Connacht

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Stuart McCloskey is set for a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a "significant hamstring injury" in Ulster's United Rugby Championship loss to Munster.

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said the Ireland international will miss "quite a large number of weeks".

McCloskey will hope to regain fitness in time for the start of Ireland's Six Nations title defence at home to England on 1 February.

Ulster wing Zac Ward is a doubt for Saturday's interpro against Connacht after picking up an ankle knock in the Munster game.

While Stewart Moore remains out, there was some good news for Murphy as the province's long injury list appears to be easing.

Ben Carson, Ethan McIlroy, Jake Flannery and Nathan Doak, as well as Irish internationals Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney and Iain Henderson have all resumed team training following their recent injuries.

Murphy's side have lost their past five games and have just three wins from their 10 fixtures this season.

They sit 11th in the URC table ahead of the Connacht game in Galway as they seek a first win since October.

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Connacht will play at Mayo GAA's McHale Park for the first time in the professional era when they take on derby rivals Munster in March.

The historic occasion in Castlebar will see the teams compete in an interprovincial United Rugby Championship encounter on Saturday, 29 March.

"All the players were absolutely delighted when told the news - the opportunity to play in front of a massive home crowd, in the heart of the province, is something to really look forward to," said Connacht club captain Cian Prendergast.

"Our supporters are amongst the best there are, and we know the passion that the people of Mayo, and Connacht more widely, show every time they support their teams, whatever the code or colour of the jersey."

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins is also looking forward to seeing his team play at McHale Park.

"We're all incredibly excited by today's news - we are proud to represent the whole province of Connacht, and we look forward to sharing this great occasion with our existing supporters and getting out to meet many more new supporters from all across the province."

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Ireland's Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham have returned to the Connacht line-up for Saturday's United Rugby Championship trip to Leinster (17:30 GMT).

The international trio were rested for Connacht's Challenge Cup games after their exertions during Ireland's Autumn Nations Series.

They will face a much-changed Leinster team with only All Blacks star Jordie Barrett and Jimmy O'Brien retained from last week's Investec Champions Cup win over Clermont.

Barrett, making his first URC appearance, switches from full-back to inside centre while O'Brien moves from the wing to full-back.

With Sam Prendergast rested, Ross Byrne is recalled at fly-half while two-time World Cup winning Springbok second row RG Snyman makes his first start since October.

URC table-toppers Leinster have won all seven games this season while Connacht are eighth after three victories and four defeats, including a 33-12 reverse to Leo Cullen's side in October.

Leinster: J O'Brien; A Arenzana-King, C Tector, J Barrett, A Osborne; R Byrne, L McGrath; J Boyle, G McCarthy, R Slimani; D Mangan, RG Snyman; A Soroka, S Penny, J Conan (capt).

Replacements: L Barron, M Milne, C Healy, B Deeny, R Baird, J Gibson-Park, H Byrne, M Deegan.

Connacht: P O'Conor; M Hansen, C Forde, B Aki, S Jennings; J Ioane, B Murphy; D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham; J Murphy, D Murray; C Prendergast (capt) S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle.

Replacements: D Tierney-Martin, J Duggan, J Aungier, O Dowling, S Jansen, C Blade, S Cordero, C Oliver.

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Leinster second row James Ryan and Connacht centre Bundee Aki have signed contract extensions with the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU].

Aki's new deal will keep him with Connacht and Ireland until the summer of 2026, while Ryan has extended his contract until 2028.

New Zealand native Aki, 34, arrived in Galway in 2014 and made his Ireland debut against South Africa in 2017 upon the completion of a thee-year residency period.

He has won 60 caps and has made a 142 appearances for Connacht.

"I love playing rugby in Ireland and believe that this is the right environment for me to progress as a player," said Aki.

"I would like to thank the IRFU for their support and I'm excited for what the future holds in green in the years ahead."

IRFU performance director, David Humphreys feels Aki still "has a lot more to offer" in the coming years.

"Bundee has displayed a consistently high level of performance for club and country in recent years and we are delighted to extend his deal," he said.

"We believe that Bundee has a lot more to offer on the field and has a big role in helping to develop the next batch of exciting youngsters out west in Connacht and within the wider Ireland panel."

Ryan has been a key figure for Leinster and Ireland in recent seasons, winning 67 Test caps in addition to his 89 appearances for the Dublin-based club.

The 28-year-old, who has won three Six Nations titles, started three of Ireland's four Autumn Nations Series matches last month.

"Playing in ambitious set-ups is a big driver for me personally and I know how committed everyone in Irish Rugby is to work hard and achieve success," said Ryan.

"It is a privilege to play for my home province and my country and, with the talent coming through the Academy systems, I am excited about what the future holds in blue and green."

Humphreys added: "We believe that James' best years are ahead of him and look forward to watching him progress in the seasons to come."

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European Challenge Cup

Connacht: (17) 43

Tries: Mullins (3), Tierney-Martin, Boyle (2), Cordero Cons: Carty (2), Naughton (2)

Zebre: (5) 12

Tries: Stavile, Fusco Con: Da Re

Connacht ran in seven tries as they started their European Challenge Cup campaign with a comfortable 43-12 victory over Zebre in a wind-swept Galway.

The Italian visitors were first on the scoreboard with a try from Bautista Stavile Bravin try before Connacht seized control.

Chay Mullins went over twice on his Connacht debut and Dylan Tierney-Martin added a third try to help the Irish side to a 17-5 lead at the break.

Tries from Paul Boyle, Mullins and Santiago Cordero stretched Connacht's advantage in the second half.

Alessandro Fusco touched down for Zebre's second try before Boyle completed his double late in the game.

Connacht had the wind at their backs in the first half but Zebre were rewarded for their early pressure as Stavile Bravin went over at the corner on six minutes.

The conditions were tough for kickers - Giovanni Montemauri missed the conversion and a penalty.

Mullins also touched down in the corner for his opener and added a converted try six minutes later.

Tierney-Martin went over from a lineout maul before Zebre's Rusiate Nasove was yellow-carded before the interval.

Boyle, who was notching up his 100th Connacht appearance, sealed the bonus point by going over from a scrum.

Mullins brought up his hat-trick and Cordero also touched down before Fusco took Zebre into double figures.

Boyle completed the try-scoring on a night when Jack Carty and Sean Naughton each kicked two conversions for the hosts.

Connacht: Jennings; Mullins, Hawkshaw, Forde, Cordero; Carty, Blade; Duggan, Tierney-Martin, Aungier; Murray, Dowling; Murphy, Hurley-Langton, Boyle.

Replacements: De Buitlear, Lasisi, Barrett, O'Connor, McCormack, Devine, Naughton, Ralston.

Zebre: Montemauri; Bozzoni, Drago, Lucchin, Gesi; Da Re, Dominguez; Buonfiglio, Bigi (capt), Hasa; Canali, Krumov; Milano, Stavile Bravin, Ferrari.

Replacements: Ribaldi, Rizzoli, Nocera, Nasove, Andreani, Fusco, Bianchi, Gregory.

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The Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] has confirmed that a provincial 'A' championship will return next month.

The competition will see second string sides from each of the four provinces meet each other home and away between November and May in an effort to give those not featuring regularly in the United Rugby Championship game-time through the season.

"We’re delighted to kickstart the men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition," said the IRFU's performance director David Humphreys.

"With the success of the Emerging Ireland tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.

"Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition."

Ulster will start their campaign by welcoming Connacht to Ballymacarn Park, the home of Ballynahinch RFC, on 22 November with Humphreys adding it is hoped the competition will benefit All-Ireland League clubs.

"It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local clubs," he said.

"It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the club game with an opportunity to impress.

"This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons."