The UAFC

2 tickets for sale in Memorial end standing. Will take 35 quid for the 2

Ulster v Connacht

Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA / 21.35 SA

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 12th league game)

AR 1: Frank Murphy (IRFU) AR 2: Joy Neville (IRFU)

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Live on: BBC NI, TG4, Viaplay, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Hansen is available for them.

Makes our job that bit harder but he’s someone I’m more than happy to pay to watch.

So is Frank a connacht man or a munster man this week?

And a rare appearance from Joy.

It’ll be harder for her ref the game from there.

Mr Cross did this same fixture last season which Ulster won 36-10.

The Ulster Rugby Medical Performance team has issued a squad update ahead of Friday’s BKT United Rugby Championship Round 8 fixture against Connacht Rugby at Kingspan Stadium.

Rob Herring injured his ankle during the second half of Saturday's Investec Champions Cup match against Racing 92 and is unavailable for selection this week.

Billy Burns’ availability will be assessed during the week, after an arm injury in the same match.

Luke Marshall, who injured his ankle in training last week, is unavailable for selection.

Sean Reffell has resumed full team training and is now available for selection following the ankle injury he sustained last January.

Ethan McIlroy has also returned to team training this week.

Squad updates in association with The Ulster Independent Clinic.

Good to see Reffell back in the side.

jean valjean wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2023 1:38 pm So is Frank a connacht man or a munster man this week?

Doesn't matter - Joy will be telling all of the others what to do from the sidelines.

I would honestly prefer it if she was in the middle reffing it herself. Then she wouldn't be telling herself what she's missed and got wrong.

Ulster v Connacht, Friday 22 December, BKT United Rugby Championship, Round 8, Kingspan Stadium, Live on BBC NI, ViaPlay, TG4 and URC.tv

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Jake Flannery, John Cooney;

(1-8) Andy Warwick, Tom Stewart, Marty Moore, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson (C), Matty Rea, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: John Andrew, Steven Kitshoff, Tom O’Toole, Al O’Connor, Dave Ewers, Nathan Doak, Jude Postlethwaite, Will Addison.

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS ULSTER
19:35, Friday 22nd December 2023 @ Kingspan Stadium

15. Mack Hansen (30)
14. Shayne Bolton (6)
13. Tom Farrell (104)
12. Bundee Aki (129)
11. Byron Ralston (24)
10. Jack Carty (200) (C)
9. Caolin Blade (179)
1. Denis Buckley (236)
2. Tadgh McElroy (7)
3. Finlay Bealham (194)
4. Darragh Murray (16)
5. Joe Joyce (8)
6. Cian Prendergast (55)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (27)
8. Sean O'Brien (4)

16. Dave Heffernan (186)
17. Peter Dooley (25)
18. Jack Aungier (57)
19. Gavin Thornbury (72)
20. Conor Oliver (71)
21. Michael McDonald (2)
22. JJ Hanrahan (8)
23. Shane Jennings (5)

That's a connacht side that will give us plenty to think about. A good test of whether last week was a false dawn or not.

Ulster - 10 1/5 v Connacht +10 7/2 on PP

Pantomime season has kicked off.

"Ulster head coach Dan McFarland has said he does not judge himself solely on trophies but insists he and his players will not rest until they end the club's long wait for silverware."

Will do well to match that Connacht pack at scrum and breakdown.

Will Matty continue his meteoric rise?
Will reffell last more than 10 mins
Will Tredwell be ar5ed