The second of the two Irish derbies originally set for St Stephen's day has been called off, after a number of positive COVID-19 cases were reported in the Ulster squad.
The news was confirmed in a statement by the United Rugby Championship on Friday afternoon.
"The URC Medical Advisory Group has liaised with Ulster Rugby and the local health authorities and deemed that the fixture cannot go ahead as scheduled," the statement read.
"The United Rugby Championship will now consider available dates to reschedule the game."
23 October 2021; John Porch of Connacht scores his side's third try despite the efforts of Robert Baloucoune of Ulster during the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Ulster at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/SportsfileThis followed the news earlier in the week that Leinster's derby with Munster would be rescheduled, after Leinster's COVID troubles, which started in the build up to their Champions Cup match against Montpellier.
Connacht would have been hopeful that they could earn a difficult away victory, as the last time the two provinces faced one another it was a superb performance from the men in green that saw them earn a 36-11 victory in the Aviva Stadium.
Ulster will now have to wait until the URC confirms the rescheduled fixture in order to get revenge for that night in October.
This leaves Cardiff’s home game against Scarlets as the only remaining URC fixture to be played on Sunday.
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