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.”

Leinster Squad Update

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 in Leinster

The Leinster squad have stepped up their preparations for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash against Ulster in the RDS (KO: 6.15pm) with their first on-field training session of the week on Monday afternoon.

Unfortunately Jordi Murphy has been ruled out of this weekend’s fixture with a hand injury that may see him miss the next 4 or 5 weeks but apart from bumps and bruises there were no other casualties from what was a highly combative top of the table clash at the RDS last Saturday.

David Kearney received on field attention for a dislocated finger but the Cooley Peninsula outside back finished the game and is expected to be joined in the panel this week by his elder brother Rob and several other Ireland internationals whose return to provincial action were managed last week.

Amongst the possible returnees for Saturday’s interprovincial derby are Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and Mike Ross while the province is hopeful that Fergus McFadden (rib) will also be available for selection. Naas man Heaslip’s next appearance will be his 160th for the province.

Gordon D’Arcy and Quinn Roux both successfully came through their respective comebacks after injury on Saturday. Second row Tom Denton is also available for selection.

The team will be named at midday on Friday.

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.

Edinburgh Rugby rally for Ulster arrival

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Edinburgh

Interim head coach Stevie Scott today named the Edinburgh Rugby side charged with sparking an end-of-season resurgence against Ulster at Murrayfield Stadium tomorrow night (kick-off 7.30pm).

The Ulstermen enjoyed the top spot of the RaboDirect PRO12 since September however two losses and a draw in their last four matches saw them supplanted into second place on points’ difference in the previous round.

Their form still compares favourably to their hosts’ however, who go into the match seeking their first championship success on an eighth attempt.

Despite the difference in standings, Scott says the players and management are taking confidence from a quality week preparing for his first match at the helm.

He said: “The players’ reaction in training this week has been excellent.

“It’s been a tough season but their commitment to improving and getting results for the club and its fans has been superb.

“A lot of hard work has gone in this week but, importantly, the work done has also been of a very high standard.

“There’s a real will to do whatever it takes to get our results back on track.”

Scott has made three changes to the pack for the Ulster clash, with international back-row Ross Rennie making a welcome return from the shoulder injury he sustained in Scotland’s EMC Test match against New Zealand in November.

Netani Talei replaces the injured David Denton (knee) at number 8 and lock Grant Gilchrist comes back into the squad after his international debut against France in the RBS 6 Nations on Saturday.

Both Scott and interim assistant coach Duncan Hodge have seen enough of promising young scrum-half Sean Kennedy from his Scotland A success and loan spell at Glasgow Warriors to hand the 21-year-old his Edinburgh Rugby debut, where he’ll partner Piers Francis at half-back from the outset.

Ben Atiga returns to inside-centre for his 10th appearance in the competition alongside Dougie Fife, who has been moved infield to accommodate Tom Brown on the wing, with the back three completed by Greig Tonks and Lee Jones.

Of note is the firepower named on the bench, with an all-international front-row of Ross Ford, John Yapp and Geoff Cross ready to enter the fray as well as the division’s three-time top try-scorer, Tim Visser.

To herald the black and red return of the former favourites, Edinburgh Rugby have cut the cost of student tickets to £5, will hand out thousands of free flags to fans on arrival at the stadium, and have slashed the cost of a sit down bangers and mash in the supporters’ bar to five pounds!

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