Category: Connacht

492 : Connacht v Leinster wrap

24 January 2026; Charlie Tector of Leinster scores his side’s third try despite the efforts of Caolin Blade of Connacht during the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Leinster at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

🏉 Comeback Kings

🏉 The gameplan

🏉 Opening night

🏉 Leinster negatives

🏉 Connacht’s form

THIS WEEK’S GUEST

CIARÁN DUFFY

Post to Post blog

Ciarán’s fundraiser

FULL TIME TAKES

Eamon Saunders

Another win on the road glad to get the 5 points but much improvement needed going forward 👍

Greg Kelly

Connacht were plucky and obvious up for the occasion. They applied a lot of pressure in the opening hour but fell away a bit afterwards. They were looking for big moments but fell short of a real catalyst. Leinster were sputtering along and wasteful in attack…again. Ultimately Leinster were the better team and on the hour you always felt they would pull away. As has been said week after week if we do that against the top opposition we’ll get caned but but was enough against a spirited but limited Connacht team.

Kevin Kelehan

Ireland lost big tonight unless Jack Boyle does a Lazarus, have a good bet on England for the Six Nations. The Leinster scrum did amazingly, Niall Smyth passed his exam as did Sparrow and Jerry Cahir again proving the academy let more than Tadhg Beirne slip through their fingers. Charlie Tector again superb but one of the Connacht back row should have got man of the match for over an hour they had the upper hand. Delighted to take 5 points out of a decent Connacht shift.

Chris McDonnell

Another game where harry shows why he was Leinster’s 4th choice last season. He’s good defensively and can kick goals but he’s got nothing in attack.

James Gill

Harry 💯 % kicking might get him an Ireland start. Charlie Tector should b in the A squad. Prendergast was good for connacht but need a few more forwards badly. Leinster building nicely

Eamon Phelan

Sam illo can scrummage

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URC WRAP

NEXT HARPIN’

TUESDAY

BONUS CHAT : “IRISH 6N SQUAD”

WEDNESDAY

80+ COLUMN 

491 : Connacht v Leinster preview

also available as a podcast

Our guest : NEIL “KEEGO” KEEGAN

www.keegolaughs.com

Apologies Up Front on Apple Podcasts

Leinster: 15 Ciarán Frawley 14 Joshua Kenny 13 Garry Ringrose 12 Charlie Tector 11 James Lowe 10 Harry Byrne 9 Fintan Gunne

1 Jack Boyle 2 Gus McCarthy 3 Niall Smyth 4 RG Snyman 5 James Ryan 6 Alex Soroka 7 Will Connors 8 Caelan Doris (c)

16 Rónan Kelleher 17 Jerry Cahir 18 Andrew Sparrow 19 Brian Deeny 20 Diarmuid Mangan 21 Scott Penny 22 Luke McGrath 23 Ruben Moloney

Connacht : 15 Sam Gilbert 14 Shane Jennings 13 Harry West 12 Cathal Forde 11 Finn Treacy 10 Josh Ioane 9 Caolin Blade

1 Billy Bohan 2 Dylan Tierney‑Martin 3 Sam Illo 4 Josh Murphy 5 Darragh Murray 6 Cian Prendergast (c) 7 Paul Boyle 8 Sean Jansen

16 Eoin de Buitléar 17 Denis Buckley 18 Jack Aungier 19 Joe Joyce 20 Sean O’Brien 21 Ben Murphy 22 Jack Carty 23 Bundee Aki

BKT United Rugby Championship 25/26 – Round 10

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Dexcom Stadium

KO 5:30pm

Live on : Premier Sports 1

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

AR 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

AR 2: Tomás O’Sullivan (IRFU)

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

485: Leinster v Connacht preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

Our guest : NEIL “KEEGO” KEEGAN

www.keegolaughs.com

Apologies Up Front on Apple Podcasts

Leinster: 15. Ciarán Frawley, 14. Tommy O’Brien, 13. Hugh Cooney, 12. Charlie Tector, 11. Joshua Kenny, 10. Sam Prendergast, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan (c), 3. Thomas Clarkson, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. Brian Deeny, 6. Diarmuid Mangan, 7. Will Connors, 8. Jack Conan

16. Gus McCarthy, 17. Jack Boyle, 18. Rabah Slimani, 19. Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 20. Max Deegan, 21. Josh van der Flier, 22. Luke McGrath, 23. Harry Byrne

Connacht: 15. Sam Gilbert, 14. Chay Mullins, 13. David Hawkshaw, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Finn Treacy, 10. Josh Ioane, 9. Matthew Devine

1. Denis Buckley, 2. Dylan Tierney-Martin, 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Joe Joyce, 5. David O’Connor, 6. Josh Murphy, 7. Cian Prendergast (c), 8. Sean Jansen

16. Eoin de Buitlear, 17. Billy Bohan, 18. Fiachna Barrett, 19. Darragh Murray, 20. Paul Boyle, 21. Ben Murphy, 22. Harry West, 23. Cathal Forde

BKT United Rugby Championship 25/26 – Round 9

Saturday, January 3, 2026

Aviva Stadium

KO 5:30pm

Live on : TG4, Premier Sports 1 & URC.tv

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

AR 1: Keane Davison (IRFU)

AR 2: Chris Lough (IRFU)

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

396 : Leinster v Connacht wrap

21 December 2024; RG Snyman of Leinster makes a break past Josh Murphy of Connacht during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Connacht at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

🏉 Makeshift?

🏉 Ref communication

🏉 Well taken tries

🏉 Holding on

🏉 Mackgate

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

TOM COLEMAN

HUGO GORDON

FULL TIME TAKES

Lorcán Murphy

Changes and early injuries proved very disruptive. Came out the right side of a dogfight two weeks running. Better than cakewalks and nothing to show at the end of the season

Eamon Saunders

Not a great game but as I always say a win is a win. Great to see 2 Wexford men on the field Charlie Tector and Brian Deeny

Andrew Bailey

On paper a very strong Connacht team nullified. Just find a Lineout and we could be comfortable

David Ryle

Some dodgy decisions on both sides.

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no 80+ column this week so we’ll include the latest comp updates here

Irish Shield

Celtic Challenge

All Ireland Leagues

WOMEN’S AIL

MEN’S AIL

SVNS

NEXT ROUND : PERTH  JAN 24-26, 202

Premiership

🔝🐱🐴

ProD2

Japan League One

Harpin Prediction League

THIS SEASON THE HPL IS ADDING A NEW KNOCKOUT COMPETITION

CALLED “THE HARPIN MUG” 

(BECAUSE THE PRIZE IS AN ACTUAL MUG SO WE COULDN’T CALL IT A ‘CUP’)

THE SEEDINGS ARE DETERMINED BY THE STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 6

AND YOU CAN SEE THE FULL BRACKET BELOW

395 : Leinster v Connacht preview

ALSO AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST

Our guest : NEIL “KEEGO” KEEGAN

www.keegolaughs.com

Apologies Up Front on Apple Podcasts

LEINSTER : 15. Jimmy O’Brien 14. Aitzol Arenzana-King 13. Charlie Tector 12. Jordie Barrett 11. Andrew Osborne 10. Ross Byrne 9. Luke McGrath

1. Jack Boyle 2. Gus McCarthy 3. Rabah Slimani 4. Diarmuid Mangan 5. RG Snyman 6. Alex Soroka 7. Scott Penny 8. Jack Conan (c)

16. Lee Barron 17. Michael Milne 18. Cian Healy 19. Brian Deeny 20. Ryan Baird 21. Jamison Gibson-Park 22. Harry Byrne 23. Max Deegan

CONNACHT : 15. Piers O’Conor 14. Mack Hansen 13. Cathal Forde 12. Bundee Aki 11. Shane Jennings 10. Josh Ioane 9. Ben Murphy
1. Denis Buckley 2. Dave Heffernan 3. Finlay Bealham 4. Josh Murphy 5. Darragh Murray 6. Cian Prendergast (C) 7. Shamus Hurley-Langton 8. Paul Boyle

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin 17. Jordan Duggan 18. Jack Aungier 19. Oisín Dowling 20. Sean Jansen 21. Caolin Blade 22. Santiago Cordero 23. Conor Oliver

United Rugby Championship 24/25 Rd 8

Saturday, December 21, 2024

KO 5:30pm  Aviva Stadium

Live on: RTÉ2, Premier Sports 1, URC.tv

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

AR 1: Peter Martin (IRFU)

AR 2: Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU)

TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU)

377 : Connacht v Leinster wrap

19 October 2024; Max Deegan of Leinster scores his side’s fourth try, despite the tackle of Connacht’s Shayne Bolton, during the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Leinster at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

🏉 Galway gusts

🏉 Fast start. Again.

🏉 Frawley

🏉 LaRGer than life

🏉 Defence. Again.

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

CONOR CRONIN

CIAN O’MUILLEOIR

FULL TIME TAKES

Jackie McEachern

Happy enough with the Leinster performance. I was nervous when Frawley went off so early but thought Ross did a good job, especially in the conditions. Hope Frawley’s injury isn’t too bad.

Gavin Hegarty

Not much more else you can ask for. Top points from each outing. Yes we kinda let them back in it but we were never not dominant.

Clarkson for me had been coming into his own this season, he’ll be capped soon enough.

So utterly unlucky for frawley, this was his chance for the autumn series.

Craig Grehan

I think the match although winning shows some poorer choices of play by jpg at times.

Shows frawley is like the munster era snyman …and snyman is becoming a fan favourite.

Connacht as always put up a good fight and on another day would get more bang for their buck.

Cormac Mannion

I think we were switched on for a lot longer than last week. Hopefully Frawley’s injury isn’t too bad. Rotten luck for him

https://twitter.com/LeinsterRoyalty/status/1847735920386040209
https://twitter.com/sami_sp/status/1847746982787633384
https://twitter.com/HarpinOnRugby/status/1847735808901730633

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@harpinonrugby

Our Connacht v Leinster wrap pod is now available on Apple, Spotify, etc. #rugbytiktok #irishtiktok #urc

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

376 : Connacht v Leinster preview

also available as a podcast

LEINSTER : 15. Hugo Keenan 14. Liam Turner 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Jamie Osborne 11. Andrew Osborne 10. Ciarán Frawley 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Jack Boyle 2. Gus McCarthy 3. Rabah Slimani 4. RG Snyman 5. James Ryan (c) 6. Max Deegan 7. Will Connors 8. James Culhane

16. Stephen Smyth 17. Andrew Porter 18. Thomas Clarkson 19. Brian Deeny 20. Scott Penny 21. Fintan Gunne 22. Ross Byrne 23. Hugh Cooney 

Connacht : 15. Piers O’Conor 14. Shayne Bolton 13. David Hawkshaw 12. Bundee Aki 11. Santiago Cordero 10. Josh Ioane 9. Ben Murphy

1. Denis Buckley 2. Dave Heffernan 3. Finlay Bealham 4. Joe Joyce 5. Darragh Murray 6. Cian Prendergast (c) 7. Sean O’Brien 8. Paul Boyle

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin 17. Peter Dooley 18. Jack Aungier 19. Niall Murray 20. Sean Jansen 21. Caolin Blade 22. Cathal Forde 23. Hugh Gavin

United Rugby Championship 24/25 Round 5

Saturday, October 19, 2024

KO 7:35pm Dexcom Stadium

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports 1, & URC.tv

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

AR 1: Keane Davison (IRFU)

AR 2: Jonny Erskine (IRFU)

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

352 : Leinster v Connacht wrap

31 May 2024; Jimmy O’Brien of Leinster scores his side’s fifth try during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Connacht at the RDS Arena in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
pod also available on Apple & most major platforms

🏉 Early scores
🏉 Sam composure
🏉 TYVM RR,RM,EB,RDS
🏉 BP eventually
🏉 Tricky path ahead

THIS WEEK’S GUESTS

RICHARD MIFSUD

DAVID CORDIAL

@harpinonrugby

Pod is now available on Apple, Spotify and most major platforms. rugbytiktok LeinsterRugby #URC

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

FULL TIME TAKES

Brian Corr

Connacht seemed way off the pace, it was clear early on so much was going wrong for them.

Ruddock was immense he put everything into that game it was brilliant. Maloney and Byrne were also brilliant and gave excellent performances for their last games. I thought Ala’alatoa was unlucky for his card, yes he was high and he did hit Blades head, I’m not sure he hit it as hard as Blades reaction but that’s my bias(probably?). You could see though he wanted to out in a good shift.

Anyone doubting Leinster’s strength in depth can see in this game why it’s often quoted as being brilliant, no other club could make 14 changes and have a performance as strong as that. Keeping so many players involved and happy at the club is mind blowingly difficult, yet Leo does it year after year.

There was lots of things to like about that game even though 4 of the stalwarts are moving on & one of our backline was pretty jittery it was a pretty excellent performance from the other 19.

Chris McDonnell

Great performance from lots of the lads. Showed how awful last week’s selection was. Jenkins ahead of Molony, no Jimmy o brien , frawley just a lovely attacking player.foley I’d just miles better than mcgrath. Anyways hopefully ruddock and Molony gets to play again for us.

Cuan Mulligan

Felt Sam P had a great game, offered more options than other 10s in the squad. Was integral to a few of the tries; tried things, mixed it up. Should be where we invest and give him as much game time as possible. Might need some extra protein over the summer to bulk up

William Andrew

It was a good indicator of how valuable players like Ross, Max Ed and Ruddock are to Leinster. They provide the steel through a season.

Form was also on display, in some of the younger players

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URC WRAP

ROUND 18 [final round]

LEINSTER 33-7 CONNACHT

GLASGOW 38-26 ZEBRE

STORMERS 29-24 LIONS

BENETTON 31-6 EDINBURGH

SCARLETS 32-15 DRAGONS

SHARKS 14-26 BULLS

MUNSTER 29-24 ULSTER

CARDIFF 29-33 OSPREYS

QUARTERFINALS

FRI JUNE 7

MUNSTER V OSPREYS

SAT JUNE 8

BULLS V BENETTON

LEINSTER V ULSTER

GLASGOW WARRIORS V STORMERS

HARPIN MATCH WRAPS

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AT ELVERYS

351 : Leinster v Connacht Preview

also available as podcast

Our guest : NEIL “KEEGO” KEEGAN

LEINSTER : 15. Jimmy O’Brien 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Jamie Osborne 12. Ciarán Frawley 11. Rob Russell 10. Sam Prendergast 9. Cormac Foley

1. Ed Byrne 2. Rónan Kelleher 3. Thomas Clarkson 4. Ross Molony 5. Brian Deeny 6. Rhys Ruddock 7. Scott Penny (c) 8. Jack Conan

16. Dan Sheehan 17. Michael Milne 18. Michael Ala’alatoa 19. Ryan Baird 20. Max Deegan 21. Luke McGrath 22. Harry Byrne 23. Charlie Ngatai 

CONNACHT : 15. Santiago Cordero 14. Shane Jennings 13. David Hawkshaw 12. Cathal Forde 11. Shane Mallon 10. Jack Carty 9. Caolin Blade

1. Peter Dooley 2. Dave Heffernan 3. Finlay Bealham 4. Joe Joyce 5. Niall Murray 6. Cian Prendergast 7. Conor Oliver 8. Sean Jansen

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin 17. Denis Buckley 18. Jack Aungier 19. Darragh Murray 20. Seán O’Brien 21. Colm Reilly 22. Byron Ralston 23. Tom Daly 

BKT United Rugby Championship 2023/24 Round 18

Friday, May 31, 2024

KO 7:35pm RDS Arena

Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, URC.tv

Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)

AR1: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

AR2: Jonathan Erskine (Ireland)

TMO: Colin Stanley (Ireland)

300 : Connacht v Leinster wrap

2 December 2023; Harry Byrne of Leinster kicks a conversion during the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Leinster at the Sportsground in Galway. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
@harpinonrugby

Our 300th pod featuring a wrap of Connacht v Leinster is now available on Apple, Spotify and most major platforms #rugbytiktoks🏉 #irishtiktok #irelandtiktok

♬ original sound – Harpinonrugby.com – Harpinonrugby.com

🏉 MUN, ULS & 7s reviews

🏉 Set pieces in pieces

🏉 Cutting Blade

🏉 Unforced Error Tennis

🏉 That Frawley Step

THIS WEEK’S GUEST

CONOR CRONIN

FULL TIME TAKES

Andrew Byrne
A last minute try can’t paper over those cracks. We were far below where we should be. Is our squad just too big, all this rotation seems to be causing a lack of cohesion in our playing combinations. I only hope we have a better performance in the bank for next week.

Chris McDonnell
Seriously not good enough. This rotating the whole team had to stop. Too many players just not good enough to play for Leinster.

Darran Kearney
Kinda liking that we are playing so poorly early season, instead of beating everyone out the door and learning nothing. Coaches have 6 months to work with the team for the business end of the season. Hoping we can end this season better than we have in the more recent seasons

Christy O’Connor
Way too much rotation, players playing out of position. Lots of schoolboy errors. Have we not learned anything from the last 2 seasons. We rested players that only played 1 or 2 games. This is now getting ridiculous. Stop giving lads time just for the sake of it. We need to give the core players more time and the others should possibly look to move abroad.

Conor O’Shea
Poor performance, but a wins a win. No major injuries for next week from tonight

Eamon Saunders
A lot of mistakes from both sides but good to get the win 👏👏

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URC ROUND 7 WRAP

ROUND 7

MUNSTER 40-29 GLASGOW

BULLS 44-10 SHARKS

CARDIFF 23-29 SCARLETS

LIONS 49-24 DRAGONS

ULSTER 24-27 EDINBURGH

STORMERS 31-7 ZEBRE

CONNACHT 22-24 LEINSTER

BENETTON18-13 OSPREYS

ROUND 8

FRI DEC 22

GLASGOW WARRIORS V EDINBURGH

ULSTER V CONNACHT

SAT DEC 23

ZEBRE V BENETTON

STORMERS V BULLS

TUE DEC 26

CARDIFF V DRAGONS

SCARLETS V OSPREYS

MUNSTER V LEINSTER

HARPIN MATCH WRAPS

ARE BROUGHT TO YOU BY

THE IRISH RUGBY SHOP

AT ELVERYS