Ulster will enjoy home advantage in their United Rugby Championship quarter-final after securing a top-four finish by beating the Sharks.The hosts were cruising towards victory until the visitors scored two tries in the final four minutes to set-up a tense finale in Belfast.The province led by 17 points thanks to tries from Michael Lowry, Stuart McCloskey and James Hume.However replacement…

Akker van der Merwe's try and the boot of Robert du Preez gave Sale victory at Wasps to keep alive their slim chance of a Premiership play-off place.Hooker van der Merwe burrowed over in the second half to give Sale a lead they held on to and ensured a Champions Cup place next season.Sale dominated the scrum and Wasps gave…

Six-try Bristol beat Exeter 40-33 to all but end the Chiefs' hopes of reaching the Premiership play-offs for the first time since 2015.Callum Sheedy and Charles Piutau traded first-half tries with Santiago Grondona and Josh Hodge. A second from Piutau and Alapati Leiuia put Bristol ahead, but James Kenny and Olly Woodburn levelled the score again. Toby Fricker and Luke…

Versatile forward Ewan Richards has signed a "long-term" deal with Premiership club Bath.Richards, 20, has made 15 appearances in the league since making his debut last season.He developed through the Bath academy and plays in either the second row or the back row.The Somerset-born player has also featured for the England Under-20 team in the 2021 and 2022 Six Nations."Ewan's…