Leinster Rugby Stays Perfect In URC Play With Win Over Ulster
Leinster Rugby Stays Perfect In URC Play With Win Over Ulster
United Rugby Championship action returned with an Irish Derby, as Leinster Rugby traveled to Belfast to face Ulster.
The United Rugby Championship is back after a monthlong hiatus, albeit briefly, as the teams get one more match in before starting the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup play.
And two teams that will be competing for the European Championship kick things off at 2:35 p.m. ET in Belfast, as Ulster Rugby hosts the top team in the URC, Leinster Rugby.
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So far, Leinster Rugby has looked unstoppable with a 6-0-0 record and five bonus point wins.
But Ulster Rugby at home in Belfast is one of the toughest clubs to beat in the world. Ulster is 3-0-0 at home and and 3-0-3 overall, with a win over the defending champion Glasgow Warriors in Belfast. They've already won an Irish Derby at home, beating Connacht earlier this year.
But Leinster, one of the heavy favorites to win the Investec Champions Cup, has been rolling.
Both teams could be down several key players, with the Ireland Rugby national team playing its final international match of the season against Australia at 10:10 a.m. on Nov. 30, making the match even more intriguing.
Relive the game below!
Full Time! Leinster Wins!
Still undefeated in the 2024-2025 season, Leinster will be happy to have come away with the win, but there will be plenty to work on.
Ulster will be happy to have at least held on to a losing bonus point, but that match was there for the taking, which will frustrate head coach Richie Murphy.
Thank you for tuning in to our live updates of this match, and don't forget, you can catch all of the URC live, and exclusively, on FloRugby, so check out our subscription packages. ULSTER 20 - LEINSTER 27.
Player Of The Match - Jimmy O'Brien
Leinster's fullback marks his impressive comeback from injury with a well-deserved player-of-the-match award.
TRY! Leinster! James Culhane! Min 72
That was a huge moment, with Leinster pulling off a trick play from the line-out. Snyman popped the ball to a pod on his inside, which barged straight through the Ulster defense.
Ross Byrne misses the conversion, so Ulster still has a chance. ULS 20 - LEI 27.
Error Strewn
The past 10 minutes have been sloppy from both sides; neither team is willing to take a risk, and as such, plays have broken down before they've even fully developed.
Leinster is squeezing the hosts, especially during scrum time, and continues to pin Ulster deep in its own half.
TRY! Leinster! Jimmy O'Brien! Min 60
That was a proper Leinster try! Direct and confrontational before putting the ball through the hands, where Jimmy O'Brien was a willing recipient.
That was a nice moment for the Irish international, who has struggled with injuries of late.
Ross Byrne missed the conversion, but Leinster leads. ULS 20 - LEI 22
TRY! Ulster! Ben Carson! Min 55
The Ulster back spins through the Leinster defense for a superb try! The match officials are checking for a knock-on five phases ago, but that was an incredible strength from Ulster's back.
Doak converts, and the home side is back on top! ULS 20 - LEI 17.
Ulster Substitutions
Ulster has changed its entire front row, and Nick Timoney is back on the pitch!
Ulster might just have caught a break here, with Jimmy O'Brien kicking out on the full.
Nathan Doak goes with a clever high ball, which forces Andrew Osborne into a knock-on, and now the home side has a scrum, 8 meters out from the Leinster try line.
TRY! Leinster! Jordan Larmour! Min 49
Ulster could not deny the hosts, who have hogged possession in the second half so far.
In the end, it was the magic feet of Jordan Larmour, who stepped his way to the try line. Ross Byrne converts, and Leinster is in front. ULS 13 - LEI 17.
Huge Defensive Shift From Ulster!
That was huge from the home side!
Down a player, and they win a massive turnover to clear their lines and earn some respite from the Leinster waves of attack.
Leinster has made a substitution, with World Cup-winning secondrow RG Snyman coming on.
Yellow Card! Ulster! Nick Timoney
Clear head contact from Ulster's backrow Nick Timoney with Leinster backrow Scott Penny.
Because the collision was passive, Timoney will just be on a yellow card, which is rather fortunate, as it could've been red. Leinster goes to the corner from the penalty.
Good News For Leinster
Max Deegan has emerged after the halftime break, so Leinster now has its full back row on the park, with Scott Penny also back from a HIA.
Second Half Underway
Aidan Morgan gets us underway, and Leinster immediately pins Ulster back into its own 22, where they win a line-out.
The visitors are probing their host's edge defense, as they up the pace and attack the wider channels.
Halftime Report
A very competitive and error-strewn half comes to an end with Ulster stealing a Leinster line-out, before John Cooney boots the ball off the park.
Neither side has quite hit the levels they would've hoped in attack through that half, but defensively, they have been clinical. Ulster leads Leinster 13-10 at the break.
Injury Run Continues
Another injury has occurred, and this time, it is Ulster replacement Ben Moxham who is forced off the pitch, with scrumhalf John Cooney shifting into the backline. This has been a brutal first half of action.
War Of Attrition
Ulster is doing a solid job at retaining possession, but the Leinster defense, by and large, has the answers, forcing handling issues for their hosts.
This match has been a war of attrition already, with Leinster backrow Max Deegan departing the action. Ulster has not been spared the injuries, with winger Werner Kok off the park.
PENALTY! Ulster! Min 29!
Leinster will be disappointed with that; they appeared to be gaining some ascendancy, but sloppy play and ill-discipline hands Ulster a chance to get back in front. ULS 13 - LEI 10.
PENALTY! Leinster! Min 16!
Byrne offsets Doak's penalty, and we are once again level! ULS 10 - LEI 10.
PENALTY! Ulster! Min 12
Nathan Doak nudges his team back into the lead. ULS 10 - LEI 7.
TRY! Leinster! Min 10!
We are back on level footing here in Belfast, as veteran scrumhalf Luke McGrath gets over for his side.
Ross Byrne converts! ULS 7 - LEI 7.
TRY! Ulster! Min 5!
The home side is up and running through center Ben Carson!
Nathan Doak converts, and the home team is looking good! ULS 7 - LEI 0.
Underway In Belfast!
Ross Byrne gets us underway in Belfast; the Leinster fly-half will look to lay down a marker following his snubbing of Irish selection this November. If he can have a strong showing here, could he hold off Sam Prendergast and Ciaran Frawley heading into the Investec Champions Cup?
Kickoff!
We are moments away from getting underway here at a sold-out Kingspan Stadium, as Irish Rugby's oldest rivalry renews!
Leinster has arrived in Belfast with an experienced and stacked squad of international players, while Ulster has some gems in its rebuilding squad, which should make this an entertaining shootout!
A Test Of Resilience And Rivalry
The centenary clash comes with added significance, as Ulster celebrates its historic Ravenhill roots.
Richie Murphy’s men aim to bounce back from mixed results this season, while Leo Cullen’s Leinster arrives with momentum following a commanding win over the Lions.
Both teams boast proven match-winners, from Leinster’s in-form internationals to Ulster’s seasoned leaders like Alan O’Connor.
Fans can expect a fiercely contested encounter under the Friday night lights, where tradition and ambition collide in what promises to be another gripping chapter in this storied rivalry.
Ulster Seeks Home Comforts Against Unbeaten Leinster
Leinster entered the contest in formidable form, unbeaten across six rounds and sitting six points clear atop the table.
Ulster, however, will draw confidence from an eight-game winning streak at Kingspan Stadium, including victories in its last four home matches against Irish provinces.
Prop Scott Wilson and fullback Stewart Moore bolster the starting XV, while Leinster makes 11 changes to its lineup, which still features heavyweights such as Ross Byrne, Jordan Larmour and Jack Conan.
With Leinster excelling in attack, boasting 28 tries this season, Ulster’s defense faces a stern challenge.
Ulster Vs. Leinster: A Historic Rivalry At Kingspan Stadium
The stage is set for a thrilling interprovincial derby, as Ulster hosts league-leading Leinster in Round 7 of the United Rugby Championship.
This match marks 100 years of Ravenhill (now Kingspan Stadium), where Ulster first faced Leinster in 1924, securing a 14-6 victory.
Ulster, sitting seventh in the standings, looks to reclaim momentum after their heartbreaking 21-19 loss to Cardiff last month.
Despite being without key players due to international duty, the return of Nick Timoney and hooker Tom Stewart from injury adds much-needed depth to Richie Murphy’s squad.
How To Watch Ulster Vs. Leinster Rugby
The match is streaming live in the United States on FloRugby and the FloSports app. Match replays, highlights and breaking news will be on both platforms.
Ulster Vs. Leinster Kickoff Time
The match is set for 2:35 p.m. ET at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, Ireland.
URC Standings Table After Round 6
Rank | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | For | Against | Pts Diff | Bonus | Points |
1 | Leinster | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 185 | 72 | 113 | 5 | 29 |
2 | Glasgow Warriors | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 198 | 114 | 84 | 7 | 23 |
3 | Vodacom Bulls | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 137 | 94 | 43 | 3 | 19 |
4 | Emirates Lions | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 129 | 95 | 34 | 2 | 18 |
5 | Connacht | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 163 | 160 | 3 | 6 | 18 |
6 | Scarlets | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 136 | 117 | 19 | 2 | 16 |
7 | Ulster | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 150 | 161 | -11 | 4 | 16 |
8 | Cardiff Rugby | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 130 | 155 | -25 | 4 | 16 |
9 | Hollywoodbets Sharks | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 142 | 152 | -10 | 3 | 15 |
10 | Edinburgh | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 146 | 147 | -1 | 5 | 13 |
11 | Benetton | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 119 | 145 | -26 | 3 | 13 |
12 | Munster | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 146 | 176 | -30 | 4 | 12 |
13 | Stormers | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 118 | 127 | -9 | 2 | 10 |
14 | Ospreys | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 111 | 148 | -37 | 2 | 10 |
15 | Dragons RFC | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 106 | 173 | -67 | 3 | 7 |
16 | Zebre | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 84 | 164 | -80 | 3 | 7 |
URC Rugby Schedule For Round 7 Fixtures
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URC Rugby Fixtures Friday, Nov. 29
URC Rugby Fixtures Saturday, Nov. 30
- 10 a.m. ET - Sharks vs. DHL Stormers
- 12:15 p.m. ET - Cardiff vs. Dragons
- 12:30 p.m. ET - Connacht vs. Vodacom Bulls
- 2:35 p.m. ET - Munster vs. Lions
- 2:35 p.m. ET - Zebre Parma vs. Ospreys
- 2:35 p.m. ET - Edinburgh vs. Benetton
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