URC 2025/26 · Round 14
Ulster
Connacht
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast
Championship Standings
Ulster sit 6th on 36 points — right in the hunt for a home playoff quarter-final, with a game in hand on several teams above them. Connacht are 10th on 25 points — firmly in the bottom half but only 5 points off the playoff places. This interpro has real stakes for both sides.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Glasgow Warriors | 12 | 9 | 3 | +150 | 45 |
| 2 |  Leinster | 12 | 8 | 4 | +67 | 41 |
| 3 |  Cardiff | 12 | 8 | 4 | +35 | 40 |
| 4 |  Munster | 12 | 8 | 4 | +15 | 39 |
| 5 |  Stormers | 10 | 8 | 2 | +113 | 36 |
| 6 | Ulster | 11 | 7 | 4 | +83 | 36 |
| 7 |  Lions | 11 | 7 | 4 | −20 | 33 |
| 8 |  Bulls | 11 | 6 | 5 | +5 | 30 |
| 9 |  Ospreys | 12 | 5 | 5 | −13 | 29 |
| 10 | Connacht | 11 | 4 | 7 | −21 | 25 |
| 11 |  Sharks | 10 | 4 | 5 | −36 | 24 |
| 12 |  Edinburgh | 11 | 4 | 7 | +6 | 23 |
| 13 |  Benetton | 12 | 4 | 7 | −65 | 23 |
| 14 |  Dragons | 12 | 3 | 7 | −50 | 20 |
| 15 |  Scarlets | 11 | 3 | 7 | −71 | 16 |
| 16 |  Zebre | 11 | 2 | 9 | −154 | 12 |
Ulster
W3, L2The 40–19 demolition of Edinburgh last Friday was a statement — Ulster’s most complete away performance of the season. Three wins from five, 121 points scored, and that 28–3 evisceration of Munster at Kingspan still reverberating. The only blots were the Ospreys defeat, where a rotated squad fell flat, and the narrow Scarlets loss. When Ulster are at full tilt at home, they’re one of the most dangerous sides in the URC.
Connacht
W3, L2Three straight wins have shifted the narrative for Connacht — beating Glasgow 15–10 at the Dexcom was a genuine scalp, and the rescheduled Scarlets fixture last week was a comfortable bonus-point affair. The problem is the defeats: they lost to Leinster at home and — crucially — lost to Ulster at the Dexcom earlier this season, 24–29. Pete Wilkins’ side are building, but Belfast on a Friday night is a different proposition entirely.
Head-to-Head in Belfast
14 – 1 – 6
Ulster wins · Draws · Connacht wins (21 meetings at Kingspan Stadium)
Ulster (14)Kingspan Stadium has been a house of horrors for Connacht — Ulster have won 14 of 21 meetings in Belfast. The reverse fixture this season saw Ulster win 29–24 in Galway, underlining their current superiority in this interpro rivalry.
Recent Results
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | URC | Connacht 24–29 Ulster |
| Mar 2024 | URC | Ulster 11–36 Connacht |
| Dec 2023 | URC | Ulster 35–10 Connacht |
| Apr 2023 | URC | Connacht 15–19 Ulster |
| Dec 2022 | URC | Ulster 24–22 Connacht |
| Mar 2022 | URC | Connacht 21–7 Ulster |
Average score in the last 6 meetings: Ulster 24 – Connacht 22 in the last six meetings. Ulster have won 4 of 6, though Connacht’s 36–11 win in Belfast last year shows they can perform here when the stars align.
Extended Form
Ulster10W, 5L
Wins: Edinburgh (40–19), Cardiff (21–14), Stade Français (26–19, EPCR), Cheetahs (28–0, EPCR), Munster (28–3), Racing 92 (61–7, EPCR), Benetton (47–13), Sharks (34–26), Bulls (28–7), Dragons (42–21). Losses: Ospreys (10–21), Scarlets (22–27), Leinster (20–24), Cardiff (26–29), Lions (31–49).
Ulster’s overall record is that of a genuine top-six side — 10 wins from 15 across all competitions. The home record is particularly strong: that 28–3 Munster demolition and the 61–7 European rout of Racing 92 are benchmark performances. Kingspan is a fortress when the crowd is behind them.
Connacht6W, 9L
Wins: Scarlets (31–17), Glasgow (15–10), Zebre (31–15), Montauban (75–14, EPCR), Black Lion (52–0, EPCR), Sharks (44–17). Losses: Leinster (23–34, 17–52), Dragons (28–48), Montpellier (31–33, EPCR), Ospreys (21–24), Munster (15–17), Bulls (27–28), Cardiff (8–14).
Connacht’s away record tells the story of their season — they can obliterate weaker sides but consistently fall short against quality opposition. Nine away defeats from 15 is not the record of a side that can go to Kingspan and expect to win.
Ulster XV
Lineups not yet announced. Ulster are expected to welcome back several internationals from Six Nations duty — Iain Henderson, Stuart McCloskey, and Jacob Stockdale could all feature. A Friday night interpro at Kingspan will demand the strongest available XV.
Connacht XV
Lineups not yet announced. Connacht will likely be without several Ireland squad members. Pete Wilkins will lean on the same core that beat Glasgow and Scarlets in recent weeks, with Josh Ioane’s game management at 10 the key.
Key Matchups
Ulster’s squad depth is significantly stronger across most positions, and their international returnees tip the balance further. Connacht’s best hope is Josh Ioane’s tactical kicking and a disciplined defensive performance to keep the game tight. If Ulster get front-foot ball through their forwards, the back three will finish the job. The interpro dynamic adds a wildcard element — Connacht have nothing to lose, and that can be dangerous.
Match Forecast
This is an interpro at Kingspan on a Friday night — and Ulster are flying. Three wins from five, a +37 points differential in that stretch, and the Edinburgh demolition still fresh in the legs. They beat Connacht 29–24 in Galway earlier this season, and Kingspan has been a graveyard for the westerners historically — just 6 wins in 21 visits.
Connacht’s three-match winning run deserves respect, and the Glasgow scalp showed they can compete with anyone on their day. But ‘their day’ almost never comes in Belfast. Ioane’s kicking game could keep Connacht in it through the first half, but Ulster’s pack should establish dominance at the breakdown and their superior depth will tell in the final quarter.
Ulster’s Kingspan fortress and superior squad depth should prove too much — but never underestimate an interpro with a Connacht side on a run.