Connacht

24 - 29

Full Time

Ulster

Connacht vs Ulster

Events

Commentary

Live Updates

It's all over! The referee Eoghan Cross has blown their whistle to end the game.

80'

Penalty Goal

Jack Murphy kicks the penalty.

80'

Conversion

Sam Gilbert has kicked a conversion.

76'

Try

Connacht Rugby are stopped just a few metres from the try line but Matthew Devine picks up from the base of the ruck to score the try.

76'

Ulster Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Jake Flannery getting some game time.

74'

Ulster Rugby decide to make a substitution, with James Hume being replaced.

74'

A gap opened in the defence and Josh Ioane took full advantage.

73'

Ulster Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Joe Hopes getting some game time.

72'

Ulster Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Cormac Izuchukwu being replaced.

72'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with David Hawkshaw coming on.

67'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Daniel Ryan coming off.

67'

Conversion

The Connacht Rugby supporters go wild as Sam Gilbert successfully kicks the conversion.

66'

Try

Connacht Rugby are only a few metres out, surely they must score! And they do with Sean Jansen touching down.

65'

Matthew Devine sets up the try.

65'

The defensive line has been broken as Josh Ioane goes through the gap.

65'

Connacht Rugby sub Sean O'Brien comes onto the field.

64'

Joe Joyce departs for Connacht Rugby.

64'

Ulster Rugby sub Bryn Ward comes onto the field.

63'

Juarno Augustus departs for Ulster Rugby.

63'

Ulster Rugby sub Jude Postlethwaite comes onto the field.

63'

Stuart McCloskey departs for Ulster Rugby.

63'

Dylan Tierney-Martin comes on for Connacht Rugby.

57'

Dave Heffernan leaves the field.

57'

Darragh Murray comes on.

53'

David O'Connor comes off.

53'

Fiachna Barrett comes on.

53'

Finlay Bealham comes off.

53'

Matthew Devine comes on.

52'

Ben Murphy comes off.

52'

Jordan Duggan comes on.

52'

Denis Buckley comes off.

52'

The referee has had enough, awarding the penalty try to Ulster Rugby.

52'

Yellow Card

Joe Joyce (Connacht Rugby) is shown a yellow card

52'

Nathan Doak comes on.

50'

Conor McKee comes off.

50'

Connacht Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Josh Ioane getting some game time.

47'

Connacht Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Jack Carty being replaced.

47'

Conversion

Jack Murphy adds the two points for Ulster Rugby.

47'

Try

Slick passing by Ulster Rugby leads to a try for Werner Kok.

46'

Spellbinding play by David McCann is finished off with a try.

46'

David McCann makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

46'

Yellow Card

Stuart McCloskey (Ulster Rugby) is shown a yellow card

42'

Yellow Card

Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby) is shown a yellow card

42'

Ulster Rugby make a substitution with Angus Bell coming on.

40'

Ulster Rugby make a substitution with Sam Crean coming off.

40'

Ulster Rugby make a substitution with Tom O'Toole coming on.

40'

Ulster Rugby make a substitution with Scott Wilson coming off.

40'

The second half kicks off.

40'

The half-time whistle blows and both teams head for the dressing rooms.

41'

The left post denies Jack Murphy from adding the extras.

41'

Try

Incisive passing by Ulster Rugby is finished off by Zac Ward, as they goes over for the try.

40'

Fabulous play by Ulster Rugby has led to Zac Ward being able to wriggle through a gap.

40'

Jacob Stockdale played a key part in that try.

40'

Fabulous play by Ulster Rugby has led to Werner Kok being able to wriggle through a gap.

39'

Conversion

Jack Murphy does the business as their conversion attempt goes over.

33'

Try

Incisive passing by Ulster Rugby is finished off by Zac Ward, as they goes over for the try.

33'

Trouble here as Zac Ward breaches the defence.

33'

Jacob Stockdale sets up the try.

33'

Trouble here as Cormac Izuchukwu breaches the defence.

32'

Penalty Goal

The Connacht Rugby supporters go wild as Sam Gilbert successfully kicks the penalty goal.

30'

Conversion

Sam Gilbert makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.

24'

Try

A wonderful passing move by Connacht Rugby is finished off by Finn Treacy

23'

This is dangerous for the defence as Finn Treacy bursts through to advance the Connacht Rugby attack.

23'

That's a great try assist by Sam Gilbert.

23'

This is dangerous for the defence as Daniel Ryan bursts through to advance the Connacht Rugby attack.

20'

Yellow Card

Jack Murphy (Ulster Rugby) is shown a yellow card

15'

Sam Gilbert steps up to take the penalty but pulls it wide and to the left.

13'

We are underway as the referee Eoghan Cross blows their whistle.

Match Details

  
 Connacht v Ulster 
  
 Round 8 
  
 Sat 27th December 2025, 09:30am PST 
  
 Dexcom Stadium 
  
 Flo Rugby 
  
 Eoghan Cross

Points Flow Chart

Ulster win +5

Time in lead

Mins in lead

21%

% Of Game In Lead

52%

66%

Possession Last 10 min

34%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Murphy

80'

24 - 29

Gilbert

24 - 26

76'

Devine

22 - 26

76'

Gilbert

17 - 26

66'

Jansen

15 - 26

65'

Penalty Try

52'

10 - 26

Joyce

10 - 19

52'

Murphy

47'

10 - 19

Kok

46'

10 - 17

McCloskey

42'

10 - 12

Aki

10 - 12

42'

Half Time

Ward

40'

10 - 12

Murphy

33'

10 - 7

Ward

33'

10 - 5

Gilbert

10 - 0

30'

Gilbert

7 - 0

24'

Treacy

5 - 0

23'

Murphy

15'

0 - 0

Start

Win Probability

Connacht

34%

Draw

Ulster

65%

Start Half-Lost by Josh Ioane

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.4

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.6

Entries

Attack Profile

Connacht

Ulster

More Less

Defence Profile

Connacht

Ulster

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

57%

52%

3-6 secs

28%

37%

6+ secs

15%

12%

100

Rucks Won

Last 5 Penalties

59'

62'

70'

74'

78'

Connacht

Ulster

Connacht vs Ulster Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Connacht face off against Ulster in United Rugby Championship Round 8 on Sat 27th December 2025 at Dexcom Stadium. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 17:30 and is broadcast on Premier Sports. In South Africa it’s at 19:30 SAST on SuperSport, 06:30 NZST on URC TV in New Zealand, 04:30 AEST on URC TV in Australia and 09:30 EST on Flo Rugby in the US.

Ulster won the last encounter but Ulster are in the best form of their last 5 games.

Table Standings

Heading into the fixture the two sides are separated by 9 places in the league table with Ulster in 3rd and Connacht in 12th as such Ulster are favourites on paper.

Connacht vs Ulster Squads

The official squads for Connacht vs Ulster will become available around 24- 48 hours before kick-off. Teams can still make changes up to an hour before the match however.