Irish Rugby

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Ulster's Ethan McIlroy feels the United Rugby Championship [URC] is as competitive as it's ever been and "we'll have to be at our best" to get back to winning ways at Zebre on Saturday [19:45 GMT].

Last weekend, Connacht's victory in Belfast saw them remain ninth in the standings, but they are just seven points off third-place Ulster.

With the margins tight, the race for the play-offs looks set to produce some twists and turns over the final five rounds of games and although Ulster take on the bottom-placed side this weekend, McIlroy insists it will not be a straightforward assignment.

"Compared to when I first came in, the league is so competitive," the 25-year-old told BBC Sport NI.

"There's no game you go into where you can expect to win if you're not at your best as every game is so tough.

"The Italians are doing so well internationally and that's filtering down to their club sides, so it will be a tough challenge this week and we'll have to be at our best of we want to get the win."

It is a tough run to the play-offs for Ulster as after this week's trip to Parma and a European Challenge Cup tie against Ospreys, they host Leinster and travel to Munster before finishing up at home against the Stormers and Glasgow, who currently occupy the top two places in the URC.

It will be all hands on deck for Richie Murphy's squad in their bid to compete for silverware but McIlroy feels they have the personnel to finish the season on a high.

"There is no easy game and no break from it, so it will take the larger part of our squad to get through that as there will be knocks," McIlroy added.

"We are still confident in ourselves. We took learnings from the Connacht game and if we take those into the rest of the season, we'll be able to finish strong and compete for the first two spots."

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Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney return for Ulster against Zebre on Saturday (19:45 GMT) with James Humphreys making his first start.

Six Nations Player of the Tournament nominee McCloskey will be partnered by the returning James Hume with Timoney back in at openside flanker as Richie Murphy makes 10 changes to the side that lost to Connacht last week.

McCloskey and Timoney were given last week off following their exploits on the international stage while Hume was absent for Ulster's first home defeat of the season with concussion.

With first-choice fly-half Jack Murphy out with a rib injury and Jake Flannery also unavailable, Murphy has turned to Humphreys who has made one appearance for Ulster this season - coming off the bench in their Challenge Cup defeat to Cardiff in December.

The son of former Ulster fly-half and current IRFU technical director David, the 24-year-old featured four times last season and starts alongside Conor McKee in a new half-backs partnership with Nathan Doak named among the replacements.

There is also a full-back alteration as Ethan McIlroy replaces Mike Lowry.

Werner Kok and Zac Ward start on the wings as the only backs to keep their place in the side from that 26-19 loss.

Experienced prop Eric O'Sullivan comes into the front row with academy product Tom McAllister making his second start for the province either side of Rob Herring in an all-changed front three as Australia international Angus Bell is named on a strong Ulster bench.

Iain Henderson captains the side from the second row and is partnered by Joe Hopes.

David McCann retains his place at blindside flanker, with Timoney replacing Marcus Rea at openside.

Ulster: McIlroy; Kok, Hume, McCloskey, Z Ward; Humphreys, McKee; O'Sullivan, Herring, McAllister; Henderson, Hopes; McCann, B Ward, Timoney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Angus Bell, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, Juarno Augustus, Nathan Doak, Ben Carson Ben Moxham

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Ulster hooker Rob Herring is expecting a "physical battle" when they travel to face Zebre in the United Rugby Championship [URC] on Saturday [19:45 GMT].

The northern province head to Italy off the back of defeat by Connacht last weekend, but sit third in the standings as the URC reaches the final five round of games before the play-offs.

Zebre remain bottom of the table following their defeat by the Scarlets but Herring insists they can take nothing for granted in Parma this week.

"You have to get over those losses pretty quickly as we have a tough game away from home this week," the 35-year-old told BBC Sport NI.

"We probably got a bit lucky on the table with other teams doing us favours, so to come out of it in third is great, but we have a tough run-in starting with this one.

"Their set-piece attack is good and they are a very physical team in defence.

"At home they seem to lift it up another level so it is going to be a physical battle and we have to get that right, especially away from home where we have to bring our own energy."

Herring felt Ulster "just weren't ourselves" in attack against Connacht and says the focus will be on "imposing our game on other teams like we have throughout most of the season".

Those performances throughout the campaign contributed to an increased representation in Ireland's Six Nations squad with seven featuring in the victory over Wales.

The knock-on effect meant there were opportunities for some younger players to make their mark for Ulster and Herring feels that can boost their push for silverware this season.

"In my time here, I don't think we've ever had seven guys in a Six Nations team and I thought all of the Ulster boys played well throughout the tournament," he reflected.

"I think that's coming from the environment we have here and confidence they brought into [Ireland] camp.

"It's probably a new problem for Ulster to have so many, but then it gives young guys the opportunity to step up and show what they've got.

"If you want to be a team competing at the end of the season, that's what you need."

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Ireland duo Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney have returned to training with Ulster ahead of Saturday's United Rugby Championship match against Zebre (19:45 GMT).

Fresh off the back of helping Ireland lift the Triple Crown, neither McCloskey nor Timoney were involved in Richie Murphy's squad that was defeated by Connacht last weekend.

David Shanahan and James Hume, who both missed the 26-19 loss through concussions, are now fit for selection.

Charlie Irvine (lower leg), Sam Crean (knee), Jack Murphy (ribs) and Scott Wilson (shoulder) will continue to have their fitness assessed before the match in Parma.

However, the side will be without Cormac Izuchukwu (concussion), James McNabney (knee), Stewart Moore (knee), Jude Postlethwaite (hand), Robert Baloucoune (elbow), Rory McGuire (shoulder) and Jake Flannery (shoulder).

Ulster sit third in the table and will aim to return to winning ways when they travel to face the side bottom of the URC.

Zebre have lost their past four fixtures and currently have 12 points.

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Fit-again prop Andrew Porter is set to make his return for Leinster in Friday's United Rugby Championship (URC) game against Scarlets (19:45 GMT).

Ireland loose-head Porter has been sidelined with a calf problem since January, which forced him to miss the Six Nations.

Porter, 30, has only played seven times this season - three for Leinster and all four of Ireland's November fixtures - since featuring in the British and Irish Lions' Test series against Australia last summer.

In a squad update on Monday, Leinster also said Ryan Baird is due to return to full training this week after four months out.

Back-five forward Baird suffered a fractured tibia in Ireland's defeat by South Africa in November.

Second row James Ryan is a doubt because of the calf problem that ruled him out of Ireland's Six Nations win over Scotland earlier this month.

South Africa international RG Snyman (unspecified) will also be assessed before head coach Leo Cullen names his team to face Scarlets at Aviva Stadium.

There are no further updates on Jack Boyle, Hugh Cooney, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Diarmuid Mangan and Paddy McCarthy.

Leinster sit fourth in the URC table after last weekend's 38-17 defeat by leaders Glasgow at Scotstoun Stadium.

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said his side lacked a clinical edge in their 26-19 defeat by Connacht in Belfast on Friday.

After a tight first half, the sides went in level at the break before a strong second-half display from the visitors extended their unbeaten run to four games.

The result is Ulster's first defeat of the season at home and ends Connacht's four-game losing run against Murphy's side.

"Connacht played some really nice rugby in the back of the second half when they got some speed into the game," Murphy said after the game.

"We are bitterly disappointed. Defending at the Affidea was something we were really proud of and something that we need to go back to the drawing board with."

A late surge from the home side saw them claim a losing bonus point which sees them move up to second in the URC table, three points behind Glasgow Warriors who face Leinster on Saturday.

Despite missing key players including Stuart McCloskey, Rob Baloucoune, Cormac Izuchukwu and James Hume, Murphy was frustrated that his injury-impacted side couldn't make their chances count.

"We created a few chances that we didn't capitalise on which is disappointing," he continued.

"We weren't clinical enough. Sometimes, these things happen.

"Some bounces of the ball didn't really go our way but at least we got ourselves a point and we will be ready to go to Zebre next week."

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey and Scotland winger Kyle Steyn have been shortlisted for the 2026 Six Nations Player of the championship award.

Tommaso Menoncello of Italy and France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who won last year's award, are also nominated.

After an injury-impacted autumn campaign, McCloskey helped Ireland achieve their fourth Triple Crown in five years and finish second in this year's tournament.

Steyn started all of Scotland's matches, scored three tries and was influential in the side finishing third.

The winner of the award will be determined by a public vote which will close on Thursday, 26 March.

McCloskey registered the joint highest try assist (six) and turnovers won (eight) of the tournament.

He also led Ireland in carries (74), offloads (eight), defenders beaten (20) and post-contact metres (105).

The 33-year-old has also been named in the Six Nations team of the championship alongside Ireland forwards Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris and Jack Conan.

McCloskey plays his club rugby for Ulster, who sit third in the United Rugby Championship [URC] table.

Two of Steyn's three tries came during Scotland's impressive 50-40 victory over eventual Six Nations winners France at Murrayfield.

Steyn is also in the team of the championship with team-mates Finn Russell and Rory Darge.

The 32-year-old has registered 185 points from 103 appearances for Glasgow Warriors and is their first player to be nominated since 2017.

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Jacob Stockdale has been named at outside centre for Ulster's United Rugby Championship game against Connacht at Affidea Stadium as one of several Ireland squad members named in head coach Richie Murphy's matchday squad.

With Stuart McCloskey unavailable after playing a major part in Ireland's Six Nations campaign, and James Hume and Jude Postlethwaite both injured, Stockdale finds himself called into action in midfield as he is handed the number 13 short.

The 29-year-old, more customarily deployed on the wing or occasionally at full-back, will be joined at centre by Ben Carson.

Stockdale's only previous appearance at centre came in Ulster's comprehensive 68-21 win over Zebre in March 2017.

Hooker Tom Stewart and captain Iain Henderson return to the starting team, while tight-head prop Tom O'Toole is named as a replacement.

Nathan Doak returns at scrum-half to partner Jack Murphy, with Michael Lowry at full-back and Werner Kok and Zac Ward on the wings.

Props Angus Bell and Scott Wilson complete the front row, with Joe Hopes partnering Henderson in the second row.

David McCann returns at blind-side flanker, with Marcus Rea coming in instead of Bryn Ward at open-side and Juarno Augustus remaining at number eight.

Ireland wing Robert Baloucoune is a long-term absentee with an elbow problem, while Cormac Izuchukwu, Hume and Dave Shanahan are all missing after sustaining concussions in last week's win over Edinburgh.

Jake Flannery is also injured, while Harry Sheridan is serving a suspension.

For Connacht, Bundee Aki is one of five Ireland squad members who are drafted into the starting XV as head coach Stuart Lancaster makes a total of nine personnel changes to the starting team which began last week's win over Scarlets.

Skipper Cian Prendergast, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray and Billy Bohan come into the side after being involved with Ireland.

Dave Heffernan makes his comeback from injury at hooker.

Ulster sit third in the URC table, with Connacht lying ninth in the standings.

Ulster: Lowry; Kok, Stockdale, Carson, Z Ward; Murphy, Doak; Bell, Stewart, Wilson; Henderson (capt), Hopes; McCann, Rea, Augustus.

Replacements: Herring, Crean, O'Toole, Dalton, B Ward, McKee, Scott, McIlroy.

Connacht: Naughton; Jennings, Forde, Aki, Treacy; Carty, Reilly; Bohan, Heffernan, Bealham; Joyce, D Murray; J Murphy, Prendergast (capt), Jansen.

Replacements: Victory, Dooley, Illo, Murray, Boyle, B Murphy, Ioane, Devine.

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Ulster trio Cormac Izuchukwu, James Hume and Dave Shanahan will miss Friday's game with Connacht after sustaining concussions in the win at Edinburgh, while Harry Sheridan has been banned.

Ireland forward Izuchukwu was forced off for a head injury assessment after being tackled in the air by Edinburgh replacement hooker Harri Morris, who received a red card.

The 26-year-old had just returned from a concussion sustained in training after he made his Six Nations debut in Ireland's win over Italy.

Hume was replaced early in the second half of the win at the Hive, while Shanahan was substituted in the second minute and the trio will follow return to play protocols.

Sheridan was sent off in the 45th minute for a dangerous tackle and has been handed a three-week suspension.

He will miss the URC games with Connacht and Zebre, but could be available for the Challenge Cup quarter-final with Ospreys if he completes a World Rugby coaching intervention programme.

In a bruising victory, which moved Richie Murphy's side up to third in the United Rugby Championship, Ulster will be without centre Jude Postlethwaite and versatile back Jake Flannery for Connacht's visit to Belfast on Friday.

Postlethwaite sustained a hand fracture and will have surgery to stabilise the injury and will be unavailable for "a number of weeks".

Flannery injured his shoulder and is also unavailable for selection, while second row Charlie Irvine will be monitored after a soft tissue injury to his lower leg.

The injuries could potentially leave Ulster short in the second row and at centre for the game with Connacht.

In more positive news, Ireland internationals Tom O'Toole, Tom Stewart, Nathan Doak and Jacob Stockdale are all available for selection after the Six Nations.

However, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Baloucoune and Nick Timoney will be absent after helping Andy Farrell's side win the Triple Crown.