On the surface, all seems hunky dory. The Ireland men’s team are ranked third in the world, the ever-improving women’s side are ranked fifth and Leinster are one more home semi-final win away from becoming the first side ever to reach four successive Champions Cup finals. Scratch underneath, though, and the gap between Leinster and … Read more
Making his mark: IRFU performance director David Humphreys. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile It’s coming up on a year since David Humphreys took over as IRFU performance director, and the former Ulster and Ireland out-half has wasted no time in putting his own stamp on how Irish rugby operates. Last May, shortly after Humphreys replaced David … Read more
Munster will take their Champions Cup roadshow further down the French Atlantic coast to Bordeaux Bègles after the latter’s entertaining 43-31 Round of 16 win over a doggedly defiant Ulster set up a quarter-final between the two in the Stade Chaban-Delmas next Saturday (kick-off 4pm local time/3pm Irish time). Following on from their titanic 25-24 … Read more
Sunday Champions Cup: Bordeaux Bègles v Ulster, Stade Chaban-Delmas, 12.30pm (live on Premier Sports) Bordeaux-Begles head coach Yannick Bru’s decision to rest the Six Nations player of the tournament, try-scorer extraordinaire Louis Bielle-Biarrey and French international flanker Marko Gazzotti is either braggadocio or a realistic appraisal of the task that lies in front of them. … Read more
Confused? Me too, but maybe the following will help straighten a few things out. Firstly, to the near miracle of MacHale Park. Connacht left it ridiculously late in the day to get all cylinders firing, but still came within a croc roll of winning. So often the hero, Bundee Aki was the villain, his rolling … Read more
URC: Ulster 38 Stormers 34 Ulster put together three consecutive wins on the bounce for the first time this season to breathe renewed vigour into their play-off hopes in a cracking encounter full of drama. The northern province recovered from trailing 17-0 to score six tries on their way to victory though the Stormers who … Read more
Ulster rugby star, Laois U-20 footballer and Ballyboden goalkeeper all hope to catch the eye of American football teams as IPP opens Aaron Sexton, Ross Bolger and Mark McNamee are all in Florida this week trying to impress the NFL scouts. Photos: Sportsfile/NFL UK and Ireland What’s the hardest you’ve ever crammed for an exam? … Read more
URC: Dragons 30 Ulster 34 Ulster came from behind to dodge ruinous defeat at Rodney Parade with Scott Wilson’s late score even ensuring them a rare bonus-point victory. Trailing 24-14 at half-time, Ulster managed to grind this one out, their bench with Brive-bound John Cooney also making a significant impact to keep their playoff hopes … Read more
Attention turns to provincial action and the women’s Six Nations after a lengthy men’s international campaign. With senior internationals set to be rested domestically, which young prospects can further their summer tour aspirations with a strong display over the next few weeks? How are Ulster fixed sitting as low as 14th in the table? Connacht … Read more
Leinster – 1st, 57pts, Pts Diff: +194 Leo Cullen’s team are about to road test their unbeaten record in all competitions – including 12 straight wins in the URC – in a playing environment in which they have struggled since the introduction of the South Africa teams to the tournament. The Irish province has only … Read more