Ulster fight back to draw 26-26 with Munster in Belfast

Ulster came from 21 points down to draw 26-26 with Munster in a United Rugby Championship Irish derby in Belfast on 10 October 2026, Stuart McCloskey's converted late try securing a share of the points.

Munster led 26-5 at half-time after first-half tries from Alex Kendellen (2), Marnus van der Merwe and Dan Kelly, with Jack Murphy's side reduced by early errors, while Jacob Stockdale marked his 150th appearance with a solo try before the break. Munster head coach Clayton McMillan had admitted midweek that last season's 28-3 loss in Belfast remains "etched" in his memory, and Munster started the interpro with the intensity suggested by that comment. It is Ulster's second successive draw following last week's 33-33 tie with Glasgow, and an opening loss to Edinburgh leaves Richie Murphy's team still searching for their first win of the season.

Ulster began slowly, with handling mistakes giving Munster the initial momentum; Kendellen scored from a maul to open the scoring. A scrum on the edge of the Munster 22 led to Ethan McIlroy feeding Jacob Stockdale, who powered past two defenders to touch down for Ulster's first try, which stood after a lengthy TMO check over whether Stuart McCloskey had tripped Shay McCarthy.

Munster reasserted control through their pack, constructing another effective maul for van der Merwe to score, but Ulster's problems deepened when second row Eli Snyman left the field with a head knock and Cormac Izuchukwu was yellow carded for making contact with Gavin Coombes' head at a ruck. From that period Munster extended their lead when Hanrahan sent Kelly through a gap and Kendellen crossed again to claim a first-half bonus point, Dan Kelly's try leaving Munster 26-5 at the interval.

Murphy's response at half-time was to bring on Tom McAllister and James McNabney, followed by Tom O'Toole and Matthew Devine. O'Toole, on his first appearance of the season, carried strongly and created an opening that allowed Rob Baloucoune to sprint and set up Stockdale's second try. David McCann then scored after sustained pressure, and when replacement Munster fly-half Charlie O'Shea's penalty attempt fell short — the ball having come off the tee — Ulster pressed on and McCloskey barged over three minutes from time before Jack Murphy's conversion levelled the match.

Scoring summary lists Ulster tries to Stockdale (2), McCann and McCloskey with Murphy converting three, and Munster tries to Kendellen (2), van der Merwe and Kelly with Hanrahan converting three. Ulster named McIlroy; Baloucoune, Benson, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; O'Sullivan, Stewart (capt), Knox, Donnell, Snyman, Izuchukwu, Timoney, Augustus, with replacements Walker, O'Toole, McAllister, McNabney, McCann, Devine, Flannery, Mullins. Munster's XV was O'Connor; McCarthy, Nankivell, Kelly, O'Brien; Hanrahan, Casey; Loughman, van der Merwe, Brookes; O'Connell, Beirne (capt); O'Donoghue, Kendellen, Coombes, with replacements Clein, Wycherley, Aungier, Foy, Gleeson, O'Donovan, O'Shea, Hodnett.

Ulster travel to Zebre to begin their Challenge Cup campaign on 17 October (15:15 BST), while Munster host Racing in the Champions Cup later that day (20:00).