Ulster A, sponsored by CD Group, will host Cardiff Blues Premiership Select at Ballymena RFC in Round 3 of the British & Irish Cup on Friday evening (kick-off 7.00pm) and coaches Kieran Campbell and Willie Anderson have named a youthful looking team.
Having won the opening cup game at home to Jersey Reds, Ulster A fell to a 34-29 defeat away to early table-toppers London Scottish in Round 2 but managed to pick up two crucial bonus points. This Friday, Ulster will be hoping to make home advantage count and re-establish their position as contenders for the automatic play-off spot from Pool 1.
Rob Lyttle, who has featured prominently for the Ulster senior squad in recent months, forms an exciting back three along with Ireland U20 star Johnny McPhillips and Jack Owens, who is making his first Ulster appearance since returning from a long injury lay-off.
Mark Best continues at inside centre and will be joined in midfield by Queen’s University’s Rory Butler.
Ballymena clubman John Andrew will captain the side from hooker alonside Jonny Simpson at tight head prop, while the loose head position is to be confirmed.
Connor Smyth and Stephen Mulholland are paired together in the second row, while Nick Timoney, returning from duty with the Ireland 7s team and one of eight Hughes Insurance Ulster Academy players in the match day squad, will join Conor Joyce and Lorcan Dow in the back row.
Ulster A team v Cardiff Blues Premiership Select
Friday 9th December 2016
7.00pm at Ballymena RFC
1 TBC
2 John Andrew (C)
3 Jonny Simpson
4 Connor Smyth
5 Stephen Mulholland
6 Nick Timoney
7 Conor Joyce
8 Lorcan Dow
9 Dave Shanahan
10 Brett Herron
11 Jack Owens
12 Mark Best
13 Rory Butler
14 Rob Lyttle
15 Johnny McPhillips
16 Jonny Murphy
17 Tommy O’Hagan
18 John McCusker
19 Zack McCall
20 Jonny Stewart
21 David Busby
22 Callum Patterson
Cardiff Blues Premiership Select team
1 Corey Domachowski
2 Liam Belcher
3 Dillon Lewis (C)
4 Ben Murphy
5 Cam Dolan
6 Shane Lewis-Hughes
7 Morgan Sieniawski
8 Nick White
9 Pele Cowley
10 Ben Jones
11 Teri Gee
12 Garyn Smith
13 Harri Millard
14 Kyle Evans
15 Gareth Thompson
16 Ethan Lewis
17 Rhys Carre
18 Kieron Assirratti
19 Hemi Barnes
20 Dane Blacker
21 Cameron Lewis
22 Declan Williams
Having won the opening cup game at home to Jersey Reds, Ulster A fell to a 34-29 defeat away to early table-toppers London Scottish in Round 2 but managed to pick up two crucial bonus points. This Friday, Ulster will be hoping to make home advantage count and re-establish their position as contenders for the automatic play-off spot from Pool 1.
Rob Lyttle, who has featured prominently for the Ulster senior squad in recent months, forms an exciting back three along with Ireland U20 star Johnny McPhillips and Jack Owens, who is making his first Ulster appearance since returning from a long injury lay-off.
Mark Best continues at inside centre and will be joined in midfield by Queen’s University’s Rory Butler.
Ballymena clubman John Andrew will captain the side from hooker alonside Jonny Simpson at tight head prop, while the loose head position is to be confirmed.
Connor Smyth and Stephen Mulholland are paired together in the second row, while Nick Timoney, returning from duty with the Ireland 7s team and one of eight Hughes Insurance Ulster Academy players in the match day squad, will join Conor Joyce and Lorcan Dow in the back row.
Ulster A team v Cardiff Blues Premiership Select
Friday 9th December 2016
7.00pm at Ballymena RFC
1 TBC
2 John Andrew (C)
3 Jonny Simpson
4 Connor Smyth
5 Stephen Mulholland
6 Nick Timoney
7 Conor Joyce
8 Lorcan Dow
9 Dave Shanahan
10 Brett Herron
11 Jack Owens
12 Mark Best
13 Rory Butler
14 Rob Lyttle
15 Johnny McPhillips
16 Jonny Murphy
17 Tommy O’Hagan
18 John McCusker
19 Zack McCall
20 Jonny Stewart
21 David Busby
22 Callum Patterson
Cardiff Blues Premiership Select team
1 Corey Domachowski
2 Liam Belcher
3 Dillon Lewis (C)
4 Ben Murphy
5 Cam Dolan
6 Shane Lewis-Hughes
7 Morgan Sieniawski
8 Nick White
9 Pele Cowley
10 Ben Jones
11 Teri Gee
12 Garyn Smith
13 Harri Millard
14 Kyle Evans
15 Gareth Thompson
16 Ethan Lewis
17 Rhys Carre
18 Kieron Assirratti
19 Hemi Barnes
20 Dane Blacker
21 Cameron Lewis
22 Declan Williams