Ulster

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Ulster hooker Tom Stewart says he is getting "into a bit of a groove" ahead of Saturday's Challenge Cup trip to Cardiff.

Stewart made an impact off the bench as he touched down one of seven second-half tries as Ulster marked their return to action last week with a commanding 61–7 victory over Racing 92 in Belfast.

The 24-year-old has struggled with injuries in recent seasons but now feels he is getting back to his best form, helped by a run of games heading into a busy festive period that includes successive inter-provincial clashes with Leinster, Munster and Connacht.

"I had that surgery on my ankle there a while ago. I'm starting to feel my body out a wee bit more and things are starting to look up a bit, which is positive," Stewart told BBC Sport NI.

"Getting a good run of games in a bit of time is nice too, getting the flow and feel for rugby. I feel like I'm starting to get into a bit of a groove of things.

"We're getting a run of games there, which is quite nice. Finding a bit of form, coming into Europe and stuff like that is good. We're looking forward to getting this week and then getting a run at the inter-pros."

Cardiff may have lost their European opener 38-17 at Stade Francais, but they have won five of their opening six United Rugby Championship games.

"I suppose you look at them in the other competition in the league (URC), they're doing really well. Especially at home, they're turning that place into a bit of a fortress, it's a hard place to go.

"They have a lot of good international players. It will be a challenge, but one we're really looking forward to," Stewart continued.

"Coming off the back of Europe and then coming home, they'll obviously be looking for that big emotional drive.

"Getting back into their stadium will be massive for them. Cardiff Arms is a great place to play rugby and the crowd really get behind them. They'll be looking to finish off this block with a good win."

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has urged his side to "keep our foot on the pedal" after emerging from the autumn break with a couple of thumping home wins.

After a month without a game, Ulster returned to action with a 47-13 win over Benetton in the United Rugby Championship before opening their Challenge Cup campaign with 61-7 demolition of an understrength Racing 92.

But with a Challenge Cup fixture away to Cardiff on Saturday (20:00 GMT) followed by three successive inter-provincial derbies against Leinster, Connacht and Munster, Murphy says his players cannot afford to lose momentum over a demanding festive period.

"We're coming off the back of a couple of good wins. The boys are playing some really good rugby. [We're in a] very positive place," said Murphy.

"We just have to make sure we keep our foot on the pedal and not lose sight of the thing that have made us good over the last few weeks."

Ulster led Racing 14-7 at half-time but hit 47 unanswered points after the break in an impressive nine-try display.

While Murphy was pleased with his side's appetite for tries, he says attention this week has centred on areas in which the team can improve.

"We reassessed and met the players on Monday morning, had a good review and looked at a few areas where we can definitely do better," he added.

"They've been the focus point this week and Cardiff are a different challenge, so we've got to move on quickly."

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Murphy has also been buoyed by the manner in which the squad's younger players have acquitted themselves recently.

Charlie Irvine, 22, played 80 minutes in the second row against Racing, a couple of 21-year-olds in Joe Hopes and Bryn Ward came off the bench while Murphy's son Jack - also 21 - has started every game this season at fly-half.

"The confidence that's in the team at the moment is fantastic," he said.

"Joe Hopes coming off the bench, Charlie Irvine starting, both 21 or 22 years of age. Jack at 10, Bryn coming on into the back row, Juarno [Augustus] isn't exactly an old man at 26 and Belly [Angus Bell] is 24.

"It's a young squad, it's exciting, our goal is to play the brand of rugby that we're playing.

"As long as we can stick to that and work really hard together and improve week on week, we'll be a very hard team to beat."

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Rob Herring is an injury doubt for Ulster's European Challenge Cup trip to face Cardiff on Saturday [20:00 GMT].

The 35-year-old hooker suffered a knee injury in the first half of the 61-7 victory over Racing 92 at Affidea Stadium.

Herring scored Ulster's go-ahead try late in the first half, but was replaced at the break by Tom Stewart and will have an MRI scan to determine the severity of the injury.

In better news for Richie Murphy's side, Cormac Izuchukwu is back in full training and in contention to feature after his recovery from a foot injury picked up in the United Rugby Championship win over the Bulls in early October.

The 25-year-old forward's progress had been monitored in recent weeks, but is now set to make his return for the trip to Cardiff Arms Park.

Ben Carson, Lorcan McLoughlin and Sean Reffell are also back in full training and the trio are all in contention for game-time this weekend.

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Ulster back row David McCann believes the province will be "hard to deal with" if they can achieve greater consistency across games.

Richie Murphy's side have made a strong start to the season, winning five of their first six games of the 2025-26 campaign in all competitions.

They registered a thumping 61-7 win over Racing 92 in the Challenge Cup on Friday night, but seven of their nine tries came after half-time and they carried just a 14-7 lead into the turn.

McCann believes small alterations made a "massive difference" as the game progressed.

"I actually don't think we were that bad. We were just maybe half a second off," he said of the first-half showing.

"But we switched that up, showed ball focus, early to the breakdown, winning all the scraps, and you saw how that just allows us to play our game.

"When we attack like that, we're hard to deal with. I think if we can start to pair that together with 80-minute performances like that, we're going to be hard to deal with."

After a break for the November Test window, Ulster have won the first two contests of a run of 10 games in 10 weeks.

With a trip to Cardiff in the Challenge Cup to come on Saturday (20:00 GMT), followed by three interprovincial derbies in the United Rugby Championship, Ulster have found form in a key period of the season.

"I think momentum's huge but [there is a] general belief in what we're doing," added McCann.

"When we defend well, we get the ball back, and then when we get the ball back, I think everyone knows what our attack looks like now.

"So it's that belief that's huge at the moment. There's obviously some big games coming up, so it'll be good to see how we go."

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

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Head coach Richie Murphy feels the province will soon "see the blessing" of Angus Bell's arrival at Ulster

The Wallaby prop made his Ulster debut off the bench in Friday night's 61-7 win over Racing 92 in the Challenge Cup and will spend the rest of the season in Belfast.

The loose-head's first outing for his new side came after he started all four of Australia's Test matches in November and following just one week of training with his new team-mates.

"It's been very quick," said Murphy of Bell's transition.

"Because of our Friday night game, we literally only trained on Tuesday. A walkthrough on Monday, he trained Tuesday, there was a captain's run [on Thursday], then we played. For him to come in and fit in really quickly was good.

"It was always sort of a case where we wanted to get him that 25, 30 minutes so that he understood what it's like to play for us here. Over the next couple of weeks and months, we'll probably see the blessing."

Murphy added that the 25-year-old is already fitting in well with the playing group at Affidea Stadium.

"It's great to have him here. He's a top quality player," he added.

"[He has a ] bubbly personality, works hard and fits in well with our group so we're really looking forward to seeing him sort of grow into his Ulster jersey over the next number of weeks."

Bell's debut for Ulster came in a second half where his new side outscored their opponents 40-0.

Racing 92 heavily altered their line-up for the trip to Belfast and, despite trailing just 14-7 at half-time, were quickly overmatched after the turn.

Murphy opted to field Ulster's strongest available side for the game but acknowledged "there has to be rotation" through this key period of his side's season where they face 10 games in 10 weeks including four European games and three interprovincial derbies in the United Rugby Championship.

"You just can't pick the same team every week, so we're trying to balance that out and make sure that we're strong enough every week, that we're putting out a team that we think we can win a game with."

Joel Bell
BBC Sport NI

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Jack Murphy says Ulster feel "really confident" as they prepare to host Racing 92 in Friday's Challenge Cup opener at Affidea Stadium (20:00 GMT).

Murphy signed for Ulster in 2024 after his father Richie Murphy took on the coaching role.

The 21-year-old has established himself as Ulster's first-choice fly-half, starting all five United Rugby Championship games this season, of which the Irish province have won four.

Having made three Champions Cup appearances last season, the former Leinster academy player starts against Racing on Friday - and is relishing a return to the European stage.

''[I'm] really excited to get going here at home against Racing, a huge French club who have unbelievable players all over the park. We're all really looking forward to it and there's a huge buzz in training," he told BBC Sport NI.

''They've a lot of super star players, French internationals and overseas players they've brought in - a lot of power and flair.

"Morale is high in our camp though. We've won four out of our first five. We're really confident going into this week and we take some learnings in too."

Over the past few months, Ulster have introduced some quality additions to their squad, including South African back row Juarno Augustus and Australia prop Angus Bell.

''Juarno has been great for us. We know how good a player he is, but he's also a really nice fella," added Murphy.

''Angus Bell has come in as well. I'm sure he'll impact the group in a great way.

"Watching him over the autumn for Australia, you can see how dynamic he is and how powerful he is.''

Murphy is satisfied with life at Ulster and the form that the squad have shown so far this term.

"Everybody came in the start of the year with a fresh mindset and everyone has bought into it. We feel like we're flying high at the moment but we're just focusing on the next one.

"I'm very happy and grateful to be playing for Ulster and I'm really enjoying it. It's a great place to be on a Friday night.

"We've been playing some nice attacking rugby, but also trying to shore up our defence which has helped us a lot as well."

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Australia prop Angus Bell is set to make his Ulster debut off the bench in Friday's Challenge Cup opener against Racing 92 at Belfast's Affidea Stadium (20:00 GMT).

Bell, who has joined the Irish province on a short-term deal from NSW Waratahs until the end of the season, is named among the replacements with Sam Crean starting at loose-head.

Hooker Rob Herring and tight-head prop Tom O'Toole also come into the front row as Tom Stewart and Scott Wilson drop to the bench.

With Iain Henderson, Matthew Dalton and Cormac Izuchukwu ruled out, Charlie Irvine partners Harry Sheridan are paired in the second row. Irvine, 20, played the majority of last week's win over Benetton after Dalton's early injury.

Irvine's only previous Ulster start came in last season's defeat by the Bulls in Pretoria.

Nick Timoney captains the side in Henderson's absence alongside David McCann and Juarno Augustus in an unchanged back row.

Zac Ward is restored to the left wing after not featuring against Benetton as Werner Kok drops out. In-form Rob Baloucoune is retained on the right wing.

Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy continue their half-back partnership while Jude Postlethwaite and James Hume are again named in the centres, with Jacob Stockdale starting at full-back.

Richie Murphy's side are competing in Europe's second-tier competition after failing to qualify for the Investec Champions Cup.

Ulster - who have won four out of five United Rugby Championship games this season - reached the Challenge Cup semi-finals in 2021 after dropping down from the Champions Cup after the pool stage.

Six-time French champions Racing sit 11th in the Top 14 with six wins and five defeats this season. Ulster beat Racing 31-15 when the sides met in Belfast in the 2023-24 Champions Cup pool stage.

Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hume, Postlethwaite, Z Ward; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Herring, O'Toole, Sheridan, Irvine, McCann, Timoney (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: Stewart, Bell, Wilson, Hopes, B Ward, McKee, Flannery, Moore.

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Ulster back row Juarno Augustus said that his side are preparing to face a "physical" Racing 92 side in Friday's Challenge Cup opener (20:00 GMT).

Richie Murphy's side have had a good start to the United Rugby Championship season, picking up four wins from their five games.

Racing 92 are 11th in France's Top 14 with six wins from their 11 games and Augustus knows what type of challenge they will present for his side at the Affidea Stadium.

"I've played against Racing at Northampton [Saints] they're quite physical and heavy, but if we can move them around it will be an easier game for us and that's what we want to do," he told BBC Sport NI.

Augustus arrived at Ulster in the summer after four seasons with Northampton and said that he has settled "pretty well" in Belfast.

The 27-year-old returned for the province's 47-13 home win against Benetton last weekend after an arm injury ruled him out of their defeat by the Lions in October and is now striving for a sustained run in the starting side.

"I've had my arm injury two or three weeks ago, but I've parked that. It's behind me and I'm fit to play and looking forward to the weekend," he added.

Australia prop Angus Bell could make his debut on Friday after arriving in Belfast last week and Augustus has already been impressed by the 25-year-old's quality in training.

"He is a big boy," Augustus joked.

"He came in last week to show his face and he has started training this week with the boys. He looks quite well, is doing well in training and hopefully he can help the team.

"He is a big ball carrier and tackler and a nice guy. He looks like he enjoys being around us and you will probably see that on the field.

"With his experience playing international rugby, you can learn off him and hopefully that can benefit the team."

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Ulster second rows Matthew Dalton and Iain Henderson have been ruled out of Friday's Challenge Cup opener against Racing 92 (20:00 GMT).

Dalton picked up a knee injury during last weekend's United Rugby Championship win over Benetton having replaced captain Henderson just prior to kick-off.

Henderson withdrew minutes before kick-off after a back spasm in the warm-up, and while Ulster said he was a doubt for Friday's game, attack coach Mark Sexton later confirmed the experienced Ireland lock is unavailable.

"Hendy's has had a back spasm last week so he's out, Dalts has hurt his knee, so a couple of second-rows injuries," said Sexton.

Cormac Izuchukwu - who has not played since early October - is also a doubt with an ongoing foot problem, but Sexton does not feel the injuries add up to a "crisis" with head coach Richie Murphy still able to call upon Charlie Irvine and Joe Hopes.

"I know they're going to be big losses to us, but Charlie and Joe are brilliant young players and it's brilliant that they're going to get an opportunity," added Sexton.

Hooker Rob Herring is also a doubt with an ankle problem he sustained after coming off the bench in the Benetton game.

With Michael Lowry having missed the Benetton game, Instonians full-back Bradley McNamara has joined the squad as injury cover after recently impressing in Ulster A's win over Connacht Eagles.

"He was one of the standout players on the pitch," said Sexton.

"His attack was brilliant that day which was brilliant to see. He's very elusive, he has a good swerve, good passing and running game. We'll keep a close eye in here now for the next couple of weeks."

Australia prop Angus Bell could make his debut after arriving in Belfast last week.

"He trained today and trained very well so we're hoping that he'll be involved," said Sexton.

He added: "He seems like a great fella, great character, and he can certainly move on the rugby pitch so I think we just need to get him the ball and let him go."

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Next five fixtures: Benetton (H), Racing 92 (H, Challenge Cup), Cardiff (A, Challenge Cup), Leinster (A), Connacht (A)

Having opened their season with three straight wins, Ulster's bubble was burst before the break by the Lions, who won 49-31 at Ellis Park to give Richie Murphy plenty to ponder during the November break.

Ulster return to action against Benetton on Friday (19:45 GMT) - their first home game since 11 October - with a lengthy injury list.

Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey is out with a groin injury, joining Lorcan McLoughlin (elbow), Sean Reffell (shoulder), Ben Moxham (knee), Ethan McIlroy (knee), Eric O'Sullivan (hamstring) and James McNabney (knee) on the sidelines.

Ben Carson and in-form full-back Michael Lowry will also miss the match against Benetton, who beat Ulster 34-19 in Treviso last season.

Like Leinster, Ulster are hoping to be boosted by a high-profile southern hemisphere arrival in the form of Angus Bell.

The 25-year-old Australia prop has arrived in Belfast after joining Ulster until the end of the season, but he will not feature against Benetton on Friday.

While the Wallabies struggled in November, Bell was one of their standout performers, scoring tries against Italy and France.

A victory over Benetton would keep Ulster in the upper echelons of the URC standings and give them a well-timed spring in their step before a mouthwatering Challenge Cup opener against Racing, who lost 31-15 on their last visit to Belfast in December 2023.

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Ulster back row Nick Timoney says Richie Murphy's team will aim to put on a good performance for their home supporters in their first game in Belfast for seven weeks on Friday night.

The Irish province host Italian side Benetton in a United Rugby Championship encounter at the Affidea Stadium as they return to action after a five-week hiatus for the autumn international series of matches.

Ulster, who lie fifth in the URC table, defeated the Bulls 28-7 in their last home outing on 11 October but signed off for their period of inaction with a 49-31 loss to the Lions in Johannesburg two weeks later.

"Benetton are a really good team now. They're very physical and have loads of dangerous backs," Timoney told BBC Sport NI.

"They're well coached, it seems they have a massive squad and it's hard to know exactly who is going to play.

"It's going to be a really tough challenge but we always back ourselves on our home ground and we're looking forward to putting on a good performance for the crowd."

Timoney is one of three Ireland internationals who will return for the game, along with Springbok Juarno Augustus.

The Italian side are five positions and seven points worse off than their opponents on Friday night after winning two and losing three of their first five fixtures of the campaign.

"We lost away to them last season and they'll be coming here fired up, so we have to be ready for them," cautioned Timoney.

"We had a good start to the season. Obviously the last one [the defeat by the Lions] was a tough one - we had a few injuries and the conditions we maybe didn't handle quite as well - but if we win here it puts us in a good position in the league and hopefully good momentum heading into a big bloc of games."

The 30-year-old was part of the Ireland squad for the recent international series. including scoring the second try in the 41-10 win over Japan, and believes that the experience has a positive impact.

"Playing and training at a very high level makes you feel great coming back in.

"A lot of the Benetton lads will be in the same boat [having been part of the Italy squad]. I feel really good and excited to get back going."

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Three of Ulster's Ireland internationals have been named to start Friday's United Rugby Championship encounter against Benetton in Belfast (19:45 GMT).

While centre Stuart McCloskey is ruled out with a groin injury, Iain Henderson returns to captain Ulster from the second row, with Nick Timoney and Jacob Stockdale also recalled.

Having been deployed on the left wing on his last appearance for Ulster, Stockdale reverts to full-back, where he played in the win over the Bulls last month.

Fit-again Juarno Augustus starts at number eight after recovering from an arm injury, but Cormac Izuchukwu has not been included despite returning to training following a foot issue.

Tom Stewart, who captained an Ireland XV to a win over Spain earlier this month, starts at hooker with Sam Crean and Scott Wilson completing the front row.

Jack Murphy and Nathan Doak are again paired at half-back, with replacement scrum-half Dave Shanahan set to make his 100th appearance for the province off the bench.

An experienced bench also includes Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole and Stewart Moore, who was recalled from his loan at Newcastle Red Bulls earlier this week.

Back row Bryn Ward, who made his debut against the Lions in Johannesburg last month, is also among the replacements, but there is no place in the squad for his older brother Zac, who has started three URC games this season.

Ulster boss Richie Murphy is currently without Ben Carson, Michael Lowry, Lorcan McLoughlin (elbow), Sean Reffell (shoulder), Ben Moxham (knee), Ethan McIlroy (knee), Eric O'Sullivan (hamstring) and James McNabney (knee).

Australia prop Angus Bell, who has joined until the end of the season, was not considered for selection this week.

Fifth-placed Ulster have three wins and a defeat from four games this season. Benetton sit 10th with two wins and three defeats. The Italian side won last season's meeting 34-19 in Treviso.

Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hume, Postlethwaite, Kok; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Stewart, Wilson, Henderson (capt), McCann, Timoney, Augustus.

Replacements: Herring, Reid, O'Toole, Dalton, Ward, Shanahan, Flannery, Moore.

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Ireland internationals Iain Henderson, Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney are all available for Ulster's return to United Rugby Championship action on Friday against Benetton at Affidea Stadium (19:45 GMT).

The trio reported back for club duty at the conclusion of the Autumn Nations Series this week as Richie Murphy's men seek to get back to winning ways following their 49-31 defeat by the Lions in South Africa in late October.

There is further good news on the injury front as Juarno Augustus and Cormac Izuchukwu are back in training with their progress to be monitored this week.

Augustus suffered an arm injury in the 34-26 win over the Lions in the first leg of Ulster's South Africa tour last month and missed out on the Lions game.

Izuchukwu sustained a foot injury in Ulster's last home game in the URC - a 28-7 win over the Bulls - and missed out on the trip to South Africa plus Ireland's November internationals, but could return this week.

That news is tempered by confirmation that Ben Carson and Michael Lowry will miss out this week with Carson sustaining a hamstring injury in Ulster A's victory over the Connacht Eagles last Friday, while Lowry suffered an ankle in jury in the Ireland XV win against Spain three weeks ago.

Stuart McCloskey is also out due to the groin injury picked up in Ireland's win over Australia, joining Lorcan McLoughlin (elbow), Sean Reffell (shoulder), Ben Moxham (knee), Ethan McIlroy (knee), Eric O'Sullivan (hamstring) and James McNabney (knee) on the sidelines.

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Centre Stewart Moore has been recalled from his loan to Newcastle Red Bulls by Ulster "due to recent injuries" in their senior squad.

The 26-year-old moved to the Prem club just 19 days ago and scored a hat-trick on his debut against Northampton Saints in the Prem Rugby Cup.

He had been due to start Newcastle's game against Saracens on Saturday.

In a statement, Ulster said that they had activated a recall clause to "ensure appropriate cover in key positions" and would provide a further update this week.

Stuart McCloskey has had his injury woes with Ireland this autumn, suffering a groin injury against New Zealand at the start of November and then going off injured against Australia with a recurrence of the same injury.

The Irish province sit fifth in the United Rugby Championship table after an impressive start to the season with three wins from their opening four games.

They return to action on Friday against Benetton (20:00 GMT) as the URC resumes following the autumn internationals.