PRO14

Friend wants it all for ambitious Connacht 

Andy Friend does not want to choose between a tilt at the Guinness PRO14 title and a run to the Challenge Cup final in Newcastle in May.

Ulster rise but injury toll mounts for McFarland ahead of Leinster clash 

Ulster spluttered somewhat in leapfrogging over Benetton in the chase for a Guinness PRO14 knock-out spot.

Bleyendaal and Farrell make bench press for European spots 

The scoreline flattered Munster in the end but coach Johann van Graan knows this wasn’t a bad test as they prepare for their Champions Cup quarter-final showdown with Edinburgh next...

Dogged Ulster dethrone Kings 

Ulster leapfrogged over Benetton into Conference B second place as their PRO14 play-off hopes continued with a ragged five-try victory.

Sloppy Reds rally to outmuscle Zebre 

Munster had to dig deep to stave off a shock loss to Zebre at Thomond Park. Zebre were well worth their 12-5 interval lead against a misfiring Munster side who struggled to get into the game and were guilty of basic errors against a side they had beaten in all 13 previous encounters.

Ulster warm up for Leinster with a five-try victory over the Southern Kings 

Marcell Coetzee marked his comeback for Ulster with one of their five tries in a 33-19 Guinness PRO14 win over the Southern Kings.

Carty becomes top scorer in priceless Connacht win 

Jack Carty marked his return to the Sportsground after his Irish breakthrough by becoming the province's top scorer.

Edinburgh boost play-off prospects as pack prove too powerful for second-string Leinster 

Edinburgh improved their chances of reaching the Pro14 play-offs by achieving a bonus point win in Conference B over what was effectively a...

Jack Carty reaches milestone as Connacht see off Benetton 

Jack Carty marked his return to the Sportsground after his Irish breakthrough by becoming the province’s top scorer.

Leinster suffer Pro14 defeat against Edinburgh in Murrayfield 

Edinburgh remain in the running for a Guinness PRO14 play-off spot after posting a comfortable 28-11 win over defending champions Leinster at BT Murrayfield.

Marcell Coetzee starts as Ulster make five changes for visit of Southern Kings 

Marcell Coetzee has been named in Ulster's starting XV to host Southern Kings at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm).

CJ Stander returns to captain Munster for Zebre clash 

CJ Stander will captain Munster tomorrow when they entertain Zebre at Thomond Park tomorrow night (kick-off 7.45).

Leavy and McGrath get chance to prove fitness for Ulster clash 

Already safely top of Conference B with four rounds to play, Leo Cullen and Leinster head to the Scottish capital in a kind of limbo.

Rúaidhrí O'Connor: 'Connacht begin four-step plan to book place in play-offs' 

The two surprise packages of the Guinness PRO14 season begin their final assault on the play-offs and qualification for next year's Champions Cup at...

'All the Welsh regions are on their knees' - Bernard Jackman on the collpase of the Scarlets-Ospreys merger 

Bernard Jackman has claimed all four Welsh regions are “on their knees” following the collapse of...

'Project Reset has become Project Inept' - Ospreys chairman resigns amid proposed merger with the Scarlets 

The Ospreys have announced that the region's chairman Mike James has resigned, citing the...

Friend gives thanks for Godwin 

Andy Friend praised the impact of Kyle Godwin as his stand-in out-half tamed a blustery Sportsground with a perfect kicking and playmaking performance.

Van Graan laments loss after Kleyn try ruled out 

Johann van Graan insisted Munster remain in fine fettle despite being toppled from the top of Conference A following a defeat in the rain in Llanelli.

Cooney keeps play-off hopes alive 

Ulster defied losing three men to yellow cards to record what could prove to be a crucial bonus-point win over the Dragons in Newport.

Controversial TMO call goes against Munster as van Graan's men lose top spot after loss to Scarlets 

A defiant defensive performance earned Scarlets a Guinness Pro14 victory over Munster in terrible conditions at Parc y Scarlets.

Rampant Connacht crush Ospreys to move back into PRO 14 top three 

Connacht put the ill-disciplined Ospreys to the sword in a six-try 46-5 win at the Sportsground which keeps them in the hunt for the Guinness PRO14 play-offs and Champions Cup qualification.

Deegan stars as Leinster limp into semis with mediocre showing 

Leinster limped their way to the PRO14 semi-finals with a routine win at the RDS last night.

Leinster secure Pro14 top spot and home semi final with victory over the Cheetahs at the RDS 

Leinster clinched top spot in Guinness PRO14 Conference B and a home semi-final with a 19-7 victory over the Toyota Cheetahs at a rain-hit RDS.

Munster boss Johann van Graan makes seven changes for the trip to the Scarlets 

Johann van Graan has made seven changes from the team that defeated the Ospreys last week for the trip to Parc y Scarlets tomorrow (kick-off 5pm).

John Cooney and Jordi Murphy to start for Ulster against Dragons after being released by Joe Schmidt 

John Cooney and Jordi Murphy have both been released by Ireland to start for Ulster in this weekend's PRO14 match at Dragons.

International second row partnership of Ultan Dillane and Quinn Roux start for Connacht against the Ospreys 

Quinn Roux and Ultan Dillane, the second row partnership that performed well for Ireland against Italy last Sunday, have been named to start for...

Ruddock returns to action to lead Leinster 

Injury deprived him of an opportunity to stake an Ireland claim last week, but Rhys Ruddock returns to the Leinster side as captain for tonight's Guinness PRO14 clash with the Cheetahs at the RDS.

Rhys Ruddock returns from injury to captain Leinster against the Cheetahs 

Ireland international Rhys Ruddock has shaken off a hamstring injury to be named in Leo Cullen's starting XV for tomorrow evening clash with the Cheetahs at the RDS.

Herring hat-trick the highlight of Ulster's thumping win over Zebre 

Ulster made it back-to-back Guinness PRO14 wins with a 54-7 drubbing of Zebre, with Rob Herring scoring a hat-trick of tries in the eight-try romp.

Late surge from Leinster increases their grip at top of table 

Leinster were patchy enough in heaping another five points on top of their bountiful haul to go 27 points clear in Conference B. 

Man of the match performance from Tadgh Beirne earns hard-fought win for Munster in Swansea 

Tadgh Beirne gave Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt a timely nudge with a superb man-of-the-match performance as Munster beat the Ospreys in...

Slugglish Connacht hit for six in Scotstoun on miserable night for province 

Connacht’s hopes of gaining ground on Glasgow Warriors in Conference A of the Guinness Pro14 were shattered by a Scotstoun side that played...

Watch: Cheetahs player Nico Lee banned for 13 week for 'clearing the contents of his nose into the face' of Connacht flanker 

Cheetah's centre Nico Lee has been banned for 13 weeks after breaching Law 9.27 – A player...

Carty won't let Ireland down - Friend 

It's safe to assume that the next time Jack Carty laces up his boots for Connacht he'll become the province's leading points scorer of all time, but it was his game management that caught Andy Friend's eye as they claimed a vital conference win over Cheetahs.

Carty steers Connacht home 

Jarrad Butler's late try secured a precious win for Connacht against play-off rivals Cheetahs as the Jack Carty-inspired home side fought hard to secure the points.

Stand-ins stretch Leinster's lead 

Leinster started and finished in style in Viadana to extend their lead at the top of Conference B to 21 points, but in between an understrength side were pushed all the way by Zebre.

Kieran Marmion makes long-awaited return as Connacht overcome dogged Cheetahs 

Ireland scrum half Kieran Marmion made a timely return following ankle surgery as Connacht saw off the Cheetahs 25-17 in an entertaining Guinness...

Leinster survive Zebre comeback to extend lead at the top 

Leinster survived a fightback by Zebre to extend their lead at the top of Conference B in the Guinness PRO14 with a 40-24 bonus-point win in Italy.

Farrell injury mars Munster win 

Munster cruised to a bonus-point win over Southern Kings at Irish Independent Park, but a knee injury for Chris Farrell is the biggest concern.

Henderson makes promising return for Ulster men in lacklustre Ospreys victory 

Iain Henderson gave Joe Schmidt a welcome selection headache as the Ireland lock played the full 80 minutes in Ulster's victory over the Ospreys.

Fears over Chris Farrell's knee as injury mars Munster's thumping win over the Kings 

Munster cruised to a bonus-point win over Southern Kings at Irish Independent Park, but a knee injury for Chris Farrell is the biggest concern.

Stuart McCloskey scores crucial try on his 100th Ulster appearance as they edge out the Ospreys 

Stuart McCloskey was the hero on his 100th Ulster cap as the province edged out Ospreys 8-0 in an attritional game at Brewery Field.

Fergus McFadden in line for Leinster return as Ringrose and Leavy continue injury recovery 

Leinster wing Fergus McFadden is set to return from injury against Zebre in the Guinness PRO 14 this weekend after recovering from a torn hamstring.

Leinster stars struggle for form but Munster star stakes unlikely Ireland claim in the muck and rain 

It is usually one of the quietest weekends in the rugby calendar when Ireland’s big guns are unlocked and unloaded after heavy European...

Van Graan praises youngsters after Munster grind out victory 

Johann van Graan and Tyler Bleyendaal both praised Munster's young players after they ground out a narrow victory over the Dragons.

Friend says Blues loss must be 'line in sand' 

Andy Friend questioned the performance levels of some of his players as Connacht fell to a disappointing defeat against the Cardiff Blues in Wales.

Kleyn gets Munster over line 

Munster survived a huge scare to return to the top of Conference A of the Guinness PRO14 following victory over the Dragons at a rain-lashed Rodney Parade.

Connacht fall short in Cardiff 

Connacht had to make do with a losing bonus point as they slipped to a narrow defeat in Wales.

Connacht fall short in Cardiff as Blues hang on to reduce gap in race for European Cup spots to two points 

Cardiff Blues picked up an important victory in their quest to qualify for next season's European Cup by defeating Connacht 8-7 at the Arms Park.

Munster slay Dragons in low key battle at Rodney Parade to return to top spot 

Munster returned to the Guinness PRO14 Conference A summit ahead of Glasgow Warriors as they beat the Dragons 8-7 in a low-key clash at Rodney...

Connacht's depth to be tested against dangerous Cardiff 

Whatever about the other three provinces, it's boom time for Connacht too.