Connacht

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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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Cian Prendergast will captain a Connacht side which shows three changes to their starting team from that which beat Montauban in the Challenge Cup last week for Saturday's United Rugby Championship clash with a Leinster at a sold-out Dexcom Stadium (17:30 GMT).

There are two changes in the half-backs as fit-again Caolin Blade links up with Josh Ioane at nine and 10, while Dylan Tierney-Martin comes in at hooker following Dave Heffernan's injury.

Cian Prendergast captains the side from blindside flanker in a strong back row with Paul Boyle and Sean Jansen. Josh Murphy and Darragh Murray continue in the second row, while Academy prop Billy Bohan starts in a front row with Dylan Tierney-Martin and Sam Illo.

Forde and West keep their places in midfield after impressive Challenge Cup outings, with Treacy, Jennings and Gilbert making up the back three. Buckley, Carty and Aki add experience from the bench.

Connacht currently sit 12th in the URC table and have lost their last three league outings.

Connacht: S Gilbert; S Jennings; H West, C Forde; F Treacy, J Ioane; C Blade; B Bohan, D Tierney-Martin, S Illo; J Murphy, D Murray; C Prendergast (capt), P Boyle, S Jansen.

Replacements: E de Buitléar, D Buckley, J Aungier, Joe Joyce, S O'Brien, B Murphy, J Carty, B Aki.

Doris set to captain Leinster on his 100th appearence

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Caelan Doris will captain Leinster as he is set to make his 100th appearence in blue during Saturday's visit to Connacht.

Niall Smyth is set to make his debut for the province and will be joined in the front row by Gus McCarthy and Jack Boyle.

James Lowe returns for his first appearance since last month's win over Munster and lines out on the wing, one try shy of equalling Shane Horgan's Leinster record of 69, with Joshua Kenny on the opposite flank and Ciaran Frawley named at full-back.

South African RG Snyman and James Ryan combine in the second row, with centurion Caelan Doris joined by Will Connors and Alex Soroka.

Harry Byrne and Fintan Gunne start in the half-backs, with Charlie Tector partnering Garry Ringrose in midfield.

Leinster sit fifth in the URC table, Leo Cullen's side have won nine games in a row in all competitions, their last defeat coming against Munster in October last year.

Leinster: C Frawley; J Kenny, G Ringrose, C Tector, J Lowe; H Byrne, F Gunne; J Boyle, G McCarthy, N Smyth; RG Snyman, J Ryan; A Soroka, W Connors, C Doris (capt).

Replacements: R Kelleher, J Cahir, A Sparrow, B Deeny, D Mangan, S Penny, L McGrath, R Moloney.

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Ulster's European Challenge Cup last-16 tie against Ospreys at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast is to take place on Saturday 4 April, with a 20:00 BST kick-off.

Munster will travel to face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park in the same competition on the same day, with that match starting at 12:30.

In the last 16 of the Champions Cup, Leinster, the sole remaining Irish province, will be at home to Edinburgh on Sunday 5 April at 17:30.

Connacht will host the Sharks on Friday 3 April in the Challenge Cup, that game starting at 20:00.

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Ulster's Zac Ward is one of eight Ulster players names in Cullie Tucker's Ireland XV squad that will face England 'A' at Thomond Park on Friday, 6 February (19.15 GMT).

Ward, who featured in the Ireland XV against Spain in November, missed out on a place in Andy Farrell's 37-man squad for the Six Nations, but the winger will have the chance to impress in Limerick after a good run of form on the wing for his province.

Joining Ward in the 27-man squad are fellow Ulster backs Jack Murphy, Jude Postlethwaite and the three-time capped James Hume.

In the forwards, Ulster are represented by Sam Crean, Charlie Irvine, Scott Wilson and the in-form Bryn Ward - younger sibling of Zac - who picked up back-to-back man-of-the-match awards in the northern province's recent on-field wins against Munster and Stade Francais.

Leinster's four-time capped back row Max Deegan has been names as captain, with further capped Test internationals selected in the forwards including Leinster's Gus McCarthy, Munster's Oli Jager and Connacht duo Paul Boyle and Darragh Murphy.

Munster's Shane Daly and Connacht's Ben Murphy provide further Test match experience in the backs.

Ireland XV squad

Forwards (16): Diarmuid Barron (Munster), Billy Bohan (Connacht), Paul Boyle (Connacht), Sam Crean (Ulster), Max Deegan (Leinster, captain), Brian Gleeson (Munster), Sam Illo (Connacht), Charlie Irvine (Ulster), Oli Jager (Munster), Sean Jansen (Connacht), Diarmuid Mangan (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Stephen Smyth (Leinster), Bryn Ward (Ulster), Scott Wilson (Ulster)

Backs (11): Shane Daly (Munster), Matthew Devine (Connacht), Cathal Forde (Connacht), Fintan Gunne (Leinster), James Hume (Ulster), Dan Kelly (Munster), Joshua Kenny (Leinster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Jack Murphy (Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster).

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Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey's shoulder injury will be assessed ahead of Munster's Investec Champions Cup game with Castres.

Casey, 26, was forced off in the second half of the defeat by Toulon on Sunday and head coach Clayton McMillan said post-match that the injury looked "reasonably serious".

However, the injury does not appear to be as bad as first feared and he could feature in Munster's final pool match in Limerick on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

Ireland's Six Nations campaign begins in France on 5 February and the news will be welcome to head coach Andy Farrell after Casey had established himself as deputy to Jamison Gibson-Park.

Meanwhile, Connacht prop Finlay Bealham is expected to be unavailable for "a couple of weeks" after he injured his knee in the United Rugby Championship defeat by Leinster.

There is also concern for Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy, who sustained a "significant foot injury" in the dramatic European win over La Rochelle, and Andrew Porter will be assessed for an ongoing calf concern.

There is better news as prop Tadhg Furlong is set to return in Leinster's final pool match in Bayonne on Saturday (15:15 GMT), and backs Garry Ringrose and Jimmy O'Brien will be available while full-back Hugo Keenan has returned to training but will not play in France.

Versatile back Ciaran Frawley was also forced off in the win over La Rochelle with a foot injury and he will be assessed ahead of the game in Bayonne.

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Leinster have made nine changes to their starting team from Saturday's United Rugby Championship win over Munster for the interpro against Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

Backs Hugh Cooney, Charlie Tector and Joshua Kenny are drafted in, along with fly-half Sam Prendergast.

Among the forwards, Dan Sheehan is back in to captain the team, Brian Deeny partners Joe McCarthy in the second row and there is an entirely new back row in the form of Diarmuid Mangan, Will Connors and Jack Conan.

Connors returns to the team for the first time since October.

Among those making way are Ireland internationals Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Ronan Kelleher and James Ryan, with Max Deegan and Josh van der Flier among the replacements.

Connacht make five changes from the side which lost 29-24 to Ulster last Saturday.

Dave Heffernan and Jack Carty miss out through injury, so Dylan Tierney-Martin starts at hooker and Josh Ioane comes in at fly-half to form a new half-back partnership with Matthew Devine.

David Henshaw is drafted in at outside centre, while Chay Mullins plays on the right wing after returning to full fitness.

Leinster have won six matches in a row, four of those having come in the United Rugby Championship, while Connacht have lost five of their past six URC outings.

Leo Cullen's side sit sixth in the table going into the weekend's action, with Connacht four places worse off in 10th.

Leinster: Frawley;O'Brien, Cooney, Tector, Kenny; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan (capt), Clarkson; McCarthy, Deeny; Mangan, Connors, Conan.

Replacements: McCarthy, Boyle, Slimani, O'Tighearnaigh, Deegan, van der Flier, McGrath, Byrne.

Connacht: Gilbert; Mullins, Hawkshaw, Aki, Treacy; Ioane, Devine; Buckley, Tierney-Martin, Bealham; Joyce, O'Connor; Murphy, Prendergast, Jansen.

Replacements: de Buitlear, Bohan, Barrett, Murray, Boyle, Murphy, West, Forde.

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Ireland utility back Ciaran Frawley will join Connacht from Leinster in a two-year deal next summer, the provinces have confirmed.

Frawley has made over 100 appearances for Leinster since making his debut in February 2018, helping the club win five Pro12/United Rugby Championship titles.

The 28-year-old, who can play at fly-half, centre or full-back, has won nine Ireland caps and memorably nailed two late drop-goals to help seal a dramatic Test victory over South Africa in Durban in 2024.

"I'm really excited to have the opportunity to represent Connacht on and off the field from next season. On my visits to the province with Leinster I've always been struck by the passion of the supporters there, and the positive brand of rugby the team play."

He added: "I've loved my time at Leinster and I'm really appreciative for all the support from the fans, coaches and teammates over the last seven years.

"There's still a lot of work to do and I'm looking forward to finishing the season strongly before the move to Galway in the summer."

Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster described Frawley's capture as a "real statement of intent".

"I know him well from my time in Leinster and I saw him grow from an academy prospect into a key member of the senior squad and play for Ireland also," said Lancaster.

"He's still only 28 so I firmly believe his best days are still ahead of him, and I'm delighted that the club have been able to secure a player of his calibre.

"He will be a big asset in the years ahead and personally I am really excited about working with him again."

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Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey believes the side have "still got loads to work on" despite a largely strong start to their season.

The northern province go into Saturday's United Rugby Championship (URC) game against Connacht at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday (17:30 GMT) fifth in the table on 22 points having played a game fewer than those above them.

Even after surrendering a lead to Leinster last weekend, no side in the league has scored more than Ulster's 29 tries during the 2025-26 campaign.

"I think we probably know from the weekend where we are, I think we're close enough," said the Irish international.

"To give Leinster a good run on the weekend, we probably should have come on top if we'd done a few things differently in the second half.

"So, we know where we are. I think our attack has been brilliant, our defence has moved in the right direction."

It is all a marked improvement from last season when Ulster finished outside of the URC play-offs, as the fourth of the Irish provinces and failed to qualify for top-tier European competition for the first time in their history.

"Listen, it wasn't great last year," said McCloskey.

"It's nice to come in here saying we've scored the most tries in the league and we've still got loads to work on.

"I think there's so much growth in the team and we look back after most games and go, how much better we could have been?"

The Leinster loss last time out, in a game Ulster led by 10 points at half-time, came after losing a 14-point advantage during the final quarter against Cardiff in the Challenge Cup.

Heading to Galway off the back of their first back-to-back losses, McCloskey believes Ulster have to continue what they have done well to this point in the season rather than change approach for an interprovincial derby.

"I think we just want to go out and make sure we play the game we've been playing for the first eight games of the season this week and not try to do anything different just because it's Connacht."

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Cormac Izuchuku is included in the Ulster starting line-up for the first time since October as the Irish province make six changes to the starting XV which took to the field for the 24-20 defeat by Leinster for Saturday's interprovincial against Connacht in Galway (17:30 GMT).

The second row has overcome injury and illness and this week committed his future to Ulster by agreeing a two-year contract extension.

Izuchukwu replaces Charlie Irvine in the second row for the Dexcom Stadium encounter and will partner Harry Sheridan, who will make his 50th appearance for the province.

Sam Crean and Scott Wilson come in at loose-head and tight-head prop respectively, with Tom Stewart retaining his position at hooker.

In the half-backs, scrum-half Conor McKee makes his first interprovincial derby start alongside fly-half Jack Murphy.

The two changes in the back division see Zac Ward start on the left wing and James Hume return to join Stuart McCloskey in the midfield after he missed out last week through illness.

In-form Werner Kok starts on the right wing after scoring two tries against Leinster, as Jacob Stockdale is retained at full-back.

David McCann, Nick Timoney and Juarno Augustus make up the back row.

The back-line replacements are Nathan Doak, Jake Flannery and Jude Postlethwaite, while the forward options on the bench are John Andrew, Angus Bell, Tom O'Toole, Joe Hopes and Bryn Ward.

Ulster go into the Christmas period in fifth position in the table after winning four and losing two of their URC matches to date.

Richie Murphy's side will complete a trio of Irish interprovincial derbies when they host Munster in Belfast on 2 January.

Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster will give academy wing Daniel Ryan his senior debut as the western province look to bounce back from a dispiriting defeat by Dragons last time out.

Prop Denis Buckley will become Connacht's second most capped player when he represents the side for the 270th time, behind only John Muldoon's 327 outings for the side.

Lock David O'Connor will start in the second row against his former side, while scrum-half Ben Murphy, will feature against an Ulster side coached by his father Richie and featuring his brother Jack.

Connacht: Gilbert; Ryan, Forde, Aki, Treacy; Carty, B Murphy; Buckley, Heffernan, Bealham; Joyce, O'Connor; J Murphy, Prendergast, Jansen.

Replacements:Tierney-Martin, Duggan, Barrett, Murray, O'Brien, Devine, Ioane, Gavin.

Ulster: Stockdale; Kok, Hume, McCloskey, Z Ward; Crean, Stewart, Wilson; Sheridan, Izuchukwu; McCann, Timoney, Augustus.

Replacements: Andrew, Bell, O'Toole, Hopes, B Ward, Doak, Flannery, Postlethwaite.

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Ulster lock Cormac Izuchukwu says "pride in the province" is what helps make Irish derbies special as the side prepare to take on Connacht this weekend.

Richie Murphy's side travel to the Dexcom Stadium on Saturday (17:30 GMT) for what is their second of three games in a row against Irish rivals in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

The northern province are looking to bounce back following a narrow 24-20 loss against Leinster last time.

The home side, meanwhile, come into the match off the back of a loss comprehensive reverse against Dragons.

"Connacht away, Leinster away and Munster at home, they are special," Izuchukwu told BBC Sport NI.

"There is something about them, they are class to play in.

"For me it is having pride in the province, going down there and showing what we are about."

Izuchukwu, who has not played since early October because of a recurring foot injury followed by an illness last week, has just signed a new two-year contract to keep him at Ulster until the summer of 2028.

The 25-year-old second row added that he has "grown as a person and a player" since joining the Ulster academy in 2020.

"It has been on my mind for a while now, so really happy to get it done and to get back to playing rugby," Izuchukwu continued.

"I came here back in 2020, I didn't have many options, and they gave me a chance. I came here, have made friends and have grown as a person and a player.

"I have made great memories here and, for me, with how the club is growing I am so happy to be here."

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Cormac Izuchukwu and James Hume are set to feature in Ulster's United Rugby Championship game against Connacht at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

The URC fixture is the second of three games in a row against Irish provinces for Ulster, with Richie Murphy's side coming into the game after back-to-back defeats against Cardiff and Leinster.

Ireland lock Izuchukwu has not played since early October and returns to the squad alongside Hume, who missed the interprovincial derby defeat at Aviva Stadium after scoring a try in the Challenge Cup match against Cardiff.

Nathan Doak is a doubt because of a calf problem with Rob Baloucoune (shoulder) and Stewart Moore (wrist) also injury concerns.

Charlie Irvine, who picked up a calf injury against defending URC champions Leinster, has been ruled out.

However, despite missing multiple players, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said that his side's injury situation is "reasonably good."

"Injuries are reasonably good from the weekend," Murphy told BBC Sport NI.

"We have had a couple of long-term ones which haven't changed but, from the game at the weekend, we have come out pretty well."

Connacht will be looking to get back to winning ways themselves after losing 48-28 to Dragons in their last match.

The home side have lost four of their opening six URC matches but won their previous home game.

"Connacht are in a tough place," Murphy continued.

"They are coming off a pretty poor defeat in their eyes so it will be a very difficult place to go this weekend."