What time and TV channel is Leinster vs Bulls on today in the URC?

Leinster and Bulls clash in the URC Grand Final this evening and it promises to be a fascinating encounter.
Leo Cullen's side have hometown advantage, and have won each of the four times they have previously played at Croke Park.
And, going in search of a ninth title, will also be aware the last of those championship wins was in 2018.
The Bulls are managed by canny, veteran coach Jake White and while they don't have anything like the international experience of Leinster, he has been talking up his players' cohesion and spirit this week. And, oh yeh, their monster pack.
The sides finished first and second in the 18-game league-proper, the table-topping Blues posting two more wins and finishing eight points to the good.
Here's what you need to know about the game:
Where and when is it? The match takes place at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday, June 14.
What time is kick-off? The action gets under way at 5pm.
Quotes corner
Jack Conan: "I don't think everyone hates Leinster but I think people definitely revel in us under-achieving at times!"
Leinster Coach Leo Cullen: Look through the Bulls team, there's a tonne of experience. I know Jake was saying they're a young squad. I'm not sure what squad he's talking about, that's not a young group, that's not a young team.
"He was talking about that on Tuesday. Is he trying to lull us all into some false sense is he? A young group?
"Do you see a young group there? They're a serious experienced group we're up against and a team that has unbelievably high standards, that is used to winning, it's in their blood isn't it? Rugby, you're in South Africa and it's on morning, noon and night.
Bulls Coach Jake White talking about former Bulls player Cornal Hendricks who died, aged 37, on May 14th and the URC final is being played on June 14th:
"Funny enough, I was doing a bit of homework about Croke Park and I read that Bloody Sunday, 14 people died there," said White becoming the first person in our storied history to co-opt Irish 'war' dead for use, on site, against us.
"Cornell died on the 14th of May and we play the URC final on Saturday 14th of June. It's quite an ominous number so there is a lot of nice memories of Cornel that we will use and the number 14.
Hopefully it will be a fantastic day on the 14th of June for us as a club as well. It's quite amazing that the number 14 keeps coming up. Stars are aligned. Hopefully we will use that in our favour.'
Former Ireland international and Premier TV pundit Stephen Ferris:
'Jake White will 100 percent understand that their performance against Sharks will not get them a win on Saturday. They only had 39 percent possession in the semi-final game, they didn't have as many entries into the 22 as Sharks - plus they had three yellow cards.
"It's crazy with three yellow cards, the Bulls still managed to win a URC semi-final. Jake White understands the performance has got to be so much better against this Leinster team.'
'The reality is it will be a huge, huge upset if the Bulls come to Dublin and overturn Leinster and win. That would make it five years in a row that Leinster have finished a season without a trophy. There is so much to play for. There are so many elements to this Final, it should be a fire-cracker of a game.'
Simon Zebo, Premier Sport analyst: 'There's some really interesting match-ups in this game that I'm looking forward to. Garry Ringrose against David Kriel – Marcell Coetzee against Jack Conan – Johan Goosen v Sam Prendergast – Jimmy O'Brien against Willie le Roux; they all whet the appetite!'
'Leinster always start well and build their score and if teams have to chase the game that plays into the hands of their rush defence.'
'If the Bulls keep the score close in the first half, I think their size and physicality will take its toil and there will be some openings for them to capitalise on with their pacey and dangerous back three. I see the Bulls winning by just a few points as I think they'll physically have the edge over Leinster and they are playing for a cause.'
Did you know?
Leinster have the most turnovers this season (144), which breaks down as 31 tackle turnovers, 33 lineout steals and 64 jackals
Bulls have won the most penalties on their feed (47) and against the head (15) this season.
Betting odds
Leinster 1/5
Bulls: 9/2
Draw: 33/1
Popular Bets: Dan Sheehan first try-scorer 17/2; Can Moody anytime tryscorer 100/30
What TV channel is it on? The match will be shown live TG4, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv)
Teams - News & Line-Ups
Leinster were forced to select without the injured Caelan Doris, Robbie Henshaw and Will Connors.
Bulls suffered a loss very much on a par as that of Doris for Leinster with Cameron Hanekon, also a no8, sustaining an injury too.
Hanekon was the winner of the URC's young player of the year (known as Next Gen) and was the league's top gain-line 2024/25 carrier and top turnover winner to here with 65 carries and 16 turnovers.
Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien, Tommy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (CAPT)
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jamie Osborne
Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux, Canon Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Sebastian de Klerk, Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier, Jan-hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, JF van Heerden, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (CAPT), Marcell Coetzee
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Keagan Johannes, Devon Williams

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Irish Examiner

an hour ago

• Irish Examiner

Cercene upstages Zarigana while Eithical Diamond shines on momentous day at Royal Ascot for Willie Mullins

Cercene gave jockey Gary Carroll and trainer Joseph Murphy a day to remember when bravely holding off French hotpot Zarigana to land the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Billed as a clash between French 1,000 Guineas winner Zarigana and Owen Burrows' supplemented Falakeyah, it was the Irish outsider who stole the show to become the race's longest-priced winner at 33-1. Falakeyah's challenge faded tamely having raced keenly, but 6-4 favourite Zarigana looked prime to pounce in hands of Mickael Barzalona and in fact looked to briefly have passed Cercene. However, Irish 1,000 third Cercene was not to be denied and proved her Curragh performance was no fluke as she battled back to secure a half-length verdict. Murphy said: "We always liked her. We left her a little longer but good fillies you always leave a little longer, you never put them over. "He got her switched off, he's confident and he's ridden for me 17 years now. "This is 50 years of work, that's what it is, of love and care, and all for the owners we have, all our people, it's just a whole group of people together. This is heaven on earth. "It's a lifetime's ambition to have a Group One winner. She's by Australia - a sire I love - and her half-brother (Perotto) won the Britannia so the pedigree was there and if she was an inch bigger I wouldn't have her! "I was hoping Lake Victoria stayed in because we'd have a lesser race and then we'd have pace and ride her easier, you know what I mean. "She travelled well, Gary gave her a great ride, and we were thinking that being by Australia she'd stay as well. She was headed and came back again. She waited for something to head her, but she's very tough and a dream to train. The plan was today so now we'll draw new plans." Carroll said: "It's unbelievable. I've been riding a long time now and been placed in plenty of Group Ones. This is my first one and if I was ever to ride a Group One winner it was for Joe Murphy. "I've been riding for him since I was a 7lb claimer and he's been very, very good to me so I'm delighted I can repay him. "She ran a blinder at the Curragh where the slow pace didn't suit. We went a bit better gallop there today, got to the front a furlong and a half out and she waited, the French horse came and headed me; to be fair to this one she's not big but she's very tough and she stuck her head out for me. "It's hugely satisfying to win a Group One. They're so hard to come by. Good horses are very hard to come by. To do this, Royal Ascot, magic. "After the Guineas run, a better run race there she'd have finished closer again, I think she's taken a step forward from there and she's ultra-tough, she doesn't know when to give up." Earlier Ethical Diamond made it a momentous day at Royal Ascot for Willie Mullins when powering down the outside to win the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in the hands of Ryan Moore. Mullins and his wife Jackie had taken part in the royal procession before racing and his dual-purpose performer had no trouble in justifying 3-1 favouritism. Fourth last year, he was 2lb higher having also finished fourth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham - but the result barely looked in doubt and he came home two lengths clear of Mutaawid and Naqeeb. Mullins said: "Last year he just ran too free and things didn't work out for him, but he still ran a cracker to be fourth so I thought if we get things right this year he had a real live chance and it worked out that way. "We will give him a little break, bring him home; we will look at York next, a race like the Ebor. We'd love to (go to Australia) if we could get him qualified, that was my first thought coming in. "I think he would handle a trip to Australia, he wears the hood because he's a bit keen, but that'd be no problem. "There's a big one over hurdles in him too, but for the moment we'll concentrate on Flat racing." He added: "These are just fantastic days, Jackie was just saying to me coming in here today 'just enjoy it', and then to have a winner on top that is the cherry on the cake. "Tuesday was a little disappointing, but we live to fight another day and hopefully Reaching High (unlucky in the Ascot Stakes for the King and Queen) will be back for the same race next year. Ryan had nowhere to go, he was just locked in on the inside and that was that." Ed Walker's profitable season continued when Never Let Go (22-1) pounced late to win the Sandringham Stakes. Walker has enjoyed a string of Group-race successes this season but the victory will have meant plenty to the man on top, Kieran Shoemark, who has endured a trying time this season with the defeat of Field Of Gold in the 2000 Guineas. Low numbers once again dominated on the straight track, after three days of high numbers being favoured, with Never Let Go beating Cajole - trained by the Gosdens - by a length. The King and Queen were out of luck with their runner, Purple Rainbow, who was handy early but faded. Walker said: "When Kieran lost the job with John and Thady (Gosden), I said, 'I don't mean to be selfish, but I'm thrilled because it means I can use you more!'. He's a great jockey, a great guy and he will bounce back." He added of his winner: "I think she can go on. The family get better with time, she's still very raw and unfurnished and leggy."

Irish Daily Mirror

an hour ago

• Irish Daily Mirror

British & Irish Lions v Argentina LIVE score updates from historic Dublin clash

The British and Irish Lions take on Argentina this evening in the first warm-up match before their touring test series of Australia. Tonight's game at the Aviva Stadium will be the first Lions match ever played on Irish soil. With Andy Farrell overseeing the tour and a spate of Irish players and coaches involved in the operation, Irish interest is expected to be very high. The match this evening is being shown live on TG4 and on Sky Sports Main Event. Additionally, you can follow our blog below to keep up to date with the action. Tadhg Beirne on the game: "For us Irish players, it means a lot to us. (Playing) where we've had a lot of special days, and then to add playing a game for the Lions to that long list of good days here, is pretty special. 'The lead-up to the game is going to feel very similar, doing all the same things that we would do in Irish camp, either going to the same coffee places or preparing for the game the same way. 'A lot of it is similar but different at the same time, because you're not used to being around the players that you would be used to. It makes it a lot more enjoyable.' Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Justo Piccardo, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Garcia; 1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 8 Joaquin Oviedo. Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Joaquin Moro, 21 Simon Benitez Cruz, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Santiago Cordero. British and Irish Lions: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan Dickie, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Ben Earl. Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Elliot Daly, 23 Mack Hansen.

RTÉ News​

2 hours ago

• RTÉ News​

Royal Ascot: Cercene springs surprise in Coronation Stakes

Cercene gave jockey Gary Carroll and trainer Joseph Murphy a day to remember when bravely holding off French hotpot Zarigana to land the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Billed as a clash between French 1,000 Guineas winner Zarigana and Owen Burrows' supplemented Falakeyah, it was the Irish outsider who stole the show to become the race's longest-priced winner at 33-1. CERCENE defies the odds to win the Coronation Stakes, under the mount of G.F. Carroll for trainer Joseph G. Murphy. Congratulations to connections. — Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2025 Falakeyah's challenge faded tamely having raced keenly, but 6-4 favourite Zarigana looked prime to pounce in hands of Mickael Barzalona and in fact looked to briefly have passed Cercene. However, Irish 1,000 third Cercene was not to be denied and proved her Curragh performance was no fluke as she battled back to secure a half-length verdict