More than novelty at play as Connacht ready themselves for landmark game at MacHale Park
Record crowd expected for Saturday’s URC clash against Munster at home of Mayo GAA
Connacht Rugby
Simon Easterby and John Fogarty set to be confirmed as British & Irish Lions coaches
Ulster snatch late win as Munster, Leinster and Connacht suffer defeats, with Pete Wilkins on sick leave
Second-half resurgence not enough to give Connacht much-needed win over Ospreys
Twelve tries scored during gripping game in Swansea
Connacht look to continue playoff push with tricky trip to face Ospreys
Welsh side enjoyed a morale-boosting win away to Glasgow the last time out
URC team news: Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman in Leinster side for tough Bulls test
Connacht and Ulster also name their sides for the return of league action
What next for the provinces after the Six Nations?
The Counter Ruck Podcast: Will Leinster maintain their buffer at the top? Can Munster maintain their position in the top eight?
URC run-in: The state of play for the Irish provinces as Leinster lead table
Connacht and Ulster need strong final period to make the top eight playoffs
Marist College win first Connacht Senior Cup in 12 years with dramatic win over Sligo
Sligo Grammar School hopes of fourth Senior Cup title in a row were dashed with less than a minute left
Connacht without four Ireland internationals for URC trip to Ospreys
Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Finlay Bealham and Cian Prendergast to be rested for Saturday’s game in Swansea
Munster confirm return of JJ Hanrahan for third stint with province
Hanrahan is the province’s third-highest points scorer with 743 in 142 appearances
Connacht confirm Australian Rod Seib as senior assistant coach
50-year-old arrives from the Brumbies and will have responsibility for the province’s attack
Leinster dominate central contracts with 11 of 14 IRFU deals
Just one Munster player now on a central deal with two from Connacht and none from Ulster
Connacht stick it out against Benetton to take bonus-point win
Westerners fight back from half-time deficit in nine-try thriller
Connacht aim to make home advantage count against Benetton
Pete Wilkins’s team could leapfrog the Italian visitors in the race for the playoffs
Australian A head coach Rod Seib to join Connacht set-up next season
Rod Seib, an attack specialist, will move from the Brumbies to join Pete Wilkins’s coaching staff
Pressure on Connacht to maintain winning form against Benetton
Connacht will hope home advantage will make the difference having lost their last three encounters with Benetton away
Connacht’s late, late show defies Cardiff and the elements to earn vital URC win
Dylan Tierney Martin delivers late-winning try after westerners had lost a 19-point lead
Connacht seek to inject life into URC campaign against Cardiff
A victory would go long way to make up 10-point differential in the URC table between teams
Wilkins calls on Connacht to pick up precious momentum
Coach believes form of province’s Irish players is a major plus but right now league points the priority
Shayne Bolton’s arrival in Ireland squad could give UK press a fit of the vapours
Connacht player born in Pretoria, South Africa and Irish qualified is set to step in for injured Mack Hansen
Connacht coach prepared to ‘bottle up the frustration’ and channel it into ‘working really hard’
A 22-19 loss to Glasgow sees Connacht languishing near bottom of the table
Connacht’s losing away run continues against Glasgow on frustrating afternoon
Pete Wilkins admits his side will need to work hard to make the Champions Cup through URC top eight
Connacht visit Scotland hoping to take their European form into the URC
Connacht will feel this is an ideal opportunity to improve their away form with the Warriors missing some 12 players on international duty
Chris Busby to continue refereeing in the United Rugby Championship
Antrim native was in charge of the Connacht-Leinster game that preceded controversial comments from Mack Hansen on refereeing standards which led to player’s ban
Leinster to take on Harlequins at Croke Park in Champions Cup round of 16
Munster’s trip to La Rochelle will also take place on Saturday, April 5th
Gerry Thornley: Leinster fans are so spoiled that only one prize will do
Ulster and Munster face daunting assignments as they bid to progress in European competition
Connacht must translate European form into strong showing in Glasgow, says Wilkins
Head coach calls on other players to ‘assert their personalities’ in absence of internationals such as Bundee Aki
Connacht hungry for silverware heading to Challenge Cup knockout stages
During a difficult URC season, Connacht’s performance in the Challenge Cup has put a pep in the province’s step
Connacht top Challenge Cup pool with hard-fought win at Cardiff
Western province secure home advantage for last 16 knock-out stage
Matt Williams: Begrudgers in Ireland must never be permitted to pull Leinster down
Without the province’s exceptional production line and the qualifying of overseas-born players, Irish rugby would be in a much weaker state
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