Connacht Rugby
Connacht sign Chiefs outhalf Josh Ioane on one-year deal
Versatile 28-year-old who won one cap for the All Blacks will cover for the injured JJ Hanrahan
Leinster and Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle meet once again in Champions Cup pool stages
Munster get Northampton and Bulls, Ulster drawn against Toulouse and Leicester
Gordon D’Arcy: Weakness in the system undermines Ireland’s ambitions
Disappointing seasons for Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht highlighted how the Irish system needs to change
After a full year on the go, is Irish rugby running on empty?
Irish players went into World Cup camp a year ago this week and they have not stopped playing since
The Offload: No contact with Sam Prendergast about potential loan move, says Connacht’s Pete Wilkins
Former Irish underage international subject of speculation that he might move west on year-long loan deal
Five-try Leinster end Connacht’s season during RDS swansong
Rhys Ruddock close to his industrious best in what could be his final appearance before retiring at the end of the season
Munster and Connacht to begin next year’s URC with an interpro clash
Leinster’s traditional festive trip to Thomond Park up in the air with dates for that clash as of yet unconfirmed
Leinster’s Connacht clash a rare chance for sentiment as province bids farewell to RDS
Ross Molony, Rhys Ruddock and Ed Byrne all given RDS farewells ahead of their departure from the province at the end of the season
Jacques Nienaber says Leinster got it wrong in three areas against Toulouse
Defeat in the Champions Cup final will not leave Leinster players emotionally scarred, says the World Cup-winning Springbok coach
Leinster clash will come too soon for Connacht’s Mack Hansen
Ireland wing is still recovering from a long-term injury which has kept him sidelined since January
Irish provinces must contribute 30% to fund each national contract, confirms IRFU
Current system sees each contract fully financed by the union and addresses complaint from other provinces that Leinster had advantage
Connacht look to sign Sam Prendergast on loan from Leinster
Outhalf depth an issue for Connacht after JJ Hanrahan suffered an ACL injury last month
Pete Wilkins disappointed and frustrated as Connacht’s playoff hopes fade away
Caolin Blade’s try gave Connacht a first-half lead but penalties and errors after the break cost the province dear
What has David Nucifora ever done for Irish rugby?
As he prepares to end his 10-year stint as IRFU high-performance director, the Australian reflects on guiding changes to Irish structure and mentality even when that caused tensions
Santiago Cordero to make first Connacht appearance after recovering from long-term injury
Connacht to bid farewell to departing players during the final game before the Dexcom Stadium will be redeveloped
URC playoff permutations: who needs to do what to qualify?
Leinster and Munster battle for as high a seed as possible while Ulster and Connacht find themselves towards the bottom end of the top eight
Farrell, Daly and Butler among 11 players set to leave Connacht
Province confirms list of departing players includes former captain Butler alongside long-term players such as Daly, Farrell and Thornbury
Santiago Cordero expected to line out for first time in Connacht’s match against Stormers
Ireland international Mack Hansen unlikely to feature against South African visitors
Connacht left ‘hurting’ as Munster run in seven tries in Thomond thumping
Pete Wilkins ‘hugely disappointed’ as Munster show their class in URC encounter
Munster focused on URC drive up table when Connacht come to Thomond Park
With 19,000 tickets already sold, Munster will have the crowd behind them and be keen to nail an interprovincial success
URC team news: Munster and Connacht announce sides for Thomond Park clash
Jimmy O’Brien makes first Leinster start since December against Ospreys; Ulster make five changes for trip to Scarlets
Conor Oliver relishes return to Munster as Connacht seek crucial win
‘When these pressure situations come, I think we react very well,’ says flanker
Connacht planning to play the ‘aggressor’ at Thomond
Head coach Pete Wilkins reveling in the ‘intensity’ of upcoming interpros
Connacht lose outhalf JJ Hanrahan for remainder of season due to ACL injury
31-year-old suffered knee injury in win over Dragons; Jack Carty returns to action after hamstring injury
Connacht’s Tiernan O’Halloran to retire from rugby
Fullback made 236 appearances for the province, scoring 48 tries
Connacht sign Irish-qualified centre Piers O’Conor from Bristol
Australian-born back has family roots in Roscommon and Ireland as he played for both England at Ireland at underage level
Connacht move into URC playoff places but Dragons win comes at a cost
A red card for Ben Carter swung the contest in Connacht’s favour as they prevailed with a bonus point
Gavin Thornbury returns from injury as Connacht look for back-to-back wins in Dragons clash
Pete Wilkins’ side could build some much-needed momentum having beaten Zebre last weekend during this URC playoff run-in
Scott Fardy on life at Connacht: ‘It’s a tough place, a rugged place. It’s different country’
Former Leinster forward is loving life in Galway after making the move from playing to coaching
Leinster provide too many players to the national squad for it to be an equitable system
Munster are treading a similar path to last season, pulling out some great wins away from home. They know the virtues of timing a run, better than most
Mack Hansen in line for Connacht return for Munster derby date
Argentina fullback Santiago Cordero also set to return before the end of the season
‘A slaughter seldom seen in modern rugby’ - English press reacts to Ireland’s Six Nations drubbing
The Offload: University of Pittsburgh finds new way of testing for concussions; battle for the URC playoffs heats up
Eight-try Connacht sweep past Zebre for much-needed URC win
Matthew Devine named player of the match after a two-try display at the Dexcom Stadium in Galway
How does Leinster’s dominance benefit Irish rugby as a whole?
With so many of Leinster’s best talent paid for by the IRFU, there are concerns this represents an unfair advantage
Finlay Bealham to make 200th Connacht appearance in must-win clash with Zebre
Home fixture with the struggling Italian side must lead to vital league table points as Connacht battle for a top-eight finish
Bank of Ireland signs €15m sponsorship deal with Irish rugby provinces
Deal means lender will sponsor Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster rugby out to 2028
Blue bloods: IRFU ‘national’ contract system will continue to load the dice in Leinster’s favour
Leinster are set to have 10 players on Ireland central contracts next season with just three from the other provinces on national deals
Connacht turn their focus to securing top-eight spot in the URC
Connacht vs Zebre: Ahead of URC clash, Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins is confident his squad possess the ability to secure Champions Cup rugby next season
Gordon D’Arcy: All four provinces have the opportunity for a proper crack at the URC
Leinster stand alone in Europe but for Munster, Ulster and Connacht in the URC there is precious little wriggle room for further missteps from here on in
Connacht exit Challenge Cup as they are undone by Benetton’s first-half blitz
Pete Wilkins’s side scored the opening try before home side hit them with four of their own before half-time
Challenge Cup: Connacht need to bring extra intensity to beat Benetton
With home advantage for the Italian side, Irish province will be underdogs
Scrumhalf Matthew Devine signs first professional contract with Connacht
Devine will become a senior squad player after completing his second season win Connacht’s academy in the summer
Jarrad Butler and Shayne Bolton to miss Connacht’s Challenge Cup quarter-final through injury
Butler is undergoing return to play protocols after a head injury while a thigh issue will keep Bolton out of the trip to Benetton
Munster’s European exit could well be the end of an era with a number of players facing uncertain futures
Ulster and Connacht gain impressive wins to advance in Challenge Cup
Connacht fight back in Pau to set up Italian job
Pete Wilkins’s side trailed at the break but finished strongly to earn a last-eight date with Benetton
Champions Cup and Challenge Cup last 16: TV details, kick-off times, team news and more
Everything you need to know about the Irish provinces and their routes to the finals
Connacht fully locked and loaded for Pau clash
Connacht coach Peter Wilkins adds internationals Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham to an already vastly experienced starting XV for Challenge Cup clash away to Pau
Challenge Cup team news: Aki and Bealham back for Connacht, Henderson fit for Ulster
Connacht line out against Pau while Ulster also travel to France to take on Montpellier in the round of 16
‘We have to score tries’ - Connacht to come out firing in Challenge Cup knockouts
Pete Wilkins’ side travels to France to take on Pau who currently sit seventh on the Top 14 table
Connacht boosted by return of Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham for Pau clash
Pete Wilkins’s side looking to bounce back in European competition after two URC losses
Irish provinces face tricky paths to glory as European competitions return
Securing home advantage could pay off for Leinster, while Munster, Ulster and Connacht all face daunting away assignments
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