Ulster

South Africa international Ruan Pienaar has announced his departure from Ulster following the end of the 2016/17 season.

Ulster have announced on Wednesday that Rob Herring and Andrew Trimble will take over the captaincy of the Pro12 club for the upcoming season.

Leinster are on course for their fifth Pro12 title win after they stormed into the final defeating Ulster 30-18 in the semi-final in Dublin on Friday.

Ulster eclipsed Ospreys challenge with a 46-26 win to secure a Pro12 play-off spot as Ospreys failed to qualify for the next year's European Champions Cup tournament.

A try-scoring return for Ireland winger Tommy Bowe helped Ulster thrash Zebre 47-17 to boost their hopes of a Guinness PRO12 play-off place.

Ulster got back to winning ways with a hard-fought 18-10 victory over Guinness Pro12 leaders Connacht to move up to fourth place and breathe life into their bid to make the play-offs.

Title holders Glasgow Warriors extended their winning run in the Guinness PRO12 to five matches with a hard-fought 27-17 victory over Ulster at Scotstoun.

Ulster bounced back from two consecutive defeats to get their Guinness Pro12 play-off ambitions back on track with a 32-0 bonus-point victory over Zebre at the Kingspan Stadium.

Edinburgh have clinched the signing of promising Ulster wing Rory Scholes on a two-year deal.

Two late tries from Rhys Patchell (74') and Aled Summerhill (78') propelled Cardiff past Ulster 23-13 at Cardiff Arms Park in the Guinness PRO12.

The Scarlets boosted their PRO12 play-off hopes by sealing a rare league double over Ulster with a 21-20 victory at the Kingspan Stadium on Sunday, and in doing so traded places with their hosts in the table.

Ireland back Jared Payne has signed a new contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union that will keep him at Ulster until 2018.

Ulster notched up their third consecutive PRO12 win to keep them set for a top-four finish as they just about overcame Glasgow Warriors 13-10 at a damp Kingspan Stadium.

Marcell Coetzee, Ayumu Goromaru, Liam Gill and David Pocock

Saracens' Chris Ashton reflects on his 10-week ban for gouging and the incident that led to his lengthy suspension.

A late Paddy Jackson penalty was to prove crucial as Ulster secured a late 17-15 win over Newport Gwent Dragons to send the Irish side top of the Guinness PRO12 table.

Stuart Olding scored a try on his return to action for Ulster as they secured a bonus-point 32-13 Guinness Pro12 victory over Benetton Treviso at the Stadio Monigo.

Ulster produced the bonus point victory they needed from their final European Champions Cup pool game against Oyonnax but must now wait on other results to secure qualification to the knockout stages as one of three best runners-up.

Despite a second-half howler from England international Owen Farrell, Saracens maintained their 100 per cent record in this season's Champions Cup with a convincing 28-17 victory over Toulouse.

Owen Farrell provided a timely spark of creativity as Saracens stormed into the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup with a 33-17 victory over Ulster that guarantees home advantage in the next round.