Ulster 'must win' at Dragons for top-eight hopes

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy says his side "need to win" to keep their hopes of finishing in the top eight of the United Rugby Championship alive.

A top-eight finish will not only secure a play-off position but also a place in the Champions Cup for next season.

Ulster sit 12th after a disappointing campaign but are just two points off a play-off position with six matches remaining.

Murphy's side head into Saturday's game in Wales off the back off a dramatic win over Scarlets in Belfast on 1 March.

"If we want to keep our hopes up of playing at the business end of the season then we need to win, there's no doubt," said Murphy.

"The Dragons' league position shows they are at the bottom but they have been very competitive, especially at home."

Cooney 'will be missed' in Belfast

Murphy added that he feels the race for the play-offs will "definitely go right to the wire".

After Ulster travel to Dragons on Saturday, Murphy's side face the Stormers, Leinster, Sharks, Munster and Edinburgh to round off the URC regular season.

"The teams in the middle are roughly four to five points off where they were last year.

"Last year it was 50 points to get into the play-offs, we finished on 51, but you could see 46 or 47 getting you in this year.

"That all goes on in the background. You're always thinking about them but all we can do this week is play for a maximum of five points."

Murphy also paid tribute to long-serving scrum-half John Cooney, who will join French side Brive at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old became a fan favourite after joining from Connacht in 2017 and Murphy said he had been "incredible" for the club.

"Obviously I've only been here for a year but I've known John since he was 15 or 16 coming out of school," added Murphy.

"I've known him for a long time and he has stood up on some really big nights with some incredible performances.

"He'll be missed around the place. It's like when he came in and took over from Ruan Pienaar. It'll be big shoes to fill and now someone else will get that opportunity."

Topics

TNS reach Welsh Cup final to keep treble hopes alive

The New Saints kept their hopes of winning a domestic treble alive by beating Cambrian United to reach the Welsh Cup final.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Ireland beat Italy to keep faint title hopes alive

Ireland hold off a spirited Italy to secure a bonus-point win in Rome and keep alive their faint hopes of winning a third consecutive Six Nations.
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Arsenal beat Chelsea; keep alive faint title hopes

Arsenal defeated Chelsea 1-0 for their first win in four Premier League games on Sunday to keep their faint Premier League title hopes alive.
ESPN - 2d
New York Keeps Slim Playoff Hopes Alive, Detroit Shows Up

The New York Sirens kept their ever fading playoff hopes alive Sunday in Detroit with a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Frost.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Ireland overcomes Italy 22-17 in Rome to keep alive Six Nations title hopes

Ireland kept alive its Six Nations title hopes by overcoming Italy 22-17 at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday. The scrappy bonus-point win ensured France and England had to win their later matches ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Derry to focus on Championship after relegation - Tally

Derry boss Paddy Tally says that his side's focus now turns to their Ulster Championship opener against Donegal after their relegation to Division Two was confirmed.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Fernandes hat-trick powers electric Manchester United past Real Sociedad

Manchester United kept their trophy hopes alive with a swaggering display that battered Real Sociedad and must be the Ruben Amorim blueprint.. From the moment they fell behind early on, his side ...
The Guardian - 5d
Double win boosts Scotland's play-off hopes

Scotland follow a defeat of United States with an "absolutely massive" win over Japan to move up to sixth in the round robin table at the World Women's Curling Championship in South Korea.
Yahoo Sports - 1h
Dominant France win ends Ireland's Grand Slam hopes

Watch highlights as France beat Ireland 42-27 to end Irish Grand Slam hopes and go top of the Six Nations table.
BBC News - Mar. 8

Ulster 'must win' at Dragons for top-eight hopes

Cooney 'will be missed' in Belfast

Topics

Related

TNS reach Welsh Cup final to keep treble hopes alive

Ireland beat Italy to keep faint title hopes alive

Arsenal beat Chelsea; keep alive faint title hopes

New York Keeps Slim Playoff Hopes Alive, Detroit Shows Up

Ireland overcomes Italy 22-17 in Rome to keep alive Six Nations title hopes

Derry to focus on Championship after relegation - Tally

Fernandes hat-trick powers electric Manchester United past Real Sociedad

Double win boosts Scotland's play-off hopes

Dominant France win ends Ireland's Grand Slam hopes

More from Yahoo Sports

Spurs will reportedly let Gregg Popovich decide if he wants to coach next season: 'He's earned that'

30 MLB teams, 30 fantasy baseball deep sleepers for 2025 drafts

Four-star running back visits UGA football

Former Panthers QB does his best Steve Bartman impression at Wednesday's Dodgers-Cubs game

What qualities could Baker be looking for in next West Virginia head coach?

More in Sports

Spurs will reportedly let Gregg Popovich decide if he wants to coach next season: 'He's earned that'

30 MLB teams, 30 fantasy baseball deep sleepers for 2025 drafts

Four-star running back visits UGA football

Former Panthers QB does his best Steve Bartman impression at Wednesday's Dodgers-Cubs game

What qualities could Baker be looking for in next West Virginia head coach?