Irish provinces set unwanted 10-year record after shocking round of URC fixtures
LEINSTER'S position at the top of the United Rugby Championship standings remains unchanged following the latest round of fixtures.
Leo Cullen's side suffered
2
Connacht's hope of making the URC playoffs are all but over - as are their hopes of qualifying for the Champions Cup
2
Ulster are in a similar position to Connacht - While Munster have fallen outside the playoff positions
But the three other Irish provinces are in a worrying positions as the season hits crunch-time.
Munster suffered a
Connacht followed with a heavy
Munster have dropped out of the top eight into ninth place.
read more on rugby
Ulster and Connacht's chances of reaching the knockout stages are now slim, with Richie Murphy's Ulster side in 12th and Connacht in 14th.
Connacht has just five wins from 16 matches this season.
It was the first time in ten years that all four Irish provinces lost on the same weekend.
The previous occasion came during round 17 of the 2014/15 Pro12 season, when Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht were all defeated.
Most read in Rugby Union
On that weekend, Scarlets beat Leinster, Ospreys overcame Munster, Dragons defeated Ulster, and Cardiff Blues saw off Connacht.
At present, Irish provinces face a more difficult situation.
'That time of year again' - Peter O'Mahony's captivating garden update includes hilarious tip for parents
With two rounds remaining, Munster must secure positive results against Ulster and Benetton to qualify for the URC playoffs and ensure participation in next season's Champions Cup.
While Ulster and Connacht also remain mathematically in contention but would require favourable results elsewhere in addition to winning their remaining fixtures.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
14 minutes ago
- The 42
Leinster make a statement with dominant semi-final defeat of Glasgow
Leinster 37 Glasgow Warriors 19 LEINSTER REDISCOVERED ALL the qualities they had been missing over the last few weeks as the province put Glasgow to the sword and booked their place in next weekend's URC final with an utterly dominant semi-final win in Dublin. This 37-19 defeat of the Warriors in front of over 15,000 supporters at Aviva Stadium means the province can look forward to a Croke Park date with the winners of today's second semi-final meeting of the Bulls and the Sharks, which will kick-off at 5pm next Saturday. Leo Cullen's men had looked a shadow of themselves across the closing rounds of the URC and during last weekend's unconvincing quarter-final win over Scarlets as the pain of their harrowing Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton Saints lingered, but Leinster burst back into life here to reach the URC final for the first time. The province will expect a stern test against South African opposition next week but look well placed to land a first trophy in four years. The six tries came from Dan Sheehan, Jamie Osborne – who both scored twice – Thomas Clarkson and Ciarán Frawley, and by half time the province already had one foot in the final, building a strong 25-5 lead. Sheehan was outstanding on his return to the starting team, with Osborne, Tommy O'Brien, Ryan Baird and James Lowe also thriving as Leinster feasted on long periods of front-foot ball, while the Leinster pack bullied their opponents from start to finish. Glasgow, the defending champions, will be bitterly disappointed not to have caused their hosts more problems, as Franco Smith's side fell flat in suffering their third defeat at this stadium this year – two late tries somewhat skewing the scoreboard. Sheehan got the scoreboard moving for Leinster in just the second minute. Glasgow initially did well to put the brakes on a Leinster maul, but the province remained patient and accurate before a sharp Jamison Gibson-Park pass sent Sheehan through, with Sam Prendergast tapping over the conversion. The score didn't knock Glasgow and the visitors struck just three minutes later on their first attack of the game. After moving the ball wide, Kyle Rowe kicked ahead and George Horne went in pursuit, getting to the ball before any chasing Leinster defenders to score. Horne then stood over the conversion but was off target. Leinster's Andrew Porter, Jack Conan and James Ryan wrap up a Glasgow player. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO That was as good as it got for Glasgow in the opening 40 as Leinster ripped them apart with an accurate and aggressive display. Fifteen minutes in, Sheehan threw a lineout long out the back to Jordie Barrett, who was soon gobbled up. Leinster kept possession and moved the ball into a more central position as they inched forward, Scott Penny eventually scampering through to score. However the try was crossed off with James Lowe ahead of the ball-carrier as he collided with Scott Cummings, the coming together sparking some strong words and shoving between both teams. Lighting Lowe's fuse would be one of many errors Glasgow would come to regret. At the end of the first quarter the rain pelted down, with Prendergast sending a series of contestable kicks into the skies for Osborne to chase. Advertisement Building pressure with little return, Prendergast knocked over another three points when a penalty call fell their way. The game was being played exclusively in Glasgow's half, and a rare period of Glasgow possession saw Leinster turn defence into attack. Tommy O'Brien and Adam Hastings chase the ball. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO Sione Tuipulotu, who was struggling to influence the game, lost the ball in contact and Leinster were off. Tommy O'Brien kicked and chased alongside Glasgow out-half Adam Hastings. Leinster kept the ball and Gibson-Park fed Osborne, who had the wheels to pull away from Kyle Rowe and Euan Ferrie. It looked a clinical Leinster try, but was crossed off on TMO review with Gibson-Park's pass to Osborne forward. Two minutes later Osborne had his try. Lowe jumped to bat a high ball back to Jimmy O'Brien and Leinster went flying forward in numbers – Gibson-Park moved the ball on, Barret flashed quick hands before Jimmy O'Brien did the same and Lowe's wonderful pass out the back left Osborne racing for the line. No doubt about that one, but Prendergast pulled the conversion wide. Leinster were humming now and five minutes later they had their third, Thomas Clarkson muscling over after Leinster turned down a kickable three to go to the corner. Again, Prendergast couldn't convert. Leinster kept pounding away, looking to end the contest before it ever really got going. Ryan Baird peeled wide and tried to hit Lowe, but the pass was spilled, triggering another heated exchange. With the last play of the half Leinster bagged their fourth, mauling forward as Sheehan drove through for his second of the game. Prendergast's kicking remained off, signing off for the half with just one successful conversion from four attempts. With the province 20 points up at the break, it was unlikely his team would be made pay the price. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO Upon the resumption Leinster kept the foot down. Barrett rumbled over but knocked-on as he tried to ground the ball through two tacklers. Prendergast smacked a penalty off the post. The fifth try finally came when Gibson-Park fired another razor-sharp pass into Osborne's hands, allowing Prendergast improve his success rate with a simple conversion. Approaching the hour the home side were over again through a lovely flowing move. Lowe did well to win possession in the air before a purposeful carry along the wing. The attack threatened to break down but Leinster swung the ball coast-to-coast, with Prendergast and Penny both involved before Conan found Tommy O'Brien, who did well to keep the ball and feed Ciarán Frawley, a popular try-scorer just minutes after entering the action. Prendergast missed another effort off the tee, and was soon replaced by Ross Byrne, playing his last game at the Aviva in Leinster blue. Ciarán Frawley dives over. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO As the game fizzled out Jamie Dobie ended Glasgow's long wait for some points with a 72nd-minute try, converted by Tom Jordan, before Tuipulotu added a third, holding off Frawley's tackle to score, as a strong hail shower battered Dublin 4. At that point everyone involved was happy to wrap it up, although a good number of Leinster fans stayed back in the rain to sound their appreciation for a strong, determined effort from their team. This was more like it. Leinster scorers: Tries – Sheehan [2], Osborne [2], Clarkson, Frawley Penalty – Prendergast [1/2] Conversions – Prendergast [2/6] Glasgow scorers: Tries – Horne, Dobie, Tuipulotu. Conversions – Horne [0/1], Jordan [2/2] LEINSTER: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett (Ciarán Frawley, 56), , James Lowe; Sam Prendergast (Ross Byrne, 60), Jamison Gibson-Park (Luke McGrath, 69); Andrew Porter (, 58), Dan Sheehan (Rónan Kelleher, 56), Thomas Clarkson (Rabah Slimani, 56); Joe McCarthy, James Ryan (RG Snyman, 56); Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, Jack Conan (capt) (Max Deegan, 63). GLASGOW: Josh McKay; Kyle Steyn (capt), Sione Tuipulotu, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe, Adam Hastings (Stafford McDowall, HT), George Horne (Jamie Dobie, 52); Jamie Bhatti (Rory Sutherland, 44), Gregor Hiddleston (Johnny Matthews, 44), Fin Richardson (Sam Talakai, 44); Alex Samuel (Max Williamson, 44), Scott Cummings; Euan Ferrie (Jack Mann, 72), Rory Darge, Henco Venter (Macenzzie Duncan, 59). Referee: Andrea Piardi [FIR] Attendance: 15,762
RTÉ News
40 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Joe McCarthy: 'We know everyone loves to hate Leinster'
Joe McCarthy believes "everyone loves to hate Leinster" and admitted that they use that perception as motivation. The Ireland second row was speaking following the province's 37-19 victory over Glasgow Warriors, which secured a first BKT URC final berth since 2021 Leo Cullen's side were never really challenged by the defending champions, who scored two late tries to put a flattering sheen on the scoreboard. Leinster had come in for severe criticism following a series of lacklustre performances in the last month but came out firing against the Warriors, scoring four of their six tries in the opening half. "We know everyone loves to hate Leinster so that definitely drives us on," the 24-year-old told RTÉ Sport. "We have a great fan base so we don't really care about the outside noise, what you guys [on the TV panel] say or the fans or other people say." FT: LEIN 37-19 GLA Joe McCarthy: 'Everyone loves to hate Leinster and that drives us on'. 📺 @rte2 & @rteplayer 📻 Saturday Sport on @rteradio1 Live updates 👇 — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 7, 2025 Last champions four years ago, Leinster had lost all three semi-finals since the South African teams joined the competition. "We just want to rip into next week," added the Dubliner, who will go on his first Lions tour this summer. "We definitely needed that, it's our first URC final. "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. Asked if Leinster prepared any differently this week, he said: "Nothing crazy, the lads are so up for it, so hungry to win silverware, there's a good feel but the job's not done yet." Hooker Dan Sheehan scored trademark lineout maul tries at the start and end of the first half, with Jamie Osborne and Thomas Clarkson crossing the line in between. "Our set-piece dominance has been a cornerstone of our success this year," said McCarthy. "Sometimes we haven't got a reward for it but today was a good day, we were accurate, really physical, we shut them down at lineout and scrum and we'll keep building on that." Glasgow boss France Smith admitted the better team won: "It was a huge performance from them from the word go. I felt the urgency. "On the day we weren't good enough, especially in the first half. They are a quality outfit. "I'm really proud [of the lads], you must see this in context."
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
RTE viewers hail Killian Phillips as emotional Republic of Ireland star reflects on ‘proudest moment' of his life
KILLIAN PHILLIPS was hailed by fans after Republic of Ireland debut against Senegal on Friday night. The 23-year-old Irish midfielder currently came from the bench to make his senior international bow during the Advertisement 2 Killian Phillips emotionally reflected on his Ireland debut during an RTE interview 2 Killian Phillips greets fans after his Ireland debut during the draw with Senegal Phillip, who is currently on loan from Crystal Palace to St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership emotionally opened up in a post-game The Kilbarrack native began his football journey with Kilbarrack United and later played for Corduff and St Kevin's Boys before returning to Kilbarrack. After being turned down by Phillips made his senior debut for Drogheda in April 2021 and scored his first goal the following month. Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL His performances caught the attention of And the Dubliner hailed all the people who helped him achieve his dream of playing for Ireland after calling his debut the greatest and proudest moment of his life. The midfielder said: "The proudest moment of my life, for sure. There's been a lot of sacrifices over the years, and stuff like that. "All I ever wanted to do was play for my country - if it was U15s,21s, amateur of whatever... I just wanted to wear the green jersey once. Advertisement Most read in Football "I'm a bit emotional after it - at the minute - but I'm over the moon. You mentioned the clubs I played for, I just want to thank everyone who has brought me through, and looked after me over the years. ""But again, I'm over the moon, yeah. "That's the beauty of football - there's no right way to do it. Every day I gave my all, and sacrificed so much growing up. "I never really partied growing up or anything like that. I probably lived a more boring life than a lot of people but for days like this - that's what all the sacrifices are for. Advertisement "And this is all I ever wanted to do is wear this green jersey, so yeah it's superb... the moment of my life." Fans loved the emotional interview as they hailed the Irish star on social media. One said: "Great stuff Killian." Another wrote: "Congratulations, great to see and hear how proud he is to represent his country." Advertisement A third commented: "Magnificent interview fair play lad." While a fourth penned: "Well done Killian - the buddies are all really proud of you too!" The newly capped Ireland star will be hoping to earn another appearance as Heimir Hallgrimsson's side play Luxembourg on Tuesday,
