the whitewash before the turn.

With Sam Gilbert converting four of the six scores, Stuart Lancaster's side led 38-0 at the break.

With the game won in the first half, there was something of a let up after the restart with both Blade and Bolton bagging their second of the game and Gilbert converting both for the only scores of the second half.

Connacht return to United Rugby Championship action next week when they travel to Dragons on 20 December before the first of their festive interpros at home to Ulster a week later.

Connacht: Gilbert; Mullins, Gavin, Forde, Bolton; Carty, Blade; Duggan, Heffernan, Illo, Murray, O'Brien, Hurley-Langton, Boyle.

Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Bohan, Barrett, Joyce, Murphy, Devine, Hawkshaw, West.

Black Lion: Takaishvili; Tabutsadze, Tapladze, Kakhoidze, Aptsiauri; Tsirekidze, Peranidze; Khatiashvili, Kvatadze, Darbaidze, Babunashvili, Epremidze, Tsikhistavi, Tsutskiridze, Sinauridze.

Replacements: Mamukashvili, Kakovin, Chkhartishvili, Ganiashvili, Kervalishvili, Spanderashvili, Lutidze, Todua.

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Irish teams Clovers and Wolfhounds have both named their squads for the Celtic Challenge which begins on 20 December.

The cross-border women's tournament is now in its third season and for the first time will feature play-offs and a grand final.

Defending champions Wolfhounds, who open their campaign at home to Edinburgh at Energia Park (14:30 GMT), will again have Neill Alcorn at the helm.

They are, however, without 2025 Six Nations Player of the Championship Aoife Wafer following her move to Harlequins.

But Alcorn has included the likes of Claire Bole, Linda Djougang, Fiona Tuite, Aoife Dalton, Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Dannah O'Brien and Aoibheann Reilly, who were all part of Ireland's World Cup squad earlier this year.

Clovers, who finished two points behind the Wolfhounds last year, will again be managed by Denis Fogarty and take on Gwalia Lightening in their first game which is also at Energia Park (11:30).

He has also named a number of players from Ireland's World Cup squad in his panel.

Beth Buttimer, Ruth Campbell, Ivana Kiripati, Sadhbh McGrath, Siobhan McCarthy, Enya Breen, Amee Leigh Costigan, Meabh Deely, Emily Lane, Anna McGann and Beibhinn Parsons are all included.

The top four after 10 rounds of fixtures in the Celtic Challenge will progress to the semi-finals, with the title to be decided on the weekend of 29 March, the venue of which has yet to be confirmed.

Wolfhounds squad:

Forwards: Alma Atagamen (Leinster), Kathy Baker (Leinster), Sophie Barrett (Ulster), Claire Boles (Ulster), Regan Casey (IQ Rugby), Meabh Clenaghan (Ulster), India Daley (Ulster), Linda Djougang (Leinster), Poppy Garvey (Connacht), Christie Haney (Leinster), Kate Jordan (Leinster), Cara McLean (Ulster), Caoimhe Molloy (Leinster), Maeve Óg O'Leary (Munster), Naoise Smyth (Leinster), Fiona Tuite (Ulster)

Backs: Megan Burns (Leinster), Katie Corrigan (Leinster), Aoife Dalton (Leinster), Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Leinster), Stacey Flood (Leinster), Jade Gaffney (Leinster), Eve Higgins (Leinster), Amy Larn (Leinster), Niamh Marley (Ulster), Kate Farrell McCabe (Ulster), Dannah O'Brien (Leinster), Robyn O'Connor (Leinster), Aoibheann Reilly (Connacht), Katie Whelan (Leinster)

Clovers squad:

Forwards: Jemima Adams Verling (Connacht), Ella Burns (Connacht), Beth Buttimer (Munster), Eilish Cahill (Munster), Ruth Campbell (Leinster), Jane Clohessy (Munster), Saoirse Crowe (Munster), Sally Kelly (Munster), Ivana Kiripati Connacht), Siobhan McCarthy (Munster), Aoibheann McGrath (Munster), Sadhbh McGrath (Ulster), Lilly Morris (Munster), Aoibhe O'Flynn (Munster), Faith Oviawe (Connacht), Ailish Quinn (Connacht), Rosie Searle (Leinster)

Backs: Enya Breen (Munster), Aoife Corey (Munster), Amee Leigh Costigan (Munster), Méabh Deely (Connacht), Caitriona Finn (Munster), Kate Flannery (Munster), Siofra Hession (Connacht) Emily Lane (Munster), Lucia Linn (Munster), Anna McGann (Connacht), Alana McInerney (Munster), Niamh Murphy (Leinster), Béibhinn Parsons (Connacht), Eve Prendergast (Munster)

Clovers' and Wolfhounds' fixtures:

20 December

Clovers v Gwalia Lightening (11:30)

Wolfhounds v Edinburgh (14:30)

3 January

Clovers v Wolfhounds (15:00)

10 January

Edinburgh v Wolfhounds (15:00)

11 January

Brython Thunder v Clovers (12:00)

18 January

Wolfhounds v Brython Thunder (12:00)

Clovers v Glasgow Warriors (15:00)

25 January

Clovers v Brython Thunder (12:00)

Wolfhounds v Glasgow Warriors (15:00)

31 January

Glasgow Warriors v Clovers (14:00)

1 February

Wolfound v Gwalia Lightening (12:30)

14 February

Gwalia Lightening v Clovers (13:00)

15 February

Glasgow Warriors v Wolfhounds (14:00)

21 February

Brython Thunder v Wolfhounds (12:30)

Clovers v Edinburgh (12:30)

28 February

Gwalia Lightening v Wolfhounds (13:00)

Edinburgh v Clovers (13:00)

8 March

Wolfhounds v Clovers (15:00)

21/22 March

Semi-final one (TBC)

Semi-final two (TBC)

28/29 March

Final (TBC)

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Tom Stewart will captain Ulster for the first time as head coach Richie Murphy rings the changes for the Challenge Cup trip to Cardiff on Saturday (20:00 GMT).

Stewart, who captained Ireland XV's win over Spain last month, will lead a side showing nine alterations from last week's thumping win over Racing 92 in Belfast.

The 24-year-old replaces Rob Herring at hooker, while loose-head prop Callum Reid also comes into the front row.

Harry Sheridan and Charlie Irvine are retained in the second row, with Sean Reffell and Bryn Ward recalled to the back row.

Murphy has opted to switch up his half-back pairing for the first time this season with Conor McKee and Jake Flannery handed starts, while centre Ben Carson, wing Werner Kok and full-back Stewart Moore are also added to the backline.

Wallabies prop Angus Bell is again named on the bench after making his debut last week. Fit-again Ireland forward Cormac Izuchukwu also makes the bench after missing two months out with a foot injury.

Instonians full-back Bradley McNamara could make his debut after being handed the number 23 shirt. Replacement hooker John Andrew is set for his first appearance since March, while uncapped prop Rory McGuire and James Humphreys are also included.

Jacob Stockdale, Rob Baloucoune, Jude Postlethwaite, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Sam Crean, Rob Herring and Nick Timoney are all rested after starting the Racing game.

Ulster: Moore; Kok, Hume, Carson, Z Ward; Flannery, McKee; Reid, Stewart (capt), O'Toole, Sheridan, Irvine, McCann, Reffell, B Ward.

Replacements: Andrew, Bell, McGuire, Izuchukwu, Augustus, Shanahan, Humphreys, McNamara.

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Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has recalled Harry Byrne at fly-half in one of seven changes for Friday's Investec Champions Cup trip to Leicester (20:00 GMT).

While Sam Prendergast started last week's opening pool win over Harlequins, Byrne is given the chance to impress on the European stage after catching the eye in three United Rugby Championship starts this season.

Coincidentally, Byrne's last Champions Cup start for Leinster was a 27-10 away win over Leicester in January 2024.

The 26-year-old, who spent part of last season on loan at Bristol, last started a Champions Cup game for Leinster in January 2024

Joining Byrne in the backline is All Blacks star Rieko Ioane, who is handed his first Leinster start after making his debut off the bench against Quins.

Ioane is partnered by the returning Robbie Henshaw in midfield, while James Lowe is fit to start on the left wing after recovering from a calf injury.

James Ryan is named in the second row after serving his suspension following a red card in Ireland's November defeat by South Africa, while there are two front-row changes as Tadhg Furlong and Ronan Kelleher replace Thomas Clarkson and Dan Sheehan at tight-head prop and hooker.

Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Ioane, Henshaw, Lowe; Byrne, Gibson-Park; P McCarthy, Kelleher, Furlong, J McCarthy, Ryan, Conan, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Sheehan, Boyle, Clarkson, Mangan, Deegan, McGrath, Prendergast, Frawley.

Image source, Inpho

It will be "months for sure" before Ireland wing Mack Hansen returns from injury, according to Connacht scrum and contact coach Cullie Tucker.

Hansen emerged as a doubt for the 2026 Six Nations after undergoing surgery on his foot last week.

The 27-year-old first sustained the problem on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia and missed all three Tests of the victorious series.

The Australia-born back-three player reaggravated the issue on his only provincial appearance of the season against the Bulls in October and subsequently missed Ireland's autumn Tests against New Zealand and Japan.

He was named at full-back for the first time in his international career against Australia and marked his return with a memorable first-half hat-trick.

A week later against South Africa, however, he was replaced after 64 minutes and is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

"Yes, surgery went well. It was obviously an unusual and invasive surgery for him," said Tucker.

"He's in the very early parts of recovery now. In terms of timeline I'm not exactly sure but you're talking months for sure.

"It is very early stages after it but he's out and he's at home recovering at the moment."

Ireland start their 2026 Six Nations away to France on 5 February.

Having broken into the Ireland team during the 2022 Six Nations, Hansen played every minute of the 2023 Grand Slam campaign on the right wing, scoring three tries.

However, he missed the 2024 tournament because of a shoulder injury and endured an interrupted championship earlier this year, missing the Scotland and France games with hamstring and quad issues.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Ulster hooker Tom Stewart says he is getting "into a bit of a groove" ahead of Saturday's Challenge Cup trip to Cardiff.

Stewart made an impact off the bench as he touched down one of seven second-half tries as Ulster marked their return to action last week with a commanding 61–7 victory over Racing 92 in Belfast.

The 24-year-old has struggled with injuries in recent seasons but now feels he is getting back to his best form, helped by a run of games heading into a busy festive period that includes successive inter-provincial clashes with Leinster, Munster and Connacht.

"I had that surgery on my ankle there a while ago. I'm starting to feel my body out a wee bit more and things are starting to look up a bit, which is positive," Stewart told BBC Sport NI.

"Getting a good run of games in a bit of time is nice too, getting the flow and feel for rugby. I feel like I'm starting to get into a bit of a groove of things.

"We're getting a run of games there, which is quite nice. Finding a bit of form, coming into Europe and stuff like that is good. We're looking forward to getting this week and then getting a run at the inter-pros."

Cardiff may have lost their European opener 38-17 at Stade Francais, but they have won five of their opening six United Rugby Championship games.

"I suppose you look at them in the other competition in the league (URC), they're doing really well. Especially at home, they're turning that place into a bit of a fortress, it's a hard place to go.

"They have a lot of good international players. It will be a challenge, but one we're really looking forward to," Stewart continued.

"Coming off the back of Europe and then coming home, they'll obviously be looking for that big emotional drive.

"Getting back into their stadium will be massive for them. Cardiff Arms is a great place to play rugby and the crowd really get behind them. They'll be looking to finish off this block with a good win."

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has urged his side to "keep our foot on the pedal" after emerging from the autumn break with a couple of thumping home wins.

After a month without a game, Ulster returned to action with a 47-13 win over Benetton in the United Rugby Championship before opening their Challenge Cup campaign with 61-7 demolition of an understrength Racing 92.

But with a Challenge Cup fixture away to Cardiff on Saturday (20:00 GMT) followed by three successive inter-provincial derbies against Leinster, Connacht and Munster, Murphy says his players cannot afford to lose momentum over a demanding festive period.

"We're coming off the back of a couple of good wins. The boys are playing some really good rugby. [We're in a] very positive place," said Murphy.

"We just have to make sure we keep our foot on the pedal and not lose sight of the thing that have made us good over the last few weeks."

Ulster led Racing 14-7 at half-time but hit 47 unanswered points after the break in an impressive nine-try display.

While Murphy was pleased with his side's appetite for tries, he says attention this week has centred on areas in which the team can improve.

"We reassessed and met the players on Monday morning, had a good review and looked at a few areas where we can definitely do better," he added.

"They've been the focus point this week and Cardiff are a different challenge, so we've got to move on quickly."

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Murphy has also been buoyed by the manner in which the squad's younger players have acquitted themselves recently.

Charlie Irvine, 22, played 80 minutes in the second row against Racing, a couple of 21-year-olds in Joe Hopes and Bryn Ward came off the bench while Murphy's son Jack - also 21 - has started every game this season at fly-half.

"The confidence that's in the team at the moment is fantastic," he said.

"Joe Hopes coming off the bench, Charlie Irvine starting, both 21 or 22 years of age. Jack at 10, Bryn coming on into the back row, Juarno [Augustus] isn't exactly an old man at 26 and Belly [Angus Bell] is 24.

"It's a young squad, it's exciting, our goal is to play the brand of rugby that we're playing.

"As long as we can stick to that and work really hard together and improve week on week, we'll be a very hard team to beat."

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Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey has signed a two-year contract extension at Munster to remain with the province until at least 2028.

The 26-year-old has made 104 appearances for Munster since his debut in 2019, scoring 22 tries.

Casey was part of the Munster side that won the United Rugby Championship in 2023, featuring 18 times across the campaign.

He captained Munster for the first time in their 34-21 win over Scarlets in the URC in September and has scored two tries in three appearances for Clayton McMillan's side this season.

The 24-capped Ireland international won the Grand Slam with Andy Farrell's side in 2023 and the Six Nations title in 2024.

He captained Ireland for the first time on the 2025 summer tour and led the side to victories over Georgia and Portugal.

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Ireland will play their first Women's Six Nations game at Connacht's newly-developed Dexcom Stadium during next year's tournament.

Scott Bemand's side will host Italy at the Galway venue - which will fully open in January - on 18 April and will welcome Wales to Belfast's Affidea Stadium on 9 May.

The Ireland women's side's only previous appearance in Galway was a 15-8 victory over Canada in April 2006.

As previously announced, Ireland will play their first standalone Women's Six Nations fixture at Aviva Stadium when they host Scotland on 17 May.

Ireland open their tournament away to holders England at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium on 11 April. They will also travel to France on 25 April.

Bemand's side finished third behind England and France in the 2025 Six Nations two wins and three defeats in five games.

Ireland will be hoping to build on this year's World Cup campaign in England which included pool wins over Spain and Japan before a narrow quarter-final defeat by France.

The Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU]'s head of women's performance and pathways Gillian McDarby said the union is "determined to build on the groundswell of support the team received" at the World Cup.

"Confirmation that Galway, Belfast and Dublin will host home matches in 2026 is an exciting development, ensuring the visibility of the team grows and there is accessibility to world class women's sport across all areas of the country," said McDarby.

"We look forward to working with Connacht Rugby, Ulster Rugby and the team at Aviva Stadium to deliver memorable events for all our supporters, partners and stakeholders, and building further on the positive momentum behind the Green Wave into 2026."

Ireland's 2026 Women's Six Nations fixtures (times BST)

Saturday, 11 April: England v Ireland, Allianz Stadium, 14:25

Saturday, 18 April: Ireland v Italy, Dexcom Stadium, 17:40

Saturday, 25 April: France v Ireland, TBC, 20:10

Saturday, 9 May: Ireland v Wales, Affidea Stadium, 18:30

Sunday, 17 May: Ireland v Scotland, Aviva Stadium, 14:30