Irish Rugby

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Irish teams Clovers and Wolfhounds have both named their squads for the Celtic Challenge which begins on 20 December.

The cross-border women's tournament is now in its third season and for the first time will feature play-offs and a grand final.

Defending champions Wolfhounds, who open their campaign at home to Edinburgh at Energia Park (14:30 GMT), will again have Neill Alcorn at the helm.

They are, however, without 2025 Six Nations Player of the Championship Aoife Wafer following her move to Harlequins.

But Alcorn has included the likes of Claire Bole, Linda Djougang, Fiona Tuite, Aoife Dalton, Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Dannah O'Brien and Aoibheann Reilly, who were all part of Ireland's World Cup squad earlier this year.

Clovers, who finished two points behind the Wolfhounds last year, will again be managed by Denis Fogarty and take on Gwalia Lightening in their first game which is also at Energia Park (11:30).

He has also named a number of players from Ireland's World Cup squad in his panel.

Beth Buttimer, Ruth Campbell, Ivana Kiripati, Sadhbh McGrath, Siobhan McCarthy, Enya Breen, Amee Leigh Costigan, Meabh Deely, Emily Lane, Anna McGann and Beibhinn Parsons are all included.

The top four after 10 rounds of fixtures in the Celtic Challenge will progress to the semi-finals, with the title to be decided on the weekend of 29 March, the venue of which has yet to be confirmed.

Wolfhounds squad:

Forwards: Alma Atagamen (Leinster), Kathy Baker (Leinster), Sophie Barrett (Ulster), Claire Boles (Ulster), Regan Casey (IQ Rugby), Meabh Clenaghan (Ulster), India Daley (Ulster), Linda Djougang (Leinster), Poppy Garvey (Connacht), Christie Haney (Leinster), Kate Jordan (Leinster), Cara McLean (Ulster), Caoimhe Molloy (Leinster), Maeve Óg O'Leary (Munster), Naoise Smyth (Leinster), Fiona Tuite (Ulster)

Backs: Megan Burns (Leinster), Katie Corrigan (Leinster), Aoife Dalton (Leinster), Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Leinster), Stacey Flood (Leinster), Jade Gaffney (Leinster), Eve Higgins (Leinster), Amy Larn (Leinster), Niamh Marley (Ulster), Kate Farrell McCabe (Ulster), Dannah O'Brien (Leinster), Robyn O'Connor (Leinster), Aoibheann Reilly (Connacht), Katie Whelan (Leinster)

Clovers squad:

Forwards: Jemima Adams Verling (Connacht), Ella Burns (Connacht), Beth Buttimer (Munster), Eilish Cahill (Munster), Ruth Campbell (Leinster), Jane Clohessy (Munster), Saoirse Crowe (Munster), Sally Kelly (Munster), Ivana Kiripati Connacht), Siobhan McCarthy (Munster), Aoibheann McGrath (Munster), Sadhbh McGrath (Ulster), Lilly Morris (Munster), Aoibhe O'Flynn (Munster), Faith Oviawe (Connacht), Ailish Quinn (Connacht), Rosie Searle (Leinster)

Backs: Enya Breen (Munster), Aoife Corey (Munster), Amee Leigh Costigan (Munster), Méabh Deely (Connacht), Caitriona Finn (Munster), Kate Flannery (Munster), Siofra Hession (Connacht) Emily Lane (Munster), Lucia Linn (Munster), Anna McGann (Connacht), Alana McInerney (Munster), Niamh Murphy (Leinster), Béibhinn Parsons (Connacht), Eve Prendergast (Munster)

Clovers' and Wolfhounds' fixtures:

20 December

Clovers v Gwalia Lightening (11:30)

Wolfhounds v Edinburgh (14:30)

3 January

Clovers v Wolfhounds (15:00)

10 January

Edinburgh v Wolfhounds (15:00)

11 January

Brython Thunder v Clovers (12:00)

18 January

Wolfhounds v Brython Thunder (12:00)

Clovers v Glasgow Warriors (15:00)

25 January

Clovers v Brython Thunder (12:00)

Wolfhounds v Glasgow Warriors (15:00)

31 January

Glasgow Warriors v Clovers (14:00)

1 February

Wolfound v Gwalia Lightening (12:30)

14 February

Gwalia Lightening v Clovers (13:00)

15 February

Glasgow Warriors v Wolfhounds (14:00)

21 February

Brython Thunder v Wolfhounds (12:30)

Clovers v Edinburgh (12:30)

28 February

Gwalia Lightening v Wolfhounds (13:00)

Edinburgh v Clovers (13:00)

8 March

Wolfhounds v Clovers (15:00)

21/22 March

Semi-final one (TBC)

Semi-final two (TBC)

28/29 March

Final (TBC)

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Tom Stewart will captain Ulster for the first time as head coach Richie Murphy rings the changes for the Challenge Cup trip to Cardiff on Saturday (20:00 GMT).

Stewart, who captained Ireland XV's win over Spain last month, will lead a side showing nine alterations from last week's thumping win over Racing 92 in Belfast.

The 24-year-old replaces Rob Herring at hooker, while loose-head prop Callum Reid also comes into the front row.

Harry Sheridan and Charlie Irvine are retained in the second row, with Sean Reffell and Bryn Ward recalled to the back row.

Murphy has opted to switch up his half-back pairing for the first time this season with Conor McKee and Jake Flannery handed starts, while centre Ben Carson, wing Werner Kok and full-back Stewart Moore are also added to the backline.

Wallabies prop Angus Bell is again named on the bench after making his debut last week. Fit-again Ireland forward Cormac Izuchukwu also makes the bench after missing two months out with a foot injury.

Instonians full-back Bradley McNamara could make his debut after being handed the number 23 shirt. Replacement hooker John Andrew is set for his first appearance since March, while uncapped prop Rory McGuire and James Humphreys are also included.

Jacob Stockdale, Rob Baloucoune, Jude Postlethwaite, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Sam Crean, Rob Herring and Nick Timoney are all rested after starting the Racing game.

Ulster: Moore; Kok, Hume, Carson, Z Ward; Flannery, McKee; Reid, Stewart (capt), O'Toole, Sheridan, Irvine, McCann, Reffell, B Ward.

Replacements: Andrew, Bell, McGuire, Izuchukwu, Augustus, Shanahan, Humphreys, McNamara.

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Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has recalled Harry Byrne at fly-half in one of seven changes for Friday's Investec Champions Cup trip to Leicester (20:00 GMT).

While Sam Prendergast started last week's opening pool win over Harlequins, Byrne is given the chance to impress on the European stage after catching the eye in three United Rugby Championship starts this season.

Coincidentally, Byrne's last Champions Cup start for Leinster was a 27-10 away win over Leicester in January 2024.

The 26-year-old, who spent part of last season on loan at Bristol, last started a Champions Cup game for Leinster in January 2024

Joining Byrne in the backline is All Blacks star Rieko Ioane, who is handed his first Leinster start after making his debut off the bench against Quins.

Ioane is partnered by the returning Robbie Henshaw in midfield, while James Lowe is fit to start on the left wing after recovering from a calf injury.

James Ryan is named in the second row after serving his suspension following a red card in Ireland's November defeat by South Africa, while there are two front-row changes as Tadhg Furlong and Ronan Kelleher replace Thomas Clarkson and Dan Sheehan at tight-head prop and hooker.

Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Ioane, Henshaw, Lowe; Byrne, Gibson-Park; P McCarthy, Kelleher, Furlong, J McCarthy, Ryan, Conan, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Sheehan, Boyle, Clarkson, Mangan, Deegan, McGrath, Prendergast, Frawley.

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It will be "months for sure" before Ireland wing Mack Hansen returns from injury, according to Connacht scrum and contact coach Cullie Tucker.

Hansen emerged as a doubt for the 2026 Six Nations after undergoing surgery on his foot last week.

The 27-year-old first sustained the problem on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia and missed all three Tests of the victorious series.

The Australia-born back-three player reaggravated the issue on his only provincial appearance of the season against the Bulls in October and subsequently missed Ireland's autumn Tests against New Zealand and Japan.

He was named at full-back for the first time in his international career against Australia and marked his return with a memorable first-half hat-trick.

A week later against South Africa, however, he was replaced after 64 minutes and is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

"Yes, surgery went well. It was obviously an unusual and invasive surgery for him," said Tucker.

"He's in the very early parts of recovery now. In terms of timeline I'm not exactly sure but you're talking months for sure.

"It is very early stages after it but he's out and he's at home recovering at the moment."

Ireland start their 2026 Six Nations away to France on 5 February.

Having broken into the Ireland team during the 2022 Six Nations, Hansen played every minute of the 2023 Grand Slam campaign on the right wing, scoring three tries.

However, he missed the 2024 tournament because of a shoulder injury and endured an interrupted championship earlier this year, missing the Scotland and France games with hamstring and quad issues.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Ulster hooker Tom Stewart says he is getting "into a bit of a groove" ahead of Saturday's Challenge Cup trip to Cardiff.

Stewart made an impact off the bench as he touched down one of seven second-half tries as Ulster marked their return to action last week with a commanding 61–7 victory over Racing 92 in Belfast.

The 24-year-old has struggled with injuries in recent seasons but now feels he is getting back to his best form, helped by a run of games heading into a busy festive period that includes successive inter-provincial clashes with Leinster, Munster and Connacht.

"I had that surgery on my ankle there a while ago. I'm starting to feel my body out a wee bit more and things are starting to look up a bit, which is positive," Stewart told BBC Sport NI.

"Getting a good run of games in a bit of time is nice too, getting the flow and feel for rugby. I feel like I'm starting to get into a bit of a groove of things.

"We're getting a run of games there, which is quite nice. Finding a bit of form, coming into Europe and stuff like that is good. We're looking forward to getting this week and then getting a run at the inter-pros."

Cardiff may have lost their European opener 38-17 at Stade Francais, but they have won five of their opening six United Rugby Championship games.

"I suppose you look at them in the other competition in the league (URC), they're doing really well. Especially at home, they're turning that place into a bit of a fortress, it's a hard place to go.

"They have a lot of good international players. It will be a challenge, but one we're really looking forward to," Stewart continued.

"Coming off the back of Europe and then coming home, they'll obviously be looking for that big emotional drive.

"Getting back into their stadium will be massive for them. Cardiff Arms is a great place to play rugby and the crowd really get behind them. They'll be looking to finish off this block with a good win."

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has urged his side to "keep our foot on the pedal" after emerging from the autumn break with a couple of thumping home wins.

After a month without a game, Ulster returned to action with a 47-13 win over Benetton in the United Rugby Championship before opening their Challenge Cup campaign with 61-7 demolition of an understrength Racing 92.

But with a Challenge Cup fixture away to Cardiff on Saturday (20:00 GMT) followed by three successive inter-provincial derbies against Leinster, Connacht and Munster, Murphy says his players cannot afford to lose momentum over a demanding festive period.

"We're coming off the back of a couple of good wins. The boys are playing some really good rugby. [We're in a] very positive place," said Murphy.

"We just have to make sure we keep our foot on the pedal and not lose sight of the thing that have made us good over the last few weeks."

Ulster led Racing 14-7 at half-time but hit 47 unanswered points after the break in an impressive nine-try display.

While Murphy was pleased with his side's appetite for tries, he says attention this week has centred on areas in which the team can improve.

"We reassessed and met the players on Monday morning, had a good review and looked at a few areas where we can definitely do better," he added.

"They've been the focus point this week and Cardiff are a different challenge, so we've got to move on quickly."

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Murphy has also been buoyed by the manner in which the squad's younger players have acquitted themselves recently.

Charlie Irvine, 22, played 80 minutes in the second row against Racing, a couple of 21-year-olds in Joe Hopes and Bryn Ward came off the bench while Murphy's son Jack - also 21 - has started every game this season at fly-half.

"The confidence that's in the team at the moment is fantastic," he said.

"Joe Hopes coming off the bench, Charlie Irvine starting, both 21 or 22 years of age. Jack at 10, Bryn coming on into the back row, Juarno [Augustus] isn't exactly an old man at 26 and Belly [Angus Bell] is 24.

"It's a young squad, it's exciting, our goal is to play the brand of rugby that we're playing.

"As long as we can stick to that and work really hard together and improve week on week, we'll be a very hard team to beat."

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Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey has signed a two-year contract extension at Munster to remain with the province until at least 2028.

The 26-year-old has made 104 appearances for Munster since his debut in 2019, scoring 22 tries.

Casey was part of the Munster side that won the United Rugby Championship in 2023, featuring 18 times across the campaign.

He captained Munster for the first time in their 34-21 win over Scarlets in the URC in September and has scored two tries in three appearances for Clayton McMillan's side this season.

The 24-capped Ireland international won the Grand Slam with Andy Farrell's side in 2023 and the Six Nations title in 2024.

He captained Ireland for the first time on the 2025 summer tour and led the side to victories over Georgia and Portugal.

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Ireland will play their first Women's Six Nations game at Connacht's newly-developed Dexcom Stadium during next year's tournament.

Scott Bemand's side will host Italy at the Galway venue - which will fully open in January - on 18 April and will welcome Wales to Belfast's Affidea Stadium on 9 May.

The Ireland women's side's only previous appearance in Galway was a 15-8 victory over Canada in April 2006.

As previously announced, Ireland will play their first standalone Women's Six Nations fixture at Aviva Stadium when they host Scotland on 17 May.

Ireland open their tournament away to holders England at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium on 11 April. They will also travel to France on 25 April.

Bemand's side finished third behind England and France in the 2025 Six Nations two wins and three defeats in five games.

Ireland will be hoping to build on this year's World Cup campaign in England which included pool wins over Spain and Japan before a narrow quarter-final defeat by France.

The Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU]'s head of women's performance and pathways Gillian McDarby said the union is "determined to build on the groundswell of support the team received" at the World Cup.

"Confirmation that Galway, Belfast and Dublin will host home matches in 2026 is an exciting development, ensuring the visibility of the team grows and there is accessibility to world class women's sport across all areas of the country," said McDarby.

"We look forward to working with Connacht Rugby, Ulster Rugby and the team at Aviva Stadium to deliver memorable events for all our supporters, partners and stakeholders, and building further on the positive momentum behind the Green Wave into 2026."

Ireland's 2026 Women's Six Nations fixtures (times BST)

Saturday, 11 April: England v Ireland, Allianz Stadium, 14:25

Saturday, 18 April: Ireland v Italy, Dexcom Stadium, 17:40

Saturday, 25 April: France v Ireland, TBC, 20:10

Saturday, 9 May: Ireland v Wales, Affidea Stadium, 18:30

Sunday, 17 May: Ireland v Scotland, Aviva Stadium, 14:30

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Ireland will return to Eden Park to face New Zealand as part of next year's inaugural Nations Championship.

Andy Farrell's side will face Australia in Sydney on 4 July and face Japan on 11 July before travelling to Auckland to take on the All Blacks at the 50,000-capacity Eden Park on 18 July.

The November window sees Ireland host Argentina, Fiji and South Africa.

Ireland have had four previous visits to the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby, losing all four matches. Their most recent trip ended in a 42-19 defeat in the 2022 Test series opener, before historic wins in Dunedin and Wellington.

New Zealand's unbeaten streak of 52 Tests at Eden Park stretches back to a loss to France in July 1994.

The first edition of the biennial 12-team event comprises six rounds of matches across the summer and autumn Test windows before a 'finals weekend' on 27-29 November at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.

After each team has played the other six from the opposing hemisphere once, they are ranked within their own hemisphere.

The finals weekend in London will start with the sixth-placed northern hemisphere side taking on their southern hemisphere equivalent, and culminate in the two group winners taking each other on for the title.

The results on the finals weekend will also contribute to a north v south overall score and title.

Ireland's fixtures

4 July

Australia v Ireland

11 July

Japan v Ireland

18 July

New Zealand v Ireland

6-8 November

Ireland v Argentina

13-15 November

Ireland v Fiji

21 November

Ireland v South Africa

Finals weekend

27 November

Sixth-place North v Sixth-place South

Third-place North v Third-place South

28 November

Fifth-place North v Fifth-place South

Second-place North v Second-place South

29 November

Fourth-place North v Fourth-place South

First-place North v First-place South

All you need to know about the Nations Championship

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Rob Herring is an injury doubt for Ulster's European Challenge Cup trip to face Cardiff on Saturday [20:00 GMT].

The 35-year-old hooker suffered a knee injury in the first half of the 61-7 victory over Racing 92 at Affidea Stadium.

Herring scored Ulster's go-ahead try late in the first half, but was replaced at the break by Tom Stewart and will have an MRI scan to determine the severity of the injury.

In better news for Richie Murphy's side, Cormac Izuchukwu is back in full training and in contention to feature after his recovery from a foot injury picked up in the United Rugby Championship win over the Bulls in early October.

The 25-year-old forward's progress had been monitored in recent weeks, but is now set to make his return for the trip to Cardiff Arms Park.

Ben Carson, Lorcan McLoughlin and Sean Reffell are also back in full training and the trio are all in contention for game-time this weekend.

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Ireland wing James Lowe has been passed fit for Leinster's Investec Champions Cup pool 3 match at Leicester Tigers on Friday (20:00 GMT), but Jordan Larmour has been ruled out.

Lowe missed Saturday's 45-28 win over Harlequins at Aviva Stadium with a calf problem, paving the way for Larmour to score two tries in a man-of-the-match display.

Second row RG Snyman (shoulder) and centre Garry Ringrose (cramp) are doubts for the trip to Welford Road, while back row Will Connors could return after recovering from an arm injury.

With Ringrose's availability uncertain, Rieko Ioane could make his first Leinster start after having replaced the Ireland international in the second half against Harlequins.

New Zealand international Ioane, who has joined on a short-term deal until the end of the season, marked his first appearance in blue with a try assist for Jimmy O'Brien.

Leinster said there were no further updates on Cormac Foley, Hugo Keenan, James Culhane, Jamie Osborne, Ryan Baird and Andrew Porter.

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Ulster back row David McCann believes the province will be "hard to deal with" if they can achieve greater consistency across games.

Richie Murphy's side have made a strong start to the season, winning five of their first six games of the 2025-26 campaign in all competitions.

They registered a thumping 61-7 win over Racing 92 in the Challenge Cup on Friday night, but seven of their nine tries came after half-time and they carried just a 14-7 lead into the turn.

McCann believes small alterations made a "massive difference" as the game progressed.

"I actually don't think we were that bad. We were just maybe half a second off," he said of the first-half showing.

"But we switched that up, showed ball focus, early to the breakdown, winning all the scraps, and you saw how that just allows us to play our game.

"When we attack like that, we're hard to deal with. I think if we can start to pair that together with 80-minute performances like that, we're going to be hard to deal with."

After a break for the November Test window, Ulster have won the first two contests of a run of 10 games in 10 weeks.

With a trip to Cardiff in the Challenge Cup to come on Saturday (20:00 GMT), followed by three interprovincial derbies in the United Rugby Championship, Ulster have found form in a key period of the season.

"I think momentum's huge but [there is a] general belief in what we're doing," added McCann.

"When we defend well, we get the ball back, and then when we get the ball back, I think everyone knows what our attack looks like now.

"So it's that belief that's huge at the moment. There's obviously some big games coming up, so it'll be good to see how we go."

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Head coach Clayton McMillan says Munster "weren't good enough overall" in a 40-14 defeat by Bath in their Investec Champions Cup opener.

Hosts Bath took an early lead when they were awarded a penalty try and key Munster player Tadhg Beirne was sent to the sin bin.

Tries from Miles Reid, Henry Arundell and Tom Dunn secured the bonus-point for Bath.

Edwin Edogbo touched down for Munster's first score but Beno Obano soon grabbed Bath's fifth try.

Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey scored Munster's second try before the break but the English side secured their win when Ted Hill crossed late on.

"I think at 28-0 after 22 minutes, we were just too inaccurate and the small things become the big things at this level," McMillan said on Premier Sports.

"They got the wind in their sails and it was tough to come back from.

"Outside of that, we showed enough to show that we can compete with the best.

"But we weren't good enough overall today."

McMillan felt the decision to send Ireland second row Beirne to the sin bin after only eight minutes was "a little tough".

Munster will look to respond at home to Gloucester in their second Pool Two fixture in Limerick on Saturday.

"We get a yellow card and they get a penalty try, it was a tough one to swallow," McMillan added.

"But we need to own the stuff that we needed to be better at, and there was lots."

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Leinster captain Caelan Doris says his side must raise their performance levels after they held off Harlequins to win Saturday's Investec Champions Cup opener at Aviva Stadium.

The four-time champions scored seven tries, but it was not all plain sailing as they were forced to finish strongly after a penalty try left the visitors just 24-21 down after 50 minutes.

"It's a bonus-point win, but performance-wise we're going to have to improve quite a bit going into Leicester away and as we get deeper into the tournament," Doris told Premier Sports.

"[There were a] few moving parts, not to make that an excuse, but we're going to need to improve as we go on."

Leinster's strong finish featured a try assist for New Zealand star Rieko Ioane, who made his debut for the Irish province after joining on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

Ioane was previously unpopular in Irish rugby circles because of a spat with former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, but Doris says the 28-year-old has slotted smoothly into the Leinster environment.

"He's been great so far, he's fitted in pretty quickly," added Doris, who led Leinster in his first appearance for the province since May because of injury.

"It's tricky coming in and learning a new language in terms of all the play-calling and whatnot, but he's done a good job and he's one of us already."

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

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Head coach Richie Murphy feels the province will soon "see the blessing" of Angus Bell's arrival at Ulster

The Wallaby prop made his Ulster debut off the bench in Friday night's 61-7 win over Racing 92 in the Challenge Cup and will spend the rest of the season in Belfast.

The loose-head's first outing for his new side came after he started all four of Australia's Test matches in November and following just one week of training with his new team-mates.

"It's been very quick," said Murphy of Bell's transition.

"Because of our Friday night game, we literally only trained on Tuesday. A walkthrough on Monday, he trained Tuesday, there was a captain's run [on Thursday], then we played. For him to come in and fit in really quickly was good.

"It was always sort of a case where we wanted to get him that 25, 30 minutes so that he understood what it's like to play for us here. Over the next couple of weeks and months, we'll probably see the blessing."

Murphy added that the 25-year-old is already fitting in well with the playing group at Affidea Stadium.

"It's great to have him here. He's a top quality player," he added.

"[He has a ] bubbly personality, works hard and fits in well with our group so we're really looking forward to seeing him sort of grow into his Ulster jersey over the next number of weeks."

Bell's debut for Ulster came in a second half where his new side outscored their opponents 40-0.

Racing 92 heavily altered their line-up for the trip to Belfast and, despite trailing just 14-7 at half-time, were quickly overmatched after the turn.

Murphy opted to field Ulster's strongest available side for the game but acknowledged "there has to be rotation" through this key period of his side's season where they face 10 games in 10 weeks including four European games and three interprovincial derbies in the United Rugby Championship.

"You just can't pick the same team every week, so we're trying to balance that out and make sure that we're strong enough every week, that we're putting out a team that we think we can win a game with."

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Munster will be without Jack Crowley for their Champions Cup opener against Bath as the out-half has been ruled out with a leg injury.

Crowley picked up the injury in his side's United Rugby Championship defeat against the Stormers last weekend and is set to be out for "one to two weeks".

Head coach Clayton McMillan has made five changes from the side that started the 27-21 loss at Thomand Park, which was their first defeat of the season.

Fromer Leinster prop Michael Ala'alatoa is set for his Munster debut off the bench after joining until the end of the season from Clermont Auvergne.

JJ Hanrahan comes in to replace Crowley and he partners Craig Casey in the half-backs with fellow summer arrival Dan Kelly coming into the backline.

Jean Kleyn returns from international duty with South Africa to start in the pack with Michael Milne and John Hodnett.

Shane Daly, Diarmuid Kilgallen and Thaakir Abrahams start in an unchanged back three with Kelly and Tom Farrell in midfield.

Captain Tadhg Beirne, Hodnett and Gavin Coombes are in the back row.

Munster: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tom Ahern; Tadhg Beirne (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Ala'alatoa, Edwin Edogbo, Ruadhan Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Alex Nankivell, Alex Kendellen.

Joel Bell
BBC Sport NI

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Jack Murphy says Ulster feel "really confident" as they prepare to host Racing 92 in Friday's Challenge Cup opener at Affidea Stadium (20:00 GMT).

Murphy signed for Ulster in 2024 after his father Richie Murphy took on the coaching role.

The 21-year-old has established himself as Ulster's first-choice fly-half, starting all five United Rugby Championship games this season, of which the Irish province have won four.

Having made three Champions Cup appearances last season, the former Leinster academy player starts against Racing on Friday - and is relishing a return to the European stage.

''[I'm] really excited to get going here at home against Racing, a huge French club who have unbelievable players all over the park. We're all really looking forward to it and there's a huge buzz in training," he told BBC Sport NI.

''They've a lot of super star players, French internationals and overseas players they've brought in - a lot of power and flair.

"Morale is high in our camp though. We've won four out of our first five. We're really confident going into this week and we take some learnings in too."

Over the past few months, Ulster have introduced some quality additions to their squad, including South African back row Juarno Augustus and Australia prop Angus Bell.

''Juarno has been great for us. We know how good a player he is, but he's also a really nice fella," added Murphy.

''Angus Bell has come in as well. I'm sure he'll impact the group in a great way.

"Watching him over the autumn for Australia, you can see how dynamic he is and how powerful he is.''

Murphy is satisfied with life at Ulster and the form that the squad have shown so far this term.

"Everybody came in the start of the year with a fresh mindset and everyone has bought into it. We feel like we're flying high at the moment but we're just focusing on the next one.

"I'm very happy and grateful to be playing for Ulster and I'm really enjoying it. It's a great place to be on a Friday night.

"We've been playing some nice attacking rugby, but also trying to shore up our defence which has helped us a lot as well."

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New Zealand international Rieko Ioane is set to make his Leinster debut off the bench in Saturday's Investec Champions Cup opener against Harlequins at Aviva Stadium (17:30 GMT).

The 88-cap All Black - a two-time World Rugby Player of the Year nominee - has joined the Irish province from the Blues until the end of the season.

Ioane - who can cover outside centre and the left wing - is part of a strong Leinster matchday squad as head coach Leo Cullen recalls his Ireland internationals after the autumn break.

Caelan Doris captains the side in his first Leinster appearance since May, having returned from a shoulder injury for Ireland last month. Jack Conan also makes his first Leinster appearance this season in a strong back row completed by former World Rugby player of the year Josh van der Flier.

Lock Joe McCarthy returns from a foot injury to partner South Africa international RG Snyman in the second row.

Ireland trio Thomas Clarkson, Dan Sheehan and Paddy McCarthy are named in the front row, with the latter making his Champions Cup debut.

Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park are paired in the half-backs, while Jordan Larmour, Tommy O'Brien and Jimmy O'Brien make up the back three.

Andrew Porter (arm), James Lowe (calf) and Robbie Henshaw (hamstring) are not included.

Leinster have won four Champions Cup titles, the last of which came in 2018, while they lost three successive finals between 2022 and 2024.

Cullen's side thrashed Harlequins 62-0 at Croke Park in the round of 16 last season. Harlequins are currently eighth in the 10-team Prem.

Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Ringrose, Frawley, Larmour; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; P McCarthy, Sheehan, Clarkson, Snyman, J McCarthy, Conan, Van der Flier, Doris (capt).

Replacements: Kelleher, Boyle, Furlong, Mangan, Deegan, McGrath, Byrne, Ioane.

Image source, Getty Images

Australia prop Angus Bell is set to make his Ulster debut off the bench in Friday's Challenge Cup opener against Racing 92 at Belfast's Affidea Stadium (20:00 GMT).

Bell, who has joined the Irish province on a short-term deal from NSW Waratahs until the end of the season, is named among the replacements with Sam Crean starting at loose-head.

Hooker Rob Herring and tight-head prop Tom O'Toole also come into the front row as Tom Stewart and Scott Wilson drop to the bench.

With Iain Henderson, Matthew Dalton and Cormac Izuchukwu ruled out, Charlie Irvine partners Harry Sheridan are paired in the second row. Irvine, 20, played the majority of last week's win over Benetton after Dalton's early injury.

Irvine's only previous Ulster start came in last season's defeat by the Bulls in Pretoria.

Nick Timoney captains the side in Henderson's absence alongside David McCann and Juarno Augustus in an unchanged back row.

Zac Ward is restored to the left wing after not featuring against Benetton as Werner Kok drops out. In-form Rob Baloucoune is retained on the right wing.

Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy continue their half-back partnership while Jude Postlethwaite and James Hume are again named in the centres, with Jacob Stockdale starting at full-back.

Richie Murphy's side are competing in Europe's second-tier competition after failing to qualify for the Investec Champions Cup.

Ulster - who have won four out of five United Rugby Championship games this season - reached the Challenge Cup semi-finals in 2021 after dropping down from the Champions Cup after the pool stage.

Six-time French champions Racing sit 11th in the Top 14 with six wins and five defeats this season. Ulster beat Racing 31-15 when the sides met in Belfast in the 2023-24 Champions Cup pool stage.

Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hume, Postlethwaite, Z Ward; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Herring, O'Toole, Sheridan, Irvine, McCann, Timoney (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: Stewart, Bell, Wilson, Hopes, B Ward, McKee, Flannery, Moore.