Irish Rugby

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Ireland are optimistic that Sam Prendergast will be fit for Friday's Nations Championship opener against Argentina as the fly-half continues his recovery from a wrist injury.

Prendergast, 23, missed Leinster's United Rugby Championship win over Munster on 24 October after injuring his wrist in training.

Speaking after that game, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admitted Prendergast recovering in time to face the Pumas would be "tight".

But in a squad update issued on Sunday, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) said he "continues to improve" and that "management are optimistic" he will be available for selection.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is already without the injured Jack Crowley, with Connacht's Ciaran Frawley and uncapped Ulster player Jamie Benson the other options at fly-half.

In positive news, Leinster utility back Jimmy O'Brien will be available to face Argentina.

The 29-year-old has resumed training having passed return to play protocols after sustaining a concussion against Munster.

Ireland host Argentina on Friday (20:10 GMT) before home matches with Fiji and South Africa on 14 and 21 November, and a finals weekend fixture against a yet-to-be determined southern hemisphere opponent the following week at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.

In the southern hemisphere leg of the Nations Championship in July, Ireland beat Australia and Japan before losing to New Zealand in Auckland.

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United Rugby Championship

Munster (3) 3

Pen: Hanrahan

Sharks (5) 15

Tries: Lombard, Van Zyl Con: Lombard Pen: Lombard

Munster fell to a second successive United Rugby Championship defeat as the Sharks claimed a first away win over the Irish province at a rainy Thomond Park.

Gianni Lombard and Ivan van Zyl crossed in either half for the South African side - the game's only tries - with Munster's only points coming courtesy of JJ Hanrahan's first-half penalty.

While the result deepens Munster's woes after last weekend's derby loss to Leinster at Aviva Stadium, it is a fourth win in five games this season for the Sharks, who move up to fourth in the table.

Munster head coach Clayton McMillan, who was without Ireland internationals Tadhg Beirne and Craig Casey, made seven changes - which included handing a debut to former Leinster wing Rob Russell - as his side attempted to shake off their derby disappointment.

But they were put on the back foot in the 15th minute when Lombard touched down for the opening try.

Zekhethelo Siyaya, the Sharks' rapid 19-year-old full-back, launched a kick into Munster territory, with Lombard gifted an easy finish after the covering Hanrahan misjudged the bounce of the ball.

Siyaya almost rubbed salt into Munster wounds when he sprinted clear before misreading the bouncing ball as he cantered towards the line.

Struggling to apply pressure while in Sharks territory, Munster registered their only points of the evening when Hanrahan slotted over.

The game's major flashpoint arrived after Lombard had kicked a penalty to restore the Sharks' five-point lead as Ox Nche was shown a yellow card after his shoulder made contact with Munster replacement prop Jeremy Loughman's head.

However, the Springbok prop avoided a 20-minute red following an off-field review.

The Sharks dealt a major blow to Munster's comeback hopes in the 59th minute when Van Zyl crossed after a big carry from captain Nick Hatton, which proved to be the game's final score.

After winning just out of five fixtures in the opening block, Munster are next in action when they travel to Zebre after the international break on 5 December.

Munster: Ben O'Connor; Shay McCarthy, Gordon Wood, Alex Nankivell, Rob Russell; JJ Hanrahan, Ben O'Donovan; Josh Wycherley, Marnus Van der Merwe, Kieran Brookes, Evan O'Connell, Fineen Wycherley, Sean Edogbo, Jack O'Donoghue (capt), Brian Gleeson.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Michael Alaalatoa, Edwin Edogbo, Gavin Coombes, Jake O'Riordan, Charlie O'Shea, Alex Kendellen.

Sharks: Zekhethelo Siyaya; Edwill van der Merwe, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ethan Hooker, Jaco Williams; Gianni Lombard, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Ethan Bester, Hanro Jacobs, Jason Jenkins, Emile van Heerden, Tino Mavesere, Manu Tshituka, Nick Hatton (capt).

Replacements: Esethu Mnebelele, Cameron Dawson, Thomas du Toit, Stephan Lewies, Vincent Tshituka, Ivan van Zyl, Siya Masuku, Litelihle Bester.

Sin-bin: Nche (57)

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Ireland captain Erin King hailed her side as "history makers" after they sealed a Test series win on South African soil.

Beibhinn Parsons' hat-trick, Aoife Dalton's double and King's opening score lifted Ireland to a 38-17 victory over the Springboks at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.

Having won last week's encounter 40-27, Scott Bemand's side became the first Irish team to secure back-to-back wins in South Africa.

"We spoke about how special it is to get the opportunity to go on tour to such a beautiful place and how rare it is," said King.

"You don't get many opportunities to do it, so we had a really good time on pitch and off pitch.

"We knew on pitch there was a job to do and we stuck to that and I think we kept building throughout the whole Global Series and we really showed today what we're capable of, especially when the pressure is on.

"We spoke about being the first Irish team to come to South Africa and win a Test series and we've done it, so I'd say we're history makers now!

Ireland fell behind early and trailed again with 20 minutes left as the Boks set out to avenge last week's loss.

But the Irish scored 24 unanswered points to storm towards another impressive success as they finished the WXV Global Series with three wins from four.

"The South Africans really brought it to us and we just had to stick to our game plan and stick to our processes and I'm unbelievably proud of the girls," added King, who led Ireland to seven wins from 10 in her first year as captain.

"It was really tough out there, it was a bit level at times, we weren't sure. They just stuck to their guns, we had each other's backs and we had an unbelievable time.

"South Africa is a beautiful place and we've made some unforgettable memories."

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Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has made two changes as his side target a second successive win over South Africa in Cape Town.

Niamh Gallagher replaces Stacey Flood at full-back while Aoibheann Reilly is recalled at scrum-half as Emily Lane drops to the bench.

Trailfinders' Gallagher is joined by Beibhinn Parsons and Robyn O'Connor in the back three, while Anna McGann and Aoife Dalton continue in midfield.

Dannah O'Brien keeps the 10 jersey after kicking 10 points in last week's 40-27 win over the Springboks at Athlone Stadium.

Linda Djougang - who scored two tries last week - Neve Jones and Eilis Cahill line out in an unchanged front row, in front of locks Jane Clohessy and Dorothy Wall.

Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, captain Erin King and Brittany Hogan comprise the back row.

Ulster prop Sophie Barrett is in line for her second Test cap off the bench as Sadhbh McGrath drops out of the matchday 23.

Ireland: Niamh Gallagher; Beibhinn Parsons, Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Robyn O'Connor; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Eilis Cahill, Jane Clohessy, Dorothy Wall, Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, Erin King (capt), Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Beth Buttimer, Niamh O'Dowd, Sophie Barrett, Grace Moore, Jemima Adams Verling, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Stacey Flood.

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Ulster's James McNabney says he is determined to show the Ireland coaches "what I'm all about" as he joins up with the national squad before next month's Nations Championship games.

Uncapped back row McNabney - who stands 6ft 5ins - is one of nine Ulster players in Andy Farrell's 36-man squad for the upcoming home Tests with Argentina, Fiji and South Africa.

The 23-year-old, usually deployed at blind-side flanker or number eight, is hoping to make his international debut after a serious knee injury forced him to miss last year's summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal.

"Yeah, I've been in camp before, I really enjoyed it," said McNabney, who Ireland head coach Andy Farrell described as "some specimen of a man" after announcing his squad last week.

"Hopefully my experience is the same and look to push on and get as much exposure and show the coaches what I'm all about."

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After an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that forced him to miss the entire 2025-26 season, McNabney has made appearances off the bench in Ulster's last three United Rugby Championship fixtures after starting the season opener against Edinburgh.

He replaced Juarno Augustus in the 64th minute of Saturday's 34-26 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria and hopes the stern examination at altitude will benefit him heading into Ireland camp.

"It's a good test at altitude, temperature, the massive humans we were up against," added the Ballymena-born forward, who helped the Ireland under-20s win a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2022.

"It was good. I would like more minutes. I only got 20 minutes at the end but you've just got to take what you're given and try to raise it."

McNabney joins eight Ulster team-mates in Ireland camp: fellow uncapped player Jamie Benson as well as Tom O'Toole, Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Nathan Doak, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and Robert Baloucoune.

Shorn of their internationals, Ulster face the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday (12:45 GMT).

Richie Murphy's side, still without a URC win this season after two defeats and two draws, reported no fresh injury concerns before the Stormers fixture, while Tom Brigg, Sam Crean, Jed Findlay, Rob Herring, James Hume, Martin Moloney and Zac Ward have joined the squad in Cape Town.