Irish Rugby

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United Rugby Championship, Ulster v Zebre

Date: Sunday 26 January Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Kick-off: 17:30 GMT

Coverage: Live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website from 17:15; text commentary, report and highlights on BBC Sport website

Ulster centre Jude Postlethwaite says playing regularly for the Irish province this season feels "surreal".

The former Royal Belfast Academical Institution player has already racked up 11 appearances this campaign, scoring a try in a United Rugby Championship home win over Connacht and touching down twice in an away defeat by Cardiff Blues during October.

The 22-year-old was the leading try-scorer in the Ulster Schools' Cup in 2020, earning him a nomination for the competition's Player of the Year.

On leaving school, he initially missed out on a contract with the Ulster Academy, while some of his contemporaries and friends, including present day team-mates Ben Carson and Nathan Doak, were awarded places.

Postlethwaite says being overlooked for the Academy in the first instance "drove me a lot".

"Seeing Carsy and Doaky and all my good mates getting into the Academy drove me to where I want to be," he told BBC Sport NI.

The ex-RBAI pupil is a former Grand Slam winner with Ireland Under-20s, having also participated in sevens rugby.

With James Hume having been ruled out as he recovers from knee surgery and Stuart McCloskey also having his injury problems, Postlethwaite has occupied the roles of both outside centre and inside centre this term.

"It's all surreal to be honest. I didn't think this year I'd be playing as much as I have been and I'm really enjoying it.

"I feel like I'm getting better each game and learning a lot. Stuart McCloskey and James Hume are there to answer any questions I have. Any time I need to review games they're always very helpful."

Having qualified for a last-16 tie against Bordeaux in the Champions Cup after beating Exeter last weekend, Ulster's attention now turns back to the URC, beginning with a game against Zebre at Kingspan Stadium on Sunday.

"It's all about building momentum these next five games or so," added Postlethwaite.

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British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell says it will be a "bit different" watching the Six Nations unfold this year instead of leading the Ireland team.

The 49-year-old Englishman has guided Ireland to back-to-back Six Nations titles but is taking a sabbatical from the role to coach the Lions in this summer's tour to Australia.

"I'll be intrigued to watch from the sidelines - it will be a bit different for me, watching the Six Nations from the sidelines," Farrell told RTE.

"Not just that, [there's] the big games in Europe, the URC and Premiership etc. Good luck to everyone"

Simon Easterby has taken over from Farrell as interim head coach as Ireland bid for third straight Six Nations triumph.

Farrell succeeds Warren Gatland as Lions head coach after serving as his assistant for the 2013 and 2017 series.

He will prepare the Lions for 10 games, including an opening Test against Argentina in Dublin and ending with a three-Test series against Australia in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Farrell added that he is solely focused on selecting the right team for the Lions.

"It's always the job of a head coach - everyone always asks about the difficult decisions to be made, but it's my job to do the right thing by the team.

"And the team I'm going to be coaching in the summer is the British and Irish Lions."

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Dan Sheehan will captain Leinster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against the Stormers (17:00 GMT) on his return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

It will be the Ireland hooker's first appearance of the season, having suffered the injury during Ireland's defeat by South Africa in July.

Winger James Lowe is also restored to the line-up after recovering from the calf problem that has kept him out since Ireland's win over Australia in November.

Sheehan and Lowe are due to link up with Ireland's Six Nations squad at their training camp in Portugal on Sunday.

Back row Will Connors is named among the replacements having also recovered from injury.

With the bulk of his squad already in Ireland camp, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has been forced into making wholesale changes to the side that beat Bath in the Champions Cup last weekend.

However, prop Jack Boyle - the only uncapped player in Ireland's Six Nations squad - starts while Cullen has been able to retain seasoned internationals Rabah Slimani, Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman.

Table-toppers Leinster have won all 13 of their games in the URC and Champions Cup this season. The Stormers are 10th in the URC with four wins and four defeats and were knocked out of the Champions Cup last weekend.

Leinster: H McErlean; A Osborne, L Turner, J Barrett, J Lowe; R Byrne, L McGrath; J Boyle, D Sheehan (capt), R Slimani; R Snyman, B Deeny; A Soroka, S Penny, M Deegan.

Replacements: J McKee, P McCarthy, R McGuire, D Mangan, J Culhane, W Connors, C Foley, C Tector.

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Ulster have handed a first start to forward Lorcan McLoughlin for Sunday's United Rugby Championship game against Zebre at Kingspan Stadium.

The 22-year-old is named at blind-side flanker, joining Nick Timoney and David McCann in the back row for the meeting with the Italian outfit.

Former Ireland Under-20 international McLoughlin made his debut for the Irish province as a replacement against the Lions last season - his only senior appearance.

Hooker Tom Stewart makes his first start of the season after overcoming his injury worries.

The Ulster starting team shows six changes in personnel from that which began the 52-24 win over Exeter in the Investec Champions Cup last weekend.

Mike Lowry moves to the right wing to replace the unavailable Werner Kok, with Zac Ward slotting into the left wing position.

John Cooney will make his 150th appearance for the club after being recalled to partner Jack Murphy in the half-backs, while second rows Kieran Treadwell and Harry Sheridan are the other forwards drafted in.

Ulster sit fourth in the URC table with four wins and five defeats from their nine matches, with Zebre 15th of 16, having won two from nine.

Ulster: S Moore; M Lowry, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, Z Ward; J Murphy, J Cooney; E O'Sullivan, T Stewart, S Wilson; K Treadwell, H Sheridan; L McLoughlin, N Timoney (capt), D McCann.

Replacements: C Reid, J Andrew, C Barrett, A O'Connor, Matty Rea, N Doak, J Flannery, R Lyttle.

Ulster host Zebre in the United Rugby Championship on Sunday (17:30 GMT kick-off). Watch the game live on BBC Two NI, the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website from 17:15 GMT

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Ulster prop Corrie Barrett says it is a "childhood dream" to be part of the Irish province's squad after four years of playing his rugby in England.

The 26-year-old signed a deal until the end of the season after having a six-week trial in the summer.

A former Schools' Cup winner with Royal Belfast Academical Institution in 2015-16, Barrett started playing club rugby for Instonians.

The front-rower, who can play either side of the scrum, was previously involved in the Ulster Rugby pathway, having played for Ulster Under-19s and Ulster 'A'.

His perhaps unorthodox rugby path would also see him turn out for Garryowen, Munster 'A', Bedford Blues, Saracens and most recently Doncaster Knights in the RFU Championship last season.

"It's home sweet home. I'm delighted after many years away to grind my way back here," Barrett told BBC Sport NI.

"You're going in through the Academies but I just missed out on an opportunity. The best advice I got was go and play some rugby, learn and expand your game and then it was always in the back of my mind to come back here.

"It's home, it's where my family are so when the opportunity came in the summer for a six-week trial I had to jump at it. Those few years in the Championship crafted who I am as a person and as a rugby player. They were valuable years."

Barrett came on as a second-half replacement for Scott Wilson in last week's Investec Champions Cup win over Exeter in Belfast and is hopeful of being handed a chance to impress in Sunday's match against Zebre in the absence of the suspended Tom O'Toole.

"You never want to wish bad on anyone and the good thing about here [the Ulster squad] is there is no 'position hate'. We all help each other out so although it's unfortunate for him [suspended Tom O'Toole] it's fortunate for me.

"The opportunity is there for me to take and try and keep hold of the jersey.

"There's definitely a step up with the pressures of everything and obviously as a group you want to do as well as possible. But for me personally it's just about me doing my job to the best of my ability."

Ulster host Zebre in the United Rugby Championship on Sunday (17:30 GMT kick-off). Watch the game live on BBC Two NI, the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website from 17:15 GMT

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Ulster hooker Tom Stewart has backed the "brilliant" Simon Easterby to "get Ireland firing" in the Six Nations.

Easterby has stepped up as interim head coach to lead Ireland's bid for a third successive title, with Andy Farrell on British and Irish Lions duty.

Stewart was coached by Easterby on the 2022 Emerging Ireland tour before working with the former flanker in the senior team set-up.

"I worked with Si and he was kind of my first introduction into the Irish setup, he was my head coach for the Emerging Ireland tour and I thought he was brilliant," said Stewart, who won his two Ireland caps during the 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up games.

"Obviously he's worked closely with Andy Farrell for a number of years now and he's taken a lot from him and I have no doubt that he has what it takes to get that Ireland team firing."

Stewart did not make the Six Nations squad amid an injury-wrecked season that has restricted him to just two substitute appearances for Ulster.

But having returned from a two-month lay-off in last week's Investec Champions Cup win over Exeter Chiefs, Stewart is targeting a run of games with the province.

"It's was brilliant," Stewart said of his return.

"On Saturday I was more than delighted to come through the game and get the result we did and to be back playing at home it was pretty special."

The 24-year-old added: "I think the big thing for me was to just get through the minutes and a big thing coming back from injury is not trying to think about it and thinking about getting your game ready out on the pitch.

"Now it's about getting minutes under the belt and trying to build up a bit of form."

Ulster host Zebre in the United Rugby Championship on Sunday (17:30 GMT kick-off). Watch the game live on BBC Two NI, the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website from 17:15 GMT

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Glasgow Warriors' URC match with Connacht has been moved from this Friday night to Sunday afternoon because of a severe weather warning.

Storm Eowyn is expected to bring winds of up to 90mph and an amber warning - which runs from 06:00 to 21:00 on Friday - has been issued, covering the south and most of central Scotland.

The round 10 match at Scotstoun Stadium will now take place on Sunday at 15:30 GMT.

A separate yellow warning is in place from 00:00 to 15:00 on Saturday, covering all of Scotland. Glasgow women's Celtic Challenge match against Clovers at Scotstoun remains scheduled for Saturday at 13:00.

A URC statement said: "Safety of spectators, team and venue staff, players, match officials and broadcast personnel are the number one priority and it is clear that the expected weather conditions would severely compromise this."

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Croke Park will host Leinster's Investec Champions Cup last-16 match against Harlequins on Saturday, 5 April (15:00 GMT), while Ulster's trip to Bordeaux has been pencilled in for the next day.

Leinster secured home advantage for the knockout stages after topping pool 2.

Leo Cullen's side beat Northampton at a sold-out Croke Park in last season's semi-final while the GAA headquarters also staged their United Rugby Championship victory over Munster in October.

Munster's trip to La Rochelle - which pits Munster legend Ronan O'Gara against his former side - will take place later on 5 April.

Ulster, whose 52-24 win over Exeter Chiefs helped seal their place in the round of 16, will face Bordeaux at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Sunday (13:30).

Richie Murphy's side lost 40-19 to the French side when they met in the pool stage in December.

Round of 16 fixtures (times GMT)

Friday 4 April

Northampton v Clermont (20:00)

Saturday 5 April

Toulon v Saracens (13:30)

Leinster v Harlequins (15:00)

Castres v Benetton (16:00)

La Rochelle v Munster (18:30)

Glasgow v Leicester (20:00)

Sunday 6 April

Bordeaux v Ulster (13:30)

Toulouse v Sale (16:00)

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Fit-again Dan Sheehan and James Lowe are set to return to action for Leinster this week before linking up with Ireland's Six Nations squad.

Hooker Sheehan, 26, has not played since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Ireland's defeat by South Africa in July.

New Zealand-born wing Lowe, 32, has been out since Ireland's Autumn Nations Series win over Australia on 30 November with a calf problem.

On Monday, Leinster confirmed both players are available for Saturday's United Rugby Championship match against the Stormers at Aviva Stadium.

Sheehan and Lowe returned to full training last week but did not feature in Saturday's Investec Champions Cup win over Bath.

Back row Will Connors is also available for Leinster, who have won all 13 of their games in the URC and Champions Cup this season.

The Ireland squad gathered in Dublin on Monday before travelling to Portugal for a training camp.

Ireland begin their bid for a third successive Six Nations title at home to England on 1 February.

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Ulster have qualified for the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup on points difference after Bordeaux claimed a 66-12 victory against Sharks.

Richie Murphy's side's bonus-point 52-24 win over Exeter Chiefs on Friday night moved them level with fourth-placed Sharks on five points.

On Sunday, they needed already-qualified Bordeaux to beat Sharks by 29 points to have any chance of progressing on points difference.

Sharks started brightly in France and raced into a 12-point lead before Bordeaux fought back to hold a 19-12 advantage at half-time.

Damian Penaud scored a tournament-record six tries as a blistering second-half display as 47 unanswered points saw Bordeaux power past Sharks.

The heavy defeat for Sharks meant Ulster leapfrogged them into fourth place with a better points difference of -61 compared with Sharks' -87.

The win helped Bordeaux secure top spot in Pool 1 and home advantage in the next round where they will face Ulster in the first weekend in April.

Ulster were beaten 40-19 by Bordeaux when the sides met at the Kingspan Stadium in December.

Leinster, who topped Pool 2, will have home advantage against Harlequins in their next round tie.

Munster will travel to the Stade Marcel-Deflandre to face the 2022 and 2023 champions La Rochelle, who are managed by their former player Ronan O'Gara.

Connact will be at home to Cardiff in the next round of the Challenge Cup.

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy says Friday's 52-24 victory over Exeter "is a massive win for us".

The eight-try win in Belfast keeps Ulster's hopes alive of progressing to the last-16 in the Investec Champions Cup.

Exeter made a blistering start and raced into a 12-0 lead, but Ulster rallied and went int the break tied at 17-17.

Ulster pulled away after the restart and, at a minimum, have secured Challenge Cup rugby no matter what happens in the Sharks' game with Bordeaux on Sunday.

Murphy's side need the Sharks to lose by more than 28 points and hope the South African side don't collect a bonus-point.

"We knew they had a massive pack and, in many ways, they had nothing to lose from coming here," Murphy told Premier Sports.

"They showed that in the first 10 minutes when they hit us really hard. We were a little bit naive in that but we stuck in the fight.

"Half-time was about just going through the things that we had planned and I thought the lads were brilliant in the second half.

"They really went after them and to score that amount of points - we're still a bit disappointed to let that one in at the end."

Murphy admitted there were "some really good bits and some pretty poor bits" from his injury-hit side - particularly in the first half.

"You get that when you have a lot of young lads out on the pitch and they are trying to learn and find their way in the Champions Cup – which is an extremely high level of rugby," he added.

"Some lads really found their feet tonight, Scott Wilson is 21 and scrummaging really well and got around the pitch.

"Jude Postlethwaite is 22, Ben Carson is 22, Jack (Murphy), Doaky (Nathan Doak) – they had a part to play in this win.

"A lot of the old boys did a really good job to keep the thing together, so to score eight tries gives us a chance to stay in the competition."

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Aoife Wafer will make her first appearance for Wolfhounds in this year's Celtic Challenge as they take on Brython Thunder in Dublin on Saturday.

Wafer scored two tries for Ireland as they claimed a famous victory against New Zealand in the WXV1 in September last year.

Head coach Neil Alcorn makes three changes to the side that beat Thunder 48-0 in Wales last weekend.

Alongside Wafer, Christy Haney and Anna Doyle also come into the side for the game at UCD, replacing Linda Djougang, Amy Larn and Molly Boyne.

There are also a number of positional changes, with Claire Boles moving to blind-side flanker and Erin King to open-side flanker while Ella Roberts has shifted from right wing to left.

Wolfhounds have won three of their four fixtures, their lone defeat coming against Clovers in the second round.

Thunder are still searching for their first win of the competition but have two losing bonus points to show for their efforts.

Wolfhounds: Stacey Flood; Anna Doyle, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Ella Roberts; Dannah O'Brien, Jade Gaffney; Niamh O'Dowd, Maebh Clenaghan, Christy Haney, Alma Atagamen, Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair, Claire Boles (capt), Erin King, Aoife Wafer.

Replacements: Kelly Burke, Caoimhe Molloy, Sophie McAllister, Molly Boyne, Poppy Garvey, Brittany Hogan, Leah Tarpey, Rachael McIlroy.

Jude McCann
BBC Sport NI

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Head coach Richie Murphy says Ulster must play to their strengths to overcome Exeter Chiefs in Friday's Investec Champions Cup encounter at Kingspan Stadium (20:00 GMT).

While both teams are winless in the Investec Champions Cup this season, a victory for either side would keep alive their slim chances of reaching the knockout stages.

"I think it's going to be a really tough game, obviously both teams haven't won in Europe yet so there's a prize in relation to that," Murphy told BBC Sport NI.

"We felt the second half of the Leicester game got away from us and we probably went into our shell a little bit.

"This week is all about going back to what we do well and trying to get the ball on the pitch, trying to play to the space."

Ulster have been forced to deal with a mounting injury list this season, especially in the backline with Rob Lyttle named on the bench for Friday's game after being brought in on a short-term deal to help cover the club's back-three shortages.

"There's a couple of boys coming back in now, we'll have that experience of Mikey Lowry whose being around for a long time now. Moore coming back in at full-back gives us something as well," added Murphy.

"Rob coming back into the front row settles that down a little bit as well."

Despite losing five of their past six games, Murphy believes Ulster are getting back on track.

"We're not happy with the results over the last couple of weeks," he admitted.

"But we feel like we're moving in the right direction so we've just got to keep building."