Irish Rugby

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy says he was hugely impressed by the commitment from his players in Saturday's 28-7 win over South African side Bulls.

Wilco Louw cancelled out Stuart McCloskey's try in the first half but Ulster scored three tries after the restart, through Juarno Augustus, Rob Herring and Cormac Izuchukwu, to power to victory.

It was a second bonus-point win in as many matches in the United Rugby Championship for Ulster, who have a game in hand over the majority of the league after their game in Edinburgh was postponed as a result of Storm Amy.

"Absolutely, I was blown away by their commitment, work ethic and grit to stay in the fight," Murphy said when asked if it was the best team performance since he took charge of Ulster in March 2024.

"I thought we worked really hard for each other defensively. It shows the team is building nicely and there's still loads of things we feel we can be better at.

"We have to build on it going forward now."

Ulster will now travel to South Africa for two matches against Sharks and Lions before the URC takes a break for the November internationals, and Murphy says his side are "going down there on a mission to win".

"I don't think we should worry about any team we are playing," he said.

"Going down to South Africa is obviously a very difficult place to go.

"The guys feel good about themselves at the moment and it's important we keep working hard to try and get better every week."

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Ulster prop Tom O'Toole said he is excited to face a "nearly fully strong Bulls side" in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game in Belfast (19:45 BST).

The Bulls have recalled 13 Springboks to their squad after starting the season with wins over Ospreys and Leinster in Pretoria.

Meanwhile, Ulster have had a longer break since their opening victory over the Dragons after last week's fixture against Edinburgh was postponed because of Storm Amy.

"It'll be exciting to come up against the challenge of a nearly fully strong Bulls side," O'Toole told BBC Sport NI.

"The Bulls have performed really well over the last couple of weeks and hopefully we will be able to put on one of our strongest teams with the guys we have available.

"They were in the [URC] final last year for a reason, and they have really physical set of forwards, are set-piece orientated and their backs are dynamic, really quick and really dangerous over transition."

Ulster are set to welcome wing Robert Baloucoune and prop Eric O'Sullivan back from injury ahead of this weekend's clash, but backs Michael Lowry and Jacob Stockdale are doubts.

Richie Murphy's side welcome the URC leaders to the Affidea Stadium before travelling to South Africa to face the Sharks and Lions in their final two games before the autumn break.

"It's a big few weeks coming up," the 27-year-old continued.

"We have put in a lot of good work over pre-season, so we're excited for the challenge, and it'll put us in good position to see where we are.

"Three South African teams in a row is a good challenge to see where you are."

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Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Handre Pollard will make his first Bulls appearance in six years in Saturday's United Rugby Championship trip to Ulster (19:45 BST).

Fly-half Pollard, who rejoined the Pretoria-based club over the summer after stints with Montpellier and Leicester Tigers, is one of eight South Africa internationals in the Bulls line-up for the game in Belfast.

Like Pollard, prop Wilco Louw and centre Canan Moodie are restored to Johan Ackermann's starting team after helping the Springboks win retain the Rugby Championship.

Former Boks lock Ackermann - appointed in the summer - makes seven changes in total from last week's win over Leinster, with Cobus Wiese, Marco Staden, Jeandre Rudolph and Zak Burger also recalled.

South Africa centurion Willie le Roux is named among the replacements, while hooker Johann Grobbelaar captains the side in former Ulster flanker Marcell Coetzee's concussion-enforced absence.

"He obviously had to do a bit of homework and get to know the players and meet all the players," Ackermann said of 85-cap Springbok Pollard.

"And then the moment we step our foot on the field on Wednesday [for training], he's bringing a lot of calmness, experience and class.

"Even though it's a big challenge to only have two trainings with a team, I'm sure he will adapt well and the players will feed off his calmness and experience."

The Bulls have started the season with two wins, but in order to extend their winning sequence, Ackermann believes his players must block out the noise of the Ulster fans.

"They sing, they're noisy, they make you feel it when you make a mistake," said Ackermann, who was head coach during Ulster great David Humphreys' spell as Gloucester director of rugby.

"Those things can come under your skin that we have to control. We've tried to prep this week by making a big thing about what we can control. We don't control the crowd, the referee, the weather.

"What we control is our attitude, our mindset, our positivity."

Bulls: Devon Williams; Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs; Handre Pollard, Zak Burger; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johann Grobbelaar (capt), Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, Nicolas Janse v Rensburg, Marco van Staden, Mpilo Gumede, Jeandre Rudolph.

Replacements: Juann Else, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nama Xaba, Paul de Wet, David Kriel, Willie le Roux.

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Connacht's Cullie Tucker will lead Ireland 'A' against Spain in Leganes next month.

Tucker, who is the western province's scrum and contact coach, was part of Paul O'Connell's backroom team for Ireland's summer tour of Georgia and Portugal.

Ireland 'A' will face Spain - who have qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup - at Estadio Municipal de Butarque on Saturday, 8 November (16:00 BST), the same day as the senior team's autumn Test against Japan in Dublin (12:40 BST).

Tucker will be assisted by Mossy Lawler (backs/attack Coach), Jimmy Duffy (forwards coach) and Sean O'Brien (defence coach).

Last year, Ireland 'A' lost 28-12 to England 'A' in Bristol.

The Irish Rugby Football Union says the Ireland 'A' squad will be announced "in the coming weeks".

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Fit-again Robert Baloucoune will make his first appearance of the season for Ulster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against the Bulls (19:45 BST) at the Affidea Stadium, while summer signing Juarno Augustus has been handed his first start of the campaign.

Wing Baloucoune played only twice for the Irish province last term in an injury-blighted year and missed the season-opening 42-21 win over the Dragons two weeks ago with an ankle injury.

Augustus, a summer signing from Northampton, came off the bench in the win over the Welsh side in Belfast and was also named as a replacement for last week's scheduled encounter away to Edinburgh, which was postponed after falling victim to the effects of Storm Amy.

Jacob Stockdale is selected at full-back after overcoming a foot injury sustained in the game two weeks ago while prop Eric O'Sullivan is named on the bench after recovering from a knee problem.

Michael Lowry is not included in the matchday squad however as he continues to recover from an abdominal strain.

Zac Ward retains his place in the starting XV on the left wing after his try-scoring performance against the Dragons, with Stuart McCloskey and James Hume again paired in midfield.

Jack Murphy and Nathan Doak continue to form the half-back partnership.

Former Saracens forward Sam Crean starts for the first time since joining the province in the summer, packing down with Ireland internationals Rob Herring and Tom O'Toole in the front row.

Captain Iain Henderson is partnered by Cormac Izuchukwu in the second row, with David McCann, Nick Timoney and Augustus making up the back row.

Prop Callum Reid was named in the side to face Edinburgh last week but is ruled out of Saturday's match with a concussion.

The Bulls have started the season strongly, securing wins over Ospreys and defending champions Leinster, and have recalled a clutch of South Africa internationals to their squad following the conclusion of The Rugby Championship.

Last season's beaten URC finalists are without former Ulster forward Marcell Coetzee because of a concussion however.

The meeting with the Bulls is the first of three encounters against South African opposition for Richie Murphy's side as they travel to face the Sharks and Lions in the following weeks.

Ulster lost three of their four URC games against South Africa opposition last season, including a 47-21 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria.

Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Ward; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Herring, O'Toole; Henderson (capt), Izuchukwu; McCann, Timoney, Augustus

Replacements: Stewart, O'Sullivan, Wilson, Sheridan, Reffell, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite.

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Winless Leinster have named five of their British and Irish Lions to start Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against the Sharks at Aviva Stadium (17:30 BST).

Forwards Josh van der Flier, Tadhg Furlong and Ronan Kelleher and backs James Lowe and Jamie Osborne all return to domestic action after featuring in the Lions' Australian tour over the summer.

Flanker Van der Flier captains Leinster for the first time, while Harry Byrne starts at fly-half with Ireland international Sam Prendergast not included in the matchday squad.

Former Ireland sevens player Joshua Kenny is poised to make his Leinster debut after being named on the bench.

The 22-year-old trained with the URC champions over the summer, featured in September's pre-season game against Cardiff and travelled with the squad to South Africa for the defeats by the Stormers and Bulls.

Leinster boss Leo Cullen makes eight changes from the 39-31 loss to the Bulls, with Fintan Gunne making his first start of the season at scrum-half.

Lowe and Osborne's returns mean Jimmy O'Brien shifts to the wing while Robbie Henshaw moves to outside centre to partner Ciaran Frawley.

The Sharks lost to Glasgow in their opener before a 17-17 draw with the Dragons last week.

Leinster: Jamie Osborne; Jimmy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Ciaran Frawley, James Lowe; Harry Byrne, Fintan Gunne: Paddy McCarthy, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird, Alex Soroka, Josh van der Flier (capt), Max Deegan.

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Thomas Clarkson, Diarmuid Mangan, James Culhane, Luke McGrath, Hugh Cooney, Joshua Kenny.

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Edwin Edogbo is set to make his first Munster appearance in nearly two years after being named in the matchday squad for Friday's United Rugby Championship game with Edinburgh in Cork (19:45 BST).

The 22-year-old lock has been sidelined since December 2023 with an Achilles injury, but has been included on the bench.

Head coach Clayton McMillan makes 10 changes from last week's win over Cardiff, with Tom Farrell, Calvin Nash, Andrew Smith and Michael Milne handed their seasonal debuts.

Diarmuid Barron, Mike Haley, Sean O'Brien, JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson and Jack O'Donoghue also come into the side.

Munster are still without captain Tadhg Beirne after his involvement in the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, while Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey will return from his thigh injury in "one to three weeks".

Munster are also without Shane Daly, Tom Ahern (both concussion), Niall Scannell (hand), Diarmuid Kilgallen (ankle), John Hodnett (cheek), Alex Kendellen (ankle) and Conor Bartley (thigh).

In-form fly-half Jack Crowley is rested.

The Irish province are targeting a third straight win after opening their campaign with wins over Scarlets and Cardiff.

Edinburgh lost to Zebre before their home game against Ulster last week was postponed because of Storm Amy.

The Scots have recalled Lions wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe, while Pierre Schoeman, D'arcy Rae and Sam Skinner come into the pack.

Dylan Richardson will make his Edinburgh debut in the back row after joining from the Sharks.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Sean O'Brien, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue, Ruadhan Quinn, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Dan Kelly.

Edinburgh: Wes Goosen; Darcy Graham, Piers O'Conor, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe; Ben Healy, Ben Vellacott; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, D'arcy Rae, Marshall Sykes, Sam Skinner, Liam McConnell, Dylan Richardson, Magnus Bradbury (capt).

Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Boan Venter, Paul Hill, Glen Young, Freddy Douglas, Ben Muncaster, Charlie Shiel, Harry Paterson.

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Ulster wing Zac Ward insists he is "not really thinking about" a potential Ireland call-up as he prepares to face a Bulls side loaded with Springboks in Belfast on Saturday (19:45 BST).

Former Ireland Sevens star Ward started his first full season in the 15s code in style with a try in Ulster's opening United Rugby Championship win over the Dragons a fortnight ago.

The 26-year-old was a training panellist in Paul O'Connell's Ireland squad over the summer, and while returning head coach Andy Farrell names his autumn panel next week, Ward says he is not looking beyond the URC leaders' visit to Affidea Stadium.

"I'm just worried about this game this weekend," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I'm not really thinking about that. It's always a goal for every player, but I just want to try and cement my place in the starting 15 here and then see what happens after that."

Having initially joined Ulster on a trial basis after last year's autumn international window, Ward admits he endured a "baptism of fire" in his debut against Bordeaux in the Investec Champions Cup.

But with four tries in 10 appearances since then, he believes his confidence has "grown massively".

"That's definitely down to the coaching staff having belief in me and not putting too much pressure on me and the guys around me galvanising me," added the 2024 Olympian.

The Bulls, who have started the season with wins over Ospreys and Leinster, have included 13 South African internationals for their European tour that also includes fixtures against Connacht and Glasgow.

Ward may come up against Canan Moodie, who is fresh off winning the Rugby Championship with the Springboks, but the Ballynahinch man is confident Ulster can overcome last season's URC finalists if they execute their gameplan.

"South African teams are always going to be massively physical, we know that.

"We can't give them too much loose ball because they have some nippy guys out wide as well, but we're confident if we stick to our gameplan and do what we set out to do, we can put on a good show and a good performance for the crowd."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

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The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has confirmed that Ireland's men's and women's players who join the breakaway R360 competition will be ineligible for international selection.

R360 - fronted by former England international Mike Tindall - plans to launch in October 2026 with lucrative contracts and a reduced fixture schedule for players.

Organisers for the tournament, which is seeking World Rugby ratification, claims to have agreements in place with close to 200 men's players, while they have reportedly targeted, external members of England's Women's Rugby World Cup-winning squad.

However, in a joint-statement issued on Tuesday, the national unions of Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, Scotland, France and Italy said the R360 model appears designed to "generate profits and return them to a very small elite".

It added that the rebel circuit has not met with unions to discuss its proposals.

"We all welcome new investment and innovation in rugby; and support ideas that can help the game evolve and reach new audiences; but any new competition must strengthen the sport as a whole, not fragment or weaken it," read the statement.

"Among our roles as national unions, we must take a wider view on new propositions and assess their impact on a range of areas, including whether they add to rugby's global ecosystem, for which we are all responsible, or whether they are a net negative to the game.

"R360 has given us no indication as to how it plans to manage player welfare; how players would fulfil their aspirations of representing their countries, and how the competition would coexist with the international and domestic calendars so painstakingly negotiated in recent years for both our men's and women's games.

"The R360 model, as outlined publicly, rather appears designed to generate profits and return them to a very small elite, potentially hollowing out the investment that national unions and existing leagues make in community rugby, player development, and participation pathways."

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The statement added that "international rugby and our major competitions remain the financial and cultural engine that sustains every level of the game — from grassroots participation to elite performance".

"Undermining that ecosystem could be enormously harmful to the health of our sport," it continued.

"These are all issues that would have been much better discussed collaboratively, but those behind the proposed competition have not engaged with or met all unions to explain and better understand their business and operating model.

"Each of the national unions will therefore be advising men's and women's players that participation in R360 would make them ineligible for international selection."

In response to the statement, R360 said it wants to "work collaboratively as part of the global rugby calendar".

"So many players love what R360 can do for them and the game, and we can't wait to kick-off next year," it added.

"Player welfare is one of the key reasons for creating our global series, which will greatly reduce player load and capture the attention of a new generation of fans globally."

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Ulster are relishing the chance to take on a Bulls side loaded with South African internationals after parking the disappointment of an unexpected weekend off, says forwards coach Jimmy Duffy.

Having beaten Dragons in their United Rugby Championship opener, Ulster had hoped to maintain early-season momentum away to Edinburgh last weekend before Storm Amy forced the game's postponement hours before kick-off.

While Ulster will meet Edinburgh at a still-to-be-confirmed later date, focus has switched to Saturday's home encounter with the Bulls (19:45 BST), who have recalled 13 Springboks after opening their campaign with wins over Ospreys and Leinster.

"It certainly wasn't easy, to be honest," Duffy said of last week's postponement.

"We're trying to build momentum, we had a good pre-season, had a good game against the Dragons and it would have been nice to back it up with another game. Both Edinburgh and ourselves felt we'd prepared pretty well, we had two strong sides out.

"We're over the mental hurdle, once the disappointment of the game was parked, we got everyone home and refreshed ahead of another massive challenge this weekend."

Ulster are set to welcome back wing Robert Baloucoune and prop Eric O'Sullivan from injury, but backs Michael Lowry (abdominal strain) and Jacob Stockdale (foot) are doubts for Saturday's game at Affidea Stadium.

While the inclusion of frontline South Africa players such as Handre Pollard and Canan Moodie bolsters the Bulls ranks, last season's URC finalists are without former Ulster forward Marcell Coetzee because of concussion.

"Irrespective of what team they put out, they're going to be a handful," added Duffy.

"They've been finalists on a number of occasions. We must make sure we're mentally switched on. Physically you have to be there, but mentally you've got to be right up for the challenge."

Following the Bulls encounter, Ulster travel to South Africa to face the Sharks and Lions before the autumn break. Richie Murphy's side lost three of their four URC games against South Africa opposition last season, including a 47-21 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria.

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Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune has been passed fit and is available for selection for the province's United Rugby Championship encounter with the Bulls at the Affidea Stadium on Saturday (19:45 BST).

Baloucoune suffered an injury-ravaged 2024-25 campaign as he made just two appearances for Ulster.

He was ruled out of the opening URC match of the new season against the Dragons with an ankle injury but returned to action playing for Ballynahinch in an All-Ireland League game on Saturday.

Meanwhile Richie Murphy's side have received a further boost with the news that prop Eric O'Sullivan has also returned to training after a knee injury.

Backs Michael Lowry (abdominal strain) and Jacob Stockdale (foot) are injury concerns for Saturday's game in Belfast and their fitness will be monitored during the week.

Prop Callum Reid is expected to be available for the game away to the Sharks on 18 October after concussion.

Ben Moxham, Lorcan McLoughlin and Ethan McIlroy are expected to be sidelined until December, with James McNabney's anticipated return date from a knee injury as yet unknown.

Ulster defeated Dragons at home in their opening fixture while their scheduled second game of the season away to Edinburgh was postponed in light of Storm Amy.

The Bulls have started the season positively, securing home wins over the Ospreys and defending champions Leinster.

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Connacht winger Mack Hansen could make his return from the injury that wrecked his British and Irish Lions tour this weekend against Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship.

Hansen missed all three Lions Tests against Australia after injuring his foot in the 48-0 win over AUNZ Invitational a week before the series opener with the Wallabies in Brisbane.

In a squad update on Monday, Connacht confirmed that the 27-year-old Ireland star is available for selection against Cardiff on Saturday at Cardiff Arms Park (19:45 BST).

Back Harry West has also returned to full training. Fly-half Josh Ioane and winger Byron Ralston are also back in training but a decision on their availability will be made later in the week.

In less encouraging news, lock Niall Murray has undergone surgery on an ankle he injured in the win over Benetton while second row Oisin Dowling is expected to be sidelined until December after knee surgery.

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Ireland back Jamie Osborne has returned to training ahead of Leinster's United Rugby Championship game against the Sharks at Aviva Stadium on Saturday (17:30 BST).

Osborne did not feature in the URC holders' defeats by the Stormers and Bulls in South Africa over the past two weekends because of a minor hamstring issue.

The 23-year-old, who can play at full-back, in the centre or on the wing, started at 13 in Ireland's summer Test win over Georgia before being called up to the British and Irish Lions squad as injury cover for Blair Kinghorn, scoring two tries in his only appearance against First Nations & Pasifika XV.

Leinster have been without their Lions tourists during the 2025-26 season's first two weekends.

While some are expected to feature against the Sharks, Leo Cullen is still without Lions Joe McCarthy (foot) and Hugo Keenan (hip).

In the province's injury bulletin on Monday, there were also no further updates on Ireland captain Caelan Doris, Jordan Larmour or Cormac Foley.

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Connacht show nine changes for Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against Scarlets at Dexcom Stadium (13:45 BST).

Head coach Stuart Lancaster has welcomed back four Ireland internationals, but is still without his British and Irish Lions trio for the game against the Welsh club.

Cian Prendergast captains the side at flanker, with Jack Aungier named at prop with Darragh Murray in the second row, while Hugh Gavin is in line to make his bow for the season off the bench.

Denis Buckley starts at prop and Dave Heffernan at hooker in what is an all-new front row from last week's opening win in Galway.

Murray is joined by Joe Joyce at prop, with Paul Boyle moving to open-side flanker and Sean Jansen retaining his place at number eight.

There is a new partnership at half-back with Ben Murphy and Jack Carty selected, while David Hawkshaw gets the nod to start alongside Cathal Forde in the centre.

The back three remain the same with Sean Naughton at full-back and Chay Mullins and Shayne Bolton on the wings.

Connacht: Naughton; Mullins, Hawkshaw, Forde, Bolton; Carty, Murphy; Buckley, Heffernan, Aungier; Murray, Joyce; Prendergast (capt), Boyle, Jansen.

Replacements: de Buitléar, Duggan, Illo, O'Connor, O'Brien, Devine, Gavin, Treacy

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Leo Cullen has made seven changes to his Leinster team for Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld (17:30 BST).

The Leinster head coach is without Jordan Larmour who picked up a foot injury in last week's defeat to the Stormers with Andrew Osborne replacing him on the wing, with Tommy O'Brien retaining his place on the opposite flank and Jimmy O'Brien again starting at full-back.

Ciaran Frawley drops to the bench with Hugh Cooney selected at centre alongside Robbie Henshaw, while captain Luke McGrath and Sam Prendergast remain the half-back partnership.

In the front row, British and Irish Lion Thomas Clarkson makes his first start of the season with Paddy McCarthy who is set for his first Leinster start, with Gus McCarthy remaining as hooker.

Ryan Baird starts in the second row where he will partner Brian Deeny, while it's all change in the back row where Alex Soroka and Will Connors start on the flanks with Max Deegan at number eight.

Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Cooney, Henshaw, Osborne; Prendergast, McGrath (capt); P McCarthy, G McCarthy, Clarkson; Deeny, Baird; Soroka, Connors, Deegan.

Replacements: McKee, Boyle, Slimani, Mangan, Penny, Culhane, Gunne, Frawley

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Friday's planned United Rugby Championship (URC) fixture between Edinburgh and Ulster has been postponed due to adverse conditions.

The sides were due to meet at Hive Stadium with the initial kick-off time of 20:05 BST brought forward to 19:00 BST to avoid the worst of Storm Amy.

However, worsening conditions in Scotland has prompted the URC to postpone the game with forecast storm winds making it unsafe to move the game to another venue.

Edinburgh managing director Douglas Struth said: "We were set to welcome a capacity crowd for tonight's game.

"However, the safety of supporters, players, partners, and everyone associated with this weekend's fixture is of the utmost importance so, while disappointing, it is absolutely the right decision to postpone tonight's game considering the escalating weather reports overnight.

"This decision has not been taken lightly. We have worked closely with the URC, Scottish Rugby, the Met Office and local authorities to ensure it is the best-informed choice."

The URC said it will now consider available dates with broadcasters and both clubs to reschedule the game.