The Desk

What matters in Irish rugby right now

Updated 21 Oct 2026, 16:00 IST

Ireland squad: Sheehan to captain as Ulster’s Benson and McNabney get first call-ups

Ireland

Andy Farrell has named a 36-man squad, 19 forwards and 17 backs, for Ireland’s Nations Championship games at the Aviva Stadium against Argentina (Fri 6 Nov, 20:10 Irish), Fiji (Sat 14 Nov, 20:10) and South Africa (Sat 21 Nov, 16:40), the IRFU announced on Wednesday 21 Oct. Dan Sheehan captains the squad, and Ulster’s Jamie Benson and James McNabney are the two uncapped players. Andrew Porter, Ryan Baird and Mack Hansen are back after missing the June tour squad, and Jamison Gibson-Park is included.

Why it matters

Jack Boyle, Harry Byrne, Jack Conan, Jack Crowley, Caelan Doris, Iain Henderson, Paddy McCarthy, Calvin Nash and Bryn Ward were not considered because of injury (IRFU, 21 Oct). Leinster have 17 players in the squad, Ulster nine, Connacht eight and Munster two.

IRFU squad announcement · RTÉ Sport · BBC Sport · Irish Independent Paywall · Irish Examiner Paywall

Connacht: Heffernan, West and Connors back for Zebre; Jennings and Connolly out

Connacht

Dave Heffernan, Harry West and Will Connors are back in full training and available for the Fri 23 Oct URC game against Zebre Parma at Dexcom Stadium (19:45), Connacht said on Monday 19 Oct. Shane Jennings and Thomas Connolly are unavailable while they go through the graduated return to play protocols.

Why it matters

Connacht are 14th in the URC with five points from three games, and they come into it on the back of the 45–36 Champions Cup win over Saracens.

Connacht Rugby · Irish Times · Mullen Paywall

Ulster: McCloskey and Timoney travel to South Africa as Zac Ward misses out

Ulster

Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney, who missed the win in Parma with muscle injuries, are in Ulster’s 30-player squad for the URC games against the Bulls on Sat 24 Oct and the Stormers on 31 October, both at 12:45 Irish time. Zac Ward, a doubt after hurting his ankle in Parma, is not in the squad, while Ben Donnell, Ethan McIlroy and Eli Snyman travel and academy forwards Tom McAllister and James McKillop are included.

Why it matters

Iain Henderson, James Hume and Rob Herring are among the players who do not travel, and Ulster are 11th in the URC without a league win this season.

Ulster Rugby · travelling squad · Ulster Rugby · BBC Sport NI · Irish Times · Dermody Paywall

Conan ruled out of the derby (Sat 24 Oct) as Leinster assess his shoulder

Ireland · Leinster

Jack Conan will miss the URC game v Munster (Sat 24 Oct) at the Aviva Stadium, and Leinster said on Monday 19 Oct that his shoulder needed further assessment that week. He left the field with a shoulder injury after scoring a second-half try in the 48–23 Champions Cup win at Clermont, The42 reports, and no return date has been given. The IRFU said on Wednesday 21 Oct that he was not considered for Ireland’s November squad because of injury.

Why it matters

Ireland are without both of their senior number 8s in November: Caelan Doris was also not considered because of injury (IRFU, 21 Oct).

Leinster Rugby · medical · IRFU squad announcement · The42 · Cullen · Irish Independent Paywall · The Times Paywall · Irish Examiner · Gleeson Paywall · The42 · assessment · Independent · Kelly Paywall · Independent · O’Connor Paywall · The42 · Gleeson

STATUS

URC pictureMunster 9th 9 · Leinster 10th 8 · Ulster 11th 8 · Connacht 14th 5Tables →

Key outsInjury update (20 Oct): Conan (Lei), Milne (Mun), Henderson (Uls)+8 more Ireland injuries →

Abroad this weekendDaniel Brennan · Montauban v Oyonnax · Thu 20:00 Irish+21 more players →

Coming up

This week

Fri 23 Oct · 19:45 · Connacht v Zebre Parma · Dexcom · TG4 / Premier Sports

Where to watch

Sat 24 Oct · 12:45 · Bulls v Ulster · Loftus Versfeld · Premier Sports

Where to watch

Sat 24 Oct · 18:00 · Leinster v Munster · Aviva Stadium · Premier Sports

Where to watch

Next Ireland women

Sat 24 Oct · 14:00 Irish · South Africa v Ireland · Athlone Stadium, Cape Town · WXV

Sat 31 Oct · 13:00 Irish · South Africa v Ireland · Athlone Stadium, Cape Town · WXV

Next Ireland men

Fri 6 Nov · 20:10 · Ireland v Argentina · Aviva Stadium

VMTV / ITV | Where to watch

Beirne: IRFU contract option decision after the 2027 Six Nations

Ireland · Munster

Tadhg Beirne’s IRFU national contract runs until the end of the 2027 World Cup and includes an optional extension clause that either the IRFU or the player can decline to trigger, The42 reports. He expects clarity after the 2027 Six Nations and says his focus for now is Munster and Ireland. Beirne started 10 of Ireland’s 12 Tests last season. On the law tweaks, he told the Irish Times that “the dark arts are slowly going out of the game”.

Why it matters

Ireland have him through the 2027 World Cup either way; the option decides whether his IRFU deal goes any further, and neither side has to trigger it.

The42 · Beirne clause · Irish Times · law tweaks Paywall

Munster: Loughman a doubt for the derby (Sat 24 Oct) as Edogbo and Harrison step up training

Munster

Jeremy Loughman is being assessed for a knee injury, and Munster will decide before Saturday 24 Oct whether he is fit for the URC game against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium (18:00), the province said on Tuesday 20 Oct. Lee Barron, Shane Daly, Edwin Edogbo and Will Harrison are increasing their training load, while Diarmuid Barron (neck) and Michael Milne (ankle) are still recovering.

Why it matters

Loughman is a doubt with a knee injury (Munster update, 20 Oct) and Milne is out (Irish Examiner); Munster are 9th in the URC with nine points, one place above Leinster.

Munster Rugby · The42 · Irish Examiner · Lewis Paywall

Clermont 23–48 Leinster: Sheehan scores twice as seven tries turn a 16–15 half-time deficit into a bonus-point win

Leinster

Leinster came from 16–15 down at half-time to win 48–23 in Clermont with a bonus point on Saturday 17 October. Tadhg Furlong and Dan Sheehan scored first-half tries, but Harry Plummer’s three penalties and Joris Jurand’s converted try had Clermont in front at the break. Sam Prendergast crossed a minute after the restart and Leinster never trailed again. A penalty try, a second for Sheehan and tries from Jack Conan and Tommy O’Brien made it seven tries to two (EPCR match centre / BBC Sport, 17 Oct).

Why it matters

The bonus point puts Leinster top of Champions Cup Pool 1 on five points, and Munster are next, in the URC at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 24 October (EPCR pool table, 17 Oct).

EPCR match centre · BBC Sport · RTÉ Sport · report · Irish Times · Prendergast Paywall

Zebre Parma 21–40 Ulster: Walker scores twice as six tries bring a bonus point and a first competitive win of the season

Ulster

Ulster led 19–0 at half-time at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday 17 October through two Henry Walker tries and one from Jacob Stockdale, with Nathan Doak converting two. Zebre Parma hit back after the break through Giovanni Licata, Alessandro Ortombina and Giovanni Montemauri, but David McCann, Michael Lowry and Martin Moloney all crossed for Ulster, with Jamie Benson converting the last two. Jack Murphy (Ulster) and Patricio Baronio (Zebre) were both yellow-carded in the second half. Six tries to three was enough for the bonus point under the new rule, which needs a three-try margin (EPCR match centre / Belfast Telegraph, 17 Oct).

Why it matters

It is Ulster’s first competitive win of the season and puts them top of Challenge Cup Pool 1 on five points; the Bulls are next, in the URC at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday 24 October (EPCR pool table, 17 Oct).

EPCR match centre · Belfast Telegraph · Ulster Rugby · report · The42 · Moloney · RTÉ Sport · report

Connacht 45–36 Saracens: Prendergast and Frawley score twice as seven tries bring a Champions Cup win in Galway

Connacht

Connacht beat Saracens 45–36 at the Dexcom Stadium on Saturday 17 October, scoring seven tries to six. Cian Prendergast, Cathal Forde and Shamus Hurley-Langton crossed in the first half, but Nick Tompkins’ converted try on the stroke of half-time left it 19–19 at the break. Prendergast scored again six minutes after the restart, Ciaran Frawley went over twice and Caolin Blade added another, with Sam Gilbert kicking five conversions. Hurley-Langton and Prendergast were both sin-binned, and Elliot Daly scored Saracens’ sixth try in the 79th minute (EPCR match centre, 17 Oct).

Why it matters

The win puts Connacht second in Champions Cup Pool 2 on four points, behind La Rochelle, and Zebre Parma are next, in the URC at the Dexcom Stadium on Friday 23 October (EPCR pool table, 17 Oct).

EPCR match centre · RTÉ Sport · report · The42 · Frawley · Irish Independent · Frawley Paywall · RTÉ Sport · Lancaster · Irish Times · Lancaster Paywall

Munster 33–25 Racing 92: Gleeson, McCarthy, Beirne, Wycherley and Casey score as five tries bring a Champions Cup win in Cork

Munster

Munster beat Racing 92 33–25 at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday 17 October, scoring five tries to three. Brian Gleeson and Shay McCarthy scored inside 12 minutes, both converted by Charlie O’Shea, and Munster led 14–6 at half-time. Tadhg Beirne scored two minutes after the break, converted by O’Shea, before Racing hit back through Wilfried Hulleu and Maxime Machenaud to close to 21–18. Fineen Wycherley’s try, converted by JJ Hanrahan, restored a ten-point lead, and Joey Manu’s try, with Antoine Gibert’s second conversion, made it 28–25. Racing’s Arthur Roche was yellow-carded on 70 minutes, and Craig Casey’s try two minutes from time sealed it (EPCR match centre, 17 Oct).

Why it matters

The win puts Munster second in Champions Cup Pool 3 on four points, behind the Stormers, and Leinster are next, in the URC at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 24 October (EPCR pool table, 17 Oct).

EPCR match centre · Munster Rugby · report · RTÉ Sport · O’Donoghue · Irish Independent Paywall · Irish Examiner · Casey Paywall · Irish Times · Walsh Paywall · Irish Examiner · McMillan Paywall · Independent · McMillan Paywall

Gibson-Park a doubt for the derby (Sat 24 Oct) as Larmour returns to Leinster training

Ireland · Leinster

Jamison Gibson-Park is back in light training but not training fully, and Leinster will decide at the end of the week of 19 Oct whether he faces Munster on Saturday 24 Oct, assistant coach Tyler Bleyendaal told RTÉ on Monday 19 Oct. Jordan Larmour is integrating into training after a calf injury, while Andrew Osborne (head injury) and Hugh Cooney (hand) are not available, Leinster said.

Why it matters

Gibson-Park has not played for Leinster this season because of a groin injury, and the game v Munster (Sat 24 Oct) at the Aviva Stadium (18:00) is the first interprovincial derby of their season.

RTÉ Sport · Bleyendaal · The42 · Cullen · Leinster Rugby · team news · Irish Times Paywall · BBC Sport · Leinster Rugby · medical

Nankivell extends: Munster centre signs until at least 2029

Munster

Alex Nankivell has signed a two-year contract extension that keeps him at Munster until at least 2029, the province said on Tuesday 20 Oct. The 29-year-old centre joined from the Chiefs in 2023, has made 58 appearances and was Munster’s Men’s Player of the Year in 2026.

Why it matters

RTÉ notes he completes World Rugby’s residency rules in 2028, and general manager Ian Costello said Munster hope he realises his ambition to play international rugby.

Munster Rugby · RTÉ Sport · The42 · Irish Independent Paywall · Irish Times Paywall · Irish Examiner Paywall

Avan Lee starts as Munster interim CEO on 21 Oct: wants a role for O’Mahony

Munster

Avan Lee, the Hurricanes’ chief executive for 10 years, starts as Munster’s interim CEO on 21 October, succeeding Ian Flanagan. The term is 12 months, but Lee says he is treating it as permanent, and The42 reports he has reached out to Peter O’Mahony about a role.

Why it matters

He is in post three days before the URC derby with Leinster at the Aviva.

Munster Rugby · IRFU · Munster Rugby · Flanagan · The42 · Lee interview · RTÉ Sport · Lenihan · RTÉ Sport · BBC Sport NI · The42 · Irish Times · Lee interview Paywall · Irish Independent (8 Oct) Paywall · Irish Examiner · O’Mahony Paywall · Irish Examiner · McMillan Paywall

Irish abroad: Joshua Brennan scores as Toulouse edge Exeter, and Treadwell starts in a big Harlequins win

ABROAD

Joshua Brennan started at lock and scored a try as Toulouse beat Exeter Chiefs 43–40 in the Champions Cup on Sun 18 Oct. Kieran Treadwell started at lock in Harlequins’ 57–19 Challenge Cup win over Vannes. On Sat 17 Oct, John McKee started at hooker as the Scarlets beat Newcastle Red Bulls 47–14. Luke McGrath, Paddy Jackson and Kieran Marmion all started in European defeats. In Pro D2, Ronan Loughnane started at hooker in Aurillac’s 25–24 win at Béziers.

Why it matters

Six Irish players started in the European cups at the weekend, and three of them finished on the winning side.

EPCR · Scarlets v Newcastle · EPCR · Dragons v Perpignan · EPCR · Lyon v Sharks · EPCR · Stormers v Bristol · LNR Pro D2 · Béziers v Aurillac · LNR Pro D2 · Brive v Grenoble · EPCR · Harlequins v Vannes · EPCR · Toulouse v Exeter · All Irish players abroad → Abroad

Ireland Women SA squad: King captains; Wafer and Monaghan miss Cape Town Tests

Ireland · Women

Erin King will captain Ireland Women in two WXV Global Series Tests against South Africa at Athlone Stadium, Cape Town, on 24 and 31 October. Scott Bemand’s 30-player squad is without Aoife Wafer (ankle surgery) and Sam Monaghan (knee), RTÉ Sport reports. Ruth Campbell returns from injury, and the recently capped Buttimer, Adams Verling, Jordan, Barrett and McInerney all travel. The squad was due to gather at the IRFU HPC on Monday 12 October and fly out on Thursday 15 October (RTÉ Sport, 9 October).

Why it matters

Without Wafer and Monaghan, Bemand’s pack has a new look for Ireland Women’s first Test series in South Africa, and the recently capped players get their chance in Cape Town.

RTÉ Sport · Irish Independent · BBC Sport

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