Zebre Parma v Connacht: team news is vital during the Six Nations window

The stat that hangs over everything: Connacht away form

Connacht’s away record is the reason this preview can’t just be “Connacht should win”. The trend has been ugly for a long stretch.

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An outstanding run of form has seen the province reel off ten consecutive wins in all competitions, and they now have the opportunity to make it 11 straight when they host Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, before attention turns to the Guinness Six Nations break.

The defence of their BKT URC title did not begin smoothly. Leinster managed just one win from their opening four league fixtures, struggling for momentum while a long list of frontline players was unavailable. Since then, however, Cullen’s side have surged back into contention, winning six URC matches on the bounce to climb to third in the table, while also completing a perfect four-from-four record in the Investec Champions Cup pool stage.

Reflecting on that turnaround, Cullen was quick to credit the resilience shown within the camp.

“I have to applaud our players and staff because they’ve worked incredibly hard over the last couple of months,” he said. “The group was getting a bit of flak at the start of the season, especially with the number of players missing, and we just took it on the chin.

“It’s a real credit to the characteristics these guys show every day.”

Leinster’s latest success came last weekend in Galway, where they claimed a 34–23 bonus-point win over Connacht in front of a record 12,461 crowd at the Dexcom Stadium, on a night that also marked the opening of the new Clan Stand.

“We knew it was going to be a huge occasion because it’s been in the calendar for a long time,” Cullen said. “We were heading into a hostile environment against a team that was going to be hugely motivated, so we expected a tough challenge.

“Connacht started the game a million miles an hour. They flew into everything on both sides of the ball, exactly as we thought they would. Credit to them, it was tit-for-tat throughout.

“It’s always satisfying to come away from a place like that with a bonus-point win.”

Focus now shifts to Saturday’s URC meeting with Edinburgh, who arrive in Dublin sitting 12th in the table after a home defeat to the Vodacom Bulls last time out.

Assistant coach Robin McBryde believes Leinster must ensure their recent work is capped off properly before the break.

“After a difficult start, we’ve just kept building week by week through what’s been a long block,” he said. “It’s been good, but now we’ve got to finish the job.

“Everyone is looking forward to the break after Saturday, so it’s one final push. There’s a different feel around the place this week with a lot of internationals away with their countries, which is always an honour.

“It brings a different energy and buzz, and everyone’s excited for the weekend.”

McBryde is expecting a response from the Scottish side following last weekend’s setback.

“They’ll be hurting after that result and keen to finish their own block on a high,” he added. “It’s always better going into a break with a win because the result stays with you.

“They’re a cohesive group, so it’ll be tough enough. We just need to improve on certain aspects from last Saturday and really re-knuckle down.”

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At this point, it’s becoming a quiz question rather than a team update.

Ireland’s Six Nations build-up has been shredded by injuries, with absentees piling up across every line of the squad. This isn’t one problem area — it’s everywhere. Backfield, midfield, front row, engine room. Pick a position and Ireland are light.

Start with the back three, where the list alone tells the story. Hugo Keenan is out. Mack Hansen is out. Calvin Nash, Jimmy O’Brien, Shayne Bolton and Jordan Larmour are also unavailable. That’s Ireland’s most dependable organiser at full-back, their most creative winger, and almost all of the versatility Farrell relies on when games break open. Experience, aerial security and counter-attacking threat — gone.

The midfield situation is just as damaging. Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw are both sidelined. Together, they’ve been the heartbeat of Ireland’s defence and the launchpad for so much of the attack. Remove both, and Ireland aren’t just replacing players — they’re replacing an entire system built around power, trust and defensive reads.

Up front, concerns deepen. At loosehead prop, Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle are all missing. Porter’s absence is enormous. He sets the tone physically, plays big minutes and anchors the scrum. Against France, losing that security is no small thing.

In the back five of the pack, Ryan Baird and Tom Ahern are also out. That’s athleticism, lineout flexibility and dynamic carrying stripped from the engine room — exactly the attributes needed to live with France’s power game.

Even the betting markets have lost faith. Just last week, Ireland were +5 for this fixture. By Monday, that had drifted to +9. Now it has stretched to +13. An eight-point swing in a matter of days doesn’t happen on sentiment. It reflects mounting injuries, disrupted preparation and a growing belief that Ireland will struggle to live with France’s physicality and depth in Paris.

And even now, the list may not be finished. Tadhg Furlong, Robert Baloucoune and Jamie Osborne remain doubts. Any one of those missing would be a blow. More than one, and the margin for error shrinks further.

This isn’t about panic — but it is about reality. Ireland are missing players in every critical area of the pitch. Depth will be tested, combinations will be rushed, and young players will be asked to learn fast in one of the harshest environments in world rugby.

Paris doesn’t wait. France won’t ease off. And when the absentees list is this long, the Six Nations stops being about momentum and starts being about survival.

Ireland Six Nations Absentees & Doubts

Back Three

• Hugo Keenan
• Mack Hansen
• Calvin Nash
• Jimmy O’Brien
• Shayne Bolton
• Jordan Larmour

Midfield

• Bundee Aki
• Robbie Henshaw

Loosehead Prop

• Andrew Porter
• Paddy McCarthy
• Jack Boyle

Back Five of the Pack

• Ryan Baird
• Tom Ahern

Major Doubts

• Tadhg Furlong
• Robert Baloucoune
• Jamie Osborne

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Premiership Rugby is actively working on proposals to overhaul the structure of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, with growing alignment across Europe that the current format is no longer fit for purpose.

Senior figures within English rugby believe the competition has lost much of the edge and prestige that once defined it, and discussions are underway to present a united front to European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). While the Premiership is leading the process, its thinking is understood to be broadly shared by both France’s Ligue Nationale de Rugby and the United Rugby Championship.

Although neither the Top 14 nor the URC are formally involved in the Premiership’s internal planning, the rare consensus between Europe’s three major leagues has raised hopes that meaningful reform could finally be pushed through. The goal, according to sources, is to restore jeopardy, intensity and elite status to a tournament many feel has become diluted.

That urgency has been sharpened by comments from EPCR chief executive Jacques Raynaud last week, in which he publicly defended the current format and stated that the competition structure is locked in until 2030. Those remarks are understood to have surprised — and frustrated — figures across the Premiership.

One senior source told the telegraph about the mood he bluntly put it:
“We’re dissatisfied. We believe this competition should sit properly between domestic leagues and international rugby. It needs to feel elite and premium again — and we think that’s achievable.”

At the heart of the debate is scale. The Champions Cup currently features 24 teams, a number critics say has stripped meaning from the pool stage and allowed sides to progress despite minimal success. This season, both Leicester Tigers and the Bulls reached the knockout rounds having won just one match, a scenario many believe undermines the tournament’s credibility.

The leading idea gaining traction within English rugby is a reduced, high-intensity competition. One proposal would see the Champions Cup cut to 16 teams, with qualification restricted to the very top performers from the Premiership, Top 14 and URC. The tournament could then be played in a continuous block — either before Christmas or immediately after the Six Nations — with straight knockout rugby across consecutive weekends to build momentum, narrative and genuine consequence.

This concept is not new. EPCR explored similar options during a strategic review in 2022, including both 16- and 18-team models. However, those talks stalled over disagreements between leagues on qualification numbers and competitive balance. Any reduction would require at least one league to surrender places, a compromise that has historically proven difficult — particularly given the need for unanimous approval among stakeholders.

The Irish provinces, in particular, have previously been resistant to formats that limit representation, and that unanimity requirement remains the single biggest obstacle to reform.

EPCR maintains that it is open to dialogue. A spokesperson pointed to ongoing work by its sporting and tournaments committee, which includes representatives from all three leagues, and said the organisation remains willing to assess improvements that benefit players, supporters and the wider game.

Broadcasting remains the most immediate barrier to change. EPCR’s current television agreement with Premier Sports runs until the end of the 2026–27 season, and any significant reduction in fixtures would require broadcaster approval. However, the wider media landscape is also shifting — particularly in Ireland.

At present, there is no free-to-air television coverage of European club rugby in Ireland, with RTÉ having completely withdrawn from broadcasting club competitions. That absence has significantly reduced the competition’s reach beyond core supporters. Advocates of reform believe a streamlined, high-stakes tournament could reignite interest from free-to-air broadcasters, with RTÉ potentially tempted back by a revitalised Champions Cup featuring fewer teams, clearer storylines and marquee knockout fixtures.

Looking further ahead, the renewal of European broadcast rights from 2027 onwards may offer the clearest window for change. TNT Sports, already the lead broadcaster for the Premiership, could consider re-entering the European rugby market — particularly if it allows English domestic rugby to sit on one platform in the post-2027 World Cup cycle.

Complicating matters further is the introduction of the Rugby World Club Cup, scheduled to launch in 2028 under EPCR’s management. That competition is set to replace the latter stages of the Champions Cup every four years, adding another layer to an already crowded calendar.

For now, momentum is building behind the scenes. Whether it results in real structural change will depend on politics, broadcast negotiations and a collective acceptance that prestige, reach and free-to-air exposure — not volume — may be key to securing the Champions Cup’s long-term future.

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Bundee Aki has not travelled with the Ireland men’s senior squad to Portugal as the IRFU continues an internal investigation into a disciplinary issue involving the Connacht centre.

The IRFU confirmed on Wednesday that Aki’s omission is for disciplinary reasons, following a misconduct complaint raised after Connacht’s recent URC fixture at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. The complaint relates to alleged interactions with match officials, which are currently being examined under the United Rugby Championship’s disciplinary regulations.

In a statement, the IRFU said it “does not tolerate any form of disrespect shown towards match officials” and reiterated that behaviour falling below the standards expected of players representing Irish rugby will not be condoned. The governing body added that the matter is being investigated internally and that no further comment will be made at this time.

Ulster centre Jude Postlethwaite, who is uncapped at senior international level, has been called into the squad as Aki’s replacement.

Separately, Aki is due to appear before an Independent Disciplinary Committee in relation to the URC complaint. The hearing will consider whether his conduct breached league rules on misconduct, with a decision expected following that process.

Beyond the immediate disciplinary issue, the situation also arrives at a significant point in Aki’s career. The Connacht centre turns 36 in April and is out of central contract with the IRFU at the end of the current season, leaving his long-term future uncertain.

While Aki has been a hugely influential figure for both Connacht and Ireland, competition in the centre has intensified and his role is no longer guaranteed. Younger options are emerging at both provincial and international level, and his minutes are being managed more carefully than in previous seasons.

That context makes Connacht’s next move particularly interesting. Retaining Aki would provide experience, leadership and continuity, but the province must also balance age profile, budget constraints and succession planning. At 36, and no longer a definite starter, any new deal is likely to reflect a more transitional role.

For now, the focus remains on the outcome of the disciplinary process and the IRFU’s internal review. Once those matters conclude, attention will turn to whether Bundee Aki’s time in Galway extends beyond this season — or whether Connacht begin to turn the page on one of the most significant players in their professional history.

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La Rochelle have confirmed that Uini Atonio’s playing career has come to an end following a serious cardiac incident earlier this week.

In an official statement released on Wednesday, the club revealed that the long-serving prop was admitted to La Rochelle University Hospital on Tuesday after a suspected heart problem. Medical examinations subsequently confirmed that Atonio suffered a cardiac event. His condition is currently stable, and he remains under close supervision in intensive care.

While the immediate focus is on his recovery, La Rochelle have confirmed that the incident will require a lengthy period of convalescence, and it has now been established that Atonio will be unable to continue his professional rugby career.

The news has sent shockwaves through French rugby. Atonio is one of the most significant figures in La Rochelle’s modern history, having been central to the club’s rise to the summit of the European game. A cornerstone of their forward pack for more than a decade, he played a key role in Top 14 success and back-to-back Champions Cup triumphs, while also becoming a mainstay in the French national side.

In their statement, La Rochelle underlined the unique place Atonio holds within the club, describing the announcement as one that affects them deeply. The club pledged its full and unwavering support to Atonio and his family as he begins the next phase of his life away from the pitch.

Tributes are already emerging from across the rugby world for a player admired not just for his size and power, but for his consistency, loyalty and professionalism. While his career has been cut short in heartbreaking circumstances, Uini Atonio’s legacy at La Rochelle — and in French rugby — is firmly secured.

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Connacht have taken the first clear steps towards reshaping their squad for the 2026/27 season, confirming the arrivals of Francois van Wyk from Bath, along with Leinster pair Ciarán Frawley and Will Connors.

The three signings point towards a more experienced, URC-ready recruitment strategy, while a sizeable list of current players are expected to move on as part of what looks like a genuine squad reset.

Confirmed signings

• Francois van Wyk (Bath) – A powerful loosehead prop bringing Premiership experience and much-needed physicality to the Connacht pack.
• Ciarán Frawley (Leinster) – The headline signing. Comfortable at 10 or 12, Frawley offers flexibility, leadership and improved game management.
• Will Connors (Leinster) – A proven breakdown specialist and defensive workhorse when fit, adding edge and intelligence to the back row.

What the signings say about Connacht’s direction

This recruitment drive feels like a move away from long-term projects and towards players who can make an immediate impact. Van Wyk strengthens a front row that has struggled for consistency, Connors adds bite and accuracy around the ruck, and Frawley brings versatility in key decision-making positions.

There is a clear emphasis on rugby intelligence and experience — a welcome shift for a squad that has often been stretched thin in critical moments.

Confirmed departure

• Joe Joyce – Set to leave Connacht for Gloucester at the end of the season.

Likely departures

Several other players are widely expected to move on as part of the clear-out, although none have been confirmed by the province at this stage:

• Jack Carty
• David O’Connor
• Dave Heffernan
• Matthew Devine (linked with Ulster)
• Byron Ralston
• Chat Mullins
• James Nicholson

Possible departures – big decisions ahead

A number of senior players also fall into a grey area, with final decisions likely to shape how deep and how fast this rebuild goes:

• Dennis Buckley
• Eoin De Buitlear
• Oisin McCormack
• Peter Dooley
• Bundee Aki
• Ben Murphy

The bigger picture

This feels like Connacht finally accepting that a reset was unavoidable. Key positions had grown old together, depth was stretched, and too much pressure sat on too few players.

The arrival of Frawley and Connors, in particular, suggests a shift towards control, physical edge and consistency. However, this can’t be the end of the recruitment. Connacht will still need further URC-level reinforcements — especially in the front row and along the spine of the team — if this reset is to translate into real progress.

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Betting vs Polls: Why Ireland’s No.10 Debate Is So Split

The gap between the betting markets and public opinion on Ireland’s starting out-half says a lot — not about who’s right, but about how people judge risk.

The bookies have Sam Prendergast as favourite. That’s not them picking the best player — it’s them predicting the coach. Markets price probability, patterns, and long-term planning.

The public poll tells a different story. Jack Crowley wins it comfortably, driven largely by Munster support. That’s not analysis — it’s identity.

But strip away the emotion and the odds, and the truth is that all three options come with a flaw:

• Crowley: can’t be trusted consistently off the tee
• Prendergast: not ready defensively at Test level
• Byrne: can’t afford bad days

This is why the divide exists.

Munster supporters will back Crowley because they value control, toughness and what he represents. Leinster supporters are split between Byrne’s reliability and Prendergast’s ceiling. The markets lean Prendergast because he fits the age profile and future planning.

So this isn’t public opinion versus “expert” opinion. It’s three imperfect choices being judged through different lenses.

And until one of those weaknesses disappears, the betting and the polls will keep pointing in opposite directions.

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Connacht v Leinster – URC Preview

West Awake: Clan Stand Opens for Leinster Test

This one feels bigger than a standard league fixture. The opening of the new Clan Stand brings a proper occasion to Galway, with over 12,000 expected through the gates. And this time, it will feel like home.

Despite Leinster’s travelling support, the split is expected to be 80/20 in Connacht’s favour. A proper western crowd. Noise, edge, emotion – the type of atmosphere the Sportsground thrives on. This is what Connacht rugby is built on.

Leinster are expected to name a very similar side to the one that dismantled Connacht 52–17 at the Aviva a few weeks ago. That result tells its own story and explains why the handicap sits at Leinster -7.

“What really makes this group special is how we play and how we represent the west of Ireland. We want to give Connacht supporters a team they genuinely connect with and get behind. This weekend is a chance to show what the new Clan Stand can become – and hopefully give people a taste of the atmosphere we can create with our performance.”

— Cian Prendergast

That’s the heartbeat of this group. Identity. Pride. Representing where they’re from.

The form book (and it’s brutal reading)

Connacht’s recent record shows the scale of the challenge:

• They’ve won just one of their last seven URC matches, a 44–17 victory over the Sharks in Round 6.
• They’ve lost their last 11 URC games against Irish provinces.
• Their last home win over Leinster came back in April 2018 (47–10) – a lifetime ago in rugby terms.

Leinster, meanwhile, arrive in ruthless form:

• They’ve won nine straight matches in all competitions since their Round 4 defeat to Munster.
• They’ve taken ten consecutive URC wins over Connacht, stretching back to January 2021.
• They’ve also won their last two away league games, although they haven’t managed three on the bounce on the road since February 2025.

History, form and momentum are all leaning one way.

Team news

Connacht’s injury list remains heavy.

Unavailable

• Mack Hansen (season-ending)
• Finlay Bealham (still a few weeks away)
• Hugh Gavin
• Temi Lasisi
• Oisín Dowling
• Byron Ralston
• Seamus Hurley-Langton
• Shayne Bolton

Doubtful

• Dave Heffernan (calf – being monitored)

The big boost is Josh Ioane, who should be fit. His game management and pace will be vital if Connacht are to turn pressure into points. They’ll need a fast start and to feed off the crowd early.

“We’ve spoken a lot about that Mayo game last year. Some of the lads felt we maybe didn’t stress the scale of the occasion enough beforehand, and when we arrived the atmosphere caught us a bit. That’s something we’ve really learned from going into this.”

— Stuart Lancaster

In other words – Connacht won’t be underestimating the moment.

How it might play out

Connacht will come out flying. Expect big collisions, high tempo and a crowd driving every carry and tackle. They’ll want to make it messy, emotional, uncomfortable.

But Leinster are built for this. Their control, patience and bench depth usually decide games late on.

If Connacht can keep it tight late on, the Sportsground will be rocking.

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With the pool stages nearing their conclusion, the Challenge Cup draw is beginning to take shape – and for Connacht, two outcomes look far more likely than the rest.

The standout possibility is an all-Irish last-16 clash with Ulster. Given current seedings and results across the groups, this feels like the most probable scenario. It would be a familiar matchup, but also a high-stakes one, with both provinces seeing the Challenge Cup as a realistic shot at silverware and a European route for next season.

The other likely option is a home tie against Scarlets. From a Connacht perspective, this would probably be the preferred draw. A Welsh side travelling to the Sportsground under lights would give the hosts a strong chance, particularly given Scarlets’ inconsistent form this season.

Anything involving a French away trip would be far less appealing, so Connacht will be quietly hoping the permutations fall their way. For now, though, Ulster or Scarlets look the most realistic destinations.

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