United Rugby Championship
Cross-border European rugby league.
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Wales captain Lewis ends eight-year Gloucester Hartpury stint to join Bristol Bears
Bethan Lewis, a 65-cap Wales flanker who captained Gloucester Hartpury for much of the 2026 Women's Six Nations, has signed with Bristol Bears for the 2026/27 PWR season after 96 appearances across eight years at the three-time champions.
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Huw Jones leaves Glasgow for Toulon after Scotland teammate White seals his decision
Scotland centre Huw Jones has confirmed he will join Top 14 giants Toulon next season, admitting that Ben White's glowing account of life at the club made the decision straightforward despite the wrench of leaving Glasgow.
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Erasmus backs Pollard after 'worst player on the pitch' verdict from Zebo
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has defended Handré Pollard following sharp criticism from pundit Simon Zebo, who labelled the fly-half the worst player on the pitch in the Bulls' 36-7 URC final defeat to Leinster.
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Leo Cullen to leave Leinster after 12 years as successor search begins
Leo Cullen has confirmed he will depart Leinster at the end of his contract in 2027, with the club already searching for his successor. The announcement comes days after he guided the province to back-to-back URC titles.
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Olympic Sevens medallist Chay Mullins signs one-year deal with Ulster
Chay Mullins, who represented Ireland at the 2024 Paris Olympics and won a Sevens World Cup bronze in 2022, has signed a one-year contract with Ulster after one season at Connacht.
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Doris and O'Brien ruled out of Ireland's Nations Championship Southern Series tour
Ireland have lost captain Caelan Doris and attacking threat Tommy O'Brien to injury ahead of their Nations Championship Southern Series, with both Leinster players hurt during Friday's URC Grand Final. Dan Sheehan will captain the three-Test tour against Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.
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Munster prop Oli Jager forced to retire at 30 on medical grounds after single Ireland cap
Oli Jager, the Munster and Ireland tighthead prop, has been medically advised to retire from professional rugby at 30. The New Zealand-raised prop joined Munster from the Crusaders in 2023 and earned one Ireland cap during the 2024 Six Nations.
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Ackermann admits Bulls 'didn't give themselves a chance' in 36-7 URC final hammering by Leinster
Johan Ackermann conceded the Vodacom Bulls were beaten before they had barely started after Leinster dismantled them 36-7 in the URC Grand Final at Croke Park, a fourth defeat in five finals for the South African side.
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Cullen dismisses outside criticism as Leinster demolish Bulls to retain URC title
Leo Cullen pushed back against the negative narrative surrounding Leinster's season after his side crushed the Bulls 36-7 at Croke Park on Friday, securing a 10th league title and becoming the first back-to-back champions of the URC era.
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Doris limps off after seven minutes but Leinster seal 10th URC title with 36-7 rout of Bulls
Caelan Doris lasted just seven minutes of the URC final before a foot injury forced him off, but Leinster ran in five tries to beat the Bulls 36-7 at Croke Park and claim a record 10th United Rugby Championship title. The Ireland captain faces a race to join Andy Farrell's tour to Australia.
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Leinster rout Bulls 36-7 to seal back-to-back URC titles but Doris and O'Brien limp off
Leinster demolished the Bulls 36-7 at Croke Park to retain the United Rugby Championship title for a record 10th time, but first-half injuries to Caelan Doris and Tommy O'Brien cast a shadow ahead of Ireland's Nations Championship opener against Australia on July 4.
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Munster release Grand Slam winners Butler and Gibbons alongside Patterson and Smith
Munster have confirmed the departures of four senior backs, including Ireland U20 Six Nations Grand Slam winners Tony Butler and Fionn Gibbons, plus scrum-half Paddy Patterson and Ireland 7s winger Andrew Smith.
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Baxter refuses to confirm reports of Tom Hooper contract extension ahead of Prem final
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter declined to address reports that Wallabies flanker Tom Hooper has signed a one-year extension to remain at Sandy Park until 2028, calling the matter 'not commentable' days before Saturday's Gallagher Premiership final against Northampton Saints.
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Farrell hands Ireland debuts to Connacht trio as Lions stars rest before tour
Andy Farrell has named a 36-man Ireland squad for the Nations Championship summer tour, handing potential Test debuts to uncapped Connacht players Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen while 12 Lions await their first summer break in two years.
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Munster close in on Harrison and Brookes as McMillan reshapes squad for next season
Munster are set to sign Australian fly-half Will Harrison and Irish-qualified former England tighthead Kieran Brookes, bringing their summer recruitment to four new arrivals ahead of the 2025-26 United Rugby Championship campaign.
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Matfield warns Leinster: Fail to extend Nienaber and he returns to Springboks for World Cup
Springbok legend Victor Matfield has cautioned Leinster that a failure to extend Jacques Nienaber's contract will see the World Cup-winning coach reunite with Rassie Erasmus ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
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Cullen bids farewell to Lowe and Ioane as Leinster brace for URC Grand Final exodus
Leo Cullen has spoken candidly about the wave of departures from Leinster, including James Lowe, Rieko Ioane and Luke McGrath, insisting the club's 'grow your own' model will sustain them beyond Friday's URC Grand Final against the Bulls.
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Ospreys sign Waratahs fly-half Lawson Creighton as Australian recruitment drive reaches four
The Ospreys have confirmed Lawson Creighton as their fourth signing ahead of the 2026-27 season, with the NSW Waratahs fly-half joining as cover for Wales international Dan Edwards.
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Doris and Sheehan pass fit as Leinster name Lowe for farewell URC final
Caelan Doris has been cleared to captain Leinster in Friday's URC final against the Bulls at Croke Park, with Dan Sheehan also recovering in time. James Lowe starts on the left wing in his final appearance for the province.
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Harlequins confirm Long and Turner-Hall in coaching overhaul ahead of 2026/27 season
Harlequins have appointed former England centre Jordan Turner-Hall as defence and transition coach and rugby league great Sean Long in a full-time skills role, continuing a significant coaching rebuild under Jason Gilmore for the 2026/27 campaign.
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