Irish Rugby

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United Rugby Championship

Connacht (19) 38

Tries: Treacy, Bolton 2, Boyle, Hurley-Langton, Devine Cons: Ioane 3, Hanrahan

Benetton (27) 30

Tries: Mendy, Uren, Zanon Cons: Albornoz 3 Pens: Albornoz 3

Connacht recovered from an eight-point half-time deficit to see off Benetton 38-30 in a nine-try United Rugby Championship thriller at the Sportsground in Galway.

Finn Treacy, Shayne Bolton and Paul Boyle crossed for the Irish province in the first half, but touchdowns from Ignacio Mendy, Andy Uren and Marco Zanon helped the visitors to a 27-19 advantage at the break.

Shamus Hurley-Langton and Matthew Devine were Connacht's try-scorers in the second 40 minutes as they secured a bonus point, while fly-half Josh Ioane contributed three conversions and JJ Hanrahan one for the hosts.

Tomas Albornoz kicked three conversions and three penalties for the Italian side, his third penalty providing Benetton's sole points of the second half.

Connacht's fifth URC victory of the season sees them move into the top half of the table in eighth, while Benetton drop to 13th, level on points with Lions, Scarlets, Ospreys and Stormers above them in the congested standings.

Connacht: O'Conor, Bolton, Gavin, Forde, Treacy, Ioane, Blade, Dooley, Heffernan, Aungier, D. Murray, D O'Connor, Prendergast, Hurley-Langton, Boyle.

Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Buckley, Illo, J. Murphy, Dowling, Devine, Hanrahan, Hawkshaw.

Benetton Treviso: Smith, Mendy, Zanon, Fekitoa, Gallagher, Albornoz, Uren, Gallo, Bernasconi, Zilocchi, Marini, Snyman, Izekor, Kingi, Halafihi.

Replacements: Creevy, Tetaz Chaparro, Pasquali, Favretto, Koroiyadi, Garbisi, Umaga, Zanandrea.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)

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Ireland prop Cian Healy says he is "thankful" for the 10 extra years in his career after announcing his retirement from the sport.

Healy, who is Ireland's record cap holder, will end his international career after the Six Nations and call time on Leinster at the end of the season.

The 37-year-old said he was "grateful" that he was still playing after a neck injury almost ended his career in 2015.

He lost movement in his right hand after a damaged disk in his neck, but he recovered and overtook Brian O'Driscoll as Ireland's most-capped player against Australia in November.

"After that I had a different approach to rugby and how I spent my time and how much effort I put into rugby," said Healy.

"When that's nearly been taken away from you, you get a little bit more thankful for those opportunities.

"You manage to enjoy it a little bit more and I've managed to squeeze 10 years of enjoying it a bit more.

"It's all been good since then. I've been up and down and all around the pecking order, but it's still better than not doing it."

'Still here to do a job'

Healy said his decision to retire "was as good as done" in December and he confirmed his plans to Leinster before heading into Ireland camp for the Six Nations.

Ireland lead the Six Nations with three wins from as many matches and face France in their penultimate match on 2 March.

"Just because I've decided to retire doesn't mean I'm starting to think back about things or about the past," added Healy.

"I'm here to do a job, and ideally that job is two more wins and lift a trophy."

Healy has not ruled out playing for his boyhood club Clontarf next season when he retires from professional rugby but says his main aim "is to take a break for a while".

"I've been on a schedule from when I've been 14 so I don't know what it's like not to be on one," he said.

"I'll go on a decent holiday and get into the workshop and get crafting things, using my hands and using my mind. Change it up a little bit."

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United Rugby Championship, Ulster v Scarlets

Date: Saturday 1 March Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Kick-off: 17:15 GMT

Coverage: Live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app

Ulster centre James Hume says he is keen to find a balance between rediscovering his best form after a lengthy lay-off with a knee injury and helping to mentor the young players in the Irish province's squad.

The 26-year-old returned to competitive action after 10 months out in the United Rugby Championship defeat by Benetton earlier this month.

Hume has been undergoing ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair.

"It's a tough balance for me to accept at the moment, being a senior player at 26 is pretty mental," Hume told BBC Sport NI.

"I'm trying to get that balance of getting my own stuff right on coming back from injury but I do want to help the academy lads and the younger lads coming through as much as possible.

"That balance of focusing on what I'm good at but also giving them advice and experience when I can."

Hume says Ulster's indifferent form this season, which sees them sit 14th in the URC table and struggling to secure qualification for next season's Champions Cup, has made it a steep learning curve for the younger players in the squad.

"The position we are in at the moment they [younger players] have a huge role in making the team better.

"We're putting everything into everything we're doing – our pitch sessions, our gym, our intensity has risen the past few weeks in training and I just hope that starts translating onto the pitch because we are putting the work in behind the scenes.

"It's just a matter of time before that clicks and hopefully we can get into that top eight and secure European rugby."

'Week on, week off' during Six Nations helps

Hume's career has been beset with a catalogue of serious injuries in recent years, but signing a three-year deal in March 2024 ensured that he will remain with the northern province until 2027.

He believes the 'stop-start' nature of Ulster's fixture list in and around the Six Nations period is of benefit to him as he continues to build up match fitness.

"The week on, week off thing during the Six Nations helps if you have any niggles," he explained.

"So although I want to be playing games as much as possible if there is anything to sort out you kind of can in those weeks when there is no game.

"When I got back running and into bits of training that was the hardest because I knew I was still two or three months off but I felt I was able to do a lot.

"Ultimately that's where the experience of the physios and the research behind ACL rehabs comes in. You need to build up a tolerance and that's why I have that confidence now, all the hours you put in, and the programmes, it shows that they really work."

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Ulster forward Matthew Dalton hopes he has put his "nomadic lifestyle" behind him after signing for a second spell with his native province in January following a successful trial.

A graduate of the Ulster academy, the 26-year-old made his senior Ulster debut in 2017 and remained part of the squad until 2019, playing for the senior team 10 times.

Dalton, who can play second row or back row, signed for Utah Warriors but did not make an appearance, then played for Newcastle Falcons between 2021 and 2023 and turned out for French side Soyaux Angouleme from 2023 to 2025.

"After the academy I had a few games here, I was in Newcastle, playing in the Premiership there, and then I was playing with the French side there.

"All the work away from here has for me been about coming back here eventually. This is my home, this is where I want to play rugby."

Dalton is determined to make his mark as he enjoys being reunited with family.

"It's amazing, getting settled, seeing family. It's just been a bit of a nomadic lifestyle, a bit back and forth in the past few years so it's amazing getting the opportunity.

"I'm focused on being with the team, training hard with them, so that we can build a real strong squad going forward and have a really positive start to next season."

Ulster's URC game against the Scarlets will be shown live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app from 17:00 GMT on Saturday 1 March.

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Paul O'Connell has praised the longevity of retiring Ireland stalwarts Peter O'Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray.

On Thursday, the three Test centurions confirmed they will bring the curtain down on their international careers at the end of this year's Six Nations.

O'Connell said their ability to remain at the highest level has been "amazing".

"To stay as important to the teams they play in for as long as they have is probably the big thing," said the forwards coach, who played alongside all three with Ireland.

"Some guys fade away, those guys have got better and better and more important in some ways. You just can't beat experience sometimes. To have seen the picture so many times makes you better with what unfolds in front of you. Those guys are particularly good at it.

"So the caps they've accumulated, big games, big moments, they've come back from injuries, they've come back from setbacks with their provinces and with Ireland and they're a great example to the rest of the team."

All three players have won five Six Nations titles with Ireland with O'Mahony captaining the team to last year's championship triumph.

Healy is Ireland's most-capped player with 136 while Murray is tied fourth with Rory Best on 124 and is a three-time British and Irish Lions tourist.

O'Connell added: "As an ex-player even it's nice to see that they love it maybe as much as you did as well, so it makes you believe that you're kind of right that you felt this team was really important. So it's been incredible.

"They're a great example to the young players. They get on great with guys from all across the provinces, that's the nice thing about them as well. Some of them, their best mates in the team are probably from other provinces.

"It's a great example for when other players come into the squad."

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Ireland captain Caelan Doris is "in with a shout of being involved" in next week's Six Nations game against France, says forwards coach Paul O'Connell.

Back row Doris missed the win over Wales in Cardiff with a knee injury but trained with the squad during Thursday's open session at Aviva Stadium.

Hooker Ronan Kelleher has also returned to training after missing the Wales game with a neck issue, while O'Connell was similarly upbeat about number eight Jack Conan (back) and prop Tadhg Furlong (calf and hamstring).

"Everyone is fine," said O'Connell.

"Caelan has been running for the past week, he ran today, so he's certainly in with a shout of being involved. Jack Conan is looking after his back, he injured it in a carry the other day but we'd be pretty confident he'll be OK.

"I know Ronan Kelleher trained today. Nobody is ruled out. They're all carrying bumps and bruises but they're all doing OK.

"Tadhg Furlong was back with his province and he'll be rejoining us next week. No-one is ruled out at this point."

When asked about Furlong, who is yet to feature in this year's tournament having also missed the November Tests, O'Connell said the 32-year-old has had "a few false starts" with his rehabilitation.

"He wants to be sure about it," explained O'Connell.

"The medics want to be sure about it as well and not have another false start. I'd say if he had no history with that calf, he'd be back by now, but they just want to make sure and he wants to feel sure and confident in it himself."

Pacesetters Ireland, who are chasing a record third straight title, host second-placed France in Dublin on 8 March before facing Italy in Rome in the final round on 15 March.

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Conor Murray spoke to reporters on Thursday following confirmation that he will retire from Ireland duty at the end of the Six Nations.

Five-time Six Nations winners Murray, Peter O'Mahony and Cian Healy will all end their Test careers after Ireland's game against Italy in Rome on 15 March.

"[It was] a very difficult decision," Murray told reporters on Thursday.

"Particularly to leave a group like this. The thing I'll be most jealous of is that this group will continue on and be successful, but personally, it's a hard decision to make. It's been in my head for a while and it just feels right.

"I've been lucky and grateful to be part of this Irish set-up. It's sad, it'll be emotional but I've seen so many players not get to end it on their terms, career cut short.

"The fact I get to do it on my own terms when I'm fit and healthy is something very few people get to do, so I'm very grateful."

While O'Mahony and Healy will retire from rugby at the end of the season, Murray will continue his playing career abroad when his Munster deal expires this summer.

"Nothing," Murray smiled when asked what he could disclose about the move.

"We'll see in terms of playing, I'll play another year somewhere for my family, they've been incredible, my wife Joanna and my son Alfie, especially Joanna over the last few years, the sacrifices she's made.

"As a family, we'll go away and maybe do something for a year and enjoy ourselves for a lifestyle change. Body wise, I still feel great, I still feel I can play rugby at a high level.

"Nothing is set in stone yet but it'll be nice for us, let the dust settle on retiring in this country and go away and have an experience and come back to the real world then."

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New Zealander Clayton McMillan will become Munster's new head coach this summer with the Chiefs boss signing a three-year deal at Thomond Park.

The Irish province have been under the interim control of Ian Costello since Graham Rowntree departed in October.

Costello will now move into a newly created general manager position with attack coach Mike Prendergast becoming senior coach.

McMillan, who will arrive in July, became head coach at the Chiefs in 2021 and guided the side to three Super Rugby finals in four seasons.

He has also coached the Maori All Blacks and an All Blacks XV.

"I am humbled to be given the opportunity to lead Munster, an iconic club steeped in history," he told the province's official website.

"Leading the All Blacks XV against Munster last year gave me insight into the immense pride and passion of the club's players, staff and wider rugby community. It was an incredible atmosphere and left a lasting impression.

"I am excited by the club's ambition and core values. They align strongly with my own, and I look forward to joining the team in July."

Munster are fifth in the United Rugby Championship and face La Rochelle in the Champions Cup last-16 in April.

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Ireland full-back Jamie Osborne says the team face big challenges in their final two Six Nations games against France and Italy.

Osborne scored Ireland's second try on Saturday as they defeated Wales 27-18 to secure a 14th Triple Crown.

That victory made it three wins from three matches for the leaders as they chase a record third successive Six Nations title, and a potential Grand Slam.

France, who hammered Italy on Sunday, are up next in Dublin on 8 March before Ireland finish away against the Italians a week later.

"They're going to be two incredibly tough games," said the Leinster back.

"We'll take a week's break and concentrate on France, but it will be incredibly tough. We're not going to focus on that [breaking records], we'll focus on the France game first."

Ireland's Garry Ringrose was shown a 20-minute red card in the first half in Cardiff and visitors fought back from 18-10 down to earn victory.

"It shows how much belief we have as a team. We made a few errors in the first half and let Wales back into the game," added Osborne.

"We were down at the break, but there was no real panic in the dressing room, everyone just thought to go back to basics, clean up accuracy and errors and we did that thankfully.

"Most of the team are very experienced and there have been a number of games where they have had to overcome a bit of adversity, and it shows we have what it takes to overcome those kinds of things."

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Ireland centre Garry Ringrose will discover his fate at a disciplinary hearing on Thursday morning following his red card in last weekend's Six Nations win over Wales in Cardiff.

Ringrose could potentially face a ban for making head contact with centre Ben Thomas during the game at the Principality Stadium.

The 30-year-old was initially sent to the sin bin for a review to check whether the card should be upgraded to red or be kept as a yellow. Ultimately Ringrose was red-carded and Ireland received a 20-minute red card.

Ringrose is charged with an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.13 which states that a player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.