Now in his eighth season with the club, Cooney made his Ulster debut back in September 2017, scoring 10 points from the tee in a bonus point win over the Toyota Cheetahs at Kingspan Stadium.
Sunday’s game will also be a special occasion for 22-year-old Development forward, Lorcan McLoughlin, who will make his first start for the province. A former Irish U20 Grand-Slam winner, this will be McLoughlin’s second senior appearance, having made his debut last season against the Emirates Lions.
Tickets are still available for Sunday’s game, including a special ‘Kids for a Quid’ promotion. There will also be a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of 16 tie between Banbridge Academy and Sullivan Upper played as a curtain raiser at 2pm. Visit ulster.rugby/buytickets to secure your tickets.
With four Ulster players in Ireland camp ahead of the Guinness Six Nations, Head Coach Richie Murphy has made six changes to the starting lineup that recorded a bonus point win over Exeter Chiefs last weekend to secure a place in the Investec Champions Cup knockout stages.
Cooney comes in to start at scrum-half, where he will link up with Academy prospect Jack Murphy in a first start together for the half-back partnership.
Zac Ward is the only other change in the backline, returning on the left wing with Michael Lowry switching to the right. Stewart Moore will once again patrol the backfield at full-back.
The 22-year-old duo of Jude Postlethwaite and Ben Carson is retained in midfield, starting together for the fourth game in a row.
Up front, McLoughlin, Tom Stewart, Harry Sheridan and Kieran Treadwell are the changes in the pack.
Stewart will make his first start of the season at hooker, joining Eric O’Sullivan and last weekend’s Player of the Match Scott Wilson in the front row.
The versatile Sheridan is selected in the second row, where he is joined by Treadwell in the Ulster engine room.
Nick Timoney will captain the side from openside flanker, with McLoughlin named at blindside and David McCann packing down at number eight.
On the bench, John Andrew, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor and Matty Rea provide the forward replacements, with Nathan Doak, Jake Flannery and Rob Lyttle available as backline options.
Ulster Rugby team v Zebre Parma, Round 10, BKT United Rugby Championship, Sunday 26 January, 5.30pm, Kingspan Stadium:
15\. Stewart Moore (74)
14\. Michael Lowry (115)
13\. Ben Carson (9)
12\. Jude Postlethwaite (22)
11\. Zac Ward (3)
10\. Jack Murphy (4)
9\. John Cooney (149)
1\. Eric O’Sullivan (127)
2\. Tom Stewart (48)
3\. Scott Wilson (25)
4\. Harry Sheridan (38)
5\. Kieran Treadwell (170)
6\. Lorcan McLoughlin (1)
7\. Nick Timoney (Capt.) (157)
8\. David McCann (58)
Replacements:
16\. John Andrew (129)
17\. Callum Reid (21)
18\. Corrie Barrett (8)
19\. Alan O’Connor (203)
20\. Matty Rea (105)
21\. Nathan Doak (79)
22\. Jake Flannery (16)
23\. Rob Lyttle (65)