![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/94174_2908117.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBring on Ronan O’Gara and La Rochelle in the quarter-final next week in Belfast<\/p>\n
\nUlster’s Cormac Izuchukwu(Image: \u00a9INPHO\/Laszlo Geczo)<\/p>\n
Ulster surged past Ospreys in the second-half in Belfast to advance to the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
The reward is a mouth-watering clash with Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle next Friday night at the same venue.<\/p>\n
Tries from Cormac Izuchukwu, Dave McCann, Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney secured the 28-24 victory. Nathan Doak was Man of the Match, Izuchukwu, Timoney and Stuart McCloskey were close behind.<\/p>\n
“We want to win the Challenge Cup, I think that’s a given,” said Izuchuku afterwards of a campaign where the quarter-final winner will meet Exeter Chiefs or Benetton in the semi-final.<\/p>\n
“You can touch on the fact that we didn’t play great rugby but this part of the season is about wins and we won, so that’s everything. We can win again next week.”<\/p>\n
“This part of the season, it’s do or die for all of it and I think we’ve got a lot of lads coming into form now.<\/p>\n
“If you lose, you’re out, so it’s massive and it’s all about winning, really.”<\/p>\n
First up there is Ronan O’Gara whose side have been showing resilience on the road in Europe, beating Newcastle away in the quarter-final while they gave Leinster a run for their money at the pool stage.<\/p>\n
“I’ve never met him personally, he’s such a character, you obviously see the clips of him online.<\/p>\n
“So it’ll be pretty cool obviously to play against something he’s a part of because he’s such a legend in the sport. It’s class, but we prepare the same for any team and we want to win.\u201d<\/p>\n