Ulster

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Ulster wing Zac Ward has been ruled out of Friday's United Rugby Championship game against Leinster (19:35 GMT), but Tom Stewart is in line to return.

Ireland Sevens player Ward, who joined Ulster on a trial basis after the Olympics, sustained a concussion in Ulster A's game against Connacht Eagles last week.

Ben Moxham is a doubt for Friday's game after injuring his hamstring in the same fixture, while Jacob Stockdale (hamstring) is also out after being forced off during Ireland's win over Fiji last weekend.

However, Ireland hooker Stewart is on track for his first appearance of the season after recovering from an ankle injury.

Centre Stewart Moore is also available for selection, as is back row Nick Timoney, who has been released from the Ireland squad.

Ulster are also without Robert Baloucoune (calf), Jake Flannery (ankle), James Hume (knee), Callum Reid (knee), Ethan McIlroy (ankle) and Sean Reffell (ankle).

The URC returns from its four-week international break. Ulster lost to Cardiff in their last outing before the break while Leinster travel to Belfast having won all six games this season.

Leo Cullen's side are without their Ireland internationals but this week welcomed Jack Conan, Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O'Brien back to full training.

Watch Ulster v Leinster on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website from 19:15 GMT.

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Ulster have signed Northampton Saints number eight Juarno Augustus on a three-year deal from next summer.

The 26-year-old South African helped Northampton win the Premiership title last season after joining the club from Western Province in 2021.

A former South Africa Under-20 international, Augustus was named 2017 World Rugby Junior Player of the Year after finishing that year's World Rugby Under-20 Championship as top try-scorer.

"I'm very excited to sign for such a historic club in Ulster Rugby. From my conversations, I believe in the project and can see the potential," said Augustus, who also previously played for the Stormers.

"It's exciting to be a part of that and I look forward to meeting my new coaches and team-mates in Belfast next summer. I have heard about the proud history of the province with South African players, so I will hopefully feel right at home."

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said acquiring Augustus was a "statement of where we want to get to".

"He's a top-class player," said Murphy.

"He's 26, he's in his prime, he's been a very effective ball-carrier in the Premiership over the last couple of seasons so we're delighted to get him here."

Ulster general manager Bryn Cunningham said: "He has shown with Northampton Saints that he is a huge physical presence in the back row, with fantastic ball-carrying and a destructive threat around the breakdown.

"The modern game is so much about having a point of difference, particularly in explosiveness, and Juarno certainly has this."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist at the Aviva Stadium

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has confirmed that wing Jacob Stockdale injured his hamstring in Saturday's 52-17 win over Fiji.

Stockdale was forced off in the 49th minute after pulling up following a tackle.

The 28-year-old was making his first Ireland appearance in 15 months after an impressive run of form for Ulster.

The injury will be a worry for Ulster, who begin their European Champions Cup campaign away to Toulouse on 8 December.

"He pulled up sharply with his hamstring," Farrell said on Stockdale, who was seen at full-time with a bag of ice on his right hamstring.

"We'll have to see how that is, but he pulled up quite sharp, so I was gutted for him."

Farrell also said that full-back Jamie Osborne sustained an abductor injury in the first half of the win at the Aviva Stadium.

"He couldn't carry on so that doesn't look right at the minute," added Farrell.

Ireland take on Australia in their final autumn international at the Aviva Stadium on 30 November.

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Ireland internationals Iain Henderson and Rob Herring have signed contract extensions with Ulster.

Henderson's new deal means the Ulster captain will move off his central Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] contract at the end of the season and on to a provincial deal until 2027.

Herring's new deal will keep the hooker at the Belfast-based club until 2026.

Henderson, who has won 82 Ireland caps, said he feels "energised" about continuing to lead Ulster, who are in their first full season under head coach Richie Murphy.

"We are building a team with a new core of players coming through the ranks and I believe there is the talent and experience to drive us forward," said five-time Six Nations winner Henderson.

"As a proud Ulsterman, I love playing for the club and I'm excited for us going forward."

Second row Henderson, 32, has won 150 Ulster caps after making his debut in 2012.

In addition to his success with Ireland, he is a two-time British and Irish Lions tourist, having been selected for the 2017 and 2021 squads.

Herring, the province's most-capped player, said he was "delighted" to agree a new deal with Ulster as "Belfast feels like home to me".

"It's always an honour to wear the jersey and I'm enjoying my role as one of the experienced players in an exciting young squad," said the 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam winner.

"I look forward to competing on the pitch but also helping the next generation come through.

"There's a lot of excitement around the squad at the moment and hopefully plenty more special days ahead."

Earlier this week, Ulster centre Stewart Moore signed a contract extension until 2027.

Ulster return to action on 29 November when they host Leinster in the United Rugby Championship, their first game in a month because of the autumn internationals.

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Ulster centre Stewart Moore has signed a contract extension with the province that will keep him at Kingspan Stadium until the summer of 2027.

The 25-year-old debuted under previous head coach Dan McFarland in December 2019 and has now made 71 appearances for the side.

Moore has proven a versatile member of the Ulster panel having featured at both centre positions, full-back and on the wing.

“I’m delighted to sign for the next couple of years," he said.

"We have a great group of lads that are working hard to progress over the years ahead.

"For me, I want to keep pushing, work on my game and hopefully nail down my place in the team."

Ulster, who are seventh in the United Rugby Championship [URC], are next in action at home to Leinster on 29 November.

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The Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] has confirmed that a provincial 'A' championship will return next month.

The competition will see second string sides from each of the four provinces meet each other home and away between November and May in an effort to give those not featuring regularly in the United Rugby Championship game-time through the season.

"We’re delighted to kickstart the men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition," said the IRFU's performance director David Humphreys.

"With the success of the Emerging Ireland tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.

"Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition."

Ulster will start their campaign by welcoming Connacht to Ballymacarn Park, the home of Ballynahinch RFC, on 22 November with Humphreys adding it is hoped the competition will benefit All-Ireland League clubs.

"It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local clubs," he said.

"It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the club game with an opportunity to impress.

"This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons."

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Ulster coach Richie Murphy says Iain Henderson, Sean Reffell and Ethan McIlroy will all be available for Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against Cardiff after missing the home win over Ospreys.

Ireland lock Henderson was concussed after a challenge by Connacht's Dave Heffernan in Ulster's win over their fellow Irish province on 12 October.

Flanker Reffell and back McIlroy sustained ankle knocks in the same game which forced them out of the Ospreys contest.

"Sean Reffell, Ethan and Hendy are all coming back to fitness. They will all be available for selection this week," said Ulster coach Murphy.

Hookers Rob Herring and Tom Stewart are nearing a return to fitness but will not be considered for this week's game which means James McCormick, who started last weekend, and John Andrew will be in contention for the number two jersey.

After the opening five rounds of fixtures, Ulster sit fifth in the table, three points ahead of the ninth-placed Welsh club.

"It's a very important game for us. Four wins out of the first six matches would be quite satisfying. Three wins would be just sort of a pass," said Murphy.

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Ulster hope to have hookers Tom Stewart and Rob Herring back in the "next couple weeks".

Neither of the Irish internationals have featured this season with Andy Farrell's side set to face the All Blacks in Dublin on 8 November.

Leinster pair Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher are both set to miss that Aviva Stadium encounter and the return of either Stewart or Herring in time would represent a significant boost to the depth in the position.

"The boys are in a good space, they're both returning, both running," said Ulster's forwards coach Jimmy Duffy after the province's 36-12 win over Ospreys on Friday night.

"Tom scrummed with us last week and Rob is not far off as well. Hopefully we'll get those guys back on the paddock in the next couple of weeks."

In the pair's absence, young hooker James McCormick has appeared five times in the United Rugby Championship this season and scored his first pair of senior tries against the Ospreys.

"He’s been great," added Duffy.

"I worked with James with the under-20s back in 21-22 and he’s been growing.

"This was his fifth cap and he looked really good. He is maturing and he’s got good people around him so it’s encouraging to see him coming through."