United Rugby Championship quarterfinals set after final round wins

United Rugby Championship quarterfinal places were confirmed after the final round of the regular season produced a reshaped top eight, setting up a playoff draw that features four home teams and four away sides from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and South Africa. Munster’s win over the Lions in Limerick secured their progression and also guaranteed them Champions Cup rugby next season, while Glasgow’s victory at Belfast over Ulster ensured they finished top of the standings and will host Connacht in the first quarterfinal.

Friday’s match at Affidea Stadium in Belfast carried high stakes for Ulster, which went into the game with a one-point advantage over Connacht in the race for eighth. A single point was enough for Ulster to secure a top-eight finish and the route to Champions Cup qualification, but the margin for error was narrow after the round’s other results. Ulster also arrived dealing with significant disruption from the previous week’s European Challenge Cup context: captain Iain Henderson was ruled out after receiving a red card, and head coach Richie Murphy made 10 changes to rest several players and give academy prospects Wilhelm De Klerk and Bryn Ward starts.