How to watch URC Grand Final: TV channel and live stream for Leinster vs Bulls today
Leinster go into the match as clear favourites as they look to banish the disappointment of their shock home defeat by Premiership finalists Northampton Saints in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup last month, but they did see their 12-match undefeated streak ended by the Bulls in Pretoria back in March after a dramatic late penalty from David Kriel.
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Belfast Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Amy Hunter helps Dragons roar past Typhoons in opening game of Super 20 Trophy defence
The 19-year-old followed up her midweek 155 with an unbeaten 94, as her side recovered from a precarious six for two to post 138 in a game reduced to 15 overs a side. Irish international Hunter hit 14 fours and a six in her 53-ball knock, sharing an unbroken third wicket stand of 132 with Waringstown's Abbi Harrison, who scored 31 not out. Alana Dalzell, playing on her home ground. picked up two wickets at the start of the chase to reduce the Typhoons to 24 for three, but they rallied thanks to an unbeaten 57 (six fours, two sixes) from former Irish captain Laura Delany. The required rate, however, just proved too much despite Delany's 68-run partnership with Leah Paul (31). It didn't get any better for the Typhoons in the afternoon game as they were trounced by the Scorchers. Delany (30) was again their top-scorer, but a total of 118 for seven looked light at the halfway juncture and so it proved. Gaby Lewis clubbed four fours and two maximums in a 14-ball 33, sharing an opening stand of 59 with Louise Little (32) that had them halfway to their modest target inside five overs. Eimear Richardson (28 not out) continued the carnage as the eight-wicket win was achieved with almost eight overs to spare. Just one match survived in the NCU Women's Premiership, as North Down joined CSNI in third place after a narrow 18-run win. Rebecca Nield hit four boundaries in a top score of 42 as North Down made 114 for six — two wickets for Holly Faulkner. Eva Wilson thumped four boundaries in a run-a-ball 30 to take the Stormont side to 61 for one before the wheels came off, losing the last nine wickets for 35 to be 96 all out — two wickets apiece for Gracie and Evey Keenan. Meanwhile, in the North-West, Coleraine moved top of the Premiership with a remarkable chase at Brigade. Scott Macbeth hit seven sixes in a top-score of 88, adding 116 in 13 overs with Iftikhar Hussain (86) to set what seemed a formidable target of 292 in a match reduced to 45 overs. All seemed set for a comfortable Brigade win as Macbeth's three wickets left the Bannsiders on 83 for four, before the game was turned on its head. Former Brigade player David Cooke and Marcus Poskitt both made centuries in a superb fifth wicket stand of 210 to seal the win with 15 balls to spare. Poskitt made 111 from just 97 balls (11 fours, six sixes), while Cooke reached his landmark hundred with his tenth four.
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
New managers, no players and another season fast approaching... no wonder clubs are feeling the heat this summer
These are stressful times for Premiership managers as they anxiously set about reshaping their squads, but the transitional process cannot possibly be as challenging as it is for Dumbarton. The League Two club caused no end of amusement over the weekend by announcing on social media that their team for a friendly at Ochilview would be comprised entirely of trialists. 'The team news is in,' they posted excitedly on X ahead of kick-off. 'Trialist between the sticks,' they confirmed before offering a helpful run-down of every other position. 'Trialist and Trialist in the centre of the park. Trialist leads the line.' At least they were able to see the funny side. Dumbarton are an extreme case, not least because their exit from administration has prevented them from registering new signings, but it is a reminder of the task facing clubs at this time of year. Assembling a new team, very often a whole new squad, with the season fast approaching, is a taxing and increasingly regular staple of the football calendar. Loan deals, short-term contracts and free agents all contribute to the huge turnover of players that is now accepted as part of the job for just about every manager. Some clubs don't have the resources to retain even their modest assets. Others lack the foresight to put in place a long-term strategy. All of which means that quickly identifying players and moulding them into a serviceable unit is more important than ever in management. Scotland's Premiership clubs are returning to pre-season training around now, some with a new boss, some with only a skeletal squad and almost all trying desperately to sign players early. Among the honourable exceptions are Celtic who have stability and continuity thanks to a sound business plan and a sensible player trading model. A sustained period of success, such as Celtic have become used to, makes everything easier, including pre-season. Neil Lennon, their former manager, used to say that January was the most important transfer window because it represented an opportunity to bed in new signings and ensure that an established squad was ready for European qualifiers at the start of the following campaign. With no need to make significant changes to his title-winning squad, Brendan Rodgers has signed only one player so far, but it is a top-quality one. Kieran Tierney agreed a pre-contract with Celtic in January so he is already in the door and ready for the opener against St Mirren on August 3. Celtic will complete more signings between now and then – a striker and a centre-half are surely the priority – but there is no immediate rush. They have time to conduct their business in a measured way and give themselves the best chance of signing the right players for the right money. The same cannot be said for Rangers, who have new owners, a new manager in Russell Martin and a playing staff in drastic need of an overhaul. With the remains of last season's inadequate squad returning to training this week, there is no time to waste. As yet, they have signed only Lyall Cameron from Dundee. A loan deal for Bournemouth defender Max Aarons is expected to be announced any time now, but they will need an awful lot more if they are to be ready for their Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos in less than a month. What to do with James Tavernier, whether to sell Cyriel Dessers and how much change is too much in a short space of time is the devilish challenge for Martin and Rangers' sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Their first season will be shaped by what they get right – or wrong – in these first few weeks at Ibrox. No pressure then. When it comes to building a new team at short notice, Stephen Robinson takes a bit of beating. He has repeatedly done that at Motherwell and now St Mirren, although even he would admit that his success owes more than a little to Martin Foyle, the recruitment chief who recently departed for Carlisle. John Park has replaced Foyle at the Paisley club, who lost the usual raft of well-developed players this summer. The rebuild has started with former Aberdeen defender Jayden Richardson and Jamaica international Richard King, while Killian Phillips and Roland Idowu, both loan signings a year ago, have agreed permanent deals. With his track record, you would expect Robinson to get it right. So, too, are the signs promising for Hearts, whose new manager Derek McInnes has strengthened his hand with a number of substantial signings. Claudio Braga, Elton Kabangu, Alexandros Kyzyridis, Oisin McEntee, Christian Borchgrevink and Stuart Findlay have been added to a squad that has lost only Jorge Grant and Barrie McKay. The future of Lawrence Shankland is still to be resolved. Despite their struggles last season, there has been no clearout at Tynecastle. Nor is major surgery needed at Hibs, whose biggest coup would be keeping Rocky Bushiri and Nectar Triantis. While Aberdeen have their weaknesses, the Scottish Cup winners are certainly not ripping it up and starting again. While those three are building on a strong core, there is less certainty elsewhere. The long list of departures at Kilmarnock, Motherwell and the two Dundee clubs places a huge burden on their respective managers, some of whom have only just arrived. Dundee got rid of almost an entire team, as well as their manager, Tony Docherty. His surprise successor, Stephen Pressley, will be cut little slack if the team he builds from scratch is not successful. So far the club have signed only Drey Wright and Paul Digby. Kilmarnock's squad has been gutted, leaving new manager Stuart Kettlewell with it all to do. Towering striker Marcus Dackers, Dundee's Scott Tiffoney and Ayr full-back George Stanger are among his early acquisitions. So, too, are Motherwell entering a new era under Jens Berthel Askou. Their bloated squad has undergone a much-needed cull, with Lennon Miller sure to follow the many departures. The Lanarkshire club have signed only Jordan McGhee and Lukas Fadinger. Perhaps most intriguing are the Premiership's newly-promoted clubs who are adopting contrasting approaches to the top-flight challenge. While John McGlynn will add strength in one or two key areas – an experienced defender is one of the priorities – he is showing faith in the Falkirk players who won the Championship title. David Martindale, on the other hand, is bolstering his Livingston squad with a conveyor belt of new arrivals, the pick of which is probably Shane Blaney, most recently of Motherwell. Not all are convinced that Stevie May, Graham Carey, Cammy Kerr, Connor McLennan and Zak Rudden will be first-team regulars, never mind take Livingston to another level. Still, Martindale knows more than anyone about keeping Livingston in the Premiership, given how many times he has done it in the past. And his signings have arrived soon enough to settle in, respond to his demands and hit the ground running when the new season starts. Not everyone can say the same.
Rhyl Journal
9 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan carry injuries as Lions land in Australia
Farrell's squad arrived into Perth after a 20-hour journey from Dublin via Doha ahead of Saturday's opening fixture on Australian soil against the Western Force. There is doubt over whether Ireland duo Gibson-Park and Keenan will be able to take part at Optus Stadium because of respective glute and calf problems, but Scotland centre Huw Jones has recovered from an Achilles issue and is available. Settling in for the long haul ✈️🇦🇺#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 22, 2025 'We'll see how they pull up in midweek,' Farrell said of Gibson-Park and Keenan. 'Huw Jones is good, he's been training. He trained fully with us last week so he's up and running.' Farrell confirmed that the team against Western Force will mostly be made up of players from Leinster, Bath and Leicester, who joined up with the Lions after last Saturday's United Rugby Championship and Gallagher Premiership finals. There were no fresh injuries arising from Friday's 28-24 defeat by Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, with Farrell keen not to dwell on the disappointing tour send-off. 'We're here to build for what's going to be a fantastic Test series. We want to play some good rugby along the way,' he said. 'We'll find out more about each other as we keep on going. Of course we'll analyse what went on against Argentina and why, but that's all part of the journey – to understand where we need to go next. 'It's great to be here, this is what it's all about. We're here for a good time. Hopefully we can start this part of the tour off really well on Saturday.'
