United Rugby Championship

Rowe’s the destroyer as Glasgow take charge

31 March 2024 0 comments

■By ROGER PANTING Scarlets ………………………….3ptsPenalties: Lloyd 16 Glasgow……………………….. 45pts Tries: Rowe 6, 69, 80; Hiddleston 25, Cummings 41, Penalty 54, Matthews 64 Conversions: Weir 6, […]

Dragons come good in basement battle

31 March 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Scarlets on his 100th apchief beneficiary Dragons…………. 20pts Tries: Owen 17, Rosser 23, Dee 42 Conversions: Evans 42 Zebre……………… 13pts Penalties: Evans […]

Stormers …… 13 Ulster ………….. 7

31 March 2024 0 comments

A LATE Evan Roos try helped Stormers seal a hard-fought win over Ulster. Nick Timoney’s converted score gave Ulster a 7-0 half-time lead but the […]

Sharks ……….23 Edinbrugh …. 13

31 March 2024 0 comments

EDINBURGH suffered back-to-back defeats in South Africa as the Sharks – who had begun the day bottom of the table with two wins from 12 […]

Big guns fire for Leinster

31 March 2024 0 comments

Leinster ………. 47 Bulls …………….. 14 By JOHN FALLON LEINSTER brought most of their big guns back for this one and head coach Leo Cullen […]

Benetton snatch it in final play of game

31 March 2024 0 comments

Benetton ……… 18 Connacht ……..14 By KEVIN FALLON BENETTON captain Eli Snyman said this is a huge win for the Treviso side as they struck […]

Wales can’t afford four

31 March 2024 0 comments

The Scarlets’ proud proclamation welcoming fans to ‘Heart and Soul Rugby Country’ looks even more threadbare this weekend. A loss of almost £3m last season […]

Ulster have little to offer

31 March 2024 0 comments

Shortly after Dan McFarland’s abrupt exit as Ulster’s head coach, chief executive Jonny Petrie dismissed any questions over his future at Ravenhill. “I’m committed to […]

Swart’s on message to grab it for Scarlets

24 March 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Scarlets ………………………..16pts Tries: Swart 80+4 Conversion: Costelow 80+5 Penalties: Costelow 3, 51, 55 Benetton Treviso…………13pts Tries: Ratave 12 Conversion: Umaga 13 Penalties: […]

Cardiff hope to win Grady tug-of-war

24 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE By SIMON THOMAS The future location of Mason Grady is one of the biggest talking points in Welsh rugby – in more […]

Munster too hot in the red zone for Ospreys

24 March 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Ospreys …………. 17pts Tries: Giles 33, Parry 54, Cuthbert 74 Conversions: O Williams 54 Munster …………27pts Tries: Daly 3, O’Brien 5, 17; […]

Dempsey in control to lead Glasgow fightback

24 March 2024 0 comments

■By SIMON THOMAS Glasgow……….. 17pts Tries: Williamson 43, Sordoni 51 Conversion: Weir 44, 52 Penalty: Weir 67 Cardiff ………….. 13pts Try: Thomas 31 Conversion: De […]

Dragons show some style but fade away

24 March 2024 0 comments

■By ROGER PANTING Dragons…………. 10pts Tries: Baldwin 79 Conversions: Red 79 Penalties: Evans 20 Bulls ………………. 31pts Tries: Arendse 27, Gumede 44, Papier 76, Grobelaar […]

Sharks ……….22 Ulster ………… 12

24 March 2024 0 comments

THE Sharks recorded their first league win since November to climb off the URC basement as Ulster’s play-off bid took a knock. Sharks scored tries […]

Zebre …………… 7 Leinster …….. 31

24 March 2024 0 comments

LEADERS Leinster secured a bonus-point victory at Lanfranchi Stadium. First-half tries by Rob Russell and debutant Andrew Osborne, and further scores in the second by […]

Stormers overwhelm makeshift Edinburgh

24 March 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Stormers …….. 43 Edinburgh ……. 21 EDINBURGH’S URC play-off hopes suffered a major dent as Stor mers leapfrogged them in the table […]

Connacht left at the gate by proud Lions

24 March 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Connacht ……..14 Lions …………….38 MAN of the match JC Pretorious said a first ever win in Ireland could now propel them into […]

Five-star Bath run URC leaders ragged

17 March 2024 0 comments

Bath ………………..35pts Tries: Cokanasiga 9, du Toit 34, Spencer 50, Muir 66, 75 Conversions: Bailey 10, 35, 51, 67; Worboys 76 Leinster…………… 7pts Tries: Connors […]

Carre back at Saracens

10 March 2024 0 comments

Saracens have re-signed Wales loosehead Rhys Carre from Cardiff. The 26-year-old previously played for Saracens in 2019-20, moving back to Cardiff after one season. He […]

Party time as Stormers win 12-try thriller

10 March 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Northampton…29pts Tries: Glister 3, 29, Odendaal 40, Garside 63, Graham 77 Conversions: Salava 4, 40 Stormers………. 45pts Tries: Simelane 10, Morabe 14, […]

Wasps better off with URC – Sharp

3 March 2024 0 comments

By JON NEWCOMBE Coventry chairman Jon Sharp is convinced that Wasps’ future, if it has one, lies in the United Rugby Championship, not the RFU […]

‘Big Mac’ has his eye on the prize

3 March 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE The extent of the impact Wales newbie Mackenzie Martin is making this season can be judged in many ways. His club, Cardiff […]

McNicholl on his way

3 March 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE Wales wing Johnny McNicholl has left the Scarlets with immediate effect to take up a playing opportunity in New Zealand. McNicholl, 33, […]

Forde finds his feet as Connacht romp home

3 March 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Connacht ……….26pts Tries: Jansen 23, 58; Blade 6, de Buitlear 10 Conversions: Hanrahan 6, 24, 59 Scarlets ………… 10pts Try: E Jones […]

Classy Ulster make the most of their good start

3 March 2024 0 comments

By KEVIN FALLON Ulster ……………. 49pts Tries: Addison 4, Lowry 18, 33, Sheridan 29, McCann 57, 75, Timoney 72 Conversions: Cooney 5, 19, 30, 33, […]

Carre leads fightback but Cardiff lack power

3 March 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Cardiff …………………………. 20pts Tries: Carre 35, 38; Summerhill 75 Conversions: de Beer 35 Penalties: de Beer 11 Leinster………………………… 33pts Tries: Russell 4, […]

Edinburgh are too good for Ospreys

3 March 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Edinburgh……… 19pts Try: Watson 17 Conversion: Healy 18 Penalties: Healy 22, 25, 35, 73 Ospreys …………. 15pts Tries: Parry 47, Morris 67 […]

Haley quickly back to business

3 March 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Munster ……… 45 Zebre …………….29 MUNSTER full-back Mike Haley crowned his first match back from injury in eight months with a superb […]

Smith finishes a proud man

3 March 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Benetton ……….. 9 Glasgow ………. 19 GLASGOW head coach Franco Smith was proud of how his side stuck to the process despite […]

Bulls ……………..40 Stormers ………22

3 March 2024 0 comments

By JAMES RILEY THE Bulls kept themselves in URC title contention by defeating their fierce South African rivals at a sold-out Loftus Versfeld. Hooker Johan […]

Lions …………….40 Sharks ………….10

3 March 2024 0 comments

By TOM JEFFREYS THE Lions condemned the Sharks to their 10th loss of the season, defying torrential weather conditions to score six tries on their […]

De Beer happy to welcome Sheedy

3 March 2024 0 comments

By SIMON THOMAS Cardiff’s Tinus de Beer says he will welcome the arrival of fellow fly-half Callum Sheedy at the Arms Park to help share […]

McFarland quits Ulster

25 February 2024 0 comments

ULSTER head coach Dan McFarland has stepped down from his position after nearly six years in charge. Current Ireland U20 head coach Richie Murphy will […]

Munster have edge on Quins

25 February 2024 0 comments

By TOM EVANS Harlequins ……. 35pts Tries: Walker 23, Edwards 37, Hammond 42, Bradley 69, Zheng 76 Conversions: Edwards 24, 38, 43; Slevin 70, 77 […]

Double for McFarland as Saracens find feet

25 February 2024 0 comments

By PAUL CLEMENCE Saracens ……31pts Tries: Tizard 2, McFarland 8, 15; Lewington 28, Hallett 70 Conversions: Vunipola 3, 9, 70 Leinster…… 19pts Tries: Jenkins 45, […]

Lee-Lo red too much for Cardiff to live with

18 February 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Cardiff …………………………… 12pts Tries: Thomas 18, Timani 46 Conversions: de Beer 18 Connacht …………………….. 16pts Tries: Dooley 62 Conversions: Hanrahan 62 Penalties: […]

Assiratti goes from novice to mainstay

18 February 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE A year ago Keiron Assiratti was wondering how he could prop up his family, never mind the Welsh scrum. Yet this weekend […]

Henshaw is full of praise for Nienaber

18 February 2024 0 comments

By ROB COLE Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw believes his game has improved since South Africa’s World Cup winning coach Jacques Nienaber has joined the Leinster […]

Everitt’s boys get it right in end

18 February 2024 0 comments

By SAM JACKSON Zebre …………… 19 Edinburgh…… 24 EDINBURGH fought back to beat Zebre with three second half tries having trailed 10-3 at the break. […]

McDowall on fine form to put Glasgow in the clear

18 February 2024 0 comments

By BRYN PALMER Glasgow………..40pts Tries: McKay 1, 37, McDowall 3, 75, Ashfar 44, Cordero 69 Conversions: Thompson 2, 4, 38, 45; Weir 76 Dragons………….. 7pts […]

Leinster back in the swing

18 February 2024 0 comments

By JOHN FALLON Leinster ……… 47 Benetton ……… 18 LEINSTER captain Scott Penny praised the way his men took charge after the break to run […]

Former Welsh stars back in action to boost Ospreys

18 February 2024 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK PREVIEW… Ospreys v Ulster Today. Kick-off 3pm, Liberty Stadium FORMER Wales stars Justin Tipuric, Nicky Smith and Alex Cuthbert return from injury […]

Coombes leads from the front to lift Munster

18 February 2024 0 comments

By ROGER PANTING Scarlets ………….. 7pts Tries: Roberts 50 Conversions: Titcombe 50 Munster ……….. 42pts Tries: Coombes 10, 23, O’Sullivan 62, Ahern 65, O’Brien 72 […]

Lions ……………. 10 Bulls ……………..25

18 February 2024 0 comments

THE Bulls consolidated their position among the URC’s frontrunners as they claimed a bonus point victory over their South African rivals by four tries to […]

Sharks ………… 21 Stormers ……..25

18 February 2024 0 comments

THE Stormers handed the Sharks a ninth consecutive defeat in the URC with a narrow victory in Durban. Sharks continue to prop up the table […]

Scarlets battle for pair

18 February 2024 0 comments

Scarlets are ‘fighting hard’ to keep star forwards Vaea Fifita and Sam Lousi. Fifita, 31, above, is in his second season with Scarlets and has […]

Baloucoune eyes Olympics

18 February 2024 0 comments

Ulster wing Robert Baloucoune is eager for the chance to compete at the Paris Olympics with Ireland. Baloucoune, 26, was previously in the sevens set-up, […]

Scotland launch restructuring plan

18 February 2024 0 comments

Scottish Rugby is to scrap its Super 6 club series and reinstate a national “A-team” as part of a comprehensive restructure of the professional game. […]

Lynagh leaves Quins for Benetton

12 February 2024 0 comments

ON THE BLINDSIDE – updated from Sunday’s (11/02/24) TRP Harlequins have confirmed wing Louis Lynagh will join URC side Benetton next season. The 23-year-old son […]