Irish Rugby

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Ulster back row David McCann has signed a one-year contract extension which will keep him at the Irish province until at least 2026.

McCann was one of Ulster's standout performers during the 2023-24 season and made 13 turnovers and 158 tackles in United Rugby Championship games last term.

His contribution was rewarded with personal honours in the form of being chosen as Ulster men's player of the year and Rugby Writers' Player of the Year at the 2024 Ulster Rugby Awards.

The 24-year-old has represented Ireland at Under-20s level and was included in the Emerging Ireland tour of 2022.

Ulster Rugby’s Head of Recruitment and Rugby Operations, Bryn Cunningham, said:

"Dave has really come on as a player in the past twelve months. His significant physical development has been a big factor in many of his stand-out performances last season.

"He has very quickly established himself in our team and has become a vital cog in our squad, with his all-round game giving him the versatility to excel across the back-row positions.

"Dave is an extremely ambitious individual, who has a great desire to keep setting high standards for himself and those around him. He will continue to improve and build on his overall game. We are delighted to secure him beyond this season.”

On his extension, McCann commented: : "I’m delighted to sign a new deal with Ulster Rugby. I felt last season was a huge year for me personally, and I want to continue that into next season.

"I’ve worked hard on my game, felt I had some good form, and enjoyed being a regular in the team as we competed in the URC and Europe.

"We have a great blend of forwards here, and I love training and playing alongside them. My aim is to keep developing as a player and I’m excited about being part of this squad for the years to come.”

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Former Ulster fly-half Billy Burns is one of three new signings to make their competitive debut for Munster in their United Rugby Championship opener against Connacht.

Tom Farrell, who arrived from Connacht, starts against his former club with Thaakir Abrahams also included by Graham Rowntree.

Jean Kleyn starts in the second row, returning after 10 months out due to an eye injury.

Hooker Diarmuid Barron captains the side with Ireland international Tadhg Beirne absent.

Munster: Mike Haley; Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (C), John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Ruadhan Quinn, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Oli Jager, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Ethan Coughlan, Tony Butler, Sean O’Brien.

Hansen makes long awaited return for Connacht

Mack Hansen returns for Connacht for the trip to Thomand Park, playing his first game since a serious shoulder injury sustained on New Year's Day.

Santiago Cordero starts after playing for Argentina in the Rugby Championship and Josh Murphy will play his first game since May 2023.

New arrivals Ben Murphy, Josh Ioane and Piers O’Conor are included as Cian Prendergast captains the side for the first time.

Connacht: Santiago Cordero, Mack Hansen, Piers O’Conor, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungie, Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray, Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast (C).

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Oisin Dowling, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Caolin Blade, David Hawkshaw, Sean Jansen.

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New signings Aidan Morgan and Corrie Barrett will make their competitive debuts for Ulster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship opener at home to holders Glasgow.

Captain Iain Henderson returns to start in the second row alongside Kieran Treadwell after a toe injury forced him to miss Ireland's summer tour of South Africa.

Barrett is in the front row, with Eric O'Sullivan at loosehead prop and John Andrew included at hooker.

Nathan Doak retains his place at scrum-half after starting the pre season friendly defeats against Benetton and Exeter Chiefs.

South African Werner Kok will also be hoping to make his competitive debut from the bench as he is named amongst the replacements.

Richie Murphy is without a number of experienced players for the game against the reigning URC champions due to injury.

John Cooney has a hamstring problem whilst Rob Herring is ruled out of the game with a calf issue and fellow hooker Tom Stewart is sidelined with an ankle injury.

Backs James Hume, Robert Baloucoune and Jake Flannery also miss out through injury.

Back row Reuben Crothers (knee) and wings Aaron Sexton (hamstring) and Zac Ward (groin) picked up injuries in Ulster's pre-season defeat by Exeter and are unavailable.

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy, Mike Lowry, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson (C), Kieran Treadwell, James McNabney, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Harry Sheridan, Cormac Izuchukwu, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Werner Kok.

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Ulster have signed prop Corrie Barrett on a one-year deal after a successful trial.

Barrett linked up with the squad in pre-season and featured in their friendly defeats against Benetton and Exeter Chiefs.

He previously played for Ulster ‘A’ as well as having spells with Munster ‘A’, Bedford Blues, Saracens, and most recently, Doncaster Knights in the RFU Championship last season.

And the 26-year-old expressed his excitement at returning to Belfast to play with the province.

“I’m delighted to sign with Ulster, as a youngster, it was always my goal to play for the club," he told Ulster's website.

"After four seasons in England, I’m excited about coming back home and getting to play with my home province.

“The setup has been very welcoming and seamless. I can already see with the calibre of players and coaches here that my game will improve.”

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Gus McCarthy will make his first start for Leinster in their opening United Rugby Championship game against Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium on Friday night.

The former Ireland Under-20 captain is named in the front row with Michael Milne and Thomas Clarkson.

Leo Cullen has opted for a mix of youth and experience with fellow academy graduates Charlie Tector and Conor O’Tighearnaigh also starting.

Tector partners Garry Ringrose at centre, as Jamison Gibson-Park returns from a hamstring injury, which ruled him out of Ireland's Test games against South Africa.

Jack Conan captains the side at number eight, with Max Deegan and Scott Penny also starting in an unchanged back row from the 54-26 pre-season win over Northampton Saints two weeks ago.

New signing Rabah Slimani, who arrived from Clermont is on the bench, while double World Cup winner RG Snyman is not in the squad.

Cian Healy will equal Devin Toner's club appearance record if he comes off the bench to play his 280th Leinster game.

Irish internationals Caelan Doris and James Lowe are missing, while Dan Sheehan is out with a knee injury.

Leinster: Jamie Osborne, Tommy O’Brien. Garry Ringrose, Charlie Tector, Jordan Larmour, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Michael Milne, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, James Ryan, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Jack Conan [captain].

Replacements: John McKee, Cian Healy, Rabah Slimani, Brian Deeny, James Culhane, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Rob Russell.

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Ulster forward Harry Sheridan has signed a new two-year deal with the province which runs until 2027.

The Holywood native has become a prominent figure in the second row since his debut against La Rochelle in January 2023 and has racked up 29 appearances in the white jersey.

Sheridan, 22, was recognised for his progress when he received Ulster's Young Men’s Player of the Year for the 2023/24 season.

“I’m so happy to sign for a further two years," said Sheridan, who was named in Simon Easterby's Emerging Ireland squad.

"Last season was a huge year for me as I got more game-time in the senior side, and it was a massive learning curve in a season full of ups and downs.

"I’m looking forward to improving my game and rolling into this year where I finished the last one. We have a great forward pack that I love training and playing alongside.

"I am really enjoying the environment and going into training ready to work and learn. It’s a perfect start to the season for me and I can’t wait to get stuck into another season."

The Ulster Academy graduate has represented Ireland at Under-20s level, where he competed in the 2021 Six Nations Championship.

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Ulster scrum-half John Cooney and hooker Rob Herring will miss Saturday's United Rugby Championship opener at home to holders Glasgow.

Head coach Richie Murphy said Cooney, 34, picked up a hamstring injury and will be out for a "short time".

"He's probably not going to play this week," Murphy said.

"We've got a reasonably good fresh squad and we're ready to go".

Herring is ruled out of the game with a calf issue, while fellow hooker Tom Stewart is sidelined with an ankle injury.

Backs James Hume, Robert Baloucoune and Jake Flannery also miss out through injury.

Back row Reuben Crothers (knee) and wings Aaron Sexton (hamstring) and Zac Ward (groin) picked up injuries in Ulster's pre-season defeat by Exeter and will be monitored ahead of the URC opener in Belfast.

Captain Iain Henderson is available for selection after a toe injury forced him to miss Ireland's summer tour of South Africa.

"He brings so much experience and he is such a good guy within the group," Murphy added on Henderson.

Henderson added: "I feel like I am in great shape to come back in and play.

"It's going to be a difficult one starting against the champions. We're looking to get our season off to a good start."

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Ireland have moved up two places to seventh in the world rankings after their 36-10 win over Australia.

Scott Bemand’s side have overtaken Italy and USA to move into their highest position since August 2022.

Ireland will face New Zealand in Vancouver in the WXV1 competition on September 29 before playing hosts Canada and the USA with Bemand naming his travelling squad on Tuesday.

The Black Ferns, who were beaten by England on Saturday, are second in the rankings with Canada third and the USA eighth.

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy was not concerned with the result of his side's pre-season defeat to the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday.

Seven days prior to their URC campaign starting with the hosting of Glasgow Warriors at Kingspan Stadium, Ulster led late against the English opponents they will see again in the Champions Cup come January.

But Rob Baxter's side scored 17 unanswered points in the final quarter to win the friendly 31-15.

Murphy, however, was not too bothered by the result, focussing instead on how well the game prepared his side for the resumption of competitive action this weekend.

“We're not really too concerned about the scoreline," said the Ulster coach.

“It was more about getting the hit-out. Our maul attack and defence and some of our breakdown stuff was really good.

"Our ability to look after the ball is probably something we need to work on."

Ulster played the game without the likes of Iain Henderson, Tom O'Toole, Cormac Izuchukwu and Rob Herring, with Murphy pleased by how his side responded physically without so many of their first-choice pack.

“It was a brilliant workout and a very physical game for a friendly,” he added.

“I don’t think the score reflects what the game was like. I don’t think Exeter would have thought they had won by 16 points and towards the back end of a game we’re trying to get ready for [the] weekend so we’re pulling players off and bringing in young guys."

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Ireland head coach Scott Bemand believes Saturday's win over Australia at Kingspan Stadium is more evidence of a team on an upward trajectory.

Looking to build upon a third place finish in the 2024 Six Nations and qualification for next year's World Cup, the impressive hosts ran in six tries to beat the side ranked fifth in the world by a score of 36-10 in Belfast.

Aoife Wafer led the way with the back-row scoring twice and being named player of the match.

"It’s great to bring another winning performance back to Ireland," Bemand said.

"We said we wanted to take people along with us.

"They are a good team, a tier one nation. Being able to bring them to Ireland and put a performance out there gives the crowd something to get behind and gives the Irish public something so they can see that we are moving forward."

The team featured five players who had represented Ireland in sevens at the Paris Olympics this summer with Bemand feeling they provided a real boost to his panel, especially off the bench in the second half.

"It’s just fantastic to have that firepower," he added.

"We’ve had two weeks together, it’s not a lot of time.

"We think there’s still more to come from this group. We’ve left points out there. We want it to be up there but we know there’s still a bit to come."