Connacht top Challenge Cup pool with hard-fought win at Cardiff
Western province secure home advantage for last 16 knock-out stage
Connacht Rugby
Matt Williams: Begrudgers in Ireland must never be permitted to pull Leinster down
Without the province’s exceptional production line and the qualifying of overseas-born players, Irish rugby would be in a much weaker state
Connacht know win in Cardiff could ease potential return to Welsh capital for decider
A top-two seeding would leave Pete Wilkins’s side with a potential home run all the way to the Challenge Cup final
Connacht make four changes as they look to seal home European run with win in Cardiff
Ulster head coach Richie Murphy hands son Jack a first Champions Cup start at outhalf against Exeter
Gordon D’Arcy: Leinster need to hone their attack to win titles
Leo Cullen’s men eked out a dogfight win over rivals La Rochelle but struggled to build a consistent attacking shape
Connacht travel to Cardiff with Challenge Cup ambitions
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins is adamant the Challenge Cup remains a priority this season despite having fallen down the pecking order in the URC
Tickets sell out for Connacht’s URC clash against Munster in Castlebar
The fixture on March 29th will be played at MacHale Park
Chris Busby resigning shows Mack Hansen issue has been botched from first to last
Affair raises serious questions for URC and IRFU, and is unlikely to do much for recruitment and retention of referees
Pete Wilkins calls on Connacht to continue European momentum against Cardiff
After booking a Last 16 spot with a dismantling of Lyon they will now look to secure a home tie with a win in Wales
Champions Cup Round Three: TV details, kick-off time, team news and more
Leinster, Ulster and Munster are in action at the weekend in the next round of the pool stage
Some threw toilet rolls - others, sausages. How it might look if you were a fly on the wall at Mack Hansen’s Media Training
The Connacht and Ireland winger has to sit through a session along with all his team-mates to learn the fine art of boring reporters to tears
Connacht happy to turn attention to Lyon challenge
Pete Wilkins says his side will ‘go for it’ against ‘unbelievably threatening’ French visitors
Gerry Thornley: The IRFU’s desire to ‘respect our game’ seems somewhat selective
Funny how unlike Connacht and Mack Hansen, no such fine was imposed on Leinster after Sexton’s three-week ban
Sanctions for Mack Hansen show rugby authorities are taking abuse of officials seriously
Match officials are looking for greater protection and that’s why the URC ruling was rightly unequivocal in its findings against the Connacht player
Mack Hansen handed three-match ban but will not miss start of Six Nations
Connacht winger must apologise to referee and go on ‘course related to match officiating’
La Rochelle’s Tolu Latu to miss Champions Cup clash against Leinster after receiving three-match suspension
A decision on Mack Hansen’s disciplinary hearing will not be made until Thursday
Connacht’s Pete Wilkins speaks of ‘frustrating’ events as Mark Sexton departure announced
Head coach says province ‘confident’ ahead of Lyon game while search for Sexton replacement starts
Gerry Thornley: Connacht’s gripes with officials founded in something that feels real
Province have preferred non-Irish referees for interpros, though their grievances with officiating are not limited to Irish referees
Mack Hansen to face disciplinary panel on Wednesday over refereeing comments
Panel to consider if Connacht winger’s comments breached misconduct rules
Paying public deserved to see Jack Crowley-Sam Prendergast battle in Christmas interpros
Irish player management system was designed 20 years, when I was playing, and hasn’t evolved much since then
Connacht left to rue errors as determined Ulster end losing run
Ulster climb to eighth in URC table with 17-7 win in Galway
Richie Murphy praises Ulster defence after win over Connacht lifts them to URC top eight
Ulster were without several key players for their trip to Galway on Saturday
Stakes high as Connacht welcome Ulster to Galway for crunch interpro
Connacht sit 10th in the URC table with Ulster just behind them on points difference ahead of derby showdown
Coach says Connacht taking a ‘wait and see’ approach after Mack Hansen referee comments
Pete Wilkins confirms he contacted URC following post-match criticism but has ‘not heard anything’ yet
Owen Doyle: Mack Hansen’s ill-advised comments simply cannot be allowed pass without sanction
The international’s comments set a dangerous precedent and the URC, and the IRFU, must take appropriate action
Connacht to play Munster at MacHale Park in Castlebar on March 29th
The home of Mayo GAA will host a competitive Connacht Rugby fixture for the first time
Connacht left with feeling of ‘what if’ as Leinster dog out victory to remain unbeaten
Leo Cullen’s side were 17-0 up but Connacht showed plenty of fight to make it a gripping contest in the end
No decision yet if Connacht’s Mack Hansen will be sanctioned for his criticism of referees
Irish winger claims Connacht are too often on wrong side of officials’ decisions in tight matches
‘It’s really f***ing starting to get to us as a team’ - Mack Hansen hits out at how Connacht are refereed
Ireland international claims Connacht are consistently on the wrong side of official’s decisions in matches
Connacht arrive to Aviva with strong team and high hopes
Leinster make 13 changes in personnel from the team that beat French side Clermont Auvergne last weekend
Leinster coach Jacques Nienaber hails contract extension for James Ryan
Retention of accomplished backrow forward ‘excellent’ and positive reflection on the province’s set-up
Connacht’s Bundee Aki pens contract extension in advance of URC clash against old foe Leinster
New Zealand-born centre, lauded by coach for his ‘calm’, is available for the game against unbeaten provincial rivals
Leinster without Liam Turner for Connacht game, Jordan Larmour and Tom Clarkson in doubt
Larmour and Clarkson to undergo further assessment this week
Bundee Aki and James Ryan sign new IRFU contract extensions
Aki signs one-year deal to extend stay at Connacht while Ryan agrees three-year deal to stay at Leinster
Mixed fortunes for Irish provinces leaves plenty of room for improvement
Leo Cullen admits Leinster just muddling their way through after win over Clermont while chastened Munster and Ulster now facing important URC derby clash in Belfast
Connacht close in on Challenge Cup knock-out stages after brilliant win in Perpignan
Pete Wilkins’s side pulled away in the final quarter after the French side had got back to within a point
Connacht know away win against Perpignan would put them in strong position to qualify
European Challenge Cup: Perpignan, having drawn 20-20 with Cheetahs in Amsterdam, are still very much in the hunt
Irish rugby is a good place to be, thanks to people such as Dave Fagan
Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman represent the continuation of an old Irish rugby recipe: home-grown talent spiced up by a sprinkling of top international quality
Connacht’s Denis Buckley and Joe Joyce return to fitness ahead of trip to Perpignan
Pete Wilkins’ side took a win over Zebre in their Challenge Cup opener on Saturday
Jordie Barrett shines as Leinster beat Bristol to get search for elusive fifth star under way
Champions Cup: Munster secure bonus-point win over Stade Francais, Connacht beat Zebre, while champions Toulouse pummel Ulster
Connacht win emphatically against Zebre in Challenge Cup
Westerners produced a dominant display, delivering seven tries against Italian opponents
Connacht set to blood new players in Challenge Cup home tie against Zebre
Province rotates quartet of first-teamers after Ireland's Autumn Nations Series
Sam Prendergast starts at outhalf for Leinster as Jordie Barrett named on the bench
Champions and Challenge Cup team news: Leo Cullen confirms Hugo Keenan’s wrist injury will keep him out for ‘around four weeks’
Pat Lam on having the craic with Anthony Foley and bringing Bundee Aki to Ireland
The former Connacht and now Bristol coach talks to The Counter Ruck podcast ahead of the Champions Cup clash with Leinster
Connacht boss Pete Wilkins wants ‘to see a response from the players’ against Zebre
Head coach wants side to make positive Challenge Cup statement after loss to Bulls last time out
Formidable Bulls prove too strong for 14-man Connacht
Loss of Sean Jansen to a red card after 21 minutes proved a significant handicap for the home side
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