Irish Rugby

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said his side lacked a clinical edge in their 26-19 defeat by Connacht in Belfast on Friday.

After a tight first half, the sides went in level at the break before a strong second-half display from the visitors extended their unbeaten run to four games.

The result is Ulster's first defeat of the season at home and ends Connacht's four-game losing run against Murphy's side.

"Connacht played some really nice rugby in the back of the second half when they got some speed into the game," Murphy said after the game.

"We are bitterly disappointed. Defending at the Affidea was something we were really proud of and something that we need to go back to the drawing board with."

A late surge from the home side saw them claim a losing bonus point which sees them move up to second in the URC table, three points behind Glasgow Warriors who face Leinster on Saturday.

Despite missing key players including Stuart McCloskey, Rob Baloucoune, Cormac Izuchukwu and James Hume, Murphy was frustrated that his injury-impacted side couldn't make their chances count.

"We created a few chances that we didn't capitalise on which is disappointing," he continued.

"We weren't clinical enough. Sometimes, these things happen.

"Some bounces of the ball didn't really go our way but at least we got ourselves a point and we will be ready to go to Zebre next week."

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey and Scotland winger Kyle Steyn have been shortlisted for the 2026 Six Nations Player of the championship award.

Tommaso Menoncello of Italy and France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who won last year's award, are also nominated.

After an injury-impacted autumn campaign, McCloskey helped Ireland achieve their fourth Triple Crown in five years and finish second in this year's tournament.

Steyn started all of Scotland's matches, scored three tries and was influential in the side finishing third.

The winner of the award will be determined by a public vote which will close on Thursday, 26 March.

McCloskey registered the joint highest try assist (six) and turnovers won (eight) of the tournament.

He also led Ireland in carries (74), offloads (eight), defenders beaten (20) and post-contact metres (105).

The 33-year-old has also been named in the Six Nations team of the championship alongside Ireland forwards Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris and Jack Conan.

McCloskey plays his club rugby for Ulster, who sit third in the United Rugby Championship [URC] table.

Two of Steyn's three tries came during Scotland's impressive 50-40 victory over eventual Six Nations winners France at Murrayfield.

Steyn is also in the team of the championship with team-mates Finn Russell and Rory Darge.

The 32-year-old has registered 185 points from 103 appearances for Glasgow Warriors and is their first player to be nominated since 2017.

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Jacob Stockdale has been named at outside centre for Ulster's United Rugby Championship game against Connacht at Affidea Stadium as one of several Ireland squad members named in head coach Richie Murphy's matchday squad.

With Stuart McCloskey unavailable after playing a major part in Ireland's Six Nations campaign, and James Hume and Jude Postlethwaite both injured, Stockdale finds himself called into action in midfield as he is handed the number 13 short.

The 29-year-old, more customarily deployed on the wing or occasionally at full-back, will be joined at centre by Ben Carson.

Stockdale's only previous appearance at centre came in Ulster's comprehensive 68-21 win over Zebre in March 2017.

Hooker Tom Stewart and captain Iain Henderson return to the starting team, while tight-head prop Tom O'Toole is named as a replacement.

Nathan Doak returns at scrum-half to partner Jack Murphy, with Michael Lowry at full-back and Werner Kok and Zac Ward on the wings.

Props Angus Bell and Scott Wilson complete the front row, with Joe Hopes partnering Henderson in the second row.

David McCann returns at blind-side flanker, with Marcus Rea coming in instead of Bryn Ward at open-side and Juarno Augustus remaining at number eight.

Ireland wing Robert Baloucoune is a long-term absentee with an elbow problem, while Cormac Izuchukwu, Hume and Dave Shanahan are all missing after sustaining concussions in last week's win over Edinburgh.

Jake Flannery is also injured, while Harry Sheridan is serving a suspension.

For Connacht, Bundee Aki is one of five Ireland squad members who are drafted into the starting XV as head coach Stuart Lancaster makes a total of nine personnel changes to the starting team which began last week's win over Scarlets.

Skipper Cian Prendergast, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray and Billy Bohan come into the side after being involved with Ireland.

Dave Heffernan makes his comeback from injury at hooker.

Ulster sit third in the URC table, with Connacht lying ninth in the standings.

Ulster: Lowry; Kok, Stockdale, Carson, Z Ward; Murphy, Doak; Bell, Stewart, Wilson; Henderson (capt), Hopes; McCann, Rea, Augustus.

Replacements: Herring, Crean, O'Toole, Dalton, B Ward, McKee, Scott, McIlroy.

Connacht: Naughton; Jennings, Forde, Aki, Treacy; Carty, Reilly; Bohan, Heffernan, Bealham; Joyce, D Murray; J Murphy, Prendergast (capt), Jansen.

Replacements: Victory, Dooley, Illo, Murray, Boyle, B Murphy, Ioane, Devine.

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Ulster trio Cormac Izuchukwu, James Hume and Dave Shanahan will miss Friday's game with Connacht after sustaining concussions in the win at Edinburgh, while Harry Sheridan has been banned.

Ireland forward Izuchukwu was forced off for a head injury assessment after being tackled in the air by Edinburgh replacement hooker Harri Morris, who received a red card.

The 26-year-old had just returned from a concussion sustained in training after he made his Six Nations debut in Ireland's win over Italy.

Hume was replaced early in the second half of the win at the Hive, while Shanahan was substituted in the second minute and the trio will follow return to play protocols.

Sheridan was sent off in the 45th minute for a dangerous tackle and has been handed a three-week suspension.

He will miss the URC games with Connacht and Zebre, but could be available for the Challenge Cup quarter-final with Ospreys if he completes a World Rugby coaching intervention programme.

In a bruising victory, which moved Richie Murphy's side up to third in the United Rugby Championship, Ulster will be without centre Jude Postlethwaite and versatile back Jake Flannery for Connacht's visit to Belfast on Friday.

Postlethwaite sustained a hand fracture and will have surgery to stabilise the injury and will be unavailable for "a number of weeks".

Flannery injured his shoulder and is also unavailable for selection, while second row Charlie Irvine will be monitored after a soft tissue injury to his lower leg.

The injuries could potentially leave Ulster short in the second row and at centre for the game with Connacht.

In more positive news, Ireland internationals Tom O'Toole, Tom Stewart, Nathan Doak and Jacob Stockdale are all available for selection after the Six Nations.

However, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Baloucoune and Nick Timoney will be absent after helping Andy Farrell's side win the Triple Crown.

David Nelson scored a last-gasp try as Campbell College won the Schools' Cup with a 26-22 win over Royal Belfast Academical Institution.

The hooker burrowed over the line with the final play of the match, and Jack Best converted to spark wild celebrations.

It is the first time that Campbell have won the biggest prize in schools' rugby in Northern Ireland since 2018.

The east Belfast school made a blistering start as Rus Lovo made a break down the left wing and popped the ball inside to James Wells, who raced over the line.

RBAI his straight back when Andrew Purcell and Elliott Magowan found Adam Millar, who sprinted over the line from 40 metres out.

Nelson's first try of the game, which came from a rolling maul, put Campbell back in front and Best converted.

Jack Coulter had a try ruled out for a forward pass, but RBAI drew level when Cian McClean powered over and Charlie O'Connor landed the difficult conversion.

McClean scored his second try just before the break when he made a great line break and raced under the posts, and O'Connor converted for a 19-12 half-time lead.

In the tale of the game, Campbell hit back five minutes after the restart when Lovo made space and he fed Harry Wells to finish in the corner.

O'Connor's well-struck penalty put RBAI on the brink of the win, but there was late drama as Campbell made pressure count.

Nelson drove over the line after a number of phases, and Best converted to wrap up the win.

Campbell College: Leo Graham; Harry Wells; Paul Henry (capt), Isaac Hatch; Rus Lovo; Jack Best, James Wells; Caelan Doy-Dolan, David Nelson, Conor McKinney; Raanan Potter, Charlie Best; Harry Burrows, Ruairi Parks, Dante Nol-Simmons.

Replacements: Dylan Armstrong, Tom Alexander, Theo Scott, Rory Adair, Fraser Campbell, Ollie Larkin, Aaron Lowey, Zach Thompson.

RBAI: Jonah Power; Jack Coulter; Adam Millar, Connor Patton; Andrew Purcell; Charlie O'Connor, Sebastian Clark; Ronan Hamilton, Ross Dillon (capt), Reuben McIlwrath; Connor Ballantine, Reuben Gibson; Elliott Magowan, Cian McClean, Adam Boyd.

Replacements: Ross Montgomery, Matthew Watkins, Reuben Edmondson, Zach Surphlis, Connor Davis, Rocco Steen, Dylan Gray, Benjamin McCarten.

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Forwards coach Jimmy Duffy will leave Ulster at the end of the season, despite a contract extension being announced in January.

Duffy and the rest of Ulster's coaching team were included in a contract extension until 2028, alongside head coach Richie Murphy.

However he will now leave Ulster, who sit third in the United Rugby Championship, at the end of the campaign.

Ulster said Duffy will depart the Affidea Stadium "with our gratitude and appreciation", and the decision was so he could move closer to his Galway-based family.

He joined Ulster in 2024 from Western Force and he had previously worked with Connacht and Ireland Under-20s.

Duffy, who is from Galway, said he was sad to be leaving Ulster but "this decision was the best thing for me and my family".

"My focus is now on continuing our work, keep pushing on and giving everything to have a strong end to the season," he added.

Ulster head coach Murphy had worked with Duffy since their time with Ireland's Under-20s and said he had been "vital" to the province's revival.

"He has been important for the progression and development of our players," Murphy added.

"He is an excellent coach with wealth of experience, and I wish him and his family all the best for the future."

Rory Best, Ulster's general manager, said he was "disappointed" to lose Duffy at the end of the season but "it is ultimately the best choice for him and his family".

"We are in a strong position to have a successful end to the season, and I know that all the coaching staff remain focused on achieving our aims," the former Ulster and Ireland captain added.

"We thank Jimmy for his dedication in the role and wish him well for the future."

Backs coach Mark Sexton and defence coach Willie Faloon will remain part of Murphy's coaching team beyond the end of the season.

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Former Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray says the comeback from the opening Six Nations defeat by France to the Triple Crown "relieves the pressure" on Andy Farrell's squad.

Ireland secured a fourth Triple Crown in five years with a 43-21 win over Scotland in Dublin.

After losing to France in Paris, Andy Farrell's side battled back with wins over Italy, England and Wales.

The six-try showing against Scotland also kept their slim title hopes alive until France's dramatic late win over England in Paris sealed the championship for Les Bleus.

"If you rewind to the France game everyone was writing them off and saying it was an ageing squad," Murray said on the Ireland Rugby Social podcast.

"The depth was one of the main things, but so many lads have international experience now.

"The new lads have proven themselves on this stage, along with the old guard as well. Sport is fickle, it changes the picture completely."

Murray said that winning the Triple Crown is "very special" even if Ireland miss out on winning the overall title.

"They are hard to win and to complete one is a special thing," added Murray, who won four Triple Crowns as a player.

"For a team like this with new players and others returning to form, it's a huge thing for them to go in to the dressing room with a trophy and be proud of what they done.

"It's time with your team-mates and the staff. It's a release, they can chill out now. They have done their job."

Listen to the Ireland Rugby Social podcast with Conor Murray and Gavin Andrews on BBC Sounds.