Ulster

Ulster number eight Nick Williams has received an eight-week ban after being cited for striking Cardiff Blues back Rhys Patchell during a Guinness PRO12 game.

Ulster have announced the signing of New Zealand international Charles Piutau.

Ulster marked the return to action of Chris Henry four months after career-threatening health problems with a pulsating 36-17 Guinness PRO12 win over Cardiff Blues at home.

Steffon Armitage scored a hat-trick as Toulon secured top spot in Champions Cup Pool 3 with a game to spare thanks to a 60-22 bonus-point win over Ulster.

Ian Madigan scored 19 points to drive Leinster to a 24-11 Guinness Pro12 victory over Ulster at the RDS Arena.

There were away wins for Toulon and Toulouse over Ulster and Bath respectively in the day's early European Champions Cup clashes.

Les Kiss will leave the Ireland set-up after Rugby World Cup 2015 to become Ulster's full-time director of rugby.

Inspirational Ireland and Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris has been forced to retire at the unfortunate age of just 28 with a persistent ankle problem.

Paddy Jackson will miss Ireland's summer tour to Argentina due to a stress fracture in his lower back.

Ian Madigan emerged as the match-winner for Leinster as his 72nd-minute try decided Saturday evening's attritional RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final against Ulster at the RDS.

Ulster thrashed Connacht 58-12 to claim a bonus point win that puts them right back in the hunt for a RaboDirect Pro12 play-off place.

Ulster full-back Jared Payne has been suspended for two weeks after a disciplinary panel upheld his red card against Saracens on Saturday.

Ulster full-back Jared Payne will go in front of a disciplinary panel tomorrow (9th April) following his red card in the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens.

Ulster are counting the physical cost of their Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Saracens with six players sidelined following the 17-15 defeat.

A relieved Saracens head coach Mark McCall says Ulster deserve plenty of credit after his side won their Heineken Cup quarter-final 17-15 at Ravenhill.

Ulster played for all but four minutes of their Heineken Cup quarter-final with 14 men but pushed Saracens all the way before being beaten 17-15 at Ravenhill.

Ulster's Andrew Trimble insists that while the Province are up against it in Saturday's Heineken Cup quarter-final with Saracens, his side are capable of defeating the English giants at Ravenhill.

Edinburgh broke their three-game losing streak with a gutsy 31-25 RaboDirect PRO12 win over Ospreys at Meggetland.

South African Ruan Pienaar was the hero as Ulster clinched a Heineken Cup quarter-final home tie with a brilliant 22-19 victory at Leicester.