WALLACE TO CAPTAIN ULSTER RAVENS
Paddy Wallace will captain the Ravens tomorrow afternoon as they take on Ayr in Pool 6 of the British and Irish Cup (kick off 14:30).
Wallace, who has scored 439 points in a record 188 outings for his Province, is making his comeback after almost nine months on the sidelines with an ACL injury.
Full back Ricky Andrew, who started for Ulster against Zebre last week, is named at 15 and is joined by Peter Nelson and Ballynahinch’s Ross Adair in the back three.
Dungannon’s Stuart McCloskey is selected alongside Wallace in the centre, with Michael Heaney at scrumhalf. James McKinney, fresh from his man-of-the-match performance for Ulster against Edinburgh, is named at outhalf.
Up front, Hughes Insurance Academy players Kyle McCall and Jonny Murphy, are joined by Ricky Lutton in the front row. Queen’s University’s Marc Campbell is named in the second row along with Matthew Rea.
Ireland Under 20s flanker Conor Joyce is selected in the back row as is Frank Taggart of Harlequins and Ballymena’s Adrian Hamilton.
Adam Macklin, who is also back after an ACL injury, is named on the bench, as is hooker Paul Jackson, older brother of Paddy. Scrumhalf, David Shanahan, who made his debut for Ulster against Edinburgh a fortnight ago, is also selected as a substitute.
Ulster have played two matches so far in the competition, losing to Cornish Pirates in the first round, but beating Jersey at Ravenhill.
Ulster Ravens XV and replacements to face Ayr, British and Irish Cup, Millbrae, Saturday 6th December (kick off 14:30); R Andrew, R Adair, S McCloskey, P Wallace (Captain), P Nelson, J McKinney, M Heaney; (1-8): K McCall, J Murphy, R Lutton, M Campbell, M Rea, C Joyce, F Taggart, A Hamilton; Replacements (16-22): P Jackson, A Macklin, J Atkinson, L Dow, D Shanahan, D Busby, A Liddell.
