Ulster Rugby team named for Connacht clash

Oct 4 • General News, Guinness Pro14 • 1054 Views • Comments Off on Ulster Rugby team named for Connacht clash

Rory Best and Jacob Stockdale will make their first appearances of the season in Friday’s Guinness PRO14 tie against Connacht Rugby (7.35pm, Kingspan Stadium).

The pair have recovered from their respective injuries to take their places in the starting XV for the first home inter-provincial fixture of the 2018/19 campaign. Tickets for the match are still available at ulsterrugby.com/buytickets.

Best will captain the side on his return and will join Tom O’Toole and Andy Warwick in the front row. Alan O’Connor and Iain Henderson will continue their second row partnership.

Marcell Coetzee has returned from a shoulder injury and will pack down at number 8, alongside Matthew Rea and Nick Timoney in the back row.

John Cooney and Billy Burns are retained in the half back positions, while Stuart McCloskey and Angus Curtis are paired together in midfield for the first time. Jacob Stockdale, Angus Kernohan and Peter Nelson will combine in the back three.

Replacement lock Kieran Treadwell is set to make his 50th appearance for the Province and is joined on the bench by fellow forwards Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Ross Kane and Sean Reidy.

Johnny McPhillips could make his first appearance of the season after being included among the replacements, while Dave Shanahan and James Hume, a debutant last week against Munster, complete the match day squad.

Ulster Rugby team to play Connacht Rugby, Guinness PRO14 Round 6, Friday 5th October, Kingspan Stadium, 7.35pm (live on Premier Sports / eir Sport):

(15-9): Peter Nelson; Angus Kernohan, Angus Curtis, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney;
(1-8): Andrew Warwick, Rory Best (captain), Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson, Matthew Rea, Nick Timoney, Marcell Coetzee;

Replacements (16-23): Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy, Dave Shanahan, Johnny McPhillips, James Hume.