Irish Rugby

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Ulster assistant coach Dan Soper says Zac Ward has the potential to be a "devastating" weapon for the club but admits he is on a "steep learning curve" as he tries to establish himself as a winger in the 15s game.

Ward made his first Ulster appearance in Saturday's 26-19 friendly win over Benetton in Belfast.

The 25-year-old - the son of former Ulster and Ireland flanker Andy Ward - joined Ulster on a trial basis earlier this summer after starring for the Ireland Sevens at the Paris Olympics.

"You get the ball in his hands and he makes things happen," said Soper.

"Those things he did in sevens when he was on the edge of the pitch, if we can create opportunities like that for him, he could be really devastating but it's certainly so foreign to him in terms of he played all his 15s rugby in the back row and now he's thinking about backfield coverage and catching high balls."

Soper, who said Ulster have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday's friendly away to Exeter Chiefs (17:00 BST), added: "The great thing has been, and it comes from the sevens environment, he's been really good at going after those extras and finding other bits and pieces he needs to do the extra training on.

"He's making progress but it's a tough transition, what's he's doing."

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy is expecting Werner Kok to make his debut for the province in this weekend's friendly away to Exeter Chiefs.

The South African back-three player signed from the Sharks this summer but was not involved in last weekend's 26-19 pre-season win over Benetton in Belfast.

In what is the final tune-up before Ulster's URC season begins against champions Glasgow on 21 September, Kok should feature at Sandy Park.

"We're hoping Werner will go," said Murphy.

"He picked up a very slight calf injury that kept him out of this game, it would have been crazy to play him.

"He should make next week."

Murphy will bring in the region of 27 players to Exeter, although those that toured South Africa with Ireland in the summer will again not be involved.

Having come off the bench against Benetton, Irish Olympian Zac Ward, who is on trial with Ulster, will get another chance to impress.

Having starred at the Paris Games in sevens, Ward has been transitioning back into 15s rugby while also learning a new position.

"He's literally here two weeks," reminded Murphy.

"He's had five training sessions. He was a back-row forward when he went to sevens, now he's on the wing. It's so different.

"Over the next couple of months, we'll be trying to upskill him and get him to a place where he feels comfortable on the wing."

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Summer arrival Aidan Morgan will make his Ulster debut in Saturday's opening pre-season friendly against Benetton at Kingspan Stadium.

Fly-half Morgan, 23, will partner Nathan Doak in the half-backs with Ireland Sevens player Zac Ward named on the bench as he continues his trial with the Irish province.

Ulster's other major summer acquisition wing Werner Kok, who arrived from the Sharks, will not feature in Saturday's game.

James McNabney is named in the back row following his promotion from the Ulster Academy.

The bench includes James Humphreys and Scott Wilson, who also have moved up from the province's academy squad.

Mike Lowry will captain the side from full-back with Academy player Rory Telfer, who represented Ireland at this summer's Under-20 World Cup, and Aaron Sexton occupying the wing berths and Jude Postlethwaite and Stewart Moore selected at centre.

Ulster's front row includes another trialist Corrie Barrett who will pack down with Eric O'Sullivan and John Andrew.

Harry Sheridan will partner Kieran Treadwell in the second row with McNabney joined by Sean Reffell and David McCann in the back row.

Ulster: Lowry; Telfer, Moore, Postlethwaite, Sexton; Morgan, Doak; O'Sullivan, Andrew, Barrett; Sheridan, Treadwell; McNabney, Reffell, McCann.

Replacements: McCormick, Reid, Wilson, A O'Connor, Marcus Rea, McKee, Humphreys, Carson, Walker, Irvine, McKillop, Brigg, Shanahan, Ward, Murphy.

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Eimear Considine is in line to win her first Ireland cap in more than two years after being called up as injury cover for Meabh Deely.

Munster full-back Considine has not featured on the international stage since April 2022 but recently featured in the women's interpros after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Considine, who has 26 caps, is an experienced replacement for Deely, who sustained an injury playing for Connacht in the interpros.

Meanwhile, Munster's Jane Clohessy has been prevented from linking up with the Ireland squad as a training panellist because of a knee injury sustained against Leinster.

Ireland host Australia in a one-off Test at Belfast's Kingspan Stadium on 14 September before travelling to Vancouver for their WXV1 campaign, which features games against New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

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Ulster will play their festive interprovincials against Munster and Connacht on 20 and 28 December respectively.

When the United Rugby Championship released their fixture list in May, the traditional Christmas derbies had been listed without dates or kick-off times.

Leinster will host Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on 21 December before Leo Cullen's men travel to Thomond Park to face Munster on 27 December.

In another change, Ulster's away game against the Lions in Johannesburg on 28 September will now kick off at 11:55 BST.

URC festive interprovincials

20 December: Ulster vs Munster, 19:35 BST

21 December: Leinster vs Connacht, 17:30 BST

27 December: Munster vs Leinster, 19:35 BST

28 December: Connacht vs Ulster, 19:35 BST

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The Irish Rugby Football Union has announced 37 central contracts across the Women's High Performance Programme as the Ireland Women's XVs and Sevens squads build towards the 2024-25 season.

The Ireland Women's XV will be back in action when they host Australia at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday 14 September as part of Irish Rugby's 150th Year celebrations.

Scott Bemand's squad then travel to Vancouver for their WXV1 campaign in the autumn, before they turn their attention to next season's Women's Six Nations and Women's Rugby World Cup in England.

After making their debut at the Olympics in Paris, the Ireland Women's Sevens side will return to training in mid-September as preparations for a new HSBC SVNS Series campaign kicks off in Dubai in November.

'An important year ahead'

"It is an important year ahead for the Women's programme, with our XVs squad building towards our return to the Women's Rugby World Cup stage, and our Sevens squad bidding to build on the positive momentum from their appearance at the recent Paris Olympics, so developing depth in our playing resources is a key focus," explained Head of Women's Performance and Pathways Gillian McDarby.

"With this in mind, the alignment between our squads is an important strength as we face into a busy schedule and the consistent conversations between Scott and Allan [Temple-Jones, Sevens coach], as well as our High Performance Staff across both XVs and Sevens, ensures we will give both our Ireland teams the best chance of success on the international stage."

Ireland Women's Contracted Players [2024-25 season]: Kathy Baker, Natasja Behan, Claire Boles, Ellen Boylan, Enya Breen, Megan Burns, Ruth Campbell, Hannah Clarke, Katie Corrigan, Aoife Dalton, Meabh Deely, Linda Djougang, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Kate Farrell McCabe, Alanna Fitzpatrick, Stacey Flood, Nicole Fowley, Clare Gorman, Katie Heffernan, Eve Higgins, Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Lucinda Kinghan, Emily Lane, Amy Larn, Anna McGann, Sadhbh McGrath, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, Dannah O'Brien, Robyn O'Connor, Niamh O'Dowd, Béibhinn Parsons, Aoibheann Reilly, Fiona Tuite, Aoife Wafer, Katie Whelan.