Ulster

Ireland Lose Doris and O'Brien as Sheehan Takes the Captaincy

Captain Caelan Doris and wing Tommy O'Brien are out of Ireland's summer tour after injuries in the URC final, with Dan Sheehan to lead and uncapped Ulster brothers Zac and Bryn Ward called up.

Rugby Union · 6/21/2026

'It Was Done at Half-Time': BBC's Ireland Rugby Social Frames a Bilbao Weekend of Irish Misery

Tony McWaters, Ian Humphreys and Gavin Andrews sat in the empty San Mames after Bordeaux's 41-19 win and tried to make sense of an Irish weekend in Bilbao that produced two losing finals — Ulster's Challenge Cup defeat on Friday and Leinster's fifth losing Champions Cup final 24 hours later. The verdict: Bordeaux's clinical edge, an out-half ranking that may be wider than Ireland realises, and a Sam Prendergast omission that 'seems odd'.

Rugby Union · 5/24/2026

'A Finely Tuned Sports Car': Robert Baloucoune's Return Lights Up Ulster's Bilbao Bid

Robert Baloucoune is back in the Ulster matchday 23 for Friday's Challenge Cup final against Montpellier in Bilbao after months sidelined since the Six Nations. Eggchasers Rugby believes the timing could not be better — and predicts Ulster to win a final the Top 14 leaders have not loaded their first-choice front row for.

Rugby Union · 5/21/2026

'A Younger Coach With a Lot of Experience': Ulster Land Highlanders' Clark Dermody as Bilbao Decider Looms

Ulster confirmed mid-podcast that ex-Highlanders head coach Clark Dermody will replace the departing Jimmy Duffy as forwards coach next season, with Bernard Jackman and Johnny Murphy framing the hire on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast as Richie Murphy lands a 'really nice CV' just days out from a Challenge Cup final that defines Ulster's year.

Rugby Union · 5/21/2026

'9 Into 8 Won't Go': URC 2026 Playoffs Set as Cardiff Stun Stormers and Ulster Crash Out

Round 18 of the United Rugby Championship has reset the playoff bracket — with Glasgow finishing top, Connacht running hot, Ulster missing the top eight and the Stormers crawling into a home quarter-final without a wake-up call.

Rugby Union · 5/18/2026

'We Can't Get to the Playoffs': Dobson Loads Stormers Bench With Loose-Forward Optionality for Belfast

John Dobson outlined a rotation-driven Stormers blueprint for their URC Round 17 trip to Ulster — recalling Sazi Sandi at tighthead and stacking the bench with Deon Fourie's hooker cover and back-row optionality.

Rugby Union · 5/9/2026

'And Also They Stole the Song': McCloskey on Ireland's New Springbok Rivalry and Farrell's Pull

Ulster and Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey has used a Belfast pub appearance on For The Love Of Rugby to walk through Ireland's evolving rivalry with the Springboks - and made clear the Zombie 'Razzy version' was a step too far. He also addressed Andy Farrell's hold on his career at 33 and the camp's reaction to England's Six Nations opener.

Rugby Union · 5/8/2026

'Up There With the Best': Left Wing Backs Ulster as the Quiet Story of the Champions Weekend

Indo Sport's The Left Wing podcast argues Ulster's 29-7 destruction of Exeter to reach the Challenge Cup final was the most uncomplicated performance of the weekend, with Jonathan Bradley calling Richie Murphy a coach with a high ceiling.

Rugby Union · 5/6/2026

Dan McFarland Lands Newcastle Red Bulls Job for Premiership Rebuild

Former Ulster and Scotland coach Dan McFarland has been confirmed as Newcastle Red Bulls head coach for 2026/27, fronting one of the most ambitious rebuild projects in Premiership rugby.

Rugby Union · 4/24/2026

'A Library Book of Experience': Overseas Wallabies Tested as Skelton Ruptures Achilles

Rugby Heaven's Justin Harrison and Cameron Shepherd took stock of Joe Schmidt's overseas-based Wallabies just as Will Skelton delivered the worst news of the week — a ruptured Achilles at La Rochelle. From Exeter to Ulster, Japan to La Rochelle, the panel picked apart what the Wallaby class of 2026 is absorbing from the Northern Hemisphere grind.

Rugby Union · 4/11/2026