News

Ulster side named to face Dragons at Rodney Parade

21st March 2025
Head Coach, Richie Murphy, has named his Ulster side to take on Dragons RFC tomorrow evening in Round 13 of the BKT United Rugby Championship. (KO: 5.15pm)

There are two changes to the forward pack from the Round 12 victory over Scarlets, with Ireland international, Tom O’Toole, starting at tighthead prop and David McCann starting at blindside flanker.

Loosehead prop Callum Reid and hooker Rob Herring join O’Toole in the front row.

Alan O’Connor continues to captain the side after his dramatic late try against Scarlets earned Ulster a vital victory. Matthew Dalton starts alongside him in the second-row engine room.

Joining McCann in the back-row, Nick Timoney starts at openside flanker, with last Round’s BKT Player of the Match, James McNabney, retaining the number eight jersey.

In a youthful half-back pairing, Nathan Doak starts at scrum-half alongside Academy fly-half, Jack Murphy.

Murphy opts for an unchanged Ulster backfield, with Jacob Stockdale and Michael Lowry remaining on the left and right wings respectively.

Stuart McCloskey is in line for his 199th Ulster appearance, starting at inside centre alongside James Hume at outside centre.

Stewart Moore completes the starting XV at full-back.

Murphy welcomes back John Cooney onto the bench, after it was confirmed that the long-serving scrum-half will depart the province for CA Brive at the end of this season.

Cooney joins Kiwi, Aidan Morgan, and Sevens star, Zac Ward, as the backline replacement options.

John Andrew, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Kieran Treadwell and Reuben Crothers are the forward reinforcements.  

Dragons RFC v Ulster Rugby, Saturday 22nd March, 5.15pm, BKT United Rugby Championship Round 13, Rodney Parade (Live on Premier Sports)

1\. Callum Reid (23)

2\. Rob Herring (247)

3\. Tom O’Toole (117)

4\. Alan O’Connor (Capt) (206)

5\. Matthew Dalton (11)

6\. David McCann (61)

7\. Nick Timoney (160)

8\. James McNabney (13)

 

9\. Nathan Doak (82)

10\. Jack Murphy (6)

11\. Jacob Stockdale (127)

12\. Stuart McCloskey (198)

13\. James Hume (97)

14\. Michael Lowry (118)

15\. Stewart Moore (77)

 

Replacements:

16\. John Andrew (132), 17. Sam Crean (1), 18. Scott Wilson (28), 19. Kieran Treadwell (173), 20. Reuben Crothers (7) 21. John Cooney (150), 22. Aidan Morgan (12), 23. Zac Ward (4).

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