2025/26 Irish Rugby Transfers – Full List of Ins and Outs Across All Four Provinces
Author: Joe Naughton
Published: May 2025
Introduction: Changing of the Guard in Irish Rugby
The 2025/26 season is ushering in a major transitional period for Irish provincial rugby. Between high-profile retirements, international signings, and academy reshuffles, the four provinces — Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Connacht — have collectively experienced 43 player departures and welcomed just 10 new arrivals.
This shift highlights a focus on leaner squads, internal player development, and the end of an era for several Irish legends. Here’s a breakdown of the key stats, followed by the full list of confirmed transfers.
Transfer Stats at a Glance:
Total players in: 10
Total players out: 43
Mid-season exits: 10
Retirements: 7
International signings: 4
Fly-halves lost: 4 (Byrne, Burns, Hanrahan, Morgan)
Most departures: Ulster (17)
Fewest departures: Connacht (7)
Notable New Signings:
Rieko Ioane – Leinster
Angus Bell – Ulster
Juarno Augustus – Ulster
Sam Gilbert – Connacht
Notable Retirements:
Cian Healy – Leinster
Peter O’Mahony – Munster
Dave Kilcoyne – Munster
Stephen Archer – Munster
Andy Warwick – Ulster
Marty Moore – Ulster
Reuben Crothers – Ulster
Munster Transfers – 2025/26
Players In:
JJ Hanrahan – Fly-half, 32 (from Connacht)
Dan Kelly – Centre, 24 (from Leicester, ENG)
Conor Ryan – Lock, 21 (from UCC)
Andrew Smith – Winger 24 (from Connacht)
Players Out:
Stephen Archer – Prop, 37 – Retired
Dave Kilcoyne – Prop, 36 – Retired
Peter O’Mahony – Back row, 35 – Retired
Jack Daly – Back row, 26
Cian Hurley – Back row, 25
Conor Murray – Scrum-half, 36
Billy Burns – Fly-half, 31
Liam Coombes – Winger, 28
Patrick Campbell – Fullback, 22
Dian Bleuler – Prop, 25 (returned to Sharks, RSA)
Eoghan Clarke – Hooker, 27 (to Saracens)
Scott Buckley – Hooker, 25 (loan to Ealing Trailfinders)
Bryan Fitzgerald – Centre, 26
Leinster Transfers – 2025/26
Players In:
Rieko Ioane – Centre, 28 (from Blues, NZL)
Players Out:
Cian Healy – Prop, 37 – Retired
Ross Byrne – Fly-half, 30 (to Gloucester)
Jordie Barrett – Centre, 28 (returned to Hurricanes)
Rob Russell – Winger, 26
Liam Turner – Winger, 25
Rory McGuire – Prop, 22 (to Ulster)
Ben Brownlee – Centre, 22
Aitzol King – Winger, 23
Michael Milne – Prop, 25 (loan to Munster)
Lee Barron – Hooker, 24 (to Munster)
Ulster Transfers – 2025/26
Players In:
Sam Crean – Prop, 25 (from Saracens)
Angus Bell – Prop, 24 (from Waratahs)
Juarno Augustus – Back row, 27 (from Northampton)
Rory McGuire – Prop, 22 (from Leinster)
Players Out:
Andy Warwick – Prop, 34
Corrie Barrett – Prop, 27
Alan O’Connor – Lock, 32
Kieran Treadwell – Lock, 29 (to Harlequins)
Matty Rea – Back row, 31
Reuben Crothers – Back row, 23 – Retired
John Cooney – Scrum-half, 35 (to Brive)
Michael McDonald – Scrum-half, 26
Aidan Morgan – Fly-half, 24
Jack Boal – Prop, 22
Cameron Doak – Prop, 18
Zac Solomon – Hooker, 21
Ben McFarlane – Winger, 20
Rory Telfer – Fullback, 21
Marty Moore – Prop, 34 – Retired
Tadgh McElroy – Hooker, 28 (to Sale)
Aaron Sexton – Winger, 24
Connacht Transfers – 2025/26
Players In:
Sam Gilbert – Winger, 26 (from Highlanders)
Players Out:
Conor Oliver – Back row, 29
JJ Hanrahan – Fly-half, 32 (to Munster)
Piers O’Conor – Centre, 29 (to Edinburgh)
Santiago Cordero – Winger, 31
Adam McBurney – Hooker, 28 (to Dinamo Bucharest)
John Porch – Winger, 31 (to Vannes)
Andrew Smith – Winger, 24 (loan to Munster)
Conclusion
With some of Ireland’s most iconic players hanging up their boots, and key internationals either joining or leaving, the 2025/26 season promises to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Ulster lead the clearout, while Munster and Leinster lose long-time leaders. Will academy graduates step up, or will recruitment spike again in 2026?
Stay tuned to SportsNewsIreland.com for further updates, pre-season previews, and exclusive player interviews.
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