Connacht scrumhalf Matthew Devine is to join Ulster next season. The 23-year-old has started only two games this season, the same as in the whole of the last campaign, and in a bid to earn more game time The Irish Times understands the Galway native has agreed to transfer to Ulster. A product of Ballinasloe … Read more
URC: Connacht 23 Leinster 34 Not quite the cherry on top. Connacht gave it the big fight on their big night in front of a record 12,481 to mark the opening of their impressive new Clan Stand, but Leinster remained cool in the Galway furnace to ensure the old order remained intact. The thunderous occasion … Read more
Cian Prendergast gets it now. By his own admission, he didn’t always. But now in his sixth season after joining the Connacht academy in 2020 and approaching his 96th cap for the province and in his second season as captain, he’s long since realised that representing Connacht and the west of Ireland is unique. There … Read more
Brothers Sam (left) and Cian Prendergast embrace after a Leinster and Connacht URC match at the RDS. Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile Cian and Sam Prendergast wished each other luck at the start of the week, but that will be the extent of the communication between the brothers before tomorrow’s sold-out interpro derby at the redeveloped Dexcom … Read more
Connacht star Mack Hansen being transported off the pitch after aggravating his foot injury against the Bulls in October – a setback which flared up playing for Ireland a month later and has now ruled him out for the entire season. Photo: Sportsfile Ireland and Connacht star Mack Hansen is set to miss the remainder … Read more
Game of Thrones has come home to Ireland with the new spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Sky Atlantic, 9pm, NOW) – and what a rewarding return to its misty spiritual heartland it proves. As with the original series, it was filmed in Belfast and its environs – and you can tell. The rain … Read more
Any disappointment Leinster might feel at finishing the pool stages as third seeds, failing to earn a top-two draw for the fourth season in a row, has been offset by them ending up in the opposite half of the draw to reigning champions Bordeaux Bègles and six-time winners Toulouse. As the only Irish side still … Read more
Challenge Cup: Connacht 75 Montauban 14 Connacht’s investment in young players is paying dividends for the province, seeing them march on to the Challenge Cup knockout stages. Head coach Stuart Lancaster said confidence is growing with a “very good group of young players coming through” after their 75-14 demolition of Montauban in their final pool … Read more
This week’s squad will tell us if Irish head coach is planning to stick with his gradual evolution, or whether he thinks the project needs a sharp shock Ireland’s head coach Andy Farrell. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile The international rugby landscape changed significantly on Wednesday night when Scott Robertson was removed from his position as All … Read more
Connacht 75 Montauban 14 Cian Prendergast of Connacht evades the tackle of Lewis Bean of Montauban during the Challenge Cup match at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile Connacht ran in eleven tries against a second‑string Montauban side at Dexcom Stadium to book their place in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup. Connacht … Read more