It’s been a tough couple of weeks for Connacht, and unless a big response is delivered against Ulster in Galway this evening, that disappointing run will rumble into the New Year.
Stuart Lancaster’s team have the look of a group badly in need of a lift. Last weekend’s heavy defeat to the Dragons must have been an alarming day for the former England coach, and what happens next could well shape the rest of their season.
Connacht's Cian Prendergast, referee Eoghan Cross and Ulster's Nick Timoney at the coin toss. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
27 Dec 2025
5:25PM
Five minutes to go. Call it?
Poll Results:
Connacht win (41)
Ulster win (28)
Draw (2)
27 Dec 2025
5:31PM
KICK-OFF! We’re off, Ulster’s Jack Murphy getting us underway.
27 Dec 2025
5:33PM
1′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Connacht clear and Ulster have a lineout on halfway. Cormac Izuchkwu gets his hands on the ball and they get away.
27 Dec 2025
5:34PM
3′ – CON 0-0 ULS: A bit of over and back, before Jack Carty puts the Connacht defence under pressure with a misplaced pass but they clear their lines.
27 Dec 2025
5:38PM
5′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Cat and mouse early doors, a Jacob Stockdale miscued kick working out fortuitously. His next works out how he wanted.
In the interim, Connacht overthrow a lineout. Scrappy enough start as both sides look to gain a foothold.
27 Dec 2025
5:40PM
8′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Ulster scrum around the middle after a Connacht knock-on.
27 Dec 2025
5:44PM
12′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Connacht look to get going, Carty launching a penalty to the corner. The hosts try to move through the gears, buoyed by Finlay Bealham being pinged for not releasing but they’re eventually broken down and Murphy clears.
They’re on the front foot once more…
27 Dec 2025
5:46PM
14′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Carty tries a crossfield kick, Scott Wilson collects under pressure from David O’Connor, I think it was.
It’s brought back for a kickable penalty, Sam Gilbert drags wide to groans from the crowd.
27 Dec 2025
5:49PM
16′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Connacht bounce back from the missed penalty and look to move through the phases. Murphy intervenes and tries to break, Carty looks aggrieved and we go to the TMO.
Murphy sees yellow for a deliberate knock on. Can Connacht capitalise with an extra man for a period?
27 Dec 2025
5:52PM
18′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Ulster penalty after brilliant pressure from Werner Kok forcing the turnover. Connacht had been looking good there with some big carries, the northern province will be happy to have cleared their lines.
27 Dec 2025
5:53PM
20′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Now it’s Connacht who are celebrating after good work from Bealham in the scrum. Carty finds touch, and the hosts look to lay another attacking platform.
27 Dec 2025
5:56PM
22′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Great line from Connacht, with Carty prominent, but again their pressure doesn’t result in points…
Ulster win a penalty for ‘foul play’ and tempers boil over, with Dave Heffernan spoken to.
27 Dec 2025
5:57PM
23′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Huge roars around Dexcom for what the home support feel was an Ulster knockon under a high kick. Play resumes…
27 Dec 2025
5:59PM
TRY FOR CONNACHT! Finn Treacy. Brilliant try, as Connacht make their pressure – and numerical advantage – count. Gilbert adds the extras. 7-0.
27 Dec 2025
6:02PM
28′ – CON 7-0 ULS: The lineout struggles continue, with Ulster’s latest deemed crooked. Murphy is back on the field for Ulster. It’s been frantic enough since the try, the ball continually changing hands, but Connacht are on the charge once more.
27 Dec 2025
6:07PM
30′ – CON 10-0 ULS: Gilbert nails a penalty in front of the posts, won after more good work from Bealham in a 5m scrum. Connacht have been really bright going forward, and again, they come away with points.
TRY FOR ULSTER! Zac Ward crosses, the score confirmed after a TMO check. Murphy adds the extras. 10-7, 34 minutes gone.
27 Dec 2025
6:14PM
35′ – CON 10-7 ULS: That’s a big response from Ulster, and much needed points after very little attack. The last ruck was checked for a knock-on, with a foot on the ball, but Cross said there was “nothing clear and obvious” to chalk the try off.
27 Dec 2025
6:17PM
39′ – CON 10-7 ULS: Cross isn’t happy with the scrum, having a word with both sides and asking them to “be better” – mainly higher. His hand is up before Ulster put the ball in, and they have a penalty. One more chance for the visitors before the break…
27 Dec 2025
6:19PM
TRY FOR ULSTER! Ward again! Ulster go from coast to coast and the wing applies the finish wide left. Murphy’s conversion hits the post. That’s that, and they lead 12-10 at the break.
So Ulster come from behind to lead 12-10 after two Zac Ward tries. They haven’t spent a whole lot of time in the Connacht ’22, but have two tries to their name.
They defended for much of the first half, Connacht slick in attack in places but lacking a clinical edge with Finn Treacy scoring their only try. The hosts will be disappointed not to have capitalised further on an Ulster sin-bin, too.
Ulster go in with their tails up, but this is in the balance. Big second half ahead!
SECOND-HALF: Carty gets the game underway again, Ulster return the kick by finding touch and we’re off.
27 Dec 2025
6:37PM
42′ – CON 10-12 ULS: Connacht move through the gears from the subsequent line out, enjoying much of the early possession. Carty is down receiving treatment.
27 Dec 2025
6:39PM
43′ – CON 10-12 ULS: Carty is unhappy for what he deems a late tackle, and he’s pulled for a word by Cross. “Don’t speak to me like that again” is the jist of it. “Yes, sir,” says Carty.
Shortly after play resumes, a flashpoint follows. I missed it in real time, but will update…
27 Dec 2025
6:42PM
43′ – CON 10-12 ULS: The TMO is taking a look, with McCloskey and Aki central characters. Both are being yellow carded, McCloskey deemed to have started it and Aki’s reaction “unacceptable”.
27 Dec 2025
6:45PM
44′ – CON 10-12 ULS: Connacht hold up an Ulster rolling maul as tempers flare once more. This game is on a knife-edge, tempers and tensions rising.
Connacht win a penalty from the subsequent scrum and Carty clears their lines. A sigh of relief breathed as they deny Ulster, and look to go again.
27 Dec 2025
6:46PM
46′ – CON 10-12 ULS: Connacht make a meal of the line out, though. Ulster pounce and look to get on the front foot again…
27 Dec 2025
6:47PM
TRY FOR ULSTER! Werner Kok! He has been excellent tonight, and now he has his try
A brilliant team move from Ulster, with the finishing touches applied by Kok. They completely stretched Connacht, making it look easy.
Murphy adds the extras. 19-10.
27 Dec 2025
6:49PM
48′ – CON 10-19 ULS: Connacht make a change, Josh Ioane coming on for Jack Carty. Ulster shuffled their deck at the break, with Angus Bell and Tom O’Toole replacing Sam Crean and Scott Wilson.
27 Dec 2025
6:51PM
51′ – CON 10-19 ULS: Connacht penalised for a collapsing scrum, Bealham is not happy. Ulster make another switch, with Doak in for McKee, as they breach the Connacht ’22 once more.
27 Dec 2025
6:53PM
52′ – CON 10-19 ULS: Less than 5m out, Ulster win a penalty for offside. Murphy doesn’t know whether to go for the posts or the corner, he opts for the latter after some discussion…
27 Dec 2025
6:55PM
PENALTY TRY FOR ULSTER! Tom Stewart to the fore in a powerful line out maul.
Joe Joyce is shown yellow for an infringement amidst all.
26-10.
27 Dec 2025
6:57PM
57′ CON 10-26 ULS: That’s the bonus point wrapped up before the hour mark for Ulster. Connacht make a raft of changes with Duggan, Barrett and Devine all introduced. Aki and McCloskey both return from the sin-bin.
27 Dec 2025
6:59PM
58′ CON 10-26 ULS: The stop-start nature of this second half continues with Tierney-Martin replacing Heffernan for Connacht. The hosts need to get points on the board fast here. Five minutes left down a man.
27 Dec 2025
7:04PM
62′ CON 10-26 ULS: Connacht have enjoyed a bit more pressure of late, Gilbert kicking to the corner and his side changing tack with the rolling maul not on. They move through the phases, from right to left and back again, in search of a try.
Ulster hold firm and they’re eventually pinged for offside. Poor stuff. Ulster exit from the scrum, a penalty helping them on their way.
27 Dec 2025
7:07PM
64′ – CON 10-26 ULS: Ulster look to break, but fumble around the middle through Juarno Augustus. He looks to have injured himself in the process, he’s down getting treatment on his ankle.
27 Dec 2025
7:08PM
64′ CON 10-26 ULS: And off he goes on the cart. Hopefully nothing too serious.
Tempers flare between Ulster's Stuart McCloskey and Bundee Aki of Connacht. Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
27 Dec 2025
7:10PM
TRY FOR CONNACHT! Sean Jansen! Maybe it’s not over yet!
Brilliant speed from the Connacht attack makes it impossible for Ulster to defend, with Ione, Devine and Gilbert all prominent before Jansen lands.
27 Dec 2025
7:11PM
Gilbert’s conversion is good. 26-17.
27 Dec 2025
7:15PM
70′ – CON 17-26 ULS: That’s injected a bit more noise and colour into what was turning into a flat, eery Dexcom Stadium.
Ulster look to hit back immediately and take the wind out of the Connacht sails. An interesting last few minutes ahead…
27 Dec 2025
7:17PM
72′ – CON 17-26 ULS: Aki turns them over as Ulster’s latest attack is snuffed out. Superb work to keep Stockdale at bay and win a crucial penalty. Can they use this as a launchpad?
27 Dec 2025
7:20PM
74′ – CON 17-26 ULS: Ulster win the ball back and look to go on the charge down the right, Stockdale releasing Kok but he fumbles and knocks on to the delight of the home crowd.
They soar off the subsequent scrum, with Ioane showing lightning speed to gain some territory. He fires out to Hawkshaw, who wins a penalty and off they go to the corner…
27 Dec 2025
7:22PM
TRY FOR CONNACHT! Matthew Devine!
The extras are added, 24-26.
Grandstand finish here?! That was brilliant, Connacht prodding and probing and Devine pouncing for the score.
27 Dec 2025
7:23PM
78′ – CON 24-26 ULS: Ulster have hands on the ball, can they protect their lead and see this out?
27 Dec 2025
7:25PM
Ulster have a penalty, Murphy going for the posts…
27 Dec 2025
7:25PM
Murphy scores just as the clock goes into the red! 29-24 to Ulster.
27 Dec 2025
7:26PM
Cormac Izuchukwu is named Man of the Match, he got through some amount of work tonight!
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
27 Dec 2025
7:34PM
Sin é in Galway, Ulster winning 29-24 after tries from Zac Ward (two), Werner Kok and a penalty try. Their kicking was key too, with Murphy sealing victory at the death as they held off Connacht’s fightback. It was ultimately too little, too late from the hosts.
That’s all from me on liveblog duty, but Ciarán Kennedy’s match report from Dexcom Stadium will be on The 42 imminently.
Onwards to Munster v Leinster now, where Gavan Casey and Murray Kinsella will bring you all the coverage. Pour another Baileys, heat up another mince pie, and get stuck in!
Enjoy the rest of your Christmas, and Happy New Year to all.
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As it happened: Connacht v Ulster, URC
Good evening, and welcome along to The 42’s live coverage of Connacht versus Ulster in the URC.
Hope everyone is having a lovely Christmas — and is ready for a big evening of interpro derbies.
All eyes on Dexcom Stadium first, before Munster welcome Leinster to Thomond Park later.
Ciarán Kennedy and Murray Kinsella are in Galway and Limerick respectively, with myself, Emma Duffy, and Gavan Casey on liveblog duty.
Pour yourself a Baileys and heat up a mince pie — we’ll do our best to keep you up to date across the evening.
Kick-off at Dexcom is 5.30pm, with the action live on TG4 and Premier Sports 1.
A reminder of the teams, as announced on Christmas Eve…
Connacht
Replacements
Ulster
Replacements
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
One change to the Connacht bench. Ulster are as named.
It’s been a tough couple of weeks for Connacht, and unless a big response is delivered against Ulster in Galway this evening, that disappointing run will rumble into the New Year.
Stuart Lancaster’s team have the look of a group badly in need of a lift. Last weekend’s heavy defeat to the Dragons must have been an alarming day for the former England coach, and what happens next could well shape the rest of their season.
Five minutes to go. Call it?
Poll Results:
KICK-OFF! We’re off, Ulster’s Jack Murphy getting us underway.
1′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Connacht clear and Ulster have a lineout on halfway. Cormac Izuchkwu gets his hands on the ball and they get away.
3′ – CON 0-0 ULS: A bit of over and back, before Jack Carty puts the Connacht defence under pressure with a misplaced pass but they clear their lines.
5′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Cat and mouse early doors, a Jacob Stockdale miscued kick working out fortuitously. His next works out how he wanted.
In the interim, Connacht overthrow a lineout. Scrappy enough start as both sides look to gain a foothold.
8′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Ulster scrum around the middle after a Connacht knock-on.
12′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Connacht look to get going, Carty launching a penalty to the corner. The hosts try to move through the gears, buoyed by Finlay Bealham being pinged for not releasing but they’re eventually broken down and Murphy clears.
They’re on the front foot once more…
14′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Carty tries a crossfield kick, Scott Wilson collects under pressure from David O’Connor, I think it was.
It’s brought back for a kickable penalty, Sam Gilbert drags wide to groans from the crowd.
16′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Connacht bounce back from the missed penalty and look to move through the phases. Murphy intervenes and tries to break, Carty looks aggrieved and we go to the TMO.
Murphy sees yellow for a deliberate knock on. Can Connacht capitalise with an extra man for a period?
18′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Ulster penalty after brilliant pressure from Werner Kok forcing the turnover. Connacht had been looking good there with some big carries, the northern province will be happy to have cleared their lines.
20′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Now it’s Connacht who are celebrating after good work from Bealham in the scrum. Carty finds touch, and the hosts look to lay another attacking platform.
22′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Great line from Connacht, with Carty prominent, but again their pressure doesn’t result in points…
Ulster win a penalty for ‘foul play’ and tempers boil over, with Dave Heffernan spoken to.
23′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Huge roars around Dexcom for what the home support feel was an Ulster knockon under a high kick. Play resumes…
TRY FOR CONNACHT! Finn Treacy. Brilliant try, as Connacht make their pressure – and numerical advantage – count. Gilbert adds the extras. 7-0.
28′ – CON 7-0 ULS: The lineout struggles continue, with Ulster’s latest deemed crooked. Murphy is back on the field for Ulster. It’s been frantic enough since the try, the ball continually changing hands, but Connacht are on the charge once more.
30′ – CON 10-0 ULS: Gilbert nails a penalty in front of the posts, won after more good work from Bealham in a 5m scrum. Connacht have been really bright going forward, and again, they come away with points.
Here’s a look at the only try of the game so far…
What a finish from Finn Treacy!
TRY FOR ULSTER! Zac Ward crosses, the score confirmed after a TMO check. Murphy adds the extras. 10-7, 34 minutes gone.
35′ – CON 10-7 ULS: That’s a big response from Ulster, and much needed points after very little attack. The last ruck was checked for a knock-on, with a foot on the ball, but Cross said there was “nothing clear and obvious” to chalk the try off.
39′ – CON 10-7 ULS: Cross isn’t happy with the scrum, having a word with both sides and asking them to “be better” – mainly higher. His hand is up before Ulster put the ball in, and they have a penalty. One more chance for the visitors before the break…
TRY FOR ULSTER! Ward again! Ulster go from coast to coast and the wing applies the finish wide left. Murphy’s conversion hits the post. That’s that, and they lead 12-10 at the break.
HALF-TIME: Connacht 10-12 Ulster
So Ulster come from behind to lead 12-10 after two Zac Ward tries. They haven’t spent a whole lot of time in the Connacht ’22, but have two tries to their name.
They defended for much of the first half, Connacht slick in attack in places but lacking a clinical edge with Finn Treacy scoring their only try. The hosts will be disappointed not to have capitalised further on an Ulster sin-bin, too.
Ulster go in with their tails up, but this is in the balance. Big second half ahead!
Here’s Zac Ward’s first-half brace…
SECOND-HALF: Carty gets the game underway again, Ulster return the kick by finding touch and we’re off.
42′ – CON 10-12 ULS: Connacht move through the gears from the subsequent line out, enjoying much of the early possession. Carty is down receiving treatment.
43′ – CON 10-12 ULS: Carty is unhappy for what he deems a late tackle, and he’s pulled for a word by Cross. “Don’t speak to me like that again” is the jist of it. “Yes, sir,” says Carty.
Shortly after play resumes, a flashpoint follows. I missed it in real time, but will update…
43′ – CON 10-12 ULS: The TMO is taking a look, with McCloskey and Aki central characters. Both are being yellow carded, McCloskey deemed to have started it and Aki’s reaction “unacceptable”.
44′ – CON 10-12 ULS: Connacht hold up an Ulster rolling maul as tempers flare once more. This game is on a knife-edge, tempers and tensions rising.
Connacht win a penalty from the subsequent scrum and Carty clears their lines. A sigh of relief breathed as they deny Ulster, and look to go again.
46′ – CON 10-12 ULS: Connacht make a meal of the line out, though. Ulster pounce and look to get on the front foot again…
TRY FOR ULSTER! Werner Kok! He has been excellent tonight, and now he has his try
A brilliant team move from Ulster, with the finishing touches applied by Kok. They completely stretched Connacht, making it look easy.
Murphy adds the extras. 19-10.
48′ – CON 10-19 ULS: Connacht make a change, Josh Ioane coming on for Jack Carty. Ulster shuffled their deck at the break, with Angus Bell and Tom O’Toole replacing Sam Crean and Scott Wilson.
51′ – CON 10-19 ULS: Connacht penalised for a collapsing scrum, Bealham is not happy. Ulster make another switch, with Doak in for McKee, as they breach the Connacht ’22 once more.
52′ – CON 10-19 ULS: Less than 5m out, Ulster win a penalty for offside. Murphy doesn’t know whether to go for the posts or the corner, he opts for the latter after some discussion…
PENALTY TRY FOR ULSTER! Tom Stewart to the fore in a powerful line out maul.
Joe Joyce is shown yellow for an infringement amidst all.
26-10.
57′ CON 10-26 ULS: That’s the bonus point wrapped up before the hour mark for Ulster. Connacht make a raft of changes with Duggan, Barrett and Devine all introduced. Aki and McCloskey both return from the sin-bin.
58′ CON 10-26 ULS: The stop-start nature of this second half continues with Tierney-Martin replacing Heffernan for Connacht. The hosts need to get points on the board fast here. Five minutes left down a man.
62′ CON 10-26 ULS: Connacht have enjoyed a bit more pressure of late, Gilbert kicking to the corner and his side changing tack with the rolling maul not on. They move through the phases, from right to left and back again, in search of a try.
Ulster hold firm and they’re eventually pinged for offside. Poor stuff. Ulster exit from the scrum, a penalty helping them on their way.
64′ – CON 10-26 ULS: Ulster look to break, but fumble around the middle through Juarno Augustus. He looks to have injured himself in the process, he’s down getting treatment on his ankle.
64′ CON 10-26 ULS: And off he goes on the cart. Hopefully nothing too serious.
TRY FOR CONNACHT! Sean Jansen! Maybe it’s not over yet!
Brilliant speed from the Connacht attack makes it impossible for Ulster to defend, with Ione, Devine and Gilbert all prominent before Jansen lands.
Gilbert’s conversion is good. 26-17.
70′ – CON 17-26 ULS: That’s injected a bit more noise and colour into what was turning into a flat, eery Dexcom Stadium.
Ulster look to hit back immediately and take the wind out of the Connacht sails. An interesting last few minutes ahead…
72′ – CON 17-26 ULS: Aki turns them over as Ulster’s latest attack is snuffed out. Superb work to keep Stockdale at bay and win a crucial penalty. Can they use this as a launchpad?
74′ – CON 17-26 ULS: Ulster win the ball back and look to go on the charge down the right, Stockdale releasing Kok but he fumbles and knocks on to the delight of the home crowd.
They soar off the subsequent scrum, with Ioane showing lightning speed to gain some territory. He fires out to Hawkshaw, who wins a penalty and off they go to the corner…
TRY FOR CONNACHT! Matthew Devine!
The extras are added, 24-26.
Grandstand finish here?! That was brilliant, Connacht prodding and probing and Devine pouncing for the score.
78′ – CON 24-26 ULS: Ulster have hands on the ball, can they protect their lead and see this out?
Ulster have a penalty, Murphy going for the posts…
Murphy scores just as the clock goes into the red! 29-24 to Ulster.
Cormac Izuchukwu is named Man of the Match, he got through some amount of work tonight!
FULL-TIME: Connacht 24-29 Ulster
Sin é in Galway, Ulster winning 29-24 after tries from Zac Ward (two), Werner Kok and a penalty try. Their kicking was key too, with Murphy sealing victory at the death as they held off Connacht’s fightback. It was ultimately too little, too late from the hosts.
That’s all from me on liveblog duty, but Ciarán Kennedy’s match report from Dexcom Stadium will be on The 42 imminently.
Onwards to Munster v Leinster now, where Gavan Casey and Murray Kinsella will bring you all the coverage. Pour another Baileys, heat up another mince pie, and get stuck in!
Enjoy the rest of your Christmas, and Happy New Year to all.
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