Irish Rugby

Issy Todd
BBC Sport NI contributor

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Wallabies prop Angus Bell says he has no plans to extend his Ulster spell beyond this season ahead of the province's trip to face the Ospreys this Saturday.

Bell joined Ulster on a sabbatical until the end of the 2025-26 campaign and made his debut in December in the side's 61-7 Challenge Cup win over Racing 92.

The 25-year-old said he remains committed to his deal with Rugby Australia, which runs to the end of 2027, despite describing his time in Belfast as "probably the best experience" of his career.

"Playing abroad was always something I wanted to do. It's something that I needed to do to grow up a bit and experience new things in rugby," Bell told BBC Sport NI.

"That's the beauty of rugby is that you can go across the world and play in a different country. It's been awesome to learn how different styles of rugby are played.

"We've got a really class team at Ulster and I'm loving my time here. Ask Rory, ask Besty about extending!"

Fourth-placed Ulster take on Ospreys on Saturday (19:45 GMT) at Brewery Field in round 12 of the United Rugby Championship.

Bell, who starts on the bench, is looking forward to the challenge against the ninth-placed Welsh outfit.

"They are a class team. We know how hard Ospreys are to play at home," he said.

"I've got some really good mates in that team. I grew up with Jack Walsh and I've known him since he was a young fella. I've also played with Ryan Smith - played against him and we've been in a couple of Wallabies squads together.

"It's going to awesome to play against those sort of lads and I'm really looking forward to taking the field with Ulster and hopefully getting a good result."

Both sides have international players back from the Six Nations, with Nathan Doak, Jude Postlethwaite, Tom Stewart and Bryn Ward all starting for Ulster.

Bell added: "We are in such a good position and I'm so glad I can hopefully build something here at Ulster towards the back end of the year.

"We're ready for the challenge and I'm really looking forward to this fixture."

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Ulster have welcomed back four of their Ireland Six Nations squad members for Saturday's United Rugby Championship (URC) game against Ospreys, but forward Cormac Izuchukwu is ruled out after sustaining a concussion in training this week.

The second row, who made his Six Nations debut for Ireland against Italy in Dublin earlier this month, is following World Rugby Graduated Return to Play Protocols and it is unclear if he will be available for the Test team's game against Wales next week.

Backs Nathan Doak and Jude Postlethwaite, plus forwards Tom Stewart and Bryn Ward, are all named in head coach Richie Murphy's starting side for the visit to Wales (19:45 GMT kick-off).

Michael Lowry is selected at full-back, with Werner Kok and Zac Ward on the wings and James Hume and Postlethwaite in midfield.

Jack Murphy and Doak form the half-back partnership, with Eric O'Sullivan, Stewart and Scott Wilson in the front row.

Iain Henderson and Charlie Irvine combine in the second row, with Matthew Dalton, David McCann and Bryn Ward in the back row.

Conor McKee, Jake Flannery and Ben Carson offer the backs options on the replacements' bench, with Rob Herring, Angus Bell, Bryan O'Connor and Harry Sheridan the forward substitutes.

Ulster have won seven of their 10 games to date in the URC and lie eight points adrift of leaders Glasgow Warriors before the weekend's action commences, with a rearranged match against Edinburgh in hand.

Their opponents this weekend, Ospreys, sit ninth in the standings, 11 points worse off than Richie Murphy's side.

Ulster: Lowry; Kok, Hume, Postlethwaite, Z Ward; Murphy, Doak; O'Sullivan, Stewart, Wilson; Henderson, Irvine; Dalton, McCann, B Ward.

Replacements: Herring, Bell, O'Connor, Sheridan, Rea, McKee, Flannery, Carson.

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy says he hopes his side can benefit from the confidence his international players have gained in Ireland camp during the latter stages of the domestic season.

Four Ulster players - Stuart McCloskey, Robert Baloucoune, Tom O'Toole and Nick Timoney - featured in Ireland's thumping 42-21 Six Nations win over England, with McCloskey and Baloucoune widely praised for their performances.

While Murphy does not have that quartet's services for Saturday's United Rugby Championship game at Ospreys (19:45 GMT), Ireland squad members Nathan Doak, Cormac Izuchukwu, Jude Postlethwaite, Tom Stewart and Bryn Ward are expected to feature.

"They've enjoyed their time in camp and it's been great to see the Irish team do so well at that weekend and our boys within that really stand up," Murphy told BBC Sport NI.

"Our A team had a really good win against Munster last weekend as well so the atmosphere in our training camp is really good at the moment."

Murphy added: "Their confidence is high as you can see and hopefully we can get some good wins on the back of that."

Saturday's game at Electric Brewery Field will be Ulster's first since a 21-14 win over Cardiff on 31 January.

Ulster are fourth in the URC table and will face Saturday's opponents in the Challenge Cup round of 16 in April as Murphy's side chase silverware on two fronts.

"We're coming into the business end of the season, we know how important these points will be over the next number of weeks," added Murphy.

"We've nine games left with a possible five knockout games. It's a really exciting time. We have young guys coming up after doing well in that A game looking for senior spots and those international players, when they come back it's really important they bring us forward.

"There's a feelgood factor. It's important we keep focused and keep our feet on the ground and keep doing the things that got us in this position in the first place."

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Munster have confirmed senior coach Mike Prendergast will depart the club at the end of the season.

The Limerick native will leave after four years with his home province amid speculation he is to team up with former Munster head coach Johann van Graan at Premiership champions Bath as attack coach.

Prendergarst, a former Munster player, returned to his home province in 2022 following a 10-year coaching spell in France with Racing 92, Stade Français, Oyonnax and Grenoble.

In his first season back at Munster, the Irish province won the United Rugby Championship - their first league title for 12 seasons - and last season they reached the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup.

While admitting it was a "very difficult decision" to leave Clayton McMillan's coaching ticket, Prendergast is hopeful he can enjoy further success to go out on a high.

"I've been in lots of different environments coaching and playing over the years but Munster will always hold a special place in my heart and it has been a really enjoyable four years," said Prendergast, who has also worked at international level with Ireland.

"Working with the players and coaches has been an absolute pleasure but I believe now is the right time for a new challenge.

"I will be giving it my all to ensure that the club can be as successful as it can be as we approach the business end of the season.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ian, Clayton, the coaches, players and Munster fans for all of their support."

Munster head coach McMillan said he is "sorry" to lose Prendergast from his coaching team, but wished him well.

"Since arriving in Ireland last summer, I've had the opportunity to work closely with Mike and it's clear why he is so highly regarded," he said.

"He is a brilliant coach with a sharp rugby mind and an ability to connect with players in a way that brings the best out of them.

"His contribution to our coaching group and to the wider environment will be a loss. While we are sorry to see him move on, I have no doubt he will thrive in whatever challenge comes next."

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Ulster centre Jude Postlethwaite says his involvement with the Ireland squad in recent weeks has been "a big learning experience" and has given him added incentive to get himself in a position to earn his first international cap.

Postlethwaite was called up to the Irish Six Nations panel by head coach Andy Farrell and despite not being involved on the field of play as yet, he says training with the squad and being part of the group has benefited his development.

The 23-year-old is one of five players who have been released from Ireland duty to their province for Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against Ospreys.

"It's been class, a big learning experience. I got the call from Andy Farrell three weeks ago and it was pretty surreal," Postlethwaite told BBC Sport NI.

"The first week out in Portugal I learnt a lot and then the last few weeks have been brilliant.

"It's just good to be down there involved and being around all the players. You're learning off the best, players that I looked up to when I was younger.

"It gives me a bit of drive [to win a first cap] and obviously that's where I want to be, get up to speed with all the details there, so that if I do get the opportunity I can take it."

Postlethwaite's fellow Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey has earned rave reviews for his performances in the green shirt in recent weeks as Farrell's side secured victories over Italy and England after an opening defeat by France.

"Stuart has been incredible. I always knew he could put those types of performances in and I'm so happy for him.

"It's down to the kind of person he is, so determined, and it's great he's getting that opportunity to show the world what he can do."

Ulster have won seven of their 10 games to date in the URC and lie eight points adrift of leaders Glasgow Warriors, with a rearranged match against Edinburgh in hand.

Their opponents this weekend, Ospreys, sit ninth in the standings, 11 points worse off than Richie Murphy's side.

"Every game is important for us and we're ready for a big performance this weekend."

"Any details I can bring back from Irish camp to help the lads can only help and I'm just so excited to get out there playing again."

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Ireland wing James Lowe is a doubt for the Six Nations game against Wales after he sustained a groin injury in his side's 42-21 victory over England.

The 33-year-old was forced off in the first half of Saturday's win at Twickenham and on Monday the IRFU said he "will continue to be monitored by the medical team" before the game against Wales on 6 March.

The IRFU also confirmed that back row Jack Conan will return to training this week after missing the the record win over England through illness.

Eleven players have been released from Andy Farrell's squad to play for their provinces in the United Rugby Championship this weekend with the Six Nations on a down week.

Nathan Doak, Cormac Izuchukwu, Jude Postlethwaite, Tom Stewart and Bryn Ward will return to Ulster for their game away to Ospreys on Saturday.

Harry Byrne and Cian Prendergast are available for Leinster's trip to Cardiff on Friday night while Darragh Murray will return to Connacht for their home game against Glasgow Warriors.

Recent debutant Edwin Edogbo, Tom Farrell and Michael Milne are available for Munster's home game against Zebre on Saturday.

The rest of the Ireland squad will reconvene on Wednesday for a two-day camp in Dublin.

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Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe will join Munster ahead of the 2026-27 United Rugby Championship season.

The 29-year-old South African international has agreed a two-year deal with the Irish province.

Van der Merwe made his South Africa debut in July and helped the Springboks win the Rugby Championship title as he featured in the wins New Zealand and Australia.

He previously played for the Pumas and Cheetahs before he joined Scarlets in 2024, where he made an instant impact.

Van der Merwe was named in the URC's Elite XV in his debut season and was named Scarlets' supporters' player of the year.

"I'm excited and honoured to be joining such a prestigious club, with such a proud rugby history," van der Merwe said.

"I want to finish the season strong with the Scarlets, before tackling this new challenge with Munster."