A brilliant line break from Jack Carty into the Ulster 22 and Bundee Aki is stopped just short.

Ulster's desperate defence leads to a ruck penalty and here comes a tap and go!

Some loose handling from both sides as Ethan McIlroy is hit hard by Colm Reilly and turns it over in his own 22.

However, Bundee Aki throws and intercepts the pass that is picked off by Zac Ward.

Some resolute Connacht defending with big hits galore lead to an Ulster spillage and the visitors clear the ball to near halfway.

A Nathan Doak box kick is taken in well by Sean Naughton, who clears his lines.

Ulster win the line-out and move it wide to Zac Ward who is bundled into touch. Things get a little heated with a scuffle in front of the terrace with Ireland teammates Bundee Aki and Jacob Stockdale in the middle of it.

Mike Adamson gives Ulster the penalty as Jack Carty is adjudged to have continued the tackle on Ethan McIlroy when the ball was already dead.

Ulster now 10 metres from the line.

Connacht are up to the halfway line after winning a penalty in their own 22.

Image source, Getty Images

More rotten injury luck for Mike Lowry.

He looks as though he has maybe twisted an ankle in contact and he is replaced by Ethan McIlroy.

An early blow for the home side.

Off we go in Belfast!

Which side will continue their impressive form?

Give this post a thumbs up if you think it'll be the home side and react the other way if you think Connacht will win.

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.

Image source, Getty Images

Last season, Ulster had a dismal season and finished 14th out of 16 teams in the United Rugby Championship with just 38 points.

Almost a year on, they are up to second in the table thanks to a bonus-point win in Edinburgh, and have surpassed last year's tally with six games to spare.

It was an important win for Richie Murphy's young side, who have gone from strength to strength throughout the season.

But one thing they had not achieved was a dominant away victory in the league outside of Ireland since early October.

Read Andy Gray's full article here.

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Inpho

Ulster must navigate the latter stages of the season without breakout Six Nations wing Rob Baloucoune because of an elbow injury.

Baloucoune, who scored three tries in four Six Nations matches this year, sustained the injury in Ireland's Triple Crown-sealing win over Scotland last weekend.

Ulster have confirmed the 28-year-old will undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined for around three months, ruling him out of the remaining United Rugby Championship's regular-season games and next month's Challenge Cup last-16 tie against the Ospreys.

Read the full article here.

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Read the full article here.

Image source, Getty Images

With the Six Nations done and dusted for another year, all eyes return back to the United Rugby Championship.

Tonight at the Affidea Stadium, third in the URC Ulster host Connacht, who sit ninth.

The away side come into the game unbeaten in their past three fixtures with Richie Murphy's outfit hoping to build on their impressive away win against Edinburgh last weekend.

We will have live text commentary for you to enjoy and will bring you the team news from Belfast shortly.

Thanks for joining us. Enjoy the game!

Image source, Getty Images