Leinster

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The quarter-finals of the 2024-25 United Rugby Championship season have yet to be played, but already the fixtures for the 2025-26 campaign have been released.

The Irish provinces learnt their URC schedule for the new term on Wednesday.

The opening round of fixtures will take place on the final weekend of September, with eight-time league winners Leinster taking on DHL Stormers on the opening evening of games on Friday 26 September.

Ulster will host the Dragons on the same day, with Munster travelling to play the Scarlets on Saturday 27 September and Connacht at home to Benetton on the same day.

The second round of matches will include Edinburgh v Ulster on Friday 3 October and Bulls v Leinster, Munster v Cardiff and Connacht v Scarlets on Saturday 4 October.

The festive derby games will see Leinster face Ulster on the run-up to Christmas on Friday 19 December, then on Saturday 27 December Connacht are at home to Ulster and Munster host Leinster.

On Friday 2 January, Ulster face Munster, while Leinster are at home to Connacht the next day.

The competition will follow the same format as recent years, with the top eight teams contesting the quarter-finals on the final weekend of May, followed by semi-finals on Saturday 6 June and the final on Saturday 20 June.

You can view a full list of the fixtures here, external.

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Concerns over the fitness of Leinster second row RG Snyman before Saturday's Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton at the Aviva Stadium have been allayed.

A squad update issued by the Irish province on Monday indicated that the former Munster forward has returned to full training.

Ireland lock James Ryan, who has not played since the Six Nations, remains a major doubt however as he continues his recovery from a calf injury.

Leinster say they will "look to increase his training load this week as he continues his recovery from injury and will be further assessed as the week goes on".

Snyman was introduced as a replacement in the URC win over Ulster nine days ago but was replaced midway through the first half.

At the time Leinster indicated that he had sustained a dead leg and he subsequently missed his side's weekend defeat by the Scarlets.

"RG Snyman has returned to full training having recovered from injury," Leinster confirmed.

Back Rob Russell will be assessed during the week as he steps up his recovery.

Forward Ryan Baird came through the game at the weekend with no issues after his return from injury, but Will Connors suffered an arm injury against Scarlets and has been ruled out of the meeting with the English Premiership side.

Second row Brian Deeny, meanwhile, has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing a procedure on a knee injury.

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United Rugby Championship: Leinster v Ulster

Date: Saturday 19 April Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Kick-off: 19:35 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Foyle and the BBC Sport website and app from 19:30; also live text commentary on the BBC Sport website

Ireland second row Joe McCarthy says he believes Ulster "always raise their game" when they face Leinster as the sides prepare to lock horns again at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.

Leinster are heavy favourites for the interprovincial derby and head into the match off the back of a 52-0 win over Glasgow Warriors in the Investec Champions Cup.

Leo Cullen's side lead the United Rugby Championship with 13 wins from 14 matches, while Ulster sit sixth after a recent resurgence in form.

"An interpro like this is great. I always find Ulster really raise their game against us and they will be looking to turn us over.

"We are not short of motivation for this game. We want to put on a performance for the fans and beat Ulster."

Leinster have momentum behind them and Saturday's quarter-final win over Glasgow in the Investec Champions Cup put their aggregate score over their last two-and-a-half European matches to 142-0.

McCarthy says the province's recent defensive record is "class" and Leinster plan to "attack teams with our defence".

"It feels really good that we have a bit of momentum with us, the pleasing thing is the lads are really hungry to get back to training," said the Ireland international.

"We want to rip into that and keep the momentum going. That's the good thing about the group, still hungry to improve.

"There will be no complacency here. We know we will have harder challenges ahead and we will have to be better, teams figure you out a bit more, so you have to be focused on improving."

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United Rugby Championship: Leinster v Ulster

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 19 April Kick-off: 19:35 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Sport website and app from 19:30; also live text commentary on the BBC Sport website

Fit-again Cormac Izuchukwu and Jude Postlethwaite have been named to start for Ulster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against Leinster in Dublin.

Ireland forward Izuchukwu has been out since February with an ankle injury while Postlethwaite has been sidelined since March.

Izuchukwu replaces Kieran Treadwell in the second row and Postlethwaite returns to partner Stuart McCloskey in midfield after James Hume was ruled out earlier this week because of a back injury.

The only other change from Ulster's Investec Champions Cup last-16 loss to Bordeaux on 6 April sees Nathan Doak recalled at scrum-half, with John Cooney dropping to the bench.

As expected, Leinster have made a raft of changes after thrashing Glasgow Warriors 52-0 in last week's Champions Cup quarter-finals, with only wing Tommy O'Brien, centre Garry Ringrose and lock Joe McCarthy retained.

Caelan Doris, James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park are among those rested by Leinster boss Leo Cullen.

However, Ireland internationals Dan Sheehan, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong and Sam Prendergast, and South Africa's RG Snyman, are all named on the bench.

A three-match winning run in March moved Ulster up to the play-off positions in sixth spot as they defeated Scarlets, Dragons and Stormers, with the latter 38-34 win coming after the Irish province trailed 17-0 early on.

However, it remains a congested table with 13th-placed Connacht only four points behind Ulster.

Leinster have an eight-point cushion over nearest challengers Glasgow Warriors at the top of the URC table going into the weekend's action, having won 13 of their 14 fixtures to date.

Line-ups

Leinster: Osborne; T O'Brien, Ringrose, Henshaw, J O'Brien; Frawley, McGrath (capt); Boyle, G McCarthy, Clarkson; J McCarthy, Mangan; Soroka, Penny, Culhane.

Replacements: Sheehan, Porter, Furlong, Snyman, Deegan, Gunne, Prendergast, Turner.

Ulster: Lowry; Ward, Postlethwaite, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; Warwick, Herring, O'Toole; O'Connor (capt), Izuchukwu; McNabney, Timoney, McCann.

Replacements: Stewart, Reid, Wilson, Dalton, Treadwell, Cooney, Moore, Matty Rea.

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United Rugby Championship: Leinster v Ulster

Date: Saturday 19 April Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Kick-off: 19:35 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Foyle and the BBC Sport website and app from 19:30; also live text commentary on the BBC Sport website

Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber says he is expecting a bit of "spice" in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game with Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.

The URC leaders head into the match in top form after defeating Glasgow Warriors 52-0 in the quarter-finals of the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday.

After a difficult start to the season, Ulster have now won their last three URC matches in a row and have jumped up to sixth place in the table.

"I expect it to be a very hard and physical battle," said Nienaber, who was speaking before the Blues announced New Zealand centre Rieko Ioane would Leinster next season.

"It's an interprovincial and there is a lot of pride and a lot at stake for the players.

"The two teams know each other and their strengths and weaknesses quite well so I expect it to be tight."

Leinster are set to be without injured Ireland trio James Ryan, Jack Conan and Ryan Baird for the game.

Leo Cullen's side have lost once in 20 matches this season in the URC and in Europe.

Their form has been so strong, the aggregate score of their last three European matches is a remarkable 142-0.

When asked if the games weren't competitive enough for Leinster, Nienaber said "it's a tough one to answer".

"The reality is when the opponent is in front of us, we can't change it, it is what it is," said the World Cup winning coach.

"For me making a comment that we aren't getting tested, what is that going to help? It is what it is and that is our mindset. We deal with it as best we can.

"Glasgow and Harlequins were tough, and we gave them a lot of respect as we will give to Ulster because they are quality sides and if you get it wrong they can put you away."

• 142 unanswered points - who can stop Leinster in Europe?

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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New Zealand centre Rieko Ioane will United Rugby Championship and Investec Champions Cup frontrunners Leinster for the 2025-26 season.

Ioane is contracted to the Blues in New Zealand until 2027 but will take a "sabbatical" to the Irish province on a seven-month contract after the November internationals.

The 28-year-old, who can also play on the wing, made his New Zealand debut in 2016 and has scored 37 tries in 81 caps for the All Blacks.

"It's an exciting opportunity to play in Ireland for an iconic team, grow my game and experience something with my family," Ioane posted on his Instagram.

"Will be back refreshed and ready to rock in the second half of 2026."

Ioane is the latest All Black to make the move to Leinster after Jordie Barrett ed the Dublin-based side for the current season.

Barrett has made a big impact at Leinster and was named player of the match as Leinster hammered Glasgow Warriors last weekend to reach the Champions Cup semi-finals.

"Rieko is a world-class, 81-cap All Black who has been operating at the very top level of the international game and Super Rugby for many seasons," said head coach Leo Cullen.

"He is an exciting, versatile outside back who will bring pace, rugby skills and experience to Leinster.

"That experience will add massive value to the group here and our younger players especially will learn so much from seeing how Rieko prepares, trains and plays."

The Blues confirmed the deal just one day after the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) announced the four Irish provinces will have to contribute 40% to Ireland's national player contracts from August 2026 - as opposed to 30%.

Leinster have by far the biggest number of nationally contracted players and will be the most financially affected by the decision.

Ioane has been an unpopular figure in Irish rugby after a high-profile spat with Leinster and Ireland legend Johnny Sexton.

In his autobiography, Sexton alleged that Ioane ignited a row between the pair by making comments after the final whistle of Ireland's 2023 World Cup exit to the All Blacks, which was the last game of Sexton's career.

When New Zealand beat Ireland in November, Ioane posted 'Put that in the book' on Instagram in reference to Sexton's comments.

• Ioane's move a reminder of Leinster's unrivalled pull

• 142 unanswered points - who can stop Leinster in Europe?

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Centre James Hume will miss Ulster's United Rugby Championship contest against leaders Leinster in Dublin on Saturday (19:35 BST) because of a back injury.

Hume sustained the injury in the Investec Champions Cup last-16 defeat by Bordeaux nine days ago.

He s Iain Henderson (hamstring), Jake Flannery (knee), Ethan McIlroy (knee), Rob Baloucoune (hamstring), Ben Carson (neck), Ben Moxham (knee), Eric O'Sullivan (knee) and Sean Reffell (calf) on Ulster's injury list.

On the plus side for Richie Murphy's squad, Cormac Izuchukwu (ankle), Werner Kok (hamstring) and Jude Postlethwaite have all recovered from recent injuries and will be available for the Aviva Stadium game.

A three-match winning run in March moved Ulster up to the play-off positions in sixth spot as they defeated Scarlets, Dragons and Stormers, with the latter 38-34 win coming after the Irish province trailed 17-0 early on.

However, it remains a congested table with 13th-placed Connacht only four points behind Ulster.