Irish Rugby

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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.

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Ireland debutant Jack Boyle said it was a "special feeling" to get his first cap in the Six Nations victory over Wales.

The Leinster prop came on for the final 10 minutes at the Principality Stadium and helped his side to earn an important scrum penalty to close out the 27-18 win.

"It's an incredible buzz. It's a different feeling, 80,000 and the whole country behind you. It's a special feeling.

"You can't really put it into words. Obviously I've played in big matches [for Leinster] like Bristol in the Heineken Cup but nothing really prepares you for this, in the Principality.

"I just tried to prepare myself as best as possible for whatever minute I was going to be called upon. Luckily, I got on in the end and added a bit to the win."

The 22-year-old grew up with Cian Healy as "an idol" and said that Ireland's most capped player has been a huge help in his adjustment to professional rugby, as have other props in the Leinster and Ireland squads Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong.

"Cian Healy presented me with my cap, it was unbelievably special," he added.

"They've been a massive, massive influence. I suppose when I came into the set-up two or three years ago, it was not only Church [Healy] and Porter, but Tadhg Furlong as well.

"They've all been unbelievable people to me first and foremost, helping me off the pitch, making sure I have everything aligned so you can perform in training and perform if you get an opportunity."

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Ulster back-row Cormac Izuchukwu will be out for a "number of weeks" after sustaining an ankle injury in his side's defeat to Benetton earlier this month.

The forward, who won his first Ireland cap in November's win over Fiji, came off early in Ulster's 34-19 loss in Treviso and was withdrawn from international selection for Saturday's win over Wales.

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy will also be without Iain Henderson [hamstring] for Saturday's home United Rugby Championship game against the Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium but could be boosted by the return from injuries of Jake Flannery [hamstring] and Michael Lowry [concussion].

Both players will have their fitness assessed throughout the week after coming off injured alongside Izuchukwu in Italy, while John Cooney is also being monitored this week after suffering a calf injury in training.

"John had a light run today [Monday] and we'll see where he is tomorrow. We're hopeful he might be available for the game at the weekend," Murphy told BBC Sport NI.

"Mikey [Lowry] is returning from concussion and was back in return-to-play contact on Monday. He looks like he will be ok.

"Werner Kok saw a specialist on Monday and he is returning to full contact this week so he may play at the weekend but we'll need to get him through Tuesday and Thursday and see where he's at."

Meanwhile Ulster have increased their options in the front row by agreeing a short-term deal for loose-head prop Sam Crean.

The Irish-qualified forward joins from Saracens.

Ulster sit 14th in the URC table with four wins from 11 outings ahead of the visit of the Scarlets to Belfast on Saturday.

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Josh van der Flier says Ireland will look to "press on" against France after securing the Six Nations Triple Crown with a hard-fought victory over a resurgent Wales in Cardiff.

After losing Garry Ringrose to a 20-minute red card, Ireland recovered from an 18-10 deficit to win 28-17 and move to within two wins of a third straight title and a second Grand Slam in three attempts.

Ireland host France, who hammered Italy 73-24 on Sunday, in Dublin on 8 March before taking on the Italians in their final game in Rome a week later.

"As we always say, we'll take each game as it comes but today was particularly special because of the prospect of a Triple Crown," said Van der Flier, who has played every minute of Ireland's campaign.

"We've won it a few times recently but even speaking to my grandad, he was saying that when he was a kid, the Triple Crown was the only thing we'd ever get to play for really and it was special when we won one.

"We're pleased with that but obviously we'll be looking to press on against France next and give it all in that game and see how we go."

While Ireland blew England away in the second half and proved too strong for Scotland, they were pushed all the way by a rejuvenated Wales playing their first match under interim boss Matt Sherratt.

"It was a special match to be involved in to see how hard the lads worked for each other," added the 2022 world player of the year.

"One lad [Cian Prendergast] had to drop out this morning because he was sick, it can be messy, it's a physical game

"There's a lot going on, especially away from home, it's always tricky.

"There's a lot of pride to be a part of the group, the lads managed to dig deep and pull a win out because it was different than the last two games but importantly we managed to turn it into a win."

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Ireland captain Dan Sheehan hailed the impact of his side's bench in Saturday's 27-18 win over Wales in Cardiff as they survived a major scare to clinch the Triple Crown and keep alive their Grand Slam hopes.

"That was exactly what we expected, a proper Test game in a beautiful stadium in front of some seriously passionate fans," Sheehan told BBC One.

"Fair play to Wales, that was a proper Test match and I'd say we'll feel it for a few days, but I'm proud of the boys.

"We said it all week, they'd have their purple patches and their moments of strength.

"We just have to stick to what we do all the time, that's our process, it's staying calm, we didn't panic and we had to eke it out one minute at a time. That's what all those lads have practised for years.

"We rely heavily on our bench. They came on and made a massive impact, James Ryan, Bundee [Aki] both made a huge impact to lift the boys with fresh energy.

"That was the making of the game there, relying on our bench to bring that energy."

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Ireland scrum-half and player of the match Jamison Gibson-Park gave his thoughts on his side's 27-18 Six Nations win over Wales in Cardiff.

"We have to give a lot of credit to Wales, it was very tough out there today," Gibson-Park said on BBC One.

"They're an unbelievable team, a proud nation and they sure showed that today.

"It'd be a dangerous thing to come over here with any pre-conceived ideas, playing here against Wales was always going to be tough and sure they proved that to us today.

"It's mentally tough more than anything. We're lucky to have a some pretty good coaches so we were well prepared for those things."