2025–26 Leinster Rugby season

Leinster Rugby
2025–26 season
Head coachLeo Cullen
Chief executiveShane Nolan
Top try scorerLeague: Scott Penny - 2 tries
Top points scorerLeague: Sam Prendergast - 15 points
Highest home attendance51,859 (vs Munster, URC Rd 4}
Lowest home attendance14,128 (vs Zebre, URC Rd 5)
Average home attendance25,727

The 2025–26 season is Leinster Rugby's fifth season in the United Rugby Championship (URC), their 32nd season of professional rugby and their 138th season of representative rugby since their foundation. Along with competing in the URC and its Irish Shield competition, both of which it will enter as champion, the club will also participate in the 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup. Leinster will open the URC season with an away tie at Stormers on 26 September 2025.[1]

Leinster Women will contest the 2025 IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series, branded the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship for sponsorship reasons, as defending champions, opening their season on 10 August 2025 against Ulster Women. They will also field the combined Wolfhounds team, with Ulster Rugby in the 2025–26 Celtic Challenge, once more as defending champions.

Leinster Men

Transfers

Main article: Leinster Rugby

Preseason

Leinster's pre-season campaign consists of a single match, hosting Cardiff at the South Dublin Tallaght Stadium

13 September 2025 Leinster 10–31 Cardiff Tallaght Stadium  
18:00 Report[17]

United Rugby Championship

Matches

The full itinery of matches was released on 21 May 2025.[18][1]

26 September 2025 (1 BP) Stormers 35 – 0 Leinster Cape Town Stadium  
18:00 Try: Ungerer (45')
Roos (63' 68')
Matthee (71')
Con: Matthee (45' 64' 69')
Pen: Matthee (7' 33' 42')
 Report[19] Cards: Deegan  63'
T. O'Brien  67' 		Attendance: 13 529
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
4 October 2025 (1 BP) Bulls 39 – 31 Leinster (1 BP) Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
17:30 Try: de Klerk (4')
Kriel (16', 78')
Gumede (41')
le Roux (58')
Jacobs (68')
Con: Johannes (5', 42')
Kriel (79')
Pen: Johannes (35')
 Report Try: Clarkson (30')
Cooney (44')
T. O'Brien (46')
Penny (66')
Con: Prendergast (31', 45', 47', 66')
Pen: Prendergast (20')
Cards: Connors  21' 		Attendance: 6 937
Referee: Adam Jones
11 October 2025 (1 BP) Leinster 31 – 5 Sharks Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30 Try: Jamie Osborne (12')
Jimmy O'Brien (23')
v.d. Flier (27')
Deegan (49')
Gus McCarthy (71')
Con: Harry Byrne(13', 23', 28')
Cards: Boyle  74' 		Report Try: Hooker(30')
 Attendance: 17, 549
18 October 2025 Leinster 14 – 31 Munster (1 BP) Croke Park, Dublin  
17:15 Try: Kelleher (7')
Penny (79')
Con: Prendergast (8', 80'+1)
Cards: Frawley  77' 		Report
MOTM: Jack Crowley 		Try: Gleeson (17')
Tom Farrell (23')
Coughlan (37')
penalty try (76')
Con: Crowley (18', 24', 38')
Pen: Crowley (49')
Cards: Coombes,  79' 		Attendance: 51,859
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
25 October 2025 (1 BP) Leinster 50 – 26 Zebre Parma (1 BP) Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30 Try: Kenny (2' c, 27' c)
Soroka (7' m, 12' c)
Cahir (48' c)
Byrne (55' m)
Snyman (68' c)
Connors (78' m)
Con: (2', 13', 27', 49', 69')
Cards: A Osborne  30' 		Report
Scoreboard
Highlights 		Try: Belloni (10' c)
Dominguez (20' c)
Quattrini (32' c)
Marco Zanon (73' m)
Con: da Re (11', 21', 33')
Cards: Dominguez  37' 		Attendance: 14,128[20]
Referee: Ian Kenny
28 November 2025 Dragons 10–24 Leinster (1 BP) Rodney Parade, Newport  
19:45 Try: Screech (31' c)
Con: de Beer(32')
Pen: O'Brien(47')
 Report Try: Soroka (4' m)
Kenny (44' c, 59' m)
Snyman (78' c)
Con: Byrne (45', 79')
Cards: Mangan 29' to 39'
Penny 38' to 48'
McGrath 80' to f.t.' 		Attendance: 4,244[21]
Referee: Morne Ferreira
19 December 2025 (1 BP) Leinster 24 – 20 Ulster (1 BP) Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
19:45 Try: Ioane 27' c
Kenny 54' m
Lowe 66' m
Sheehan 74' c
Con: Prendergast 27'
Byrne 75'
Cards: Ryan  59' 		Report Try: Kok (2) 14' m, 34' c
Stewart 38' m
Con: Doak 35'
Pen: Doak 62'
Cards: McCann  72' 		Attendance: 22,011
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
27 December 2025 (1 BP) Munster 8 – 13 Leinster Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45 Try: Kelly 70' m
Pen: Crowley 55'
 Report Try: v.d. Flier 6' c
Con: Byrne 7'
Pen: Byrne (2) 53', 59'
 Attendance: 26,000
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU)
3 January 2026 (1 BP) Leinster 52 – 17 Connacht Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30 Try: Sheehan 4' c
Tector (2) 8' c, 62' c
Prendergast 39' m
Deeny 44' c
O'Brien (2) 52' c, 67' c
Kenny 75'
Con: Prendergast (6/8) 5', 8', 45', 52', 63', 67'
Cards: Joe McCarthy  26' 		Report Try: Tierney-Martin 19' c
Bealham 36' c
Con: Gilbert (2/2) 20', 37'
Pen: Gilbert 28'
 Attendance: 21,422
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
24 January 2026 Connacht 23 – 34 Leinster (1 BP) The Sportsground, Galway  
17:30 Try: Tierney-Martin 12' c
West 48' c
Con: Gilbert (2/2) 13', 49'
Pen: Gilbert (3) 23', 33', 67'
 Report Try: Gunne 8' c
RG Snyman 57' c
Tector 60' c
Frawley 70' c
Con: Byrne (4/4) 9', 58', 61', 71'
Pen: Byrne (2) 27' 31'
 Attendance: 12,481
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRE)
31 January 2026 (1 BP) Leinster 28 – 20 Edinburgh Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30 Try: Deegan 13' c
Penny (3) 44' c, 68' c, 74' c
Con: Tector (4/4) 14', 45', 69', 75'
 Report Try: v.d. Merwe 20' m
Satala 39' c
Shiel 80+1' m
Con: Thompson 40'
Pen: Thompson 23'
Cards: Hunter-Hill  10' 		Attendance: 18,505
27 February 2026 Cardiff 8 – 7 Leinster (1 BP) Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: Davies 54' m
Pen: Sheedy 19'
Cards: Beetham  66' 		Try: McGrath 68'c
Con: Tector 68'
Cards: Tector  12' 		Referee: Sam Grove-White
21 March 2026 Glasgow Warriors v Leinster Scotstoun Stadium  
17:30
28 March 2026 Leinster v Scarlets Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30
17 April 2026 Ulster v Leinster Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45
25 April 2026 Benetton v Leinster Stadio Comunale di Monigo  
19:45
9 May 2026 Leinster v Lions Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30
16 May 2026 Leinster v Ospreys Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:15

URC Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Glasgow Warriors 12 9 0 3 320 170 +150 47 23 7 2 45 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
2 Ulster 13 8 0 5 371 274 +97 52 38 7 3 42
3 Stormers 12 9 0 3 316 204 +112 39 26 5 0 41
4 Leinster 12 8 0 4 308 242 +66 45 32 8 1 41
5 Cardiff 13 8 0 5 247 250 −3 36 35 5 3 40 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
6 Munster 12 8 0 4 248 225 +23 36 30 5 2 39
7 Bulls 13 7 0 6 363 309 +54 54 44 6 1 35
8 Connacht 13 6 0 7 315 312 +3 43 44 7 4 35
9 Lions 12 6 1 5 325 342 −17 43 50 5 2 33 Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup
10 Ospreys 12 5 2 5 260 273 −13 39 41 4 1 29
11 Sharks 12 4 1 7 256 333 −77 38 43 5 1 24
12 Edinburgh 12 4 0 8 238 253 −15 37 39 3 4 23
13 Benetton 12 4 2 6 216 281 −65 25 37 2 1 23
14 Scarlets 13 4 1 8 242 311 −69 34 44 1 2 21
15 Dragons 12 2 3 7 227 286 −59 29 43 2 4 20
16 Zebre Parma 13 2 0 11 214 401 −187 29 57 2 2 12
Updated to match(es) played on 14 March 2026. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[22]


URC Irish Shield table

2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables
Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Leinster 5 4 0 1 137 99 +38 19 12 3 0 19 4
2 Ulster 4 2 0 2 96 77 +19 13 11 1 2 11 2
4 Munster 4 2 0 2 59 70 –11 8 9 1 1 10 6
3 Connacht 5 1 0 4 105 151 –46 14 20 1 2 7 8
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[23]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

European Rugby Champions Cup

Leinster have been drawn in Pool 3 of the European Rugby Champions Cup. alongside fellow URC side Stormers (whom Leinster will not play in line with the competition's rules), Leinster will face Harlequins, Leicester Tigers, Bayonne and erstwhile rivals La Rochelle. The full fixture details were released on 15 July 2025.

Pool Standings

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 3
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Leinster (3) 4 4 0 0 115 80 +35 16 10 2 0 18 Home Champions Cup round of 16.
2 Harlequins (6) 4 3 0 1 184 86 +98 26 14 3 0 15
3 Stormers (9) 4 3 0 1 117 125 −8 15 19 2 0 14 Away Champions Cup round of 16.
4 Leicester Tigers (16) 4 1 0 3 118 115 +3 17 15 2 0 6
5 La Rochelle (11CC) 4 1 0 3 101 114 −13 15 15 1 1 6 Away Challenge Cup round of 16.
6 Bayonne 4 0 0 4 58 173 −115 8 24 0 0 0
Source: EPCR[24]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

Pool matches

6 December 2025 (1 BP) Leinster 45–28 Harlequins (1 BP) Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30 Try: Larmour (2) 5' m, 25' m
Ringrose 17' c
Frawley 40' c
T O'Brien 61' c
Conan 65' c
J O'Brien 68' c
Con: Prendergast (2/4) 17', 40'
Byrne (3/3) 62', 66', 69'
Cards: J O'Brien  59' 		Report Try: Northmore 12' c
Cleaves 34' c
Penalty try 51'
Beard 78' c
Con: Evans (2/2) 13', 35'
Benson (1/1) 79'
Cards: Evans  58' 		Attendance: 22,298
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
12 December 2025 Leicester Tigers 15–23 Leinster Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester  
20:00 Try: Radwan 21' c
Hassell-Collins 40' m
Con: Searle (1) 22'
Pen: Searle (20')
 Report Try: Gibson-Park 50' c
Sheehan 72' c
Con: Byrne 51'
Prendergast 73'
Pen: Byrne (3) 15', 32', 61'
 Attendance: 18,061
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
10 January 2026 (1 BP) Leinster 25–24 La Rochelle (1 BP) Aviva Stadium, Dublin  
17:30 Try: Kenny (2) 2’ m, 8’ c
van der Flier 66’ m
Henshaw 69’ m
Con: Prendergast (1/3) 9'
Pen: Byrne (1/1) 80+1'
Cards: O'Brien  12'
J McCarthy  36' 		Report Try: Niniashvili 28’ c
West (2) 58' c, 76' c
Con: le Garrec (3/3) 29', 59', 77'
Pen: le Garrec (1/1) 54'
 Attendance: 38,044
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
17 January 2026 Bayonne 13–22 Leinster Stade Jean-Dauger, Bayonne  
16:15 Try: Maqala 14' c
Con: Segonds (1/1) 15'
Pen: Segonds (2/3) 23', 59'
Cards: Jantjies  49' 		Report Try: Sheehan 55' c
Prendergast 73' c
Deegan 79' m
Con: Byrne (2/3) 56', 74'
Pen: Byrne (1/1) 20'
 Attendance: 14,627
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

Knockout stage

Leinster qualified for the round of sixteen when they confirmed a top four finish in Pool 3 in Round 3. They confirmed a top four seeding, a home tie in the round of 16, and a potential home quarter-final, with victory over Bayonne in Round 4 of Pool 3. In the round of 16, Leinster will host Edinburgh as third seeds overall.

Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
            
1 Bordeaux Bègles
16 Leicester Tigers
 
 
8 Toulouse
9 Bristol Bears
 
 
4 Bath
13 Saracens
 
5 Northampton Saints
12 Castres
 
 
2 Glasgow Warriors
15 Bulls
 
 
7 Toulon
10 Stormers
 
 
3 Leinster
14 Edinburgh
 
6 Harlequins
11 Sale Sharks
Round of 16
5 April 2026 Leinster (3) v (14) Edinburgh Aviva Stadium  

IRFU Interprovincial 'A' Championship

The IRFU introduced the A Championship as part of its professional pathway in 2024-25 to coincide with the union's 150th anniversary. This season sees the competition return as a six leg home and away round robin.[25]

Fixtures

18 October 2025 Leinster 'A' 26 – 26 Munster 'A' Ollie Campbell Park  
12:00 Try: John McKee
Caspar Gabriel
penalty try
Josh Kenny
Con: Gabriel (2)
 Report Try: Shay McCarthy (2)
Luke Murphy
Kamil Nowak
Con: Tony Butler (3)
 Referee: Evan Urruzmendi
19 December 2025 Munster 'A' 33 – 33 Leinster 'A' Rockwell College  
3 January 2026 Leinster 'A' P – P Connacht Eagles Belfield  
13 February 2026 Connacht Eagles 19 - 63 Leinster 'A' Dexcom Stadium  
1 May 2026 Leinster 'A' v Ulster 'A'  
tbc Ulster 'A' v Leinster 'A'  

Leinster Women

IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series

Main article: 2025 IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series

The 2025 IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series is being contested by women's teams representing the four provincial rugby unions of Ireland, under the same branding and uniforms as the senior men's teams in the United Rugby Championship. The competition currently uses a single round-robin format, similar to the one used in both the Six Nations Championship and the Women's Six Nations Championship. Each team plays the other three teams once.[26]

As in previous seasons the competition also features playoffs and a final.[27][28][29]

Leinster Women returned as defending champions, but lost in the final to Munster Women.

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Munster Women (CH) 3 3 0 0 115 44 +71 18 5 3 0 15 Qualified for Interprovincial final
2 Leinster Women (RU) 3 2 0 1 76 66 +10 14 10 2 0 10
3 Connacht Women 3 1 0 2 27 66 −39 5 12 0 1 5 Qualified for third/fourth place final
4 Ulster Women 3 0 0 3 43 87 −44 7 15 0 1 1
First match(es) will be played: Unknown. Source: Unknown
Rules for classification: 1) competition points; 2) match points difference; 3) match points for

Matches

10 August 2025 (1 BP) Leinster Women 37–21 Ulster Women Energia Park  
2:30pm Try: Kathy Baker (2)
Emma Brogan (3)
Jane Neill
Jade Gaffney
Con: Nikki Caughey (1/7) 		Report Try: Siobhán Sheerin
India Daley
Sophie Barrett
Con: Sheerin (3/3) 		Referee: Cian Aherne (IRFU)
16 August 2025 (1 BP) Leinster Women 22–33 Munster Women (1 BP) Energia Park  
2:30pm Try: Vicky Elmes Kinlan
Kathy Baker
Molly Boyne
Katie Whelan
Con: Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton (1/4) 		Report Try: Chloe Pearse (2)
Chisom Ugwueru
Kate Flannery
Aoife Corey
Con: Caitríona Finn (4/5)
23 August 2025 (1 BP) Connacht Women 12- 17 Leinster Women Dexcom Stadium, Galway  
2:30pm Try: Orla Dixon
Faith Oviawe
Con: Éabha Nic Dhonnacha (1/2) 		Report Try: Kelly Burke
Katie Layde
Vicky Elmes Kinlan
Con: Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton (1/3) 		Referee: John Lillis (IRFU)

Finals day

Final


30 August 2025 Leinster Women 15–50 Munster Women Energia Park  
4:30pm Try: Katie Whelan (2)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan 		Report, 2 Try: Chloe Pearse
Deirbhile Nic a Bháird 2
Aoife Corey
Maeve Óg O’Leary
Caitríona Finn
Eilís Cahill
Con: Finn (6/7)
Pen: Finn 		Referee: Daniel Carson (IRFU)

Celtic Challenge

Main article: 2025–26 Celtic Challenge

The 2025–26 Celtic Challenge will be the fourth season of the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border women's rugby union competition with teams from Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The six team tournament features a full double round robin fixture series, with each team playing the others both home and away. For the first time, the competition will include a finals series with semi-finals and a grand final.[30][31]

Wolfhounds, a combined team representing Leinster and Ulster, return as two-time defending champions.

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Wolfhounds (Q) 10 9 0 1 431 127 +304 66 20 9 0 45 Play-offs
2 Clovers (Q) 10 8 0 2 294 231 +63 48 37 7 0 39
3 Gwalia Lightning (Q) 10 4 0 6 217 212 +5 34 35 5 4 25
4 Brython Thunder (Q) 10 5 0 5 150 218 −68 24 35 2 1 23
5 Glasgow Warriors 10 2 0 8 154 236 −82 32 49 6 3 17
6 Edinburgh Rugby 10 2 0 8 152 321 −169 19 37 3 1 12
First match(es) will be played: 20 December 2025. Source: Celtic Challenge[32]
Rules for classification: Four points for a win, two points for a draw. One bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match; one bonus point for losing by a margin of seven or less.

Wolfhounds fixtures

20 December 2025 (1 BP) Wolfhounds 34 – 7 Edinburgh Rugby Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin  
14:30 Try: Sophie Barrett (2)
India Daley
Maggie Boylan
Eve Higgins
Linda Djougang
Con: Dannah O’Brien (2)
 Report Try: Cat Moody
Con: Lucy MacRae
Cards: Scarlett Haddow  59' 		Referee: Padraic Reidy
3 January 2026 Clovers 7 – 24 Wolfhounds (1 BP) Creggs RFC  
15:00 Try: Jemima Adams Verling 40+2' c
Con: Caitríona Finn 40+3'
 Report Try: Aoife Dalton 6' c
Robyn O’Connor 37' m
Maggie Boylan 64' m
Eve Higgins 69' c
Con: Dannah O'Brien (2) 7', 70'
 Referee: Shane Tuohy
10 January 2026 Edinburgh Rugby 12 – 50 Wolfhounds (1 BP) Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh  
15:00 Try: Cieron Bell
Talei Tawake
Con: Nicole Marlow
 Report Try: Erin King
India Daley
Aoibheann Reilly
Aoife Dalton
Niamh Marley
Maggie Boylan
Aoife Corcoran
Stacey Flood
Con: Dannah O’Brien (4)
Abby Moyles
18 January 2026 (1 BP) Wolfhounds 69 – 0 Brython Thunder Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
12:00 Try: Niamh Marley
penalty try
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (2)
Robyn O’Connor (2)
Linda Djougang
Stacey Flood
Maebh Clenaghan
Jade Gaffney
Naoise Smyth
Con: Dannah O’Brien (3)
Flood (2)2
 Cards: Lisa Neumann  17' Referee: Rob McGreer (IRFU)
25 January 2026 (1 BP) Wolfhounds 52 – 26 Glasgow Warriors (1 BP) Musgrave Park, Cork  
15:00 Try: Caoimhe Molloy (2)
Erin King
Katie Corrigan
Linda Djougang
Fiona Tuite
Maeve Óg O’Leary
Vicky Elmes Kinlan
Con: Abby Moyles (6/8)
Cards: Fiona Tuite  61' 		Report Try: Holland Bogan
Rianna Darroch
Briar McNamara
Sky Phimister
Con: Millie Warren (3/4)
 Referee: Kevin Coffey (IRFU)
1 February 2026 (1 BP) Wolfhounds 44 – 10 Gwalia Lightning Musgrave Park, Cork  
12:30 Try: Maggie Boylan
Eve Higgins
Vicky Elmes Kinlan
India Daley
Fiona Tuite
Aoibheann Reilly
Maebh Clenaghan (2)
Con: Dannah O’Brien
Abby Moyles
Cards: Fiona Tuite 		Report Try: Chloe Thomas-Bradley
Con: Jodi Palmer
Pen: Carys Hughes
 Referee: Tomás O’Sullivan (Ireland)
15 February 2026 Glasgow Warriors 26 - 42 Wolfhounds Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
14:00 Try: Briar McNamara
Aicha Sutcliffe
Emily Coubrough
Millie Warren
Con: Millie Warren 3
 Try: Katie Corrigan
Erin King (2)
Naoise Smyth
Fiona Tuite
Aoibheann Reilly
Con: Abby Myles 6
Cards: India Daley 		Referee: Murray Oliver
21 February 2026 Brython Thunder 14 - 0 Wolfhounds Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
12:30 Try: Williams
Picton-Powell
Con: Marshall (2)
 Report
28 February 2026 Gwalia Lightning 7 - 52 Wolfhounds (1 BP) CSE, Ystrad Mynach  
13:00 Try: Bethan Lewis
Con: Hughes
 Try: Erin King
Katie Corrigan (2)
Linda Djougang
Eve Higgins
India Daley
Amy Larn
Stacey Flood .
Con: Dannah O'Brien (6/8)
7 March 2026 (1 BP) Wolfhounds 43-20 Clovers (1 BP) UCD Bowl, Dublin  
15:00 Try: Grace Moore
India Daley (2)
Niamh Marley
Erin King (2)
Robyn O'Connor
Con: Dannah O'Brien (4/7)
Cards: Maebh Clenaghan 		Report Try: Beibhinn Parsons
Anna McGann (2)
Katie Whelan

Play-offs

For the first time, the Celtic Challenge will have play-offs to crown a champion, with the top four teams in the regular season advancing to semi-finals, followed by a grand final. With their 52-7 victory of third-placed Gwalia Lightning in round 9, Wolfhounds ensured that both Irish franchises would have a home nation semi-final; both matches were fixed for the Dexcom Stadium, Galway, while the final will take place in a preselected venue, Edinburgh's Hive Stadium.

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
 20/21/22 March 2026 – Galway
 
 
 Wolfhounds
 
 27/28/29 March 2026 – Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh[33]
 
 Brython Thunder
 
 Winner SF1
 
 20/21/22 March 2026 – Galway
 
 Winner SF2
 
 Clovers
 
 
 Gwalia Lightning
 

Semi-finals

20/21/22 March 2026
Wolfhounds v Brython Thunder
20/21/22 March 2026
Clovers v Gwalia Lightning

Final

28 March 2026
15:00
Winner of semi-final 1vWinner of semi-final 2
Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b Glennon, Michael (21 May 2025). "Leinster to start 2025/26 URC campaign in South Africa". rte.ie.
  2. ^ "Larmour, Slimani & Gunne Sign New Contracts With Leinster". IRFU.ie. 12 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b "James Lowe and Jamie Osborne pen new deal as Leinster continue contracts process". Independent.ie. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Lowe latest to sign new deal with Leinster". RTE.ie. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Leinster Announce New Deal For O'Brien, McKee & Cooney". irishrugby.ie. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Sam Prendergast pens new deal with Leinster while Alex Usanov signs first professional contract with the province". Independent.ie. 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  7. ^ "RG Snyman pens new Leinster deal after stunning first season since controversial Munster move". Independent.ie. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Rieko Ioane to join Leinster in bombshell move". Rugby Pass. 16 April 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  9. ^ Thornley, Gerry (15 April 2024). "Jordie Barrett will join Leinster on short-term contract next December". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Munster: Irish province sign front-rowers Michael Milne and Lee Barron from Leinster on two-year deals". BBC Sport. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  11. ^ "'A real statement of ambition' - Gloucester Rugby confirm signing of Irish international Ross Byrne". Gloucestershire Live. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
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  13. ^ Nolan, Lawrence (7 May 2025). "Jordie Barrett farewelled as Leinster confirm list of nine end-of-season leavers". Planet Rugby. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  14. ^ "Leinster leaver joins Pro D2 club, Racing 92 issue Szarzewski statement". Planet Rugby. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  15. ^ O'Connor, Rúaidhrí (11 June 2025). "'I honestly can't wait to get started' – Leinster's Rob Russell to join Ross Byrne at Gloucester next season". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Ulster Rugby Academy confirmed for 2025/26". Ulster Rugby. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  17. ^ "Leinster 10 Cardiff Rugby 31". Cardiff Rugby. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
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