Ulster

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy admitted his side will need "to come up with a solution" to select a back-three for their Champions Cup opener against holders Toulouse next week.

Jacob Stockdale suffered a "significant" hamstring injury on Ireland duty last weekend, Robert Baloucoune is yet to play this season, and Aaron Sexton has departed to seek a career in the NFL.

Then, in their 27-20 loss to Leinster on Friday night, the northern province were forced into playing four different players on the left wing over the course of 80 minutes.

South African Werner Kok started in the number 11 jersey but failed a head injury assessment [HIA], while his replacement Ben Moxham left the field looking in some distress with a knee injury.

That saw scrum-half John Cooney pressed into emergency action on the wing and, after he hobbled off late on, back-row Nick Timoney filled in to finish the game.

Travelling to the Stade Ernest-Wallon next week, Murphy is short of options.

"Disappointing obviously and the problem now is we've got a shortage around our back-three," said the head coach of the injuries.

"We're going to have to come up with a solution and see what that looks like next week."

On Stockdale's injury sustained against Fiji last week, Murphy said the winger would be out for a "good few weeks".

"Don't know how long he's going to be out for at the moment but it's not a short-term thing," he added.

"I don't know how long it is, but I know it's not a case of getting him back in a week or two.

"He's had a significant hamstring injury and it's a matter probably of a good few weeks but I haven't heard an actual time on that yet."

Image source, Getty Images

Ulster return to action on Friday evening when they host Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (19:35 GMT). The game will be shown live on BBC Two Northern Ireland, the iPlayer, website and app.

Before the match, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy spoke to BBC Sport NI's Gavin Andrews.

Busy upcoming schedule against top teams:

"I think the lads are excited. I think everyone knows what we are getting into. Facing teams like Leinster, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Munster and obviously Connacht on the back end of that, but also some very tight turnarounds involved.

"We know what’s coming, we know our squad depth is going to be tested. We are also carrying a few injuries at the moment but we are working hard to be the very best we can be on those particular nights."

Cormac Izuchukwu’s Ireland debut against Fiji:

"Delighted for Izzy to get his first cap – he’s been in a fair few camps over the last nine months – when you’re in there you can feel the relief of a player when he gets his first cap. Let’s hope he can kick on."

Ireland internationals returning to Ulster:

"You just want them to come back with an energy and enthusiasm for what we’re doing here."

On facing Leinster:

"Leinster at this moment are definitely the top team in our league. They’ve won six from six – they’re conceding very few points this year and they’re probably a different Leinster to what we have seen previously.

"It’s hard to pick holes in how they defend, so lots of pressure in and around the breakdown, lots of pressure at set-piece, both scrum and lineout.

"We’ll have to be very clever in relation to how we use the ball and we also need I suppose the ref to be strong in those areas.

"It’s definitely a good time to play them because they’re missing maybe 18 players but with the 18 players they’re missing they just replace them with very, very good players."

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Ulster's Ireland hooker Tom Stewart is in line to make his first appearance of the season for the province after being named in the replacements for Friday's United Rugby Championship game against Leinster at Kingspan Stadium.

Stewart has been out of action so far this season because of an ankle injury.

Prop Scott Wilson will make his first start of the campaign as he is named in place of the Ireland-tied Tom O'Toole in one of five changes to the starting line-up from the defeat by Cardiff a month ago.

On that occasion, Ulster squandered a 19-0 half-time lead as they lost 21-19.

Stewart Moore takes over at full-back from Ethan McIlroy while Ben Carson is drafted in at centre, with Stuart McCloskey unavailable because of his commitments with the Ireland squad.

With Iain Henderson and Cormac Izuchukwu both on Ireland duty, Alan O'Connor returns to the second row and will skipper the side while James McNabney is handed a back-row start.

Wing Zac Ward is unavailable after being concussed in Ulster's A game against their Connacht counterparts last weekend while coach Richie Murphy is also without Robert Baloucoune (calf), Jake Flannery (ankle), James Hume (knee), Callum Reid (knee), Ethan McIlroy (ankle) and Sean Reffell (ankle).

Leaders Leinster make 11 changes from their last outing against the Lions but are still able to include Ireland internationals Jack Conan, Ross Byrne, Jimmy O'Brien, Jordan Larmour, Luke McGrath, Will Connors and Max Deegan.

Leinster's bench includes Springboks star RG Snyman, Scott Penny and the second of their Byrne fly-half brothers Harry, who is also an Ireland international.

Leo Cullen's side lead the United Rugby Championship table by six points after their six opening wins while Ulster are 13 points off the pace in seventh spot after mixing three wins with three defeats.

Ulster: Stewart Moore; Werner Kok, Ben Carson, Jude Postlethwaite, Michael Lowry; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Eric O'Sullivan, James McCormick, Scott Wilson; Alan O'Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell; James McNabney, Nick Timoney, David McCann.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Andy Warwick, Corrie Barrett, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, John Cooney, James Humphreys, Ben Moxham.

Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Jordan Larmour, Liam Turner, Charlie Tector, Andrew Osborne; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Jack Boyle, John McKee, Rabah Slimani; Diarmuid Mangan, Brian Deeny; Max Deegan, Will Connors, Jack Conan (capt)

Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Rory McGuire, RG Snyman, James Culhane, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Scott Penny,

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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."