The Ulster A team has been named for the opening round of the 2019 Celtic Cup away to Scarlets this Saturday 24th August (2.30pm at Llandovery RFC).
Head Coaches Kieran Campbell and Willie Anderson have named a youthful side, with 13 Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy / sub-Academy players in the starting XV.
Over the course of the next seven successive weeks, Ulster A will play the four Welsh regions and the other three Irish provinces. In a change to the 2018 structure, this year’s Celtic Cup is a straight league format with the top two ranked sides advancing to the final.
In last season’s inaugural competition, Ulster A lost to eventual finalists Leinster and Scarlets in the opening two rounds, before winning their final four games against Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Connacht.
Kieran Campbell is keen to build on the lessons learned from last year's campaign, as they prepare for the opening game this weekend:
"With the games coming thick and fast, we have to learn very quickly. It's a tough tournament. The teams we play against generally have a nice balance of Academy and pro players so the standard is very high. Our biggest thing last year was the ability to learn between games, adapt and grow as a group, both coaches and players.
"I expect Scarlets will be a robust, physical side who also play a pretty good style of rugby so I'd expect a high tempo, intense game this week because, similar to us, Scarlets want to move the ball at pace and play with a real tempo to their game. Away from home, it's going to be a significant challenge but it's one we're well prepared for and really exited about. I know the guys are looking forward to the challenge and I think we can give a good account of ourselves."
Ulster A team to play Scarlets, Saturday 24th August, 2.30pm at Llandovery RFC:
(15-9): Conor Rankin, Ethan McIlroy, Hayden Hyde, Ben Power, Graham Curtis, Bruce Houston, Nathan Doak;
(1-9): Callum Reid, Zack McCall (captain), Peter Cooper, JJ McKee, Jack Regan, Joe Dunleavy, David McCann, Azur Allison.
Replacements: Claytan Milligan, Paul Mullen, Jonny Blair, Conor McMenamin, Matthew Agnew, Aaron Hall, Lewis Finlay, Michael Stronge.
Ulster A’s Celtic Cup 2019/20 Fixtures:
Scarlets v Ulster A – Saturday 24th August, 2.30pm at Llandovery RFC
Ulster A v Cardiff – Saturday 31st August, 7.30pm at Malone RFC
Ulster A v Connacht – Friday 6th September, 4.00pm at Ballymena RFC
Leinster v Ulster A – Saturday 14th September, 3.00pm at Energia Park, Donnybrook
Dragons v Ulster A – Saturday 21st September, 2.30pm at Venue TBC
Ulster A v Ospreys – Friday 27th September, 5.00pm at Malone RFC
Ulster A v Munster – Friday 4th October, 5.00pm at Shaw’s Bridge
Celtic Cup Final – Saturday 12th October
