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The United Rugby Championship (URC) is an annual rugby union competition involving professional teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales. The current name was adopted in 2021 when the league expanded to include four South African teams previously from the SANZAR Super Rugby competition. The league is one of the three major professional leagues in Europe, the most successful teams from which go forward to compete in the European Rugby Champions Cup. Since 2022–23, despite the name, South African teams have been eligible to qualify for European competition, and one South African place is guaranteed.
Connacht Rugby is one of the four professional provincial rugby teams from the island of Ireland. Connacht competes in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team represents the IRFU Connacht Branch, which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union throughout the geographical Irish province of Connacht.
Rugby union in Ireland is a very popular team sport. Rugby union is organised on an all-Ireland basis with one national team, governing body and league for both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Founded in 1879, the Irish Rugby Football Union is the third-oldest rugby union after England and Scotland, and was formed two years prior to the Welsh Rugby Union.
Michael Forshaw is an English former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who is currently the defence coach for the Wales national rugby union team.
Frank Murphy is a former professional rugby union player from Ireland who works as a referee for the Irish Rugby Football Union. He primarily played as a scrum-half. Originally from Cork, Murphy played for his native province of Munster before moving to the English side Leicester Tigers, with whom he won a Premiership title, and then finished his career with Connacht, another Irish province, making over 100 appearances for the side.
The Irish Exiles is a rugby union representative team featuring players selected from the Irish diaspora, many based in Great Britain. The team was established in 1989 by Tom Kiernan. It was officially recognised by the Irish Rugby Football Union and during the 1990s was effectively a fifth provincial team along with Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. Between 1992 and 1993 and 1995–96 the Irish Exiles entered the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. The Irish Exiles also acts as an academy system for players from the Irish diaspora who wish to play for the men's national team and other IRFU national teams including the women's national team, the men's sevens team and the women's sevens team.
Robbie Shaw is a former international rugby union player who played scrum-half. Shaw played for the United States national rugby union team.
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Robbie Henshaw is an Irish rugby union player. He plays primarily as a centre, although he can also play fullback. Henshaw currently plays for Irish provincial team Leinster in the United Rugby Championship, and internationally for Ireland.
James Loxton is a Rugby union player. His favored position is wing. Although born in Berlin in Germany, Loxton has been capped at U-19 and U-20 level for Wales. He is eligible to play for Ireland as he has an Irish Mother.
Aaron Conneely is a rugby union player from Ireland. He primarily plays as a flanker. He most recently played professionally for Irish provincial team Connacht Rugby in the Pro12.
Dave Heffernan is a rugby union player from Ireland. He currently plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14. Heffernan started his career playing as a flanker, before moving to the position of hooker. He plays his club rugby for Buccaneers. Heffernan has represented the Ireland U20 team.
Eoghan Masterson is a professional rugby union player from Ireland. He primarily plays in the back row, though he has played as a lock at under-age level. Masterson currently plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14, after being promoted from the academy ahead of the 2015–16 season.
Caolin Blade is a professional rugby union player from Ireland. He primarily plays as a scrum-half. Blade currently plays for Irish provincial side Connacht in the Pro14, having signed a senior contract ahead of the 2015–16 season.
Rory Parata is an Australian-born Irish professional rugby union player. He primarily plays as a centre. As of 2021, Parata plays for English side Cornish Pirates in the RFU Championship. He previously played for Irish provincial side Connacht, having come through the team's academy, and Zebre.
Ben Whitehouse is a Welsh rugby union referee. He is currently one of five professional referees at the Welsh Rugby Union, alongside Craig Evans and Adam Jones.
Morgan Morris is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for Ospreys in the back row.
References
- ↑ "Connacht Rugby official website". Archived from the original on 4 December 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ↑ "Connacht sign Matthew Jarvis and James Loxton". Rugby World. Retrieved 20 January 2013.