Will Leinster be the only Irish team in the URC knockouts?
The Counter Ruck Podcast: Ireland women’s defeat to Scotland wrapped up the Six Nations and an unusually glum 48 hours for Irish rugby
United Rugby Championship
Connacht suffer worst away defeat of season to Lions in South Africa
Irish province struggled with both physicality of their opponents and the environment
Leinster fall to rare defeat in Wales as Scarlets triumph
Leo Cullen disappointed with rotational side who ‘didn’t really pitch up’
Munster’s discipline deserts them as Cardiff take full advantage of yellow cards
Munster conceded 26 points when they were reduced to 14 men during the contest
Ulster v Sharks: Tough shift ahead for Richie Murphy’s side as they face nine World Cup winners
Ulster bench will have six forwards, and Werner Kok makes a welcome return against his former South African side
Rónan Kelleher takes captaincy as Leinster change things up for trip to Scarlets
Ruben Moloney in line to make debut as Leo Cullen makes nine changes from Ulster win
Connacht vs Lions preview: Stakes high for both sides in Johannesburg clash
Both Connacht and Lions are looking to secure a place in URC top eight
Leinster’s James Culhane hoping for a change of fortune to consistently deliver on his talent
Talented backrow forward defined by two qualities: prowess on the pitch and resilience despite setbacks
Munster will need to dig deep to end Cardiff’s unbeaten home run at Arms Park
Interim head coach Ian Costello has made seven changes to the side that lost to the Bulls
Munster assistant coach Lawler is confident any problems can be ironed out before Cardiff on Friday
Munster expect their experience and possession-based game to carry them through at Arms Park
Leinster excel when it comes to refining link between attack and defence
Tyler Bleyendaal: ‘If I have something specific that I need done for a certain reason, I really push that’
Connacht eye victory against Lions in South Africa to keep top-eight hopes alive
With three matches remaining in URC, Connacht are seven points adrift of Stormers who are in eighth place
Injuries leave Ulster looking vulnerable ahead of must-win home game against Sharks
Ulster team news: Michael Lowry is out, while Rob Herring and Stuart McCloskey are doubts
Leinster to wait until later in week to decide on Ryan Baird and RG Snyman availability for Scarlets
Leinster v Scarlets: Prop Paddy McCarthy and flanker Will Connors have recovered from injury
Owen Doyle: Chaotic cock-up cost Munster and it reflects badly on a number of people
The lineout is supposed to be a contest for possession, but this trial appears to be heading in the opposite direction
Ryan Baird likely to return for Leinster-Northampton Champions Cup duel
Calf injury puts James Ryan’s availability in doubt
Ulster’s Richie Murphy questions legality of Leinster’s breakdown and scrum after defeat
Northern province facing battle to finish in the top eight after losing at the Aviva Stadium
Leinster look on course to avoid end of season scramble this time around
Bonus-point win over Ulster means that Leo Cullen’s side could have wrapped up home semi-final ahead of final round of URC matches
Munster with work to do to secure Champions Cup qualification after controversial defeat to Bulls
Irish province forced to play for 14 minutes down a man after the game went to uncontested scrums
Cullie Tucker ‘very proud’ of Connacht’s effort in defeat to Stormers
TMO rules out late Connacht try that would have given them an opportunity to win game
Leinster ring changes as they welcome Ulster to Dublin
Only three players retained from the starting team which beat Glasgow in Champions Cup
Munster seek to address lineout and get back to winning ways against Bulls
Bulls start as five-point underdogs with the bookies and a close contest is anticipated at Thomond Park
Understrength Connacht braced for ‘massive task’ at Stormers
Jack Carty recalled in effort to offset losses of key players for high-stakes URC clash
Leinster switch it up for Ulster clash
Only Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose and Joe McCarthy retain their starting places
TG4 secure exclusive free-to-air rights for URC as RTÉ loses out
RTÉ loses out as Irish channel reaches four-year agreement with tournament organisers
Cullie Tucker strikes confident tone ahead of Connacht’s South Africa trip
‘We’re in the land of physicality now, so we have to power up and be ready for it’
Gordon D’Arcy: Leinster can look to Rory McIlroy, Munster need reinforcements
Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman are fundamental to Leinster’s Champions Cup quest
Munster could hand debuts to Michael Milne and Lee Barron against the Bulls
Newly arrived forward duo from Leinster could be pressed straight into action in URC clash
‘It’s a daunting test’ - Ulster head coach Richie Murphy prepares for tough Leinster clash
Forward Cormac Izuchukwu set for return to action for Aviva Stadium encounter
Joe McCarthy firmly focused on ‘chasing down success’ with Leinster
Secondrow one of five players facing fitness test before Saturday’s URC clash with Ulster
Connacht count the cost of Racing 92 ahead of URC South African trip
Interim head coach Cullie Tucker digs deep into squad for the two-game tour
‘Incredibly frustrated’ Munster turn attention to crunch URC clash
Tadhg Beirne admits lineout problems cost side dearly in Bordeaux
In another staggered season, rugby’s URC has lurched along - all the while breaking attendance records
Fitted in here, there and everywhere, the increasingly popular championship holds its own against bigger tournaments
‘We can’t keep trying to dig ourselves out of these holes’: Connacht setting aside URC hurt to focus on Challenge Cup
Westerners welcome Cardiff to Dexcom Stadium in Challenge Cup Round of 16 on Saturday
Alex Nankivell’s straight red for collision with Cian Prendergast was right call
Bunker was missing in action at MacHale Park, as Connacht left it too late to fire on all cylinders
Rónan Kelleher in race against time for Leinster’s Champions Cup game against Harlequins
Croke Park to host Champions Cup Round of 16 clash on Saturday
Connacht ought to have won but yet again only woke up when all seemed lost
Connacht interim head coach Cullie Tucker says team must stop giving themselves too much to do
Aoife Dalton praises Ireland’s ‘complete team performance’ in sinking Italy
Provinces assess the weekend’s toll as attention turns back to Europe
Steadfast Leinster defence grinds out win against the Sharks in Durban
Leo Cullen’s side return to winning ways with hard-fought victory
Frustrated Connacht look to bounce back quick ahead of Cardiff visit
Westerner’s suffer six-point defeat against Munster at MacHale Park
Ian Costello hails Munster composure in win over Connacht
Munster secure approval to hold EPCR fixture at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in December
Munster escape MacHale Park with the win after Connacht spring late fight back
Three cards for Munster gave Connacht a numerical advantage for much of the game in Castlebar
‘I had to just go all-in:’ How Josh Ioane has embraced the Connacht mentality
The once-capped All Blacks outhalf tells how he’s ended up plying his trade in the west of Ireland
Historic Connacht-Munster clash could prove to be a classic
Big-name players and a bumper crowd in store as Castlebar hosts critical URC showdown
Ulster beat Stormers in high-scoring classic to make it three wins in a row
Northern province recovered from trailing 17-0 to score six tries on their way to victory
Sharks sense blood as they circle around Leinster set-piece issues from Bulls game
Leinster have new midfield partnership in Liam Turner and Charlie Tector, who replace Jordie Barrett and Hugh Cooney
Mack Hansen to start at fullback for Connacht against Munster at MacHale Park
Alan Spicer in line for Leinster debut when they take on the Sharks in South Africa
Robbie Henshaw: ‘Playing at Croke Park is something I will never take for granted’
Leinster and Ireland centre eyes Champions Cup game against Harlequins and Lions berth on Australia summer tour
Caolin Blade: ‘I follow GAA as much as I follow rugby but I’ve never strayed far from Pearse Stadium’
The Galway man and Connacht scrumhalf never imagined his rugby career would take him to Mayo’s MacHale Park
Gordon D’Arcy: It’s up to Irish players to reap the benefits of bringing in RG Snyman and Jordie Barrett
From Alex Wyllie to Bundee Aki, people born abroad have made huge contributions to rugby in Ireland
‘Atmosphere will be special’: Connacht relish ‘home’ clash against Munster in front of 26,000 at MacHale Park
Connacht’s international quartet of Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Finlay Bealham and Cian Prendergast set to be fit for match
Munster approach Connacht clash with mix of excitement and caution
Province look to returning Beirne, Murray and O’Mahony to lift intensity in squad following two consecutive URC defeats
Pete Wilkins to miss Connacht game against Munster at MacHale Park
Colm Tucker deputising while Connacht head coach remains on sick leave
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