Pienaar, Henderson, Henry and Wilson named in Ulster squad to face Leinster

Posted on Mar 26, 2013 in Ulster

Ulster scrum-half, Ruan Pienaar, and backrow forwards Iain Henderson, Chris Henry and Roger Wilson have recovered from injury and are included in the extended Ulster squad to face Leinster at the RDS on Saturday evening (Kick Off 18.15).

Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, can also call upon Ireland internationals Rory Best and Craig Gilroy who return to the Provincial set-up following the RBS 6 Nations.

The game will see Ulster take on the new leaders of the RaboDirect PRO12.

Ulster are third in the table, level on points with second placed Glasgow and a point behind top-side, Leinster.

Extended Ulster squad to face Leinster in the RaboDirect PRO12, Saturday 30th March, RDS, 18.15;

Forwards (15)

Neil McComb, Callum Black, Rory Best, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Dan Tuohy, Lewis Stevenson, Johann Muller, Nick Williams, Rob Herring, Kyle McCall, Ricky Lutton, Tom Court, Iain Henderson, Roger Wilson;

Backs (10)

Ruan Pienaar, Jared Payne, Craig Gilroy, Paul Marshall, Peter Nelson, Michael Heaney, Paddy Jackson, Stuart Olding, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble.

Michael Allen signs two-year deal with Ulster Rugby

Posted on Mar 26, 2013 in Ulster

Ulster back, Michael Allen, has signed his first senior contract with the Province. The two-year deal will keep him at Ravenhill until at least the summer of 2015.

Allen, who is 22, joined the Hughes Insurance Ulster Academy in 2009 and made his senior debut against Leinster in 2011 at the RDS. He was awarded a one-year development contract last summer.

This season he has made 13 appearances for Ulster, scoring two tries.

Commenting on his new deal, Allen said:

“Signing a senior contract with Ulster has been an ambition of mine ever since I joined the Academy, so I am delighted to have fulfilled that goal.

“I have enjoyed being part of the set-up and playing so many games this season. Ulster is my home Province, it’s where I grew up and it’s where my friends and family live, so it means a great deal to wear the shirt.

“I look forward to helping Ulster be successful over the next two years.”

Muller & Payne return to XV for Edinburgh

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Ulster

Ulster Head Coach, Mark Anscombe, has made seven changes to the Ulster side for Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield (Kick Off 7:30pm).

Captain, Johann Muller, is selected for the first time since February and he is joined in the second row by Lewis Stevenson. Dan Tuohy has been named in the back row alongside Mike McComish and Robbie Diack, who have been retained from the team which drew with Treviso on 1st March. John Afoa has switched back to his regular tight head prop position, with Tom Court at loose head and Rob Herring at hooker.

Jared Payne will line up at full back for the first time since the beginning of January and is joined in the back three by Andrew Trimble and Michael Allen. Paul Marshall is another returning player and he will be partnered at half back by fellow Irish cap Paddy Jackson. Stuart Olding, who has scored twice in his last two games for the Province, will again combine with Darren Cave in midfield.

Nick Williams and Peter Nelson have returned from injury and are named among the replacements. They are joined on the bench by Niall Annett, Michael Heaney, Callum Black, Ali Birch and Ricky Andrew.

Game will be televised on BBC NI red button and online at www.bbc.co.uk.

Ulster XV replacements to face Edinburgh, RaboDirect PRO12, Murrayfield, Friday 22nd March 2013 (kick off 19.30)

(15-9): J. Payne, A Trimble, D Cave, S Olding, M Allen, P Jackson, P Marshall;

(1-8): T Court, R Herring, J Afoa, J Muller, L Stevenson, D Tuohy, M McComish, R Diack;

Replacements (16-23): N Annett, C Black, R Lutton, N Williams, A Birch, M Heaney, R Andrew, P Nelson.

Iain Henderson injury update

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Ulster

Ulster backrow forward, Iain Henderson, suffered an injury to his left foot playing for Ireland against Italy in the RBS 6 Nations last Saturday.

Following a scan in Dublin on Sunday, he underwent an X-Ray in Belfast yesterday. There it was confirmed that he has suffered soft-tissue damage.

He will continue to be monitored, but it is expected that he will make a return to rugby in the coming weeks.

Trimble signs new two-year deal with the IRFU and Ulster

Posted on Mar 19, 2013 in Ulster

Ulster winger, Andrew Trimble, has signed a new national contract with the IRFU which will see him remain at Ravenhill until at least the summer of 2015.

Trimble, a graduate of the Hughes Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy, made his senior debut for Ulster against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on 9th September 2005.

The 28 year old has made 155 appearances for the Province and has scored an Ulster record 50 first team tries. He is on track to break his personal record of ten tries in one campaign, having scored eight tries for Ulster so far this season.

Trimble made his Ireland debut against Australia at Lansdowne Road in November 2005. He has won 49 caps and has scored 11 international tries. His last appearance for Ireland was against South Africa in the Guinness Series in November last year.

Commenting on Andrew Trimble’s new contract, Ulster’s Director of Rugby, David Humphreys, said: “I am delighted that Andrew has signed a new national contract as he is, without doubt, a world-class finisher and a hugely important member of our squad.

“Andrew has now spent almost eight years at Ulster Rugby. This deal will take him to a decade at Ravenhill and that reflects both his remarkable consistency of performance and his unwavering commitment to his Province.”

Ulster’s Nick Williams out for eight weeks

Posted on Jan 14, 2013 in Ulster

Ulster Number 8, Nick Williams, suffered a knee injury in Ulster’s Heineken Cup Pool 4 win over Glasgow Warriors at Ravenhill on Friday night.

An assessment this morning confirmed that he sustained medial ligament damage to his left knee and is expected to be out for up to eight weeks.

Prop Adam Macklin damaged his knee playing for the Ravens against Bristol at the weekend. He will be subject to an ongoing conservative management programme and will be reviewed in due course.

Outside half Paddy Jackson was assessed yesterday for an ankle injury he picked up against Glasgow, as was winger Craig Gilroy who suffered a bang to the head on Friday night. Jackson’s ankle is responding well to physiotherapy treatment, while Gilroy is following the necessary return-to-play protocol.

It is hoped that both players will be available for selection for this weekend’s Heineken Cup game against Castres Olympique.