Date: Friday, 28 November 2025
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
Kick-off: 19:45 (IRE/UK) | 20:45 (ITA) | 21:45 (SA)
Live on: Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Match Officials

• Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU) – 19th URC appearance
• AR 1: Craig Evans (WRU)
• AR 2: Lucas Yendle (WRU)
• TMO: Chris Allison (SARU)

Overview

Leinster travel to Rodney Parade as 20-point favourites, with the form guide, scoring trends and defensive numbers all pointing strongly in their direction. Dragons remain winless after five rounds and are conceding over 30 points per match, while Leinster’s attack has exploded into life in recent weeks with 81 points scored in their last two fixtures.

Despite missing several Ireland internationals through injury, Leinster’s depth remains one of the strongest in the competition and they arrive in Newport seeking a third win of the season.

Dragons RFC – 2025/26 Season Results

Record: P5 | W0 | D2 | L3
Points For: 74 | Points Against: 151
Average Score: Dragons 14.8 – 30.2 Opponents
Points Difference: –77

Key Dragons Trends

• Conceded 42, 49 and 24 points in three losses.
• Have yet to win a match this season.
• Scored between 17–21 points in every game except the Glasgow result.
• Defence statistically weakest in the URC after five rounds.

Leinster Rugby – 2025/26 Season Results

Record: P5 | W2 | L3
Points For: 126 | Points Against: 136
Average Score: Leinster 25.2 – 27.2 Opponents
Points Difference: –10

Key Leinster Trends

• Scored 31, 31 and 50 points in three of their last four matches.
• Attack improving significantly across the last two rounds.
• Bench impact continues to be a major strength.
• Defence inconsistent but improving at scrum and maul.

Leinster Injury Update

• Tommy O’Brien: GRTP protocols – unavailable.
• Ryan Baird: Leg injury – out up to 3 months.
• Will Connors: Arm injury – out for several weeks.
• Robbie Henshaw: Hamstring rehab – still unavailable.
• Jamie Osborne: Shoulder injury – out up to 4 months.
• James Culhane: Knee injury – out for next few months.

Head-to-Head (URC)

Average Margin (last 4 meetings): Leinster by 22.5 points

Match Analysis

1. Leinster’s Power & Tempo v Dragons’ Defence

Dragons concede over 30 points per match and have already leaked 42, 49 and 24 this season. Leinster’s attack is trending upwards, making this a difficult matchup for the hosts.

2. Dragons’ Scoring Limits

Dragons have yet to score more than 21 points and were held to zero in Glasgow. Against a Leinster side that has recently rediscovered its attacking edge, that may not be enough to stay competitive.

3. Leinster’s Depth Advantage

Even with key injuries, Leinster’s second-string remains among the strongest units in the URC. Their set-piece dominance and bench impact should tilt the later stages heavily in their favour.

Betting Preview – Leinster –20

Why Leinster Are Favoured

• Dragons winless in all five matches.
• Dragons have conceded 151 points – the most in the league.
• Leinster have won the last four head-to-heads by margins of 6, 33, 23 and 28.
• Leinster scored 50 points last weekend.
• Dragons have scored only 14–21 points in every game.

Recommended Bets

• Leinster –20 Handicap
• Leinster Winning Margin 21–30
• Over Leinster 29.5 Points
• Anytime Tryscorer: Harry Byrne, Jason Jenkins, Scott Penny
• Dragons Under 17.5 Points

Prediction

Leinster 38–13 Dragons
Leinster’s attacking form, physical dominance and squad depth should be too much for a Dragons side struggling for confidence and defensive stability. Unless conditions are severe, Leinster should have enough to cover the handicap.

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URC Round 3 – Weekly Betting Preview & Team News

The teams for this weekend’s Round 3 fixtures of the BKT United Rugby Championship have been named, with full match officials, broadcast details, and betting market reactions below.

Team News Headlines

• #MUNvEDI: Ten changes for Munster; Dylan Richardson debuts for Edinburgh.
• #SCAvSTO: Marnus van der Merwe returns for Scarlets; Willemse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu start for Stormers.
• #BENvLIO: John Bryant named for Benetton debut; JC Pretorius returns for Lions.
• #OSPvZEB: Harri Deaves hits 50 for Ospreys; Paolo Buonfiglio captains Zebre.
• #GLAvDRA: Johnny Matthews could reach 100 for Glasgow; Seb Davies & Jac Lloyd debut for Dragons.
• #LEIvSHA: Josh van der Flier captains Leinster; Sharks welcome back several Springboks.
• #ULSvBUL: Juarno Augustus makes first Ulster start; Handré Pollard among eight Springboks for Bulls.
• #CARvCON: George Nott & Osian Darwin-Lewis in line for Cardiff debuts; Shamus Hurley-Langton returns for Connacht.

Friday Betting Lines (Post Team Announcements)

• Glasgow -26 v Dragons (+26)
• Leinster -24 v Sharks (+24)
• Cardiff -3 v Connacht (+3)
• Ulster +6 v Bulls (-6)
• Munster -6 v Edinburgh (+6)
• Scarlets +6 v Stormers (-6)
• Benetton -9 v Lions (+9)
• Ospreys -15 v Zebre (+15)

Key Betting Movements

• Connacht backed (+4 ➜ +3) – market confident in the visitors’ structure; Cardiff drift slightly. Strength: 3/5
• Bulls backed (-4 ➜ -6) – money continues for Pretoria side with Pollard’s inclusion. Strength: 4/5
• Leinster drift (-27 ➜ -24) – punters taking the Sharks with the big start; some books offering +26. Strength: 3/5
• Stormers backed (-4 ➜ -6) – Springboks return and support follows. Strength: 3/5
• Munster drift (-10 ➜ -6) – Edinburgh still +8 in places and heavily backed; punters fancy the upset. Strength: 5/5

Market Trends

• Edinburgh and Sharks are the most popular underdogs with punters this week.
• Cardiff–Connacht remains the most finely balanced line of the weekend.
• Glasgow (-26) continues to hold the biggest spread.
• Two Irish provinces (Leinster & Munster) remain firm favourites, while Connacht and Ulster start as underdogs.

Full Fixture List, Officials & Team Lineups

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

Munster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby – Virgin Media Park, Cork (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 110th league game) | Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Munster: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Seán O’Brien, Andrew Smith, JJ Hanrahan, Paddy Patterson, Mikey Milne, Diarmuid Barron (C), Oli Jager, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Ruadhán Quinn, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: L. Barron, J. Wycherley, J. Ryan, E. Edogbo, B. Gleeson, E. Coughlan, T. Butler, D. Kelly.

Edinburgh: Goosen, Graham, O’Conor, Lang, Van der Merwe, Healy, Vellacott, Schoeman, Ashman, Rae, Sykes, Skinner, McConnell, Richardson, Bradbury (C).
Replacements: Harrison, Venter, Hill, Young, Douglas, Muncaster, Shiel, Paterson.

Sean Everitt: “It’s a completely different challenge this week – a tough test at a difficult venue in Cork. There’s been massive growth already within this group and the energy has been excellent.”

Scarlets v DHL Stormers – Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR) | Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Scarlets: Murray, Rogers, Roberts, Williams (C), Mee, Hawkins, Davies, Hepburn, Van der Merwe, Thomas, T. Davies, Douglas, Taylor, D. Davis, Plumtree.
Replacements: Myhill, O’Connor, Holz, Cummins, B. Williams, Blacker, Costelow, Page.

Stormers: Willemse, Senatla, Simelane, Nel (C), Zas, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ungerer, Vermaak, Kotze, Sandi, Schickerling, Van Heerden, De Villiers, Dixon, Roos.
Replacements: Venter, Matongo, Porthen, Evans, Theunissen, Fourie, Khan, Matthee.

Dwayne Peel: “Stormers have real strength up front and in transition play. We must be brave with and without the ball.”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

Benetton v Lions – Stadio Monigo, Treviso (KO 15.00 IRE/UK)

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) | Live on: Sky Italia, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ospreys v Zebre Parma – Bridgend (KO 15.00 IRE/UK)

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Glasgow Warriors v Dragons RFC – Scotstoun (KO 17.30 IRE/UK)

Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Leinster Rugby v Hollywoodbets Sharks – Aviva Stadium (KO 17.30 IRE/UK)

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ulster Rugby v Vodacom Bulls – Affidea Stadium, Belfast (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU) | Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Cardiff Rugby v Connacht Rugby – Cardiff Arms Park (KO 19.45 IRE/UK)

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) | Live on: S4C, TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Stuart Lancaster: “My experience playing against Cardiff, home or away, it’s never easy. They’re well organised and play a great brand of rugby, so it should make for a fantastic game.”

Betting Insights & Predictions

• Connacht (+3) – live underdog; capable of another tight finish in Cardiff.
• Bulls (-6) – power advantage could tell late in Belfast.
• Edinburgh (+6 to +8) – most backed team of the week; upset potential high.
• Sharks (+26) – value line with altitude and depth concerns for Leinster.

All odds accurate as of Friday evening. Markets subject to fluctuation.

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Vodacom Bulls v Leinster URC Preview: Cullen Demands Response in Pretoria

URC Round 2 – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday 4 October, KO 17:30 (IRE/UK)
Live on Premier Sports 1, SuperSport, URC.tv

Form & Context

Leinster head into Round 2 on the back of one of their heaviest ever URC defeats, a 35–0 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town — only the second time they have been held scoreless in competition history. Head coach Leo Cullen admitted his side were “very much second best in pretty much every department” as a youthful Leinster outfit failed to fire.

Next up is a daunting trip to Pretoria to face the Vodacom Bulls, last year’s beaten finalists. The Bulls began their campaign with a 53–40 victory over the Ospreys, continuing their formidable home record at Loftus Versfeld.

Key Stats to Know

• Bulls’ only defeat in their last ten URC matches was against Leinster in last year’s Final (32–7).
• The Bulls have won their last seven Championship games at Loftus Versfeld since March.
• Leinster were nilled for only the second time in URC history last weekend, the previous occasion being a 0–18 defeat to Munster in 2008.
• Leinster have not lost successive Championship matches since April 2024.
• Leinster have won just two games in South Africa since 2018 (v Lions 2023, v Sharks 2024).
• Bulls lead the head-to-head 4–3, with Leinster losing all three previous trips to Loftus Versfeld.

Quotes

Leo Cullen did not hold back in his post-match assessment after the Stormers defeat:
“We were pretty poor now overall, I thought. Credit to the Stormers, I thought they were pretty outstanding today… we were very much second best in pretty much every department.”

On Leinster’s struggles: “We got some access down in the 22; we were just not quite accurate enough. The Stormers put us under a huge amount of pressure; we just didn’t manage with it very well. I thought they were much sharper across the board in all the contact points, and when you’re losing the momentum, you’re just on the back foot the whole game.”

Cullen added: “We’ll look after ourselves and put a good plan together because we’ve got to turn the page to next week pretty quickly.”

Injury Update

• Further assessment required: Jordan Larmour (foot injury v Stormers).
• Unavailable: Jamie Osborne (hamstring), Cormac Foley (calf).
• No further updates: Caelan Doris, Joe McCarthy, Hugo Keenan.
• No new players have been flown out to South Africa.

Recent Meetings

• Leinster 32–7 Bulls (URC Final, June 2025, Croke Park)
• Bulls 21–20 Leinster (March 2025, Loftus Versfeld)
• Leinster 47–14 Bulls (March 2024, RDS Arena)
• Bulls 62–7 Leinster (April 2023, Loftus Versfeld)

Key Factors

• Bulls’ fortress: Seven straight URC wins at Loftus, altitude advantage.
• Leinster’s bounce-back record: Have not lost back-to-back league games since April 2024.
• Travel issues: Just two wins in South Africa since 2018.
• Squad depth tested: No reinforcements flown in after injuries to Osborne, Foley, and Larmour.

Betting & Market View

The Bulls opened as -9 favourites, reflecting both their Loftus dominance and Leinster’s heavy defeat in Cape Town. Leinster’s poor South African record makes the line look justified, though their ability to rebound after setbacks will be tested once again.

Prediction

Expect a fierce battle in Pretoria, with the Bulls’ power game at altitude a huge challenge for a Leinster side missing key players. Cullen’s men will need a massive improvement across the board to avoid back-to-back URC defeats.

Verdict: Bulls by 8–10 points.

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Leinster have been handed a timely boost ahead of the new BKT United Rugby Championship season, with Will Connors, Brian Deeny, Jordan Larmour, and Robbie Henshaw all declared fit and available for selection. The quartet missed the tail end of last season’s run-in through injury but are now back in full training.

Unavailable for Selection:

• Caelan Doris – Continues to rehab a shoulder injury and is not expected back for the first few rounds.
• Joe McCarthy – Underwent a procedure on a foot injury and will also miss the opening rounds.
• Hugo Keenan – Had a groin procedure and is expected to be sidelined for up to three months.

The return of Henshaw and Larmour in particular will give Leinster a major boost in the backline, while Connors’ defensive steel and Deeny’s work in the engine room will strengthen Leo Cullen’s options up front. Leinster open their URC campaign with a tricky away trip and will be eager to get off to a winning start despite the absence of key men like Doris, McCarthy, and Keenan.

Fans will be encouraged to see the depth of the squad tested early, as younger players look to take their chance in the opening rounds before Ireland’s internationals return later in the season.

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Academy News

Josh Neill to join Leinster Rugby Academy in early 2026

Irish-qualified back-row added to the Year One intake; arrival scheduled after he completes his school year in South Africa.

Academy 2025/26
Back-row Forward
Irish-qualified

Announcement

Leinster Rugby Academy Manager, Simon Broughton, has confirmed that Josh Neill has been added to the Year One Academy intake and will link up with Leinster Rugby in the early months of 2026. Neill, an Irish-qualified back-row, currently attends Rondebosch Boys’ High School in Cape Town and was recently named in the South Africa U-18 squad for their summer series against France, England and Ireland.

Neill plays his club rugby with Western Province. His older brother, Jordan, is already based in Ireland and currently plays cricket with the Northern Knights. Jordan has represented Ireland U-19s and made his senior Ireland debut in a One Day International against the West Indies earlier this summer.

Leinster Rugby Academy 2025/26

Year One

Player	AIL Club
Tadhg Brophy	Naas RFC
Jack Deegan	Blackrock College RFC
Connor Fahy	Clontarf FC
Páidí Farrell	Old Wesley RFC
Lee Fitzpatrick	Blackrock College RGC
Todd Lawlor	Lansdowne FC
Ciarán Mangan	Blackrock College RFC
Alex Mullan	Blackrock College RFC
Josh Neill	TBC
Mahon Ronan	Old Wesley RFC

Year Two

Player	AIL Club
Oliver Coffey	Blackrock College RFC
Billy Corrigan	Old Wesley RFC
Caspar Gabriel	Terenure College RFC
Hugo McLaughlin	Lansdowne FC
Ruben Moloney	UCD RFC
Alan Spicer	Clontarf FC
Andrew Sparrow	St Mary’s College RFC
Stephen Smyth	Old Wesley RFC

Year Three

Player	AIL Club
Henry McErlean	Terenure College RFC
Liam Molony	Lansdowne FC
Conor O’Tighearnaigh	UCD RFC

All clubs listed are Energia All-Ireland League (AIL) affiliates where applicable.

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The Ireland team to face Georgia this weekend has been named — and there’s a notable mix of youth, form, and provincial pride across the 23. With several players away on British & Irish Lions duty and others out through injury, this is a chance for fresh talent to shine.

Here’s how the squad breaks down by province:

Connacht – 4 Players

• 5. Darragh Murray (Buccaneers) – Uncapped
• 18. Jack Aungier (Clontarf) – Uncapped
• 20. Cian Prendergast (UCD) – 4 caps
• 21. Ben Murphy (Clontarf) – Uncapped

Munster – 5 Players

• 9. Craig Casey (Shannon) – 18 caps (Captain)
• 8. Gavin Coombes (Young Munster) – 2 caps
• 19. Tom Ahern (Shannon) – Uncapped
• 22. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution) – 24 caps
• 23. Calvin Nash (Young Munster) – 10 caps

Ulster – 5 Players

• 4. Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch) – Uncapped
• 7. Nick Timoney (Banbridge) – 3 caps
• 11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan) – 38 caps
• 12. Stuart McCloskey (Bangor) – 19 caps
• 16. Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch) – 2 caps

Leinster – 9 Players

• 1. Jack Boyle (UCD) – 2 caps
• 2. Gus McCarthy (UCD) – 4 caps
• 3. Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University) – 6 caps
• 6. Ryan Baird (Dublin University) – 27 caps
• 10. Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne) – 8 caps
• 13. Jamie Osborne (Naas) – 7 caps
• 14. Tommy O’Brien (UCD) – Uncapped
• 15. Jimmy O’Brien (Naas) – 8 caps
• 17. Michael Milne (UCD) – Uncapped

Total Breakdown

• Leinster – 9 players
• Ulster – 5 players
• Munster – 5 players
• Connacht – 4 players

Commentary

Absolutely delighted to see Darragh Murray make his first start for Ireland.

Only one Connacht player in the starting XV is a little disappointing, especially given how many front-liners are unavailable. Still, with three more Connacht men on the bench, there’s every chance they’ll get decent game time.

The bookies have Ireland as 16-point favourites, which feels like a stretch. With a squad full of new caps, any sort of win would be a bonus. What matters most is the experience this group gains at international level.

Ireland Team Named for Summer Tour Opener in Tbilisi

Paul O’Connell, interim Head Coach of the Ireland Men’s team, has named his matchday 23 to face Georgia in the opening game of the two-Test Summer Series this Saturday evening at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi (kick-off 9pm local time / 6pm Irish time).

There are two debutants in the starting XV and a further four uncapped players on the bench, as Ireland looks to build depth during this developmental tour.

Captain Casey Makes History

Craig Casey will captain Ireland for the first time, becoming the 112th Test captain in the nation’s history. The Munster scrum-half also becomes just the third 9 to lead Ireland in the professional era, following Niall Hogan (3 times) and Eoin Reddan (once).

He’ll form a half-back partnership with exciting young out-half Sam Prendergast, while the midfield pairing sees Stuart McCloskey and Jamie Osborne link up.

Tommy O’Brien will make his international debut on the wing, joining Jimmy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale in the back three.

Milestone in Sight for Stockdale

Jacob Stockdale is set to win his 39th cap. One more try would see him become the 21st Irish player to reach 100+ points for the national side. It would also move him into outright 6th on Ireland’s all-time try-scoring list, ahead of Girvan Dempsey and Geordan Murphy.

New Faces in the Pack

Darragh Murray (Connacht) earns his first cap in the second row alongside Cormac Izuchukwu. The front row features Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, and Thomas Clarkson, while the back row sees Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney, and Gavin Coombes complete the starting pack.

Four More Uncapped Players on the Bench

The replacements bench includes four potential debutants: Munster duo Michael Milne and Tom Ahern, and Connacht pair Jack Aungier and Ben Murphy.

They are joined by Tom Stewart, Cian Prendergast, and Calvin Nash — all of whom will be expected to make an impact off the bench.

Coach’s View – Paul O’Connell

“I’ve been really impressed with the application of this group in the build-up to the tour. Saturday presents a fantastic opportunity for these players to represent their country and show what they can do on the international stage.

To Craig — I’d like to congratulate him on his first game as captain. He’s taken to the role superbly and I know how much he’s looking forward to leading the team.”

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Irish Rugby Transfers: 2025/26 Signings for Munster, Leinster, Ulster & Connacht (Updated Weekly)

Last Updated: March 5, 2025

The 2025/26 season is on the horizon, and while player movement across Ireland’s four provinces has been minimal, a few key signings have been confirmed. Will we see more transfers in the coming weeks? Here’s a weekly updated list of confirmed signings for each province.

Munster – Leading the Transfer Market

Munster have been the most active province so far, confirming four signings:

• Michael Milne (Prop, 25) – from Leinster (IRL)
• Lee Barron (Hooker, 24) – from Leinster (IRL)
• JJ Hanrahan (Fly-half, 32) – from Connacht (IRL)
• Dan Kelly (Centre, 24) – from Leicester Tigers (ENG)

With two front-row additions, a playmaker, and a promising centre in Dan Kelly, Munster are strengthening across key areas.

Ulster – A Single But Significant Addition

Ulster have made just one signing so far:

• Juarno Augustus (Back row, 27) – from Northampton Saints (ENG)

The powerful South African No. 8 will bring much-needed physicality to Ulster’s back row.

Leinster – No Confirmed Signings Yet

Leinster have yet to announce any additions. Given their incredible academy pipeline, they may not feel the need to recruit externally. Will that change?

Connacht – Yet to Enter the Market

Like Leinster, Connacht have yet to confirm any signings. With JJ Hanrahan leaving for Munster, will they look for a replacement?

Should We Be Concerned About the Lack of Transfers?

Compared to previous seasons, Irish rugby’s transfer activity has been unusually quiet. Munster and Ulster have made moves, but Leinster and Connacht remain inactive.

• Are budgets tighter than before?
• Is there confidence in homegrown talent?
• Will we see late-window signings?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Latest Irish Rugby Transfers (Updated Weekly)

Province	Player	Position	Age	From
Munster	Michael Milne	Prop	25	Leinster
Munster	Lee Barron	Hooker	24	Leinster
Munster	JJ Hanrahan	Fly-half	32	Connacht
Munster	Dan Kelly	Centre	24	Leicester
Ulster	Juarno Augustus	Back row	27	Northampton
Leinster
Connacht

This table will be updated weekly as new signings are announced.

Have Your Say!

Are you surprised by the lack of movement so far? Which province needs to strengthen most? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

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