Latest news with #BKTUnitedRugbyChampionship
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
URC: Leinster and Munster name teams for quarter-finals
British and Irish Lions quartet Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier are among those who return to Leinster's starting side for Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Scarlets (live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio 1). In total, Leo Cullen has made six changes to his side following the Round 18 win against Glasgow Warriors. Jamie Osborne and Rónan Kelleher also come into the starting team, among five players who started the 35-22 defeat to the Welsh region last month. Kelleher starts at hooker, with Dan Sheehan dropping to the bench, while Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson continue at prop. McCarthy comes in to join James Ryan at lock, while RG Snyman will be primed to come on as a replacement. Jack Conan continues as captain in the absence of Caelan Doris, with Ryan Baird also retaining his place at blindside flanker and Van der Flier taking the place of Scott Penny. Gibson-Park replaces Fintan Gunne at scrum-half, joining Sam Prendergast behind the scrum, while Jordie Barrett continues at 12, and Osborne replaces the injured Robbie Henshaw. Jimmy O'Brien moves from left wing to right and will make his 100th appearance for the province, while Lowe starts on the left, and Hugo Keenan continues at full-back. Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (capt). Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Luke McGrath, Ciarán Frawley. Munster interim head coach Ian Costello has named the same starting team for the third game in a row for Saturday's quarter-final against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban. Retiring pair Peter O'Mahony and and Stephen Archer are both in the starting team for what could be their final Munster appearances before retirement, while Conor Murray is among the replacements ahead of his departure this summer. There is also a landmark appearance among the subs for centre Rory Scannell, who will make his 200th Munster appearance if selected. The 31-year-old could also be playing his final game for Munster, with his future uncertain. Michael Milne, Niall Scannell and Archer continue in the front row, with Scannell fit to play after departing for a head injury assessment in the win against Benetton two weeks ago. Tadhg Beirne captains the side from second row, where he is joined by Jean Kleyn, with O'Mahony, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes in the back row. Craig Casey and Jack Crowley team up in an Irish international half-back pairing, with Alex Nankivell and Tom Farrell in the centre as usual. Thaakir Abrahams starts at full-back, with Mike Haley among the subs, while Calvin Nash and Diarmuid Kilgallen are on the wings. Munster Rugby: Thaakir Abrahams; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Mike Haley.
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Rónan Kelleher: Leinster's URC play-off record leaves a 'sour taste'
Rónan Kelleher says Leinster have shaken off their Champions Cup frustration, and have their sights firmly set on ending their four-year wait for a trophy. The province host Scarlets on Saturday (live on RTE2 and RTE Player) in their BKT United Rugby Championship quarter-final, and come into the play-offs following an unwelcome rest for the Champions Cup final weekend. It's just over four weeks since Northampton Saints stunned Leo Cullen's side in their semi-final at Aviva Stadium, crushing their hopes of a fifth Champions Cup title and ramping up the pressure on them for the URC play-offs. A facile win against Zebre, and an error-ridden win versus Glasgow Warriors has done little to lift the mood around the province, although Kelleher insists they are ready to leave that Northampton defeat in the past. "Disappointing not to be involved in the weekend just gone, but that was parked long ago after the semi-final defeat," he told RTÉ Sport ahead of Saturday's meeting with the Scarlets. "So we're all just gearing up for this run-in and really excited to try and win a competition that we haven't won in a good few years." The province last lifted silverware in 2021 when they won the old Pro14 championship, and have been beaten in the semi-final in each of the three seasons of the current URC; in 2022 and 2024 they were beaten by the Bulls, either side of a defeat to Munster in 2023. And Kelleher (above) says they're determined to end that wait for a trophy, regardless of the competition. "There's excitement in the group. There's a trophy to be won. We need to go out, we need to put our best foot forward, we need to execute our game plan well and try and impose ourselves on the game really. "The last time we won the Pro14 was in 2021 in the Covid year, so we haven't given much for our fans to cheer about in a good while. We're really raring to go and trying to do a job in this competition. "We had a bit of a sour taste in our mouth the last couple of years because we haven't got over the line in any competition. "It's about putting our best foot forward, but also getting the lads who are leaving or moving on, giving them an opportunity to have their final day out in the jersey, and for them to be able to share it with their friends and family. It's a big focus for us all," he added. While Leinster are heavy favourites to make light work of Scarlets, there should be no surprises around the dangers they can pose. The Welsh side ripped Leinster apart, 35-22 when the sides met in Llanelli at the end of April (above), a game Kelleher captained Leinster for the first time in. "Zero percent record unfortunately!" he laughs of his captaincy debut. "I think Scarlets are obviously a quality side. You saw what they did to us only a couple of weeks ago, they rolled us over. They executed their gameplan really well that day. "That kind of sharpens the mind. Everyone want to be there on the big day, on the final, but it's a step-by-step focus. "Looking ahead at this weekend and the challenges they pose around the park. Their front row is very good, they have a powerful back-five in the scrum and experience in their backs and some good players throughout. "We know how good they are and it's about us implementing our gameplan." The hooker is among 12 Leinster and 15 Ireland internationals set to link up with the British and Irish Lions this summer, having been named in Andy Farrell's squad for the tour of Australia earlier this month. Kelleher was briefly part of the 2021 tour in South Africa, called in as injury cover late in the tour, although he didn't see gametime. "It was absolutely brilliant [to be called up]. It was amazing, the moment. When I saw my name was selected, I was delighted, family was delighted. I think getting selected is one thing, it's about going down there and doing a job. "In the meantime we have our own aspirations as a club and a team, and that's very much the focus now. It's the here and now, what's in front of your face."
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
RTÉ Rugby podcast: Bordeaux pulse check, Club RWC and more Irish in Super Rugby?
Neil Treacy is joined by Bernard Jackman and Johne Murphy to look back on Bordeaux's Champions Cup final win against Northampton Saints. We also discuss the proposed Club World Cup that is due to arrive in 2028 (16:25), as well as Jordie Barrett's comments about the appetite for getting more young Irish players to spend some time in Super Rugby (23:45). And finally we take a look at Leinster and Munster's BKT United Rugby Championship quarter-finals this weekend (32:25). Watch Leinster v Scarlets from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Ian Costello: Quarter-final not a 'free shot' for Munster
While the pressure of securing Investec Champions Cup qualification is off their backs, Ian Costello insists Munster are by no means in bonus-territory ahead of Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship quarter-final against the Sharks. A 32-man squad arrived in Durban this week for what could be two weeks in South Africa; if they win on Saturday, they will likely move on to Pretoria for a semi-final versus the Bulls. There was great relief at the province this month when wins over Ulster and Benetton saw them scrape into the play-offs, and crucially secured their Champions Cup place for next season. And although Costello admits that has lifted a weight off their shoulders, he says there is still a pressure for them to deliver in knockout rugby. "It absolutely isn't a free shot," Munster's interim coach said, ahead of Saturday's quarter-final. "There's an expectation we need to be in knockout rugby, there's a lot of pressure to get there. But now that we're here, we're very, very ambitious on what we want to achieve. "We all know that we had to get into the play-offs. We had to get into the Champions Cup, that's the expectation that comes with Munster, rightly so. "I think it was really important that we drew a line under that first. We put an awful lot into that physically, mentally and particularly emotionally in that last two weeks. There was so much to be pleased with in those last two weeks." While the play-offs officially start this weekend, Munster have effectively been playing knockout rugby for much longer, with their season on the line for those games against Benetton and Ulster. And while those games were physically and emotionally draining experiences, Costello says they've come to South Africa feeling fresh after a much needed weekend off. "This group, over the last couple of weeks, have really showed how much they care about each other. It came out in the way we trained, prepared, what we would have seen behind closed doors and what you would have seen in the performances. "You don't get the intensity and physicality of a performance like that unless there is a real deep care and it means a huge amount to this group. "I think that was huge to get that job done, but we've had a taste of play-offs before, we've played a few knock-out this year, more than we would have liked, especially over the last couple of weeks. That's set us up to have a real crack at this week, so it's a fresh focus and just really excited about play-off rugby." Saturday's quarter-final also brings them back to the site of one of this season's low points when they were beaten 41-24 by the Sharks in Round 5 of the regular season, with head coach Graham Rowntree leaving his role just a few days later. But Costello, who has been in interim charge since then, says they aren't motivated by what happened on that tour. "No, that hasn't come into it at all of I'm honest. "I think the squad is in a different place. You look at the squad that actually travelled over here, we looked at it yesterday and there's a huge difference between the squad that travelled over in October versus the squad that's over here this weekend, or this week. "It feels like there's an awful lot more experience, guys really hitting their form, as I said, really competitive. We've had two weeks and that really helps. "We know them [the Sharks] really well. We've looked at their last half dozen games as we always do. But a huge amount of focus has been on us, if I'm honest. Look at how we've improved over the last period and how we've managed two very, very high pressure games. "Essentially, we're into the third knockout game in a row now because effectively that's what it was. So we've extracted a lot of our learnings around that, that has confidence in the group and it keeps the focus on who we are and what we do well as well." There was positive news this week with confirmation that out-half Jack Crowley (below) will be fit after recovering from a rib injury picked up in Round 18, while Diarmuid Barron and Jeremy Loughman are also back on deck after missing time with injury. And Costello says a healthy squad will be vital if they're to go on a repeat run of their title win from 2023. "I suppose you go back six months and our availability was not where we would have liked it to be. There was a lot of challenges and changes at the club, and we probably didn't have the deep squad to select from those early games and that's what's so pleasing about where we're at now. The squad is really competitive. "That comes out in selection, but it also comes out in training every day, so it means every single training session is better. People are really driven to perform in training, they know that training matters and there's probably 27, 28 guys that are really competitive to make a 23, or even a 15 at the moment. That drives standards right across the board. "Bar a couple of players, we're in a pretty good position in terms of the health of our squad this week, and will need to be," Costello added.
Irish Examiner
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Munster to start 25/26 season with Welsh double
It's a Welsh double for Munster to begin next season's BKT United Rugby Championship campaign. A trip to Scarlets on Saturday, September 27 is followed by the province's first home game of the new season the weekend after, when they host Cardiff on October 4. Leinster, favourites to go all the way this season, will kick off the 2025/26 season with a double-header in South Africa. They first play Stormers in Cape Town in the opening game of the competition on Friday, September 26, before meeting the Bulls in Pretoria the following week. Leinster's first home game will also be against South Africa opposition, when the Sharks visit Dublin on October 11. Connacht kick off with Benetton at the Dexcom Stadium, while Ulster are also at home, with the Dragons coming to Belfast. Fans of Leinster and Munster will circle October 18 as the first interpro derby of the campaign. Leinster are hosts, with the venue to be confirmed. Leinster will visit Thomond Park for the return on Saturday, December 27. The format of the competition remains the same with the Grand Final scheduled for June 20, 2026. To add novelty to the competition for fans, the new campaign will have a series of themed rounds such Kids Round, Origin Round, and Unity Round Martin Anayi, United Rugby Championship CEO, said: 'Advance planning is critical to the success of the United Rugby Championship and it is fantastic that we have continued to raise the bar in publishing our fixtures as early as possible. 'For clubs and fans, planning their weekends and knowing where their teams are playing so far ahead of time makes a big difference. The drama and excitement of the BKT URC is matched by the complexity of putting all of the pieces of the fixture list together but it is made much easier thanks to the support of our teams and broadcasters to assist us in this process. 'For the moment, we look forward to the Play-Offs that kick off next week after another regular season full of surprises. The Race to the Eight provided huge jeopardy and now we move into the ultimate win or go home stage of the competition which will lift the intensity up to another level.' INTERPROS Sat, Oct 18: Leinster v Munster (TBC), 5.15pm Sat, Oct 25: Munster v Connacht (Thomond Park), 7.45pm Fri, Dec 19: Leinster v Ulster (TBC), 7.45pm Sat Dec 27: Connacht v Ulster (Dexcom Stadium), 5.30pm; Munster v Leinster (Thomond Park), 7.45pm Sat Jan 3: Leinster v Connacht (TBC), 5.30pm Sat Jan 24: Connacht v Leinster (Dexcom Stadium), 5.30pm Fri, Mar 20: Ulster v Connacht (Kingspan Stadium), 7.45pm Fri, Apr 17: Ulster v Leinster (Kingspan Stadium), 7.45pm Sat, Apr 25: Munster v Ulster (Thomond Park), 5.30pm Sat, May 9: Connacht v Munster (Dexcom Stadium), 7.45pm
