New Ulster A Coach, Alex Codling, has named an exciting side for the province's clash against Connacht Eagles at Deramore Park tomorrow afternoon (kick off 17.00). Admission to the match is free and all support will be welcomed.
Established senior players Nick Williams, Callum Black, Robbie Diack and Lewis Stevenson are joined in the panel by dynamic young Hughes Insurance Academy talent such as Rob Lyttle, Jonny McPhillips and David Busby.
Ulster A, sponsored by CD Group, will use the match to prepare for this season’s British & Irish Cup, which starts against Bristol on Friday 13th November at Kingspan Stadium.
Lyttle starts at fullback with Ireland U20s player Busby named on the right wing and Rory Scholes selected on the left.
Mark Best, who was man-of-the-match against Munster A last season, is picked in midfield alongside Sam Arnold, who has played three games for the senior side already this season and who represented Ireland at the Junior World Championships this summer.
McPhillips will line out for Ulster A for the first time and starts at outhalf, where he is partnered at halfbacks by David Shanahan.
Up front, Black is joined in a powerful front row by hooker John Andrew and tighthead prop Bronson Ross.
Stevenson captains the side from the second row alongside Alan O’Connor, who starts his first game of the season.
There are a combined 236 senior Ulster caps in a hugely experienced back row, with Clive Ross starting alongside Williams at 8 and Diack at 6.
There are ten replacements named with forwards Jonny Murphy, Ruaidhri Murphy, Kyle McCall, Alex Thompson, Conor Joyce and Stephen Mulholland joined by backs Paul Rowley, Andrew Magrath, Kieran Joyce and Alex Kane on the bench.
Ulster A team to play Connacht Eagles, Saturday 10th October, Deramore Park, Belfast (kick off 5pm):
(15-9): Rob Lyttle; David Busby, Sam Arnold, Mark Best, Rory Scholes; Johnny McPhillips, Dave Shanahan;
(1-8): Callum Black, John Andrew, Bronson Ross, Alan O’Connor, Lewis Stevenson (captain), Robbie Diack, Clive Ross, Nick Williams;
Replacements: Jonny Murphy, Ruaidhri Murphy, Kyle McCall, Alex Thompson, Conor Joyce, Stephen Mulholland, Paul Rowley, Andrew Magrath, Kieran Joyce, Alex Kane.
Established senior players Nick Williams, Callum Black, Robbie Diack and Lewis Stevenson are joined in the panel by dynamic young Hughes Insurance Academy talent such as Rob Lyttle, Jonny McPhillips and David Busby.
Ulster A, sponsored by CD Group, will use the match to prepare for this season’s British & Irish Cup, which starts against Bristol on Friday 13th November at Kingspan Stadium.
Lyttle starts at fullback with Ireland U20s player Busby named on the right wing and Rory Scholes selected on the left.
Mark Best, who was man-of-the-match against Munster A last season, is picked in midfield alongside Sam Arnold, who has played three games for the senior side already this season and who represented Ireland at the Junior World Championships this summer.
McPhillips will line out for Ulster A for the first time and starts at outhalf, where he is partnered at halfbacks by David Shanahan.
Up front, Black is joined in a powerful front row by hooker John Andrew and tighthead prop Bronson Ross.
Stevenson captains the side from the second row alongside Alan O’Connor, who starts his first game of the season.
There are a combined 236 senior Ulster caps in a hugely experienced back row, with Clive Ross starting alongside Williams at 8 and Diack at 6.
There are ten replacements named with forwards Jonny Murphy, Ruaidhri Murphy, Kyle McCall, Alex Thompson, Conor Joyce and Stephen Mulholland joined by backs Paul Rowley, Andrew Magrath, Kieran Joyce and Alex Kane on the bench.
Ulster A team to play Connacht Eagles, Saturday 10th October, Deramore Park, Belfast (kick off 5pm):
(15-9): Rob Lyttle; David Busby, Sam Arnold, Mark Best, Rory Scholes; Johnny McPhillips, Dave Shanahan;
(1-8): Callum Black, John Andrew, Bronson Ross, Alan O’Connor, Lewis Stevenson (captain), Robbie Diack, Clive Ross, Nick Williams;
Replacements: Jonny Murphy, Ruaidhri Murphy, Kyle McCall, Alex Thompson, Conor Joyce, Stephen Mulholland, Paul Rowley, Andrew Magrath, Kieran Joyce, Alex Kane.