Ulster A coaches Kieran Campbell and Willie Anderson have named their match-day squad for the British & Irish Cup Round 3 trip to Hartpury RFC on Saturday.
The Ulster A team, sponsored by CD Group, features six changes to the starting XV from the last time out, as the Ulster men look ahead to back-to-back challenges against Hartpury.
In the front row, props Tommy O’Hagan and Tom O’Toole will make their first appearances of the campaign, with Adam McBurney continuing at hooker.
Peter Browne and 19-year-old Abbey Insurance Academy player Matthew Dalton, who earned his first senior cap against Benetton last month, are named in the second row.
Dalton’s Academy colleagues Aaron Hall and Greg Jones, who also made their senior debuts in the recent win over Benetton, will start at openside flanker and number 8 respectively, with Jones captaining the side. Clive Ross is the other loose forward.
Behind the scrum, the former Ireland U20 duo of Jonny Stewart and Johnny McPhillips are paired at half-back.
Rory Butler and Callum Patterson are named in midfield, with Rob Lyttle, David Busby and Jack Owens making up the back three.
Zack McCall, Eric O’Sullivan, John McCusker and Marcus Rea make up the forward options from the bench, while Aaron Cairns, Dave Shanahan and Angus Kernohan provide the backline cover.
Ulster A team to play Hartpury RFC, Saturday 9th December at Hartpury College, 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, Rob Lyttle, Rory Butler, Callum Patterson, David Busby, Jack Owens.
Replacements: Zack McCall, Eric O’Sullivan, John McCusker, Marcus Rea, Aaron Cairns, Dave Shanahan, Angus Kernohan.
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 v 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)
The Ulster A team, sponsored by CD Group, features six changes to the starting XV from the last time out, as the Ulster men look ahead to back-to-back challenges against Hartpury.
In the front row, props Tommy O’Hagan and Tom O’Toole will make their first appearances of the campaign, with Adam McBurney continuing at hooker.
Peter Browne and 19-year-old Abbey Insurance Academy player Matthew Dalton, who earned his first senior cap against Benetton last month, are named in the second row.
Dalton’s Academy colleagues Aaron Hall and Greg Jones, who also made their senior debuts in the recent win over Benetton, will start at openside flanker and number 8 respectively, with Jones captaining the side. Clive Ross is the other loose forward.
Behind the scrum, the former Ireland U20 duo of Jonny Stewart and Johnny McPhillips are paired at half-back.
Rory Butler and Callum Patterson are named in midfield, with Rob Lyttle, David Busby and Jack Owens making up the back three.
Zack McCall, Eric O’Sullivan, John McCusker and Marcus Rea make up the forward options from the bench, while Aaron Cairns, Dave Shanahan and Angus Kernohan provide the backline cover.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT | BRITISH & IRISH CUP
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) December 8, 2017
Here is the Ulster A team that will travel to take on @HartpuryRFC in Round 3 of the British & Irish Cup on Saturday afternoon.https://t.co/8jHFbZyxD6 #SUFTUM pic.twitter.com/FR96pawGuV
Ulster A team to play Hartpury RFC, Saturday 9th December at Hartpury College, 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, Rob Lyttle, Rory Butler, Callum Patterson, David Busby, Jack Owens.
Replacements: Zack McCall, Eric O’Sullivan, John McCusker, Marcus Rea, Aaron Cairns, Dave Shanahan, Angus Kernohan.
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 v 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)