URC 2025/26 - Round 17

[irisht]

Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Michael Ala’alatoa; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, Seán O’Brien, Alex Kendellen.

Unavailable for selection this week:

Michael Milne (calf)
Oli Jager (head)
Tadhg Beirne (knee)
Jean Kleyn (bicep)
Tom Farrell (shoulder)
Calvin Nash (hamstring)
Jack Crowley (leg)

 

[irisht]

Ulster Rugby v DHL Stormers, Friday 8th May 2026, Round 17, BKT United Rugby Championship, Affidea Stadium (Live on Premier Sports and​

(Player appearances in brackets)

1. Angus Bell (14)
2. James McCormick (18)
3. Tom O’Toole (140)
4. Iain Henderson (Capt) (177)
5. Charlie Irvine (12)
6. Cormac Izuchukwu (52)
7. Nick Timoney (181)
8. Juarno Augustus (15)
9. Nathan Doak (107)
10. Jack Murphy (32)
11. Zac Ward (27)
12. Jude Postlethwaite (45)
13. Ethan McIlroy (75)
14. Werner Kok (32)
15. Michael Lowry (133)

Replacements:

1. Tom Stewart (73)
2. Eric O’Sullivan (136)
3. Scott Wilson (54)
4. Harry Sheridan (59)
5. Bryn Ward (17)
6. Conor McKee (21)
7. Jake Flannery (38)
8. Wilhelm De Klerk (2)

 

[AlRums]

Glasgow Warriors team to face Cardiff at Scotstoun, Friday 8 May, kick-off 7.45pm.

1 Jamie Bhatti (134)
2 Johnny Matthews (106)
3 Zander Fagerson (173)
4 Ally Miller (45)
5 Alex Samuel (54)
6 Matt Fagerson (138)
7 Rory Darge (77)
8 Jack Dempsey (67)

9 George Horne (153)
10 Dan Lancaster (19)
11 Kyle Rowe (50)
12 Sione Tuipulotu (84)
13 Stafford McDowall (114)
14 Kyle Steyn (C) (106)
15 Josh McKay (78)

Replacements

16 Gregor Hiddleston (45)
17 Patrick Schickerling (25)
18 Sam Talakai (40)
19 Jare Oguntibeju (21)
20 Macenzzie Duncan (13)
21 Sione Vailanu (41)
22 Ben Afshar (38)
23 Ollie Smith (63)

Unavailable for selection: Gregor Brown (hamstring), Alex Craig (foot), Scott Cummings (calf), Jamie Dobie (shoulder), Adam Hastings (suspension) Charlie Savala (knee), Tavi Tuipulotu (knee), Max Williamson (knee).

 

[Groundhog]

I imagine we are cooked here. Hanrahan had a few stinkers for Connacht against us over the years and will likely return the favor here. Good power in the back 5, but a poor front row and a dodgy bench won't win you much.

 

[big ginger 8]

Lovely pass by Murphy.

 

[AlRums]

For anyone interested Glasgow v Cardiff live on BBC two Wales

You may have to go through the website rather than iplayer

 

[dirty harry]

For anyone interested Glasgow v Cardiff live on BBC two Wales

You may have to go through the website rather than iplayer

Dont bother, its barely a contest...

Great to see Botham back, being his usual waste of time at the breakdown and spilling 2 out wide while being too lazy to keep up with play.

Cardiff have been 10+ down before, and they have better players on the bench than on the pitch in some positions, especially at centre and back row, so may get some points 2nd half...

They look outmatched though!

 

[AlRums]

Late tackle on Fagerson, Cardiff get penalty.

 

[big ginger 8]

Ulster vs Stormers is a fun match.

 

[AlRums]

Come on Ulster, do us a favour.

 

[saulan]

Roos has displayed exactly why Rassie won’t pick him in this match. So far he has cost us a minimum of 10 points in clear and easy scoring points. Just not good enough and stupid stupid play

 

[big ginger 8]

Massive from Doak.

Feels like will be huge for Ulster.

Edit: or not. Sickener.

 

[saulan]

Feels like the correct result, thought it might be with ten minutes to play. Again really emphasizes why Roos shouldn’t be playing for the Springboks. Selfish play and stupid brain farts due to defending his ego cost us a number of times. Despite the tight scrums I think it was a good effort from our front row. Locks were a bit of a liability in open play but lineouts were secure. Suffered from losing Fourie but rest of the loose forwards were ok. Think the core of the backline were good but nothing really innovative or creative coming from our back three is quite a bit of disappointment…

Could’ve done better, but three points from this one isn’t bad, and overall was an entertaining game.

 

[AlRums]

#WeAreWarriors

Warriors just need the win next week to top the table, and prime home advantage.

 

[munstermuffin]

Feels like the correct result, thought it might be with ten minutes to play. Again really emphasizes why Roos shouldn’t be playing for the Springboks. Selfish play and stupid brain farts due to defending his ego cost us a number of times. Despite the tight scrums I think it was a good effort from our front row. Locks were a bit of a liability in open play but lineouts were secure. Suffered from losing Fourie but rest of the loose forwards were ok. Think the core of the backline were good but nothing really innovative or creative coming from our back three is quite a bit of disappointment…

Could’ve done better, but three points from this one isn’t bad, and overall was an entertaining game.

Great result for us but yeah there was a few funny calls. Doak has elevated his game so much it is brilliant to see

 

[AlRums]

Refereeing tonight was **** poor.

 

[Seeker]

We Are Warriors!

 

[AlRums]

One of the jammiest tries of all time.

 

[AlRums]

Good spot on the offside.

Pity that would have been a good try.

 

[AlRums]

Repeat my last comment.

 

[AlRums]

Prendergast gets a raspberry for his acting. Tw@t

 

[jackie d]

Dreadful decision to red card Barron

 

[AlRums]

Wonderful description on rugby pass of an event.

Duhan van der Merwe makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

That Benetton game looks worse and worse, should have walked top spot. If Ulster do us a favour I fancy us for a Glasgow final at least.

Don't really see us winning Cape Town.

 

[Demfad]

A real chance of 4 Irish teams making the 8.
The most consequential result in recent weeks has been Cardiff getting a 5 league pointer against Scarlets when 17 down with 15 to go.
Cardiff would be most of the way out the door otherwise.
I do think Ulster and Connacht have been good enough to deserve top 8.
Leinster may have to win it the hard way.

 

[munstermuffin]

That Benetton game looks worse and worse, should have walked top spot. If Ulster do us a favour I fancy us for a Glasgow final at least.

Don't really see us winning Cape Town.

Ulster look likely to rest majority next week. Looks like they could miss out on top 8 but go all in for Bilbao.
Leinster should win next week but how they approach it will be interesting

 

[Demfad]

That Benetton game looks worse and worse, should have walked top spot. If Ulster do us a favour I fancy us for a Glasgow final at least.

Don't really see us winning Cape Town.

There has been a lot of chopping and changing with the team but poor as it was I guess it was necessary to get the poor display out of the way in Treviso rather than versus Toulon.

Cardiff haven't beaten any big teams this year (bar Leinster during storm satan when Byrne got knocked out and it was Mulder v Gunne in a box kicking contest). I expect Stormers to win which means Leinster will be travelling to Cape Town in a semi or final. I actually fancy them to win that.

All Irish teams will go full bore next weekend. Munster may be exception if they and Lions are safe before their match starts.

 

[dirty harry]

There has been a lot of chopping and changing with the team but poor as it was I guess it was necessary to get the poor display out of the way in Treviso rather than versus Toulon.

Cardiff haven't beaten any big teams this year (bar Leinster during storm satan when Byrne got knocked out and it was Mulder v Gunne in a box kicking contest). I expect Stormers to win which means Leinster will be travelling to Cape Town in a semi or final. I actually fancy them to win that.

All Irish teams will go full bore next weekend. Munster may be exception if they and Lions are safe before their match starts.

This is pretty bang on, Cardiff have 4 seasons straight of good starts and 9th / 10th finishes. Noone seems to understand at Cardiff that tight 5s win games, they just keep shipping them out and replacing them with kids and semi pros...

Connaught deserve to travel to Glasgow to lose in the knockouts.

As a side, odd year for the Irish teams, Ulster have gone backwards, despite an aeful and unlucky last season, as has Munster, Connaught have regrouped but Leinsters dominance has gone. Are we seeing the national team having to manage elder players more to the detriment of the clubs? Is it a bot of a lions hangover?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

This is pretty bang on, Cardiff have 4 seasons straight of good starts and 9th / 10th finishes. Noone seems to understand at Cardiff that tight 5s win games, they just keep shipping them out and replacing them with kids and semi pros...

Connaught deserve to travel to Glasgow to lose in the knockouts.

As a side, odd year for the Irish teams, Ulster have gone backwards, despite an aeful and unlucky last season, as has Munster, Connaught have regrouped but Leinsters dominance has gone. Are we seeing the national team having to manage elder players more to the detriment of the clubs? Is it a bot of a lions hangover?

Ulster have improved massively. Finished 15th last year and they're in the challenge cup final. I think they've found a philosophy they can follow, if they can build on that and learn how to win whilst not firing, I think the improvement under Richie Murphy will be better than anyone would have expected.

Connacht are looking very nice for next season with some good recruitment.

Leinster have been massively frustrating, I think the backup locks have played a massive role in that, Deeny and O'Tierghnach are passengers. Very choppy and changey season with injuries doesn't help but below par in the league. We do look like a team that needs a brute of an important like Hines, Thorn, Fardy have done in the past though as well as a steady back for normal league games. Reiko and Snyman really haven't been the types of imports that Leinster need for dominant success.

Munster are running out of limbs to shoot.

I think the standard of the league has improved at the same time, there's less gimme games, the bottom three are probably the only ones that it requires a monumental **** up from a top side to not beat comfortably.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ulster have improved massively. Finished 15th last year and they're in the challenge cup final. I think they've found a philosophy they can follow, if they can build on that and learn how to win whilst not firing, I think the improvement under Richie Murphy will be better than anyone would have expected.

Connacht are looking very nice for next season with some good recruitment.

Leinster have been massively frustrating, I think the backup locks have played a massive role in that, Deeny and O'Tierghnach are passengers. Very choppy and changey season with injuries doesn't help but below par in the league. We do look like a team that needs a brute of an important like Hines, Thorn, Fardy have done in the past though as well as a steady back for normal league games. Reiko and Snyman really haven't been the types of imports that Leinster need for dominant success.

Munster are running out of limbs to shoot.

I think the standard of the league has improved at the same time, there's less gimme games, the bottom three are probably the only ones that it requires a monumental **** up from a top side to not beat comfortably.

Would agree with all this except to be fair we have had constant injuries since Christmas and just need to regroup. Hopefully alot of the potential coming through shines over next 12 to 18 months. And for all how bad we have been we are still probably favourites to finish 2nd of all Irish provinces.
Now I accept you could argue for others like I think Ulster are set to rest most of team next week and gamble putting all eggs in qualification via Europe for next year. Connacht will be big test next week to see can they back up next week after being superb last night. The emotional come down mixed with being away to Edinburgh who want to send a few off with a win will be testing.
Our game vs Lions will be no gimme either. They are fabulous to watch this year