Irish Rugby

Image source, Inpho

Leinster captain Jack Conan says winning the United Rugby Championship helped his side "silence a few critics".

Leo Cullen's team won the competition for the first time since 2021 - and ninth time overall - after a comfortable 32-7 victory against the Bulls at Croke Park.

And Conan was pleased with the success after the Irish side's recent shortcomings in European deciders.

"Definitely feeling a bit of relief, just so delighted for everyone who has put in so much work the last few years," he told TG4.

"I'm glad we showed up and performed and were able to silence a few critics."

Conan, who will now link up with the British and Irish Lions for their summer tour of Australia, revelled in winning the trophy at the GAA headquarters and in front of a crowd as Leinster's last triumph in the competition four years ago was behind closed doors due to Covid.

"It's incredibly special and not something you dream of growing up or even in the last few years it's been a while since we played here," he added in the post-match press conference.

Leinster led 19-0 at half-time and Conan believes the strong defensive effort to shut out South African visitors Bulls after racing into the lead helped his side over the line in the second half.

"To hold them out at half-time, credit to the lads for putting their heads in where you wouldn't put a shovel, the mental lift that gave us was huge," he admitted.

"Before the game we spoke about taking it moment by moment and not getting ahead of ourselves. We knew it was going to be unbelievably physical and there was no point focusing on the bigger picture, but we dealt really with how direct they were.

"I'm delighted for the lads that they have performed."

Image source, Getty Images

United Rugby Championship final - Leinster v Bulls

Venue: Croke Park, Dublin Date: Saturday, 14 June Kick-off: 17:00 BST

Coverage: Live text coverage on BBC Sport website & app

British and Irish Lions trio Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Furlong and Hugo Keenan will play no part in Leinster's United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls on Saturday.

Gibson-Park was named to start but was ruled out through injury on Saturday morning and has been replaced by Luke McGrath, with academy scrum-half Fintan Gunne a late call-up to the replacements.

Both tight-head prop Furlong and full-back Keenan have been dealing with calf complaints, although fellow Lions Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier are fit to start against the visiting South Africans.

The fixture in Croke Park is the last game before Andy Farrell's full party for the tour of Australia assemble and will be played six days before the first game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on 20 June.

Furlong, 32, has struggled with injuries all season, last featuring in Leinster's Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton on 3 May and made just nine appearances in 2024-25 for his province and Ireland.

Keenan, 29, did start Leinster's URC quarter-final against Scarlets on 31 May but missed out against Glasgow Warriors in the semi-finals a week later.

Flanker Van der Flier, who had a hamstring injury, also last featured against the Scarlets, while Garry Ringrose will be making his first appearance since 10 May against Zebre after a calf issue.

The inclusion of the pair and McGrath are the three changes made by Leo Cullen after the semi-final victory against the Warriors last week, meaning that nine Lions will be on show in Dublin.

James Lowe, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan and Jack Conan all also start while Ronan Kelleher is on the bench.

The Bulls make one change from their semi-final victory over Sharks with Marco van Staden coming in at flanker to replace the injured Cameron Hanekom and former Ulster back-row Marcell Coetzee switching from blind-side to number eight.

Leinster are aiming for a ninth URC victory but a first since 2021, while the Bulls are seeking a first title having been beaten in two finals in their four seasons in the competition.

Line-ups

Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, Ringrose, Barrett, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, Clarkson, McCarthy, Ryan, Baird, Van der Flier, Conan (captain)

Replacements: Kelleher, Boyle, Slimani, Snyman, Deegan, Gunne, R Byrne, Osborne.

Bulls: Le Roux; Moodie, Kriel, Vorster, De Klerk; Goosen, Papier; Wessels, Grobbelaar, Louw, Wiese, Van Heerden, Van Staden, Nortje (captain), Coetzee.

Replacements: Van der Merwe, Tshakweni, Smith, Kiersten, Carr, Burger, Johannes, Williams.

Image source, Getty Images

British and Irish Lions squad members Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan and Josh van der Flier are injury doubts for Leinster's United Rugby Championship final against the Bulls.

Furlong, Ringrose and Keenan are nursing calf injuries while Van der Flier's hamstring issue will be assessed before Saturday's game against the South African side at Croke Park, Dublin (17:00 BST).

Tight-head prop Furlong has endured an injury-plagued season and last played in Leinster's Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton on 3 May.

The 32-year-old has managed just eight appearances for Leinster while he missed all but one of Ireland's Six Nations matches.

Centre Ringrose has missed the play-offs since coming off injured against Zebre on 10 May, while Van der Flier sustained his hamstring problem in the URC quarter-final win over Scarlets.

Fit-again back Jordan Larmour is available to face the Bulls after being part of the extended matchday squad in last weekend's semi-final win over Glasgow, while wing Tommy O'Brien came through that game with no issues after returning from a foot injury.

Image source, Inpho

Uncapped Connacht prop Jack Aungier has been called into the Ireland squad as a replacement for British and Irish Lions-bound Finlay Bealham.

Dublin-born Aungier, 26, was part of the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa last year and trained with the senior squad during the 2025 Six Nations.

His Connacht team-mate Bealham was called up to Andy Farrell's Lions squad after Scotland's Zander Ferguson was ruled out with a calf injury.

Tight-head Aungier - who becomes the 12th uncapped player in Paul O'Connell's squad came through the Leinster academy before joining Connacht in 2020. He has made 88 appearances for the western province.

Ireland face Georgia and Portugal in two Tests on 5 and 12 July.

Image source, Getty Images

Joe McCarthy says "everyone loves to hate Leinster" and admitted the team are using the perceived ill will as fuel in their quest for silverware after they hammered Glasgow to reach the United Rugby Championship final.

Leinster beat last year's champions 37-19 at Aviva Stadium on Saturday to set up a decider against South African side Bulls at Croke Park next week.

The Irish province have had a point to prove after being stunned at home by Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals as they aim to avoid a fourth consecutive season without a trophy.

"We know everyone loves to hate Leinster. That definitely drives us on," lock McCarthy told RTE after the Glasgow game.

"We've a great fanbase. We don't really care about the outside noise, what you guys [the media] or other people say.

"We're going to rip into next week. It'll be a tough team we're playing so there's no shortage of motivation."

McCarthy, 24, and several of his Leinster team-mates will hope to finish the season with a trophy against the Bulls on Saturday (17:00 BST) before linking up with the British and Irish Lions squad.

"We definitely needed that, it's our first URC final [in the competition's current iteration],"added McCarthy, who started all 11 of Ireland's Test matches in 2024.

"It's massive for us. We need the fans behind us now, we're into Croke Park.

"It's exactly where we want to be, it's a great buzz. There's always pressure, we've never reached a URC final.

"We've disappointment this year already so we want to finish strong and get the fans back on our side."

Image source, Inpho

Ireland full-back Hugo Keenan will miss Leinster's United Rugby Championship semi-final against Glasgow on Saturday (14:45 BST).

Keenan, who was named in the British and Irish Lions squad last month, is not included in Leo Cullen's matchday squad for the Aviva Stadium contest with the holders after picking up a calf injury.

The 28-year-old, who produced a player-of-the-match display in last week's quarter-final win over Scarlets, is replaced by Jimmy O'Brien in the 15 shirt.

With Jimmy O'Brien switching to full-back, Tommy O'Brien replaces his him on the right wing after missing the Scarlets game through injury.

Dan Sheehan returns at hooker, with Ronan Kelleher dropping to the bench, while Scott Penny replaces the injured Josh van der Flier at open-side flanker.

In addition to Van der Flier, Garry Ringrose and Tadhg Furlong are also unavailable.

Glasgow make two changes from their quarter-final win over the Stormers, with Fin Richardson replacing Murphy Walker at tight-head prop.

Adam Hastings starts at fly-half with Tom Jordan moving to inside centre and Stafford McDowall dropping to the bench.

Glasgow are without Huw Jones, Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey and Zander Fagerson.

Leinster, who finished the regular season top of the table, are chasing a first URC title since 2021. The sides have met twice already this season, with Leinster winning 52-0 in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals and 13-5 in the URC.

The winners will face the Bulls or Sharks in the final on 14 June.

Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, Jack Conan (capt)

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciaran Frawley

Glasgow: Josh McKay; Kyle Steyn (capt), Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, George Hiddleston, Fin Richardson, Alex Samuel, Scott Cummings, Euan Ferrie, Rory Darge, Henco Venter

Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakai, Max Williamson, Jack Mann, Macenzzie Duncan, Stafford McDowall, Jamie Dobie

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy​​)

Image source, Getty Images

Leinster second row RG Snyman has been named the 2024-25 United Rugby Championship's Players' Player of the Season.

The 30-year-old South African lock has made a significant impact in his first campaign at Leinster after moving from Irish rivals Munster, helping Leo Cullen's side reach the URC semi-finals.

The award is voted for by the captain and vice-captains of the 16 URC teams and has previously been won by Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan and Munster fly-half Jack Crowley.

Meanwhile, Zebre's Massimo Brunello was named coach of the season - as voted for by the league's other coaches - after leading the Italians to five wins, including rare away victories over Ulster and Edinburgh.

Scarlets fly-half Ioan Lloyd won the golden boot and Cardiff's Harri Millard finished as top try scorer, while Munster's Tom Farrell was named playmaker of the season.

Snyman was one of two Leinster players included in the 'Elite XV' team along with Jamie Osborne, while three Munster players were selected - Farrell, Craig Casey and Tadhg Beirne.

URC awards winners 2024-25

Golden Boot: Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets)

Top try-scorer: Harri Millard (Cardiff)

Tackle machine: Ruben van Heerden (Stormers)

Ironman: Cam Winnett (Cardiff)

Playmaker: Tom Farrell (Munster)

Next-Gen player of the season: Cameron Hanekom (Bulls)

Innovation award: Sharks

Try of the season: Deon Fourie (Stormers)

South African URC player of the season: Sacha Feinburg-Mngomezulu (Stormers)

Coach of the season: Massimo Brunello (Zebre)

Players' player of the season: RG Snyman (Leinster)

Elite XV: Jamie Osborne (Leinster); Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Tom Farrell (Munster), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Blair Murray (Scarlets); Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Craig Casey (Munster); Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Wilco Louw (Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Cameron Hanekom (Bulls)

Image source, Getty Images

New Ulster signing Juarno Augustus has been named in an extensive 54-man South Africa squad for the world champions' first four internationals of 2025.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus has retained 31 of his 2023 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, with 27-year-old back row Augustus - who has joined Ulster from Northampton Saints - one of nine uncapped players included.

In addition to Augustus, Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe, forwards Neethling Fouche and Asenathi Ntlabakanye, flankers Renzo du Plessis and Vincent Tshituka, utility forward Cobus Wiese and Sharks centre Ethan Hooker are hoping to feature at Test level for the first time.

Backline talent Ntokozo Makhaza, who has recently signed for Toyota Cheetahs, has also been included.

The Springboks face the Barbarians in Cape Town on 28 June, followed by Tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on 5 July and 12 July before a 19 July match against Georgia in Nelspruit.

In a busy year, the Springboks will also play Tests against Italy, France, Ireland and Wales as part of their European tour in November.

"We are excited to have the luxury of announcing a squad with so much depth and talent," said Erasmus.

"Having an expanded squad will not only afford us the opportunity to have productive training sessions, but it will also bode well for the younger players in the group to learn from the senior players, many of whom are Rugby World Cup champions.

"With a few more talented youngsters in this group, we hope that they will learn valuable lessons and stake a strong claim for places in what will be a challenging, yet exciting season."

South Africa squad

Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Renzo du Plessis (Lions), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Neethling Fouche (Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Bulls), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (both Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu (both Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), Vincent Tshituka (Sharks), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (both Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi (both Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker (all Sharks), Quan Horn (Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe (both Lions), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Grant Williams (Sharks).

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

For much of the Leinster squad, the past month has stirred a broad spectrum of emotions.

There was the agony of an Investec Champions Cup semi-final loss at home to Northampton, denying the province a shot at redemption after a hat-trick of final defeats in the previous three seasons.

Just a few days later, the bulk of the squad were confronted with the whirlwind that is British and Irish Lions squad announcement day.

For most of them, it was good news, but for those who missed out it was another bitter pill so soon after their Champions Cup demise.

But the rugby season is relentless and Leinster can still end the season on a high note. Winning the United Rugby Championship title would both prevent a fourth successive season without silverware and soothe some of the lingering European pain.

However, the challenge of fending off exhaustion while chasing trophies has seemingly weighed heavily on the players in recent weeks, labouring to a 33-21 URC quarter-final win over Scarlets at Aviva Stadium last weekend despite having raced into a 12-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes.

Next up is a last-four encounter with holders Glasgow on Saturday (14:45 BST). Leinster have beaten Glasgow twice this season: a whopping Champions Cup quarter-final shutout and a less convincing URC win, both in the past seven weeks.

And while the prepare for a trilogy at the end of an enervating campaign, Jacques Nienaber - under whom the team's defence has thrived - does not sense depleted levels of energy or focus within the group.

"No, not at all," said the 52-year-old South African.

"We're cracking on. It's a privilege for any team to be involved in the knock-out stages.

"It's a privilege for us definitely to be testing ourselves against Glasgow this weekend, the reigning champions, who obviously understand how to play knock-out games if you look at what they did last year. It's a privilege to test ourselves against a quality side like that."

Image source, Getty Images

If Leinster beat Glasgow, they will welcome the Bulls or Sharks to Croke Park in the final on 14 June, just six days before the Lions face Argentina at Aviva Stadium in their pre-tour warm-up fixture (although Leinster's Lions contingent will not be involved in the Argentina game if they contest the URC decider).

Pressed on the difficulty of focusing on closing out the URC campaign in such close proximity to the Lions series, Nienaber said: "I'm not a mental expert or a mental coach. That's not my expertise at all.

"I just must make sure that they are prepared for the challenges from an attacking point of view that Glasgow will throw at us, which is multiple. That's all I focus on, the other stuff is for other people."

Leinster and Glasgow are well acquainted at this stage. So, too, are Nienaber and Glasgow's South African head coach Franco Smith, who first met in the 1990s, long before Smith they emerged as two of their country's most respected coaches.

"I was his physiotherapist way back in 1998," recalled Nienaber.

"We didn't go to school together but we were in rival schools so I know him and his family quite well. I actually coached with him with the Cheetahs in 2006 and 2007 before he went to Italy.

"He was their attack coach while I was dipping my toes in defence. Franco is an incredible human, a good person and you can see how he is leading Glasgow and the quality they have produced in the past couple of seasons under his guidance and leadership.

"He is a wily character, he understands the game and gets the team to gel so it'll be a nice challenge for us."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Stuart Lancaster's appointment as Connacht boss is exactly the kind of statement of intent the club needed after a trying season.

The Galway-based club finished 13th in the United Rugby Championship, winning just six of their 18 games, and were unable to reach the last four of the Challenge Cup.

But after Munster lured the highly-rated Clayton McMillan away from the Chiefs in New Zealand, Connacht have convinced Lancaster to return to Ireland in a head-turning addition to the IRFU's coaching network.

It is indeed a serious coup. While Lancaster endured a difficult time as England boss, his reign ending after a dismal 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign, he built a reputation as one of rugby's most astute coaches during a trophy-laden stint as Leinster senior coach.

Working with head coach Leo Cullen and building on the impressive body of work put together by Joe Schmidt before he took the Ireland job in 2013, Lancaster helped turn Leinster into one of the most exciting teams in Europe, with the great Johnny Sexton describing him as a "special coach" after the club's Champions Cup triumph in 2018.

Speaking of Leinster, the other provinces have a long way to go before bridging the gap in Irish rugby, but Lancaster has already proved adept at developing players within the IRFU system. Under his watch, the likes of Finn Treacy (centre, 20), John Devine (centre, 21) and Harry West (fly-half, 22) - all of whom have just been promoted from the academy - could progress quickly.

His pre-existing connections in Ireland may also help Connacht's ability to attract players to Galway, too, with Santiago Cordero and JJ Hanrahan among the players leaving the club.

With Harlequins director of rugby Billy Millard's recent recruitment as general manager, Lancaster will be able to focus on senior team matters. It may take time, but the 55-year-old Englishman unquestionably has the rugby IQ and tactical acumen to breathe new life into Connacht.

Image source, Getty Images

Josh van der Flier, Garry Ringrose and Tommy O'Brien are injury doubts for Leinster's United Rugby Championship semi-final against Glasgow on Saturday (14:45 BST).

Van der Flier was forced off with a hamstring issue during the Irish province's quarter-final win over Scarlets, while Ringrose (calf) and O'Brien (foot) both missed the game.

All three will be monitored during the week before Leinster boss Leo Cullen names his team on Friday.

Leinster, chasing a first URC title since 2021, are already without Will Connors, Brian Deeny, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong and Robbie Henshaw, but Cullen is set to welcome back Jordan Larmour.

The Irish international winger is available for selection having overcome a hamstring injury that has kept him out since December.

Leinster have beaten Glasgow in both meetings this season; 52-0 in the Champions Cup quarter-final in April and 13-5 in their URC fixture last month.

On Monday, it was also confirmed that Croke Park will host the URC final on 14 June if Leinster qualify.

With the RDS - Leinster's home ground - undergoing redevelopment since last year, the club have used the GAA's headquarters twice this season; against Munster in the URC and Harlequins in the Champions Cup quarter-finals.

Image source, Getty Images

Munster captain Tadhg Beirne said "there was nothing more" he could ask of his team-mates after their United Rugby Championship quarter-final loss to Sharks was decided by a place-kick competition.

The Irish side led 21-10 in the second half but, after the game in Durban finished 24-24 and neither side scored during extra time, the match went into a penalty kick shootout.

Sharks were a perfect six-from-six in their shots at goal, while Rory Scannell was the only one wayward off the tee for Munster.

"They're riddled with internationals, they know what they're doing," said Beirne of the Sharks, who will now face South African rivals Bulls in the semi-finals.

"We knew they were going to keep coming at us, we knew they would be a tough battle, and we fought to the bitter end.

"There's nothing more I could ask of the lads. To go to a penalty shootout or whatever you call that there is gutting for us, but that's the way it goes and that's the way we lost the game."

The defeat represented final Munster appearances for Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer.

"There's no tomorrow for us this season and we have to say goodbye to some pretty special characters within this room," added Beirne, who will tour with the British and Irish Lions for a second time this summer.

"It's going to be a weird place without them, we've spoken about it before.

"They epitomise Munster, they love the club and they put blood, sweat and tears in for the club."

Image source, Getty Images

Leinster captain Jack Conan admitted there were "frustrating bits" to his side's performance after they beat Scarlets 33-21 to reach the United Rugby Championship semi-finals.

The Irish province, top seeds in the play-offs, scored tries through James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jamie Osborne and Hugo Keenan to set up a last-four match with holders Glasgow at home next week.

However, Leinster allowed Scarlets back into the game at times, with Conan conceding his side tried to force the issue.

"[We were] good in parts," said the British and Irish Lion back row.

"Our discipline killed us, we gave them a lot of soft penalties. To be fair to Scarlets they stuck at it and battled hard, they're a team with a lot of passion and they pushed us at times.

"We were inaccurate and forced things a little bit. It's good to have another week but there were some frustrating bits there.

"Lads want to have big moments They want to feel like they're doing well, but sometimes there's a bit of over-eagerness and over-zealousness.

"You force things a little bit and get away with things although I thought Hollie [Davidson] was on the money today. I don't think it's anything other than lads trying a bit too hard."

Leinster must now prepare for a third game against Glasgow in the space of seven weeks after beating the Scots in the Champions Cup and URC.

"It's strange when you've played a team twice in the past six weeks so it helps with the prep because you know what they're going to do to a degree," added Conan.

"But it's a little bit different every time you come up against a team. I don't think we were great the last time we played them, we had a good win in Europe, but they had lads coming back in so it'll be a tough test for us."