Rugby Union · Ireland first

IRL Rugby

The Desk

What matters in Irish rugby right now

Updated 18 Oct 2026, 18:30 IST

This weekend

FT Clermont 23–48 LeinsterInvestec Champions Cup · Stade Marcel-Michelin · Sat · Match ReportThe 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).

FT Zebre Parma 21–40 UlsterEPCR Challenge Cup · Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi · Sat · Match ReportIt 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).

FT Connacht 45–36 SaracensInvestec Champions Cup · Dexcom Stadium · Sat · Match ReportThe 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).

FT Munster 33–25 Racing 92Investec Champions Cup · SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh · Sat · Match ReportThe 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).

Conan facing a spell out with a shoulder injury from Leinster’s win in Clermont

Ireland · Leinster

Jack Conan left the field with a shoulder injury after scoring a second-half try in Leinster’s 48–23 Champions Cup win at Clermont Auvergne on Saturday, The42 and the Irish Independent report. Leo Cullen said he expects the back row to “be out for a little bit with that”. Leinster have not given a return date.

Why it matters

Conan is the second Ireland back row on the sidelines, with Caelan Doris out until early January, and Leinster are next against Munster in the URC at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 24 October.

The42 · Cullen · Irish Independent Paywall · The Times Paywall

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

STATUS

URC pictureMunster 9th 9 · Leinster 10th 8 · Ulster 11th 8 · Connacht 14th 5Tables →
Key outsPost-match (18 Oct): Conan (Lei), Milne (Mun), Henderson (Uls)+6 more Ireland injuries →
Abroad this weekendResults Sunday nightAbroad →

Coming up

Next URC weekend

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

More on the Desk

1 / 12

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

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

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

Written off before Europe, all four Irish provinces won their opening games

Ireland

All four provinces went into Round 1 outside the URC top eight, and Leo Cullen called it “not a great return”. Rúaidhrí O’Connor wrote in the Independent that Irish prospects looked as remote as they had for a decade. All four then won. Leinster beat Clermont 48–23 away and Connacht beat Saracens 45–36 in Galway. Munster beat Racing 92 33–25 in Cork, and Ulster won 40–21 at Zebre Parma.

Why it matters

Leinster and Ulster top their pools on five points, and Connacht and Munster are second in theirs (EPCR pool tables, 18 Oct).

EPCR · Champions Cup pool tables · EPCR · Challenge Cup pool tables · Independent · back foot Paywall · Independent · O’Connor Paywall

Gibson-Park could be back for Leinster on 24 October after missing Clermont with a groin injury

Ireland · Leinster

Jamison Gibson-Park could face Munster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 24 October, Leo Cullen said after Leinster’s 48–23 win at Clermont (The42). The scrum-half missed the Clermont 23 with a groin injury but came through his training week. The Irish Times reported on 16 October that he was back in training.

Why it matters

Fintan Gunne started at 9 in Clermont, and Andy Farrell names Ireland’s squad for next month’s Nations Championship Tests on Wednesday (BBC Sport, 17 Oct).

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

Munster remember Anthony Foley in Cork, 10 years on

Munster

Munster marked 10 years since Anthony Foley’s death at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night. The number 8 jersey was retired for the night, so Brian Gleeson wore 24 (Munster Rugby). There was a round of applause in his memory in the eighth minute, and Munster went on to beat Racing 92 33–25. Afterwards the players and staff gathered in a circle on the pitch and sang Stand Up and Fight, The42’s Murray Kinsella reports.

Why it matters

Munster Rugby’s report called it a performance Foley would have been proud of, and the win leaves Munster second in Champions Cup Pool 3.

Munster Rugby · report · Munster Rugby · team news · Munster Rugby · RTÉ Sport · The42 · Kinsella · Irish Times · O’Donoghue Paywall

Edogbo extends: Munster lock commits until at least 2029

Munster

Edwin Edogbo has signed a two-year extension that keeps him at Munster until at least 2029. General manager Ian Costello said the Ireland international committed “despite significant interest from clubs across Europe.” Head coach Clayton McMillan said he is grateful and believes Edogbo can make a significant impact at the highest level. Edogbo is recovering from a shoulder injury and is due back in the coming weeks.

Why it matters

Munster have kept a homegrown Ireland lock until at least 2029 on the eve of their Champions Cup opener, despite interest from clubs across Europe.

Munster Rugby · RTÉ Sport · The42 · Irish Examiner Paywall

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

Munster

Avan Lee, chief executive of the Hurricanes for 10 years, starts as Munster’s interim CEO on 21 October, three days before the URC derby, Leinster v Munster at the Aviva. He succeeds Ian Flanagan, who steps down at the end of the month. The term is 12 months, but Lee says he is treating the job as permanent. He has already spoken to Clayton McMillan, Ian Costello and Tadhg Beirne, and The42 reports he has reached out to Peter O’Mahony about a possible role.

Why it matters

Munster’s new off-field leader is in post before the URC derby with Leinster, and his first move is to reconnect with the former captain who called for change at the top at the start of October.

ANALYSIS · Donal Lenihan

“Avan’s appointment is like drawing a line in the sand.” He wants a realignment with Munster’s clubs, many of whom feel close to disenfranchised, and says people have offered financial support that they would not give the previous regime.

Read the analysis

Munster Rugby · IRFU · Munster Rugby · Flanagan · The42 · Lee interview · RTÉ Sport · Lenihan · RTÉ Sport · BBC Sport NI · The42 · Irish Times · Lee interview Paywall · Independent · Lee’s vision Paywall · Irish Examiner · O’Mahony Paywall · Irish Examiner · McMillan Paywall

Munster’s young guns: O’Shea, Seán Edogbo and Gleeson stand out in the Champions Cup win over Racing

Munster

Charlie O’Shea, 20, made his Champions Cup debut at out-half in Munster’s 33–25 win over Racing 92, The42’s Murray Kinsella writes. He was their joint top ball-carrier with 15 carries, and Seán Edogbo, 22, also made his debut in the starting XV. Brian Gleeson, 22, and Shay McCarthy, 23, scored Munster’s first two tries.

Why it matters

Kinsella writes that Ireland’s coaches are interested in Gleeson’s development, and Seán’s older brother Edwin Edogbo is nearing a return from injury. Munster are next against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 24 October.

The42 · Kinsella · Munster Rugby · report

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 Sunday. Kieran Treadwell started at lock in Harlequins’ 57–19 Challenge Cup win over Vannes. On Saturday, 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 this 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 gathers at the IRFU HPC on Monday before flying out on Thursday.

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

Irish abroad

9 of the 33 senior men’s players we track played this weekend.

Irish abroad

Barrett · Clarke · Jackson · Loughnane · Marmion · McGrath · McKee · Scannell · Treadwell

Latest

Older stories