Irish Rugby

Image source, Inpho

Ireland scrum coach Denis Fogarty insists a home Women's Six Nations game at the Aviva Stadium "is not a once-off" as they get ready for Sunday's final game of this year's competition against Scotland [14:30 BST].

Over 30,000 tickets have been sold for what will be a special occasion for women's rugby in Ireland, but Fogarty stressed the importance of delivering a performance befitting of the occasion.

Former Munster hooker Fogarty is now into his fourth Six Nations campaign with the squad and feels it has been "quite a journey" to get to where they are now.

"This is what they've been working towards over the last couple of years and pleasing to see the numbers that are in now for Sunday," Fogarty said.

"It's exactly what the girls deserve, so it's all about making sure we put a performance out there.

"You've got to enjoy this occasion as this is what we've been looking towards, playing in front of a crowd like that at the Aviva in a stand-alone game, but we have talked about the performance and that's what matters to us."

Ireland go into the game with two wins from their four outings so far and a win on Sunday will secure third place.

Their two victories, against Italy and Wales, have come at home, so the ambition is to complete a clean sweep of their home fixtures.

Last week, they ran out 33-12 winners over Wales at Belfast's Affidea Stadium, but Fogarty feels there is room for improvement against the Scots who won last year's meeting between the teams.

"They've upset us a few times, so not taking them lightly will be one thing [we're guarded against], he added.

"We've looked on areas of the game from last week where Wales upset our speed of ball and made things difficult for us.

"It's about making sure we get that right on the day and focus on what we are able to do in those moments to allow us to play our game."

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Academy player Wilhelm De Klerk and Bryn Ward are two of 10 changes made by Richie Murphy for Friday's final regular season United Rugby Championship match against leaders Glasgow Warriors in Belfast.

Ulster need a positive result to secure a play-off spot and Champions Cup qualification and are bolstered by the return of Rob Herring and James Hume from injury.

However, they are without captain Iain Henderson as they await the outcome of a disciplinary hearing following his red card against Stormers.

It is a huge few weeks for the northern province and they will also be wary of their upcoming Challenge Cup final against Montpellier in Bilbao on 22 May.

Sam Cream starts at loosehead prop with Tom O'Toole, who missed the draw against Stormers through illness, back at tighthead prop alongside Herring.

Harry Sheridan and Charlie Irvine start in the second row with development forward Joe Hopes and academy forward Ward handed starts in the back row.

Nick Timoney retains his position as openside flanker and will captain the side, while Conor McKee starts at scrum-half and Jake Flannery at fly-half.

In the midfield, De Klerk begins as the inside centre for the first time with Hume at outside centre.

After all registering tries against the Stormers, the back row remains unchanged with Zac Ward starting on the left wing, Werner Kok on the right wing and Michael Lowry at full-back.

Tom Stewart, Angus Bell, Scott Wilson, Cormac Izuchukwu and Lorcan McLoughlin the forward replacements, while Nathan Doak, Jack Murphy and Ethan McIlroy are the backline options.

Glasgow have a one-point lead at the top of the URC and ended their three-game run without a win against Cardiff Rugby in their last match.

Ulster: Lowry; Kok; Hume, De Klerk; Z Ward; Flannery, McKee; B Ward, Timoney (capt), Hopes, Irvine, Sheridan, O'Toole; Herring, Crean.

Replacements: Stewart, Bell, Wilson, Izuchukwu, McLoughlin, Doak, Murphy, McIlroy.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland captain Erin King has warned that Scotland can "really turn it on when it matters" as the teams prepare to meet at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

Scott Bemand's Ireland have won two of their four games in the Women's Six Nations so far, against Italy and Wales, and are aiming for their third home victory in their final game against the Scots, who have just one victory from their four fixtures.

But King, who has started all four of Ireland's games, is wary of the threat a wounded Scotland may pose after they beat the Irish 26-19 in last year's tournament.

"You only have to look at the Six Nations last year to see they really turn it on when it matters. They beat us last year and we don't want that to happen again," King told BBC Sport NI.

"It's going to be a great challenge, they have some great backs and physical forwards. The way they play is great, so I think it will be another physical battle that we're looking forward to.

"We want to go into that game all guns blazing. We've tried to get those three home wins so we'd be really happy for that to happen."

The game on Sunday will be the first standalone Women's Six Nations fixture at the Dublin venue and over 28,000 tickets have already been sold for an occasion King is relishing.

"We knew the Aviva game was at the end of the Six Nations. Now it's the one on the weekend, we're all ecstatic and to hear the amount of tickets being sold and buzz around it, it's really exciting," King added.

"The history this stadium holds and the history we're going to make on Sunday has really made us think of the women who have come before us and paved the way for us.

"We're the lucky ones who get to wear the jersey, but it doesn't go unnoticed the work that's gone on before us."

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Ireland winger Beibhinn Parsons said that her side want to end the Women's Six Nations on a high with a third home win of the campaign when they take on Scotland on Sunday.

Scott Bemand's side have beaten Italy in Galway and Wales in Belfast and are aiming for victory over Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in front of what is set to be a record crowd with over 28,000 tickets sold.

Parsons, who has scored three tries in those two wins, wants Ireland to produce a complete performance on Sunday after they failed to hit the heights of the win over Italy in their hard-fought victory against Wales last weekend.

"I don't think it was our best performance. We definitely have some areas we need to improve on," she told BBC Sport NI.

"We talked about having a fast start and I'm not really sure we got that on the weekend, so it's wiped away any complacency that might have built up.

"I think this week we will go into with really sharp minds and know exactly what we want to execute on."

A win would help Ireland finish third in the table again behind England and France, and Parsons believes finishing with a flourish on Sunday would show they are still on an upward trajectory after they were beaten by Scotland in last year's tournament.

"We know we want to be a real contender in the Six Nations, a top two team in the tournament and a top four of the world and that means we have to focus on ourselves and what we want to execute," she added.

"We're targeting a home win."

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Munster have commissioned an independent governance and organisational review after the club decided against bringing in Roger Randle as attack coach last month.

The New Zealander's planned arrival was announced on 15 April but was met by opposition in some quarters after a 1997 rape allegation resurfaced.

The alleged incident occurred in Durban, South Africa, during Randle's playing days with Super Rugby side Hurricanes - a charge that was dropped by the complainant and one he has always denied.

Following his appointment, former players Billy Holland, Killian Keane and Mick O'Driscoll stepped down as independent nominees on the province's Professional Game Committee. There were also resignations from Munster's voluntary Commercial Advisory Group.

Munster then announced on 30 April that the move was off by "mutual agreement" with the province's general manager Ian Costello saying it had been "a difficult conclusion", but that "it became clear that this was the best course of action for Roger, his family and Munster Rugby".

The province announced plans for a review on Tuesday, to "assess the organisation's governance, leadership, culture and communications structures and to provide recommendations back to the board".

The review will be conducted by The Governance Company, an independent consultancy specialising in corporate governance and will be overseen by an external independent chair, who will be "appointed in the coming days".

"It is clear that the past number of weeks have been difficult for staff, players, coaches, supporters, and everyone who cares about Munster Rugby," said CEO Ian Flanagan.

"We recognise the impact that recent events and decisions have had on our stakeholders. This independent review is an important step in ensuring we can learn from past events and strengthen how we can positively operate going forward.

"We look forward to working fully with The Governance Company and independent chair to support an effective review process. The primary and clear objective of this important exercise is the overall wellbeing of Munster Rugby."

Munster are currently sixth in the United Rugby Championship (URC) standings before their final regular-season game against Lions on Saturday, 16 May.

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Leinster's bid for silverware is set to be boosted by the return of several players as the province builds up to the Investec Champions Cup final and United Rugby Championship play-offs.

Ireland loose-head prop Paddy McCarthy has returned to training after a four-month spell on the sidelines with a foot injury.

While 22-year-old McCarthy is not part of the European squad, a decision will be made later this week on his availability for Saturday's URC game against Ospreys.

Jordan Larmour and Tommy O'Brien are available for selection this weekend, while Jack Conan has returned to training after hobbling off in the Champions Cup semi-final win over Toulon on 2 May.

Tadhg Furlong, James Lowe and Alex Usanov are all training, while Josh van der Flier and Robbie Henshaw are continuing to follow graduated return to play protocols.

Lock Brian Deeny is set to be assessed on an injury he sustained in Saturday's bonus-point win over the Lions which virtually assured Leinster of a home URC quarter-final.

Joshua Kenny, who withdrew from the line-up before kick-off, also requires further assessment, while Connacht-bound back row Will Connors is ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up an injury on Saturday.

Leinster host Ospreys on Saturday before travelling to Bilbao for the Champions Cup decider against holders Bordeaux on 23 May.

Image source, BBC Sport NI

Following Ireland's bonus-point 33-12 win over Wales, the Ireland Rugby Social sat down with injured forward Edel McMahon to look back on the impressive display.

Aoife Wafer and Brittany Hogan both registered two tries in Belfast, while Beibhinn Parsons also crossed to secure the crucial win for Scott Bemand's side.

The victory was Ireland's second of this Six Nations campaign and means they remain unbeaten at home.

"I think there was a part in that game that was very messy, particularly that second half, first 12 minutes, between two yellow cards, plenty of knock-ons and disruptions in scrum and line-out, but overall, I think Ireland will be happy," McMahon told the Ireland Rugby Social.

"They're scoring in every 20 minutes of the game, which is something that probably be aiming for.

"They've been a 60-minute performance team and they're trying to go for that 80, so to score every 20 minutes is probably something they'll be happy about."

Throughout the Six Nations, head coach Bemand has talked about the importance of winning all three home matches.

Now, heading into the final game, Ireland have the opportunity to complete this target when they welcome Scotland in front of what is set to be a record crowd at the Aviva Stadium.

"They [Scotland] haven't had the greatest tournament themselves so far. They're a proud nation. They're going to come and they will want to spoil the party next week," Ireland Social co-host Lindsay Peat added.

"I think it's a beautiful stadium, I finally got to play there with in the AIL [All-Ireland League] finals and there's a lovely freedom. If the girls play with that freedom, I think we will finally get to see this, when I say finally they've put in amazing performances, but just an overall fulfilment of what they can do within 80 minutes.

"It would be lovely to see for themselves, because I think they deserve it. So, it'll be interesting to see, but I think it's going to be a very good day and I think they will bring what they need to this party next week."

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

Ireland back row Aoife Wafer said "there is a lot to be proud of" after the side's 33-12 bonus-point win over Wales in Belfast.

Wafer registered a try in each half in the important win and picked up the Player of the Match award after an impressive overall display.

The result means that Wales are without a win in their last nine Six Nations matches, while Ireland have won both their home games this tournament.

"We knew that Wales would come out firing, they obviously put it up to a big English team two weeks ago," Wafer told BBC Sport.

"There was a lot for us to be stopping and fair dues to them, they really put it up to us in the first half and we weren't entirely happy with the first half.

"We spoke about fast starts and we got that in the second half. There is a lot to be proud of today."

Brittany Hogan also scored two tries in the win, with the timing of the back row's first try particularly crucial after the side were awarded a penalty in the closing stages of the first half and opted to play rather than kick the ball out of touch.

The resulting try gave Ireland a 12-point lead at the break with Scott Bemand's outfit able to push on in the second half and extend their advantage.

"This group is one that doesn't breathe out, we keep chasing things," she continued.

"We spoke about being clinical and why bother kicking it out when we can go after something?

"We have the fitness levels to do that and I back this team."

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

United Rugby Championship

Connacht: (19) 26

Tries: B Murphy, Bolton, Hurley-Langton, Jansen Cons: Gilbert (3)

Munster: (0) 7

Tries: Casey Cons: Hanrahan

Connacht boosted their hopes of sneaking into the United Rugby Championship play-offs with a bonus-point 26-7 win over injury-hit Munster at Dexcom Stadium.

The hosts led 19-0 at half-time courtesy of tries from Ben Murphy, Shayne Bolton and Shamus Hurley-Langton.

Sean Jansen added a fourth in the second half to secure the bonus point that moves Connacht a point behind eight-place Ulster, who occupy the final play-off spot.

Clayton McMillan's side, who were missing Jack Crowley, Tadhg Beirne, Tom Farrell, Oli Jager, Jean Kleyn and Calvin Nash for the interpro, drop to sixth after the defeat.

The hosts started well in Galway and were rewarded with the opening try on 12 minutes as Ben Murphy got over to score between the posts and Sam Gilbert added the extras.

Things went from bad to worse for Munster as Diarmuid Barron was shown a yellow card for a tackle on Dylan Tierney-Martin, which was eventually upgraded to a 20-minute red card.

Connacht took advantage of having an extra man as Bolton crossed in the corner for their second try on 20 minutes.

A third arrived five minutes before the break as Hurley-Langton scored after persistent pressure from the home side with Gilbert accurate from the tee.

Munster's hopes of a quick response in the second half were dashed when replacement Alex Kendall's try was chalked off after a television match official [TMO] review spotted that he had lost control of the ball and touched down before the line and then knocked-on.

They did eventually get their first try on 68 minutes with Craig Casey touching down and JJ Hanrahan adding the two points from the tee.

Connacht hit back soon after and claimed a bonus point as Jansen forced his way over.

Stuart Lancaster's side will face a final day trip to Edinburgh on Friday while Munster are at home to Lions on Saturday.

Connacht: Gilbert; Jennings, West, Aki, Bolton; Ioane, B Murphy; Bohan, Tierney-Martin, Illo; D Murray, J Murphy; Prendergast (c), Hurley-Langton, Jansen.

Replacements: de Buitléar, Dooley, Bealham, Joyce, Boyle, Devine, Carty, Naughton.

Munster: Haley; Abrahams, Nankivell, Kelly, Smith; Hanrahan, Casey (c); Loughman, Barron, Ala'Alatoa; Edogbo, Wycherley; Ahern, Hodnett, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Wycherley, Bartley, O'Donoghue, Gleeson, O'Donovan, O'Brien, Kendellen.

Image source, Getty Images

United Rugby Championship, round 17

Leinster (14) 31

Tries: J Osborne, Clarkson, Keenan, J O'Brien Cons: Prendergast 2, Frawley

Lions (7) 7

Try: Horn Con: Smith

Leinster boosted their hopes of securing home advantage in the United Rugby Championship play-offs with a bonus-point victory the Lions at Aviva Stadium.

Jamie Osborne and Thomas Clarkson crossed for the hosts before Lions captain Francke Horn halved the deficit before half-time.

Having soaked up plenty of pressure from the visitors in the third quarter, Leinster stretched the lead through replacement back Hugo Keenan.

Rieko Ioane clinched the bonus-point score before Jimmy O'Brien added gloss to the scoreline in the final minute.

The result ends the Lions' six-game winning run and moves Leinster from fifth to third in the URC table, with the top four after next weekend's final round of regular-season games enjoying home advantage in the play-offs.

The Lions move down to fifth, a point off the Bulls.

After his frontline stars beat Toulon last week to seal a return to the Champions Cup final, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen made 12 changes, with Ireland utility back Osborne making an immediate mark after being drafted in when he chased down his own kick to get the hosts up and running in the second minute.

And after the Lions lost flanker Ruan Venter to injury, Leinster thought they had scored a second try when Prendergast touched down in the corner, but it was ruled out after Jimmy O'Brien strayed offside in the build-up.

The Lions also had a try disallowed for offside with Erich Cronje deemed offside when he challenged Luke McGrath at the ruck before back rower Sibabalwe Mahashe surged clear and produced a superb solo finish.

And while Leinster got their second through prop Thomas Clarkson, Horn darted through a gap in the home defence to leave seven points in it at the interval.

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After Cullen introduced experienced front rowers Andrew Porter, Rabah Slimani and Dan Sheehan, Leinster were pinned back in the early stages of the second half before a momentum-shifting intercept from Diarmuid Mangan.

And having had their patience tested, Leinster finally got their third when Keenan - who replaced Prendergast - sprinted through a tiring Lions defence to score after good work from Jamie Osborne and Ioane.

With the Lions fading, Ioane clinched the bonus score before O'Brien wrapped up proceedings with the home side's fifth try.

Leinster host Ospreys next weekend while the Lions take on Munster.

Leinster: Frawley; A Osborne, Ioane, J Osborne, J O'Brien; Prendergast, McGrath; E Byrne, McKee, Clarkson, Deeny, Ryan (capt), Deegan, Connors, Culhane.

Replacements: Sheehan, Porter, Slimani, Mangan, Penny, Gunne, Cooney, Keenan.

Lions: Q Horn; Cronje, Van Wyk, Kriel, A Davids; Smith, Van den Berg; Kotze, Botha, Ntlabakanye, Oosthuizen, Nothnagel, Mahashe, Venter, F Horn (capt).

Replacements: Marais, E Davids, Lombard, Landsberg, Hlekani, Pretorius, Steyn, Mpeku.

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland hooker Neve Jones accepts that she has "an important role" to play off the bench for Scott Bemand's side in the Six Nations.

The 27-year-old has come off the bench in all three of Ireland's games so far in the campaign and is again amongst the replacements for their home game against Wales at the Affidea Stadium on Saturday [18:30 BST].

It is a change of roles for Jones, who was a regular starter during last year's tournament and the World Cup, but one she is willing to embrace given the competitive nature of the Irish squad.

"It's a different game you play when you come off the bench, you have to bring the energy for the girls that have played 40-50 minutes and it's a important role," she said.

"We're at a point where the competition is so high, any opportunity to pull on a green jersey is very exciting."

After a fallow week, which Jones said was "brilliant" for Ireland, Bemand's side will be looking to bounce back from defeat against France last time out when they host Wales in Belfast.

Jones is hoping that Ireland can build on their previous home win when they thumped Italy 57-20 in Galway.

"You want to play week in, week out, but the fallow week came at a good time. We had three tough games which shows how far the women's game has come these days, all games are really competitive," she added.

"We've played some really good rugby in the first three games, we just need to neaten up. We've missed out on one-two percenters which has been our own doing so we just need to sharpen up on that."

Wales have lost their three games so far in the tournament against Scotland, France and England, but did pick up a losing bonus-point after scoring 26 points against the world champions and Jones is wary of the threat they will pose.

"We're constantly growing as a squad but we know Wales have gone from strength to strength as well.

"They haven't had the results they've wanted, but the rugby they want to play is exciting.

"Sean Lynn has done a great job with them, so bring on Saturday and we'll put on a show I'm sure."