Author: Joe Naughton
Published: May 2025

Introduction: Changing of the Guard in Irish Rugby

The 2025/26 season is ushering in a major transitional period for Irish provincial rugby. Between high-profile retirements, international signings, and academy reshuffles, the four provinces — Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Connacht — have collectively experienced 43 player departures and welcomed just 10 new arrivals.

This shift highlights a focus on leaner squads, internal player development, and the end of an era for several Irish legends. Here’s a breakdown of the key stats, followed by the full list of confirmed transfers.

Transfer Stats at a Glance:

• Total players in: 10
• Total players out: 43
• Mid-season exits: 10
• Retirements: 7
• International signings: 4
• Fly-halves lost: 4 (Byrne, Burns, Hanrahan, Morgan)
• Most departures: Ulster (17)
• Fewest departures: Connacht (7)

Notable New Signings:

• Rieko Ioane – Leinster
• Angus Bell – Ulster
• Juarno Augustus – Ulster
• Sam Gilbert – Connacht

Notable Retirements:

• Cian Healy – Leinster
• Peter O’Mahony – Munster
• Dave Kilcoyne – Munster
• Stephen Archer – Munster
• Andy Warwick – Ulster
• Marty Moore – Ulster
• Reuben Crothers – Ulster

Munster Transfers – 2025/26

Players In:

• JJ Hanrahan – Fly-half, 32 (from Connacht)
• Dan Kelly – Centre, 24 (from Leicester, ENG)
• Conor Ryan – Lock, 21 (from UCC)
• Andrew Smith – Winger 24 (from Connacht)

Players Out:

• Stephen Archer – Prop, 37 – Retired
• Dave Kilcoyne – Prop, 36 – Retired
• Peter O’Mahony – Back row, 35 – Retired
• Jack Daly – Back row, 26
• Cian Hurley – Back row, 25
• Conor Murray – Scrum-half, 36
• Billy Burns – Fly-half, 31
• Liam Coombes – Winger, 28
• Patrick Campbell – Fullback, 22
• Dian Bleuler – Prop, 25 (returned to Sharks, RSA)
• Eoghan Clarke – Hooker, 27 (to Saracens)
• Scott Buckley – Hooker, 25 (loan to Ealing Trailfinders)
• Bryan Fitzgerald – Centre, 26

Leinster Transfers – 2025/26

Players In:

• Rieko Ioane – Centre, 28 (from Blues, NZL)

Players Out:

• Cian Healy – Prop, 37 – Retired
• Ross Byrne – Fly-half, 30 (to Gloucester)
• Jordie Barrett – Centre, 28 (returned to Hurricanes)
• Rob Russell – Winger, 26
• Liam Turner – Winger, 25
• Rory McGuire – Prop, 22 (to Ulster)
• Ben Brownlee – Centre, 22
• Aitzol King – Winger, 23
• Michael Milne – Prop, 25 (loan to Munster)
• Lee Barron – Hooker, 24 (to Munster)

Ulster Transfers – 2025/26

Players In:

• Sam Crean – Prop, 25 (from Saracens)
• Angus Bell – Prop, 24 (from Waratahs)
• Juarno Augustus – Back row, 27 (from Northampton)
• Rory McGuire – Prop, 22 (from Leinster)

Players Out:

• Andy Warwick – Prop, 34
• Corrie Barrett – Prop, 27
• Alan O’Connor – Lock, 32
• Kieran Treadwell – Lock, 29 (to Harlequins)
• Matty Rea – Back row, 31
• Reuben Crothers – Back row, 23 – Retired
• John Cooney – Scrum-half, 35 (to Brive)
• Michael McDonald – Scrum-half, 26
• Aidan Morgan – Fly-half, 24
• Jack Boal – Prop, 22
• Cameron Doak – Prop, 18
• Zac Solomon – Hooker, 21
• Ben McFarlane – Winger, 20
• Rory Telfer – Fullback, 21
• Marty Moore – Prop, 34 – Retired
• Tadgh McElroy – Hooker, 28 (to Sale)
• Aaron Sexton – Winger, 24

Connacht Transfers – 2025/26

Players In:

• Sam Gilbert – Winger, 26 (from Highlanders)

Players Out:

• Conor Oliver – Back row, 29
• JJ Hanrahan – Fly-half, 32 (to Munster)
• Piers O’Conor – Centre, 29 (to Edinburgh)
• Santiago Cordero – Winger, 31
• Adam McBurney – Hooker, 28 (to Dinamo Bucharest)
• John Porch – Winger, 31 (to Vannes)
• Andrew Smith – Winger, 24 (loan to Munster)

Conclusion

With some of Ireland’s most iconic players hanging up their boots, and key internationals either joining or leaving, the 2025/26 season promises to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Ulster lead the clearout, while Munster and Leinster lose long-time leaders. Will academy graduates step up, or will recruitment spike again in 2026?

Stay tuned to SportsNewsIreland.com for further updates, pre-season previews, and exclusive player interviews.

The post 2025/26 Irish Rugby Transfers – Full List of Ins and Outs Across All Four Provinces appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.