Irish Rugby

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Ulster forward Nick Timoney says the province are "embracing" the pressure of the United Rugby Championship's tight play-off picture.

Richie Murphy's side face Munster in Thomond Park on Friday night (19.35 BST) with the Irish rivals both in need of points in their efforts to make the all-important top eight.

Ulster go into what is the penultimate round of the URC in 12th place, three points off the play-off spots, with Munster in ninth but level on points with Benetton directly above them.

"We need it to keep our season going and I think their situation is pretty similar," said Timoney.

"It's the business end of the season, if you lose, it's a failure. There's no redemption after this one, if we don't win, we're not making the play-offs.

"That comes with a lot of pressure and a lot of weight, but that's why you play the game, that's why you play for a big club like us. We're embracing it and looking forward to it."

'We still have the players to go and win big games'

Perhaps more important than a place in the play-offs, finishing in the top eight would also bring with it a spot in next season's Champions Cup.

Timoney said it is "massive" for Ulster to be playing in Europe's premier competition, something they have done every year since its formation in 1995.

"It should be the pinnacle games through each season and it's where this club belongs, 100%," he added.

"We've been more talking about performances and getting results, but in the back of my head, and I'm sure everyone else's, is that is absolutely where we want to be next year."

Ulster are able to recall Irish internationals Iain Henderson and Rob Baloucoune for the trip to Limerick with Richie Murphy saying this week his squad might be the strongest it has been since he took over the job in March last year.

Throughout this season key players have missed plenty of games through injury while inexperienced players have had to fill the void.

Timoney, however, does not see that as the reason for the side's inconsistent campaign.

"I don't really like to use that as an excuse because when you look at our squad we still have the players to go and win big games," he said.

"At times this year we've had injury problems, but I'd be reluctant to use that as too much of an excuse because if you have that mindset you're giving yourself an out.

"We've no excuses really and we're certainly not taking any into this week."

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British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell said that Ireland skipper Caelan Doris is "devastated" to miss out on selection for the tour to Australia because of injury.

Doris, who was also regarded a strong contender for the Lions captaincy, suffered a shoulder injury in Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton last weekend and has undergone surgery.

Farrell said that he had spoken to Doris, adding that the flanker "would have definitely been in the mix being such an experienced player and leader".

"It's devastating for people like that but there's always a constant in every single tour [that injured players miss out]," said the Lions coach, who named Doris as Ireland skipper for the first time during the 2024 Six Nations and handed him the captaincy on a permanent basis last October.

"Sport can be cruel sometimes. Caelan will be back bigger and stronger."

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Ulster centre Jude Postlethwaite says it is "so important" that Ulster are playing Champions Cup rugby next season.

The 1999 European Cup winners have played in every edition of the competition since its launch in 1995 but are in danger of missing out for 2025-26.

Richie Murphy's side are 12th in the United Rugby Championship with two games remaining and only the top eight will qualify.

They will face Munster at Thomond Park on Friday with their fellow province also in need of a result to boost their own play-off push.

"It's so important, that's where we want to be," said Postlethwaite of Champions Cup qualification.

"That's where we've been the last number of years.

"I just think it's important for the whole club and community that we're playing in Europe."

After Munster, Ulster will finish their regular season with a trip to Edinburgh on 16 May.

"These last two games are very important," Postlethwaite added.

"We're all very motivated to play our style of rugby and we feel like we're going to back that and hopefully get two big performances to finish the season.

"Interpros are always so physical and they're going to be up for it. We're really looking forward to it and hopefully we put in a performance."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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British and Irish Lions legend Willie John McBride feels the summer's tour of Australia will be "tougher than people expect".

Coach Andy Farrell will name his squad for the tour of Australia later on Thursday with England's Maro Itoje expected to be named as captain.

After slipping down the world rankings, Australia have improved under Joe Schmidt ahead of the three Test matches with the Lions.

"It's not an easy one," said McBride, who captained the Lions' famous 'invincibles' tour of South Africa in 1974.

"Joe Schmidt is there and he has been rebuilding the Australian team."

McBride added that the Lions will travel Down Under as "favourites", but that tag does not have any value unless it is backed up on the pitch.

The five-time Lions tourist added that Farrell "has done a superb job" with Ireland and backed him to replicate that in Australia.

"To go to the other side of the world and sort out a team is quite a job in the short distance that they have," the 84-year-old said.

"Andy Farrell has done a superb job for Ireland. He has done it with his feet on the ground and done it calmly.

"He has built up a terrific squad and I think he will do the same thing for the Lions."

McBride feels that Farrell, who has won two Six Nations titles with Ireland, is a strong "figurehead" to lead the tour.

"He has a good eye for the game and I think he'll develop this team," McBride added.

"He has had time to look at what players he has and see what type of game he wants to play.

"He has a good coaching team as well. Along with the captain and the rest of the coaches, he pulls it all together."

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Munster forward Dave Kilcoyne has confirmed he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season.

The 36-year-old won 56 caps from Ireland and helped them to the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023.

Kilcoyne is one of only 15 players to have made over 200 appearances for Munster, but he has struggled with injuries over the last two years and played his final match for the Irish province against Ulster in December 2024.

"Growing up living in Limerick, my dream was always to play for Munster and Ireland," Kilcoyne said.

"To have done so for so long has been a dream come true.

"The last two years haven't gone as planned with surgeries to my shoulder and Achilles. In a way, it's easier that the decision to play on has been taken away from me.

"I take great pride in knowing that I always gave everything I had and left nothing on the pitch. It's almost a fitting way for me to finish up."

Kilcoyne represented Ireland at the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups as well as winning the United Rugby Championship with Munster in 2023.

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Ulster captain Iain Henderson has returned to training before Friday's crucial United Rugby Championship game against Munster at Thomond Park.

The experienced second row has been out of action with a hamstring issue since Ireland's Six Nations win over England on 1 February.

Sean Reffell, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume and Eric O'Sullivan have also resumed training and will be "monitored throughout the week", Ulster said in a squad update.

Michael Lowry (concussion and neck injury) and Stewart Moore (concussion) are fit after being injured in the URC loss to Leinster on 19 April, while prop Tom O'Toole is available again after missing the defeat by the Sharks because of a family bereavement.

Jake Flannery (knee), John Cooney (ankle), Ben Carson (back), Ethan McIlroy (knee), and Ben Moxham (knee) are still sidelined for the game (19:35 BST).

Ulster are 12th and three points off the top eight as they chase a spot in the end-of-season play-offs and next season's Champions Cup.

After facing ninth-placed Munster in Limerick on Friday, Richie Murphy's side travel to Edinburgh on 16 May.

On Monday, Munster welcomed a large group of players back to training, including recently retired Ireland internationals Conor Murray and Peter O'Mahony.

Tom Ahern, Stephen Archer, Liam Coombes, John Hodnett, Oli Jager and Josh Wycherley are also available for interim boss Ian Costello.

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Ireland wing Mack Hansen will miss Connacht's final two United Rugby Championship games because of an ankle injury.

In a squad update issued on Tuesday, Connacht ruled out the Australia-born 27-year-old for "approximately five weeks".

Hansen is hoping to be included in Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions squad when it is unveiled on Thursday.

He has scored 12 tries in 28 caps for Ireland since being handed his debut by Farrell in February 2022.

If selected, Hansen should have recovered in time for the Lions' pre-tour game against Argentina in Dublin on 20 June.

Another Lions hopeful in Bundee Aki is available again after missing Connacht's URC games in South Africa against the Stormers and Lions with a heel problem.

On Monday, Ireland captain Caelan Doris' Lions hopes were hit as Leinster announced he needs a shoulder operation.

Connacht host Edinburgh in the URC on Saturday evening (19:35 BST). Interim boss Cullie Tucker's side are 14th and have only slim hopes of reaching the end-of-season play-offs.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

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Ireland forward Dorothy Wall has been ruled out of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup with an Achilles tendon injury.

Wall, 24, sustained the injury during Ireland's final Women's Six Nations game against Scotland last weekend and will undergo surgery in Dublin on Wednesday.

The Exeter Chiefs player, who can play as a lock or flanker, was forced off early in Ireland's 26-19 loss.

"I'm devastated to be missing the next couple of months, but my main focus now is on my rehab programme and I'm looking forward to ing the team in the Rugby World Cup," said Wall.

Former sevens player Wall has won 37 caps for the Ireland XVs since making her debut in 2020 and started four of Ireland's five Six Nations games this year.

Her injury is another significant blow for Ireland after back row Erin King was ruled out of the tournament with a serious knee injury earlier this month.

The 2025 World Cup takes place in England between 22 August and 27 September.

Ireland, who finished third in the Six Nations, will face Japan, Spain and New Zealand in the pool stage.

Scott Bemand's side will face Japan in their opening fixture on 24 August before games against Spain and New Zealand on 31 August and 7 September.

Before that, Ireland will have warm-up matches against Scotland in Cork on 2 August and Canada in Belfast on 9 August.

Ireland did not qualify for the 2021 World Cup and finished eighth when they hosted the tournament in 2017.

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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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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy praised the "effort and commitment" of his side despite the latest blow to their United Rugby Championship play-off hopes.

The province were beaten 22-19 by the Sharks at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday despite leading 19-0 after half an hour.

The result leaves the side 12th in the URC with two games remaining, three points off the all-important top eight who will advance to the play-offs and secure Champions Cup rugby next season.

"You're probably looking at 47 points getting through into the top eight so we go away to Munster and away to Edinburgh to finish and we'll be fighting all the way to the end until there's nothing left to play for," said Murphy whose side have taken 38 points from 16 games.

"I think we've shown that over the last number of weeks, there's been great commitment out of the lads.

"We've put some really good rugby together at times."

The reverse against the Sharks, who featured eight World Cup winners in their side even with captain Eben Etzebeth ruled out through illness, was Ulster's third in a row in all competitions.

Despite some spirited performances, Ulster have also lost to Bordeaux-Begles and Leinster during the run and Murphy said there could be no question that playing for the side "really means something" to his squad.

"The effort and the commitment and the heart that the lads are showing in relation to playing for Ulster Rugby, it really means something to this group," he added.

"That was questioned a number of months ago, but I would find that hard to question now.

"I never questioned it myself but for people looking in, they must see a group of players who are working really hard and are completely committed to getting Ulster Rugby back to where we want to be which is in the top eight."