Irish provinces targeting improvements in 2025-26

The United Rugby Championship begins on Friday when Leinster play Stormers in Cape Town

Just 55 days after the final Test in the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, a new United Rugby Championship season will begin on Friday

There have been significant changes in personnel for all four Irish provinces over the close season, with Munster and Connacht coming into the campaign with new head coaches too.

Leinster, who will start as favourites to retain the title they won in some style last season, meanwhile have swapped one All Black centre for another as they seek to supplement domestic success with European glory.

As for Ulster, the lowest ranked Irish province last time around, they have added a pair of big names for the season ahead in the hopes of reversing their fortunes.

With the first games on the horizon this weekend, BBC Sport NI looks at the prospects for all four Irish teams in 2025-26.

Connacht

Stuart Lancaster returns to Irish rugby after previously serving as senior coach at Leinster

Ins: Sam Gilbert (Highlanders)

Outs: Conor Oliver (Ealing Trailfinders), JJ Hanrahan (Munster), Piers O'Connor (Edinburgh), Santiago Cordero

Last season: 13th

First five games: Benetton (H), Scarlets (H), Cardiff (A), Bulls (H), Munster (A)

Prospects: The western province endured a down season last time around, finishing 13th in the URC and seeing their Challenge Cup campaign come to an abrupt halt with a 43-40 loss at home to 14-man Racing 92 at the quarter-final stage.

By the time the Parisians arrived in Galway for that April clash, former England and Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster had already left the Top 14 outfit in the middle of a disappointing campaign.

As it happens, his next gig is in Galway, and he was confirmed in June to be the man replacing Pete Wilkins.

The appointment is certainly a coup. Coupled with improvements to the Dexcom Stadium and the presence of three British and Irish Lions on the summer tour to Australia, there is certainly greater optimism around than there was throughout last year.

Will it, though, translate to an improvement in results?

Leinster

Reiko Ioane will join up with the Leinster squad after New Zealand's autumn Tests

Ins: Reiko Ioane (Blues)

Outs: Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Cian Healy (retired), Ross Byrne, Rob Russell (both Gloucester)

Last season: Champions

First five games: Stormers (A), Bulls (A), Sharks (H), Munster (H), Zebre (H)

Prospects: A three-season gap without a trophy constitutes a silverware drought for a side like Leinster with Leo Cullen's men ending that unwelcome streak with victory over Glasgow in URC final in June.

Defeat by Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup semi-finals, however, again gave the impression that the prize they most desired had proved elusive.

Despite the conclusion of Jordie Barrett's short-term deal, Leinster have been able to replace like for like by bringing in his All Black colleague Reiko Ioane in what was one of the most talked about signings in recent Irish rugby history - a penny for Johnny Sexton's thoughts, anyone?

Cian Healy, the side's most capped player of all time, has retired while another hugely reliable performer, Ross Byrne has departed too.

But perhaps the toll of the British and Irish Lions series is the biggest unknown going into Leinster's season. Twelve of their number were in the original touring panel before Jamie Osborne and Tom Clarkson were added as injury cover later on.

Leinster will be favourites to be crowned champions once again but, with Caelan Doris, Hugo Keenan and Joe McCarthy all to miss the start of the season through injury, how will those exertions down under impact their players across another long season for club and country?

Munster

Clayton McMillan has signed a three-year contract at Thomond Park

Ins: JJ Hanrahan (Connacht), Dan Kelly (Leicester Tigers)

Outs: Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne (all retired)

Last season: Quarter-finalists

First five games: Scarlets (A), Cardiff (H), Edinburgh (H), Leinster (A), Connacht (H)

Prospects: Perhaps another strange season down at Thomond Park was best epitomised by the side's URC exit, the always bizarre sight of a place-kicks competition against the Sharks bringing the curtain down on their season in Durban.

It had been a tumultuous campaign up to that point with the man who delivered the URC title in 2023, Graham Rowntree, departing in October after a run of two wins from six to start the season.

Head of rugby operations Ian Costello took temporary charge of things and delivered a huge victory away to La Rochelle in the last 16 of the Champions Cup, before the side ultimately confirmed their place in this season's top-tier European competition with a sixth-place finish in the league.

Similar to Stuart Lancaster's arrival in Connacht, the hiring of Clayton McMillan represents something of a coaching coup. The New Zealander arrives after taking the Chiefs to three successive Super Rugby finals and his ticket is boosted by having Alex Codling available to work with the forwards full-time after splitting his time with the women's national side last season.

Dan Kelly, Irish-qualified once again after a solitary England cap in 2021, is an intriguing addition, while JJ Hanrahan returns to back up Jack Crowley for what will be a third spell with his native province.

Quite apart from a new head coach, the retirements of Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne, as well as the departure of Rory Scannell, give the feeling of a new era in the southern province.

Ulster

Juarno Agustus won the Premiership with Northampton Saints in 2023-24

Ins: Juarno Agustus (Northampton Saints), Angus Bell (Waratahs)

Outs: John Cooney (Brive), Kieran Treadwell (Harlequins), Alan O'Connor (retired) Andy Warwick

Last season: 14th

First five games: Dragons (H), Edinburgh (A), Bulls (H), Sharks (A), Lions (A)

Prospects: The 2024-25 campaign is not one that will live long in the memory at Ulster.

The northern province were the lowest finisher among the provinces with only Zebre and Dragons below them in the standings at the end of an injury-riddled season.

That means that this time around Ulster will not play for Champions Cup rugby for the first time in the history of Europe's premier competition.

The top-eight finish required to once again dine at the top table in 2026-27 must surely be the goal this time around.

In signing number eight Juarno Augustus from Northampton, there figures to be some added ballast to the carrying game. The side's other high-profile recruit, loose-head Angus Bell, will arrive only after Australia's November campaign but is no slouch in that department either.

The arrival of Mark Sexton as attack coach, with Willie Faloon now in permanent charge of the defence, means Richie Murphy is now surrounded by his own ticket, and improvement will be expected in what is his second full season in charge.

Luckless with injuries last time around, imperative to their hopes, however, will be key players spending more time on the pitch than the treatment table.