United Rugby Championship

So much to get into.

Obviously a huge round of Prem Rugby and URC.

All the squad announcements as well ahead of what promises to be a phenomenal Autumn Nations Championship.

The Nations Series Championship.

But there must have been 15 players you could have gone through the list and gone, had an unbelievable game, had an unbelievable game.

So yeah, fair play to Edinburgh.

It was a big old win and they stay top of the URC.

And just below them, Glasgow winning to stay in position.

Now coming up for you today, a big injury doubt for Ireland ahead of the Nations Championship.

Tyke Furlong cited for serious foul play in Leinster's URC win over Munster at the weekend.

And could Dan Sheehan be deployed in the back line at some point? The Monday Night Rugby crew discuss.

First up today, Gary Ringrose is a major doubt for next month's Nations Championship tests against Argentina, Fiji and South Africa.

The Leinster Centre was not selected for their URC InterPro win over Munster on Saturday and the IRFU have confirmed today that he's picked up a hamstring issue and will continue his rehabilitation with the province.

Jimmy O'Brien sustained concussion on Saturday and is following the return to play protocols while Sam Prendergast suffered a wrist injury in training last week.

The IRFU added that there are no replacements scheduled to be called up.

The URC confirmed yesterday that Tyke Furlong has been cited for an alleged incident of foul play during that InterPro win over Munster.

I forgot exactly what he said, but something like that.

Yeah, he did say it was his first URC,

and Ari went and checked, it was his fifth one, through whatever his surname is, and he's actually, according to Ari, a communications expert.

Believe it or not.

It was sort of a 50-50, but it was below our average.

It was below the average we had against Bristol.

quite frankly, was right about URC bang on average.

That's not good enough.

It was a physical game, it was a tough game, it was a controversial game and we have plenty to get into.

From that also we had Ulster Bulls, we had Connacht Zebra and we have one more weekend of URC and then we have the Autumn Internationals rolling into view as well.

So very busy time on the rugby landscape.

Will Sattery here with you as always.

We haven't seen him at 10.

he played against Zebra I should say that he played in the Challenge Cup but he played in the centres you're right in the URC let's confirm that

yeah so it's yeah and look obviously having that versatility is excellent but you certainly would want a couple of runouts as a 10 just to get your timing right and get comfortable with it again.

But look, he's a very talented player and he was with Ireland before they went on the Southern Hemisphere tour for the Nations Championship over the summer.

Munster booked that trend last year.

It was the first league game in, I think, about 12 that they'd won.

Of course, there was a couple of cup wins in their Rainbow Cup and the URC semi-final in 2023, which, you know, you can't...

You're not forgetting those, of course, but Leinster have been the dominant Irish side in the Inter pros for a number of years now, and...

But Sean Everett now moving to a more overseeing role with coaches below him actually managing the team.

So unbeaten in the URC.

top of the log.

So, yeah, you've got to play the team in front of you and they're coming up away to Edinburgh who are looking indecent.

Ooh, I love Munster cheese.

Munster's Gavin Coombs alleged he was grabbed in the groin during his side's 24-18 defeat in the United Rugby Championship, saying it occurred in a first-half ruck.

I am so unfamiliar with rugby terms.

What is a ruck?

from the 17th to the 21st of November.

In rugby news, the Scarletts will be without three key players for Saturday's URC clash against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus.

Winger Max Page has been ruled out after suffering a head injury during last weekend's defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town.

Meanwhile, flank Tane Plumtree and centre Joe Hawkins have left the squad to join the Wales national camp ahead of the upcoming Nations Championship.

The Scarlets head into the match under pressure, having lost three of their opening four URC fixtures and currently sit 14th in the standings.

And some tennis news.

More than 150 men's doubles players, including British world number one Henry Patton and legendary twins Bob Ryan and Mike Bryan, have called on the ATP Tour to reconsider proposed reforms they believe could threaten the future of doubles tennis.

Like, you know, it is so early in the season and a lot, a lot, a lot of, a lot of games to play.

Uh, just quickly, Sharks beat Cardiff, Edinburgh beat the Lions, uh, Glasgow beat Benetton, Stormers beat Scarletts and the Ospreys beat the Dragons in the URC and just the premiership.

Um, cause I, watch a fair bit of this um it was kind of obviously stormy uh this weekend so you know it led to more of the purest type rugby so um you know there's a fair battle between leicester and northampton leicester got the job done there gloucester and bath friday night gloucester again destroyed the season getting over bath um you know they're it's amazing how much difference one or two players can make to a team michael you know jack barnum's influence is incredible like i mean He could get Wales pouring again.

Bristol beat Exeter.

And there's a bit of body work here to be done in November.

So, yeah, looking forward to it.

Can I ask you, Mark, before we leave rugby? What happens for this weekend, the next round of the URC? Are they all automatically locked out or is it on a case-by-case basis?

I'd say anyone's going to be in the 23 the first weekend is locked out.