The Ulster A team, sponsored by CD Group, has been announced for the British & Irish Cup Round 4 test at home to Hartpury RFC on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm at Ballymena RFC).
Coaches Kieran Campbell and Willie Anderson have made just two personnel changes from the side that snatched a late win over the same Championship opposition in the return fixture last weekend.
Both changes come in a reshuffled backline that sees Ballymena RFC clubmen Angus Kernohan and Brett Herron start at right wing and inside centre respectively.
There are three other positional changes as David Busby, Jack Owens and Rob Lyttle shift to left wing, outside centre and fullback.
The half-back partnership of Jonny Stewart and Johnny McPhillips is retained.
The Ulster front eight, which performed well against an imposing Hartpury forward unit last week, also remains unchanged.
There is a strong presence of youth among the Ulster pack, with no less than five Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy players – hooker Adam McBurney, tight-head prop Tom O’Toole, lock Matthew Dalton, openside flanker Aaron Hall and number eight Greg Jones, who will once again captain the side.
Rainey OB RFC’s Tommy O’Hagan starts at loose-head, with Peter Browne and Clive Ross adding considerable experience to the second row and back row respectively.
Zack McCall, Eric O’Sullivan, Caleb Montgomery and Matthew Agnew make up the forward options from the bench, while Dave Shanahan, Stewart Moore and Aaron Cairns provide the backline cover.
Ulster A team to play Hartpury RFC, Saturday 16th December at Ballymena RFC, 2.30pm:
(1-8): Tommy O’Hagan, Adam McBurney, Tom O’Toole, Peter Browne, Matthew Dalton, Clive Ross, Aaron Hall, Greg Jones (C);
(9-15): Jonny Stewart, Johnny McPhillips, David Busby, Brett Herron, Jack Owens, Angus Kernohan, Rob Lyttle.
Replacements: Zack McCall, Eric O’Sullivan, Caleb Montgomery, Matthew Agnew, Dave Shanahan, Stewart Moore, Aaron Cairns.
British & Irish Cup Pool Stage Fixtures:
Round 1: Ulster A 24-18 Scarlets Premiership Select, Saturday 14th October at Banbridge RFC (2.30pm)
Round 2: Cornish Pirates 23-14 Ulster A, Sunday 22nd October at Mennaye Field, Penzance (2.30pm)
Round 3: Hartpury RFC 24-29 Ulster A, Saturday 9th December at Hartpury College (2.30pm)
Round 4: Ulster A v Hartpury RFC, Saturday 16th December at Ballymena RFC (2.30pm)
Round 5: Ulster A v Cornish Pirates, 12-14th January at Shaw’s Bridge (TBC)
Round 6: Scarlets Premiership Select v Ulster A, Saturday 20th January at Llandovery RFC (3.00pm)
Coaches Kieran Campbell and Willie Anderson have made just two personnel changes from the side that snatched a late win over the same Championship opposition in the return fixture last weekend.
Both changes come in a reshuffled backline that sees Ballymena RFC clubmen Angus Kernohan and Brett Herron start at right wing and inside centre respectively.
There are three other positional changes as David Busby, Jack Owens and Rob Lyttle shift to left wing, outside centre and fullback.
The half-back partnership of Jonny Stewart and Johnny McPhillips is retained.
The Ulster front eight, which performed well against an imposing Hartpury forward unit last week, also remains unchanged.
There is a strong presence of youth among the Ulster pack, with no less than five Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy players – hooker Adam McBurney, tight-head prop Tom O’Toole, lock Matthew Dalton, openside flanker Aaron Hall and number eight Greg Jones, who will once again captain the side.
Rainey OB RFC’s Tommy O’Hagan starts at loose-head, with Peter Browne and Clive Ross adding considerable experience to the second row and back row respectively.
Zack McCall, Eric O’Sullivan, Caleb Montgomery and Matthew Agnew make up the forward options from the bench, while Dave Shanahan, Stewart Moore and Aaron Cairns provide the backline cover.
Ulster A team to play Hartpury RFC, Saturday 16th December at Ballymena RFC, 2.30pm:
(1-8): Tommy O’Hagan, Adam McBurney, Tom O’Toole, Peter Browne, Matthew Dalton, Clive Ross, Aaron Hall, Greg Jones (C);
(9-15): Jonny Stewart, Johnny McPhillips, David Busby, Brett Herron, Jack Owens, Angus Kernohan, Rob Lyttle.
Replacements: Zack McCall, Eric O’Sullivan, Caleb Montgomery, Matthew Agnew, Dave Shanahan, Stewart Moore, Aaron Cairns.
British & Irish Cup Pool Stage Fixtures:
Round 1: Ulster A 24-18 Scarlets Premiership Select, Saturday 14th October at Banbridge RFC (2.30pm)
Round 2: Cornish Pirates 23-14 Ulster A, Sunday 22nd October at Mennaye Field, Penzance (2.30pm)
Round 3: Hartpury RFC 24-29 Ulster A, Saturday 9th December at Hartpury College (2.30pm)
Round 4: Ulster A v Hartpury RFC, Saturday 16th December at Ballymena RFC (2.30pm)
Round 5: Ulster A v Cornish Pirates, 12-14th January at Shaw’s Bridge (TBC)
Round 6: Scarlets Premiership Select v Ulster A, Saturday 20th January at Llandovery RFC (3.00pm)