Ulster

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Ulster have confirmed utility back Stewart Moore is set for an extended spell on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Moore, who posted about his injury on social media last week, will undergo surgery in early February, likely ruling him out until next season.

Full-back Mike Lowry is following return to play protocols after sustaining a concussion in the opening minute of last weekend's defeat by the Scarlets and will not be available to face Cardiff in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game in Belfast (19:45 GMT).

With Jacob Stockdale away on Ireland duty, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy, there may be an opportunity at full-back for Ethan McIlroy, who has made one substitute appearance for the province this season or Jake Flannery, who replaced Lowry last weekend.

"Jacob's not here, Ethan McIlroy's back, he played AIL (All-Ireland League) last weekend. Jake Flannery has played there as well and there's a couple of young lads knocking around as well," said Murphy.

"We still have some options and it'd be nice to see some other guys put their hand up because our team has been quite settled over this period."

There is a similar dilemma in the front row with Rory McGuire ruled out for the next number of weeks because of a shoulder injury.

With Tom O'Toole's Ireland call-up, Murphy is without two of his tight-head props before Saturday's United Rugby Championship game at home to Cardiff (19:45 GMT).

Murphy also said that in-form wing Rob Baloucoune has carried a "light strain" into Ireland camp before next week's Six Nations opener against France in Paris.

"He's travelled with Ireland and they're looking after him," he said.

"I don't think there will be any problem with availability for him for next Thursday's game."

He added: "He's not in our hands so it's hard to know but looking at what showed up and how he presented after the game, people are quite positive that he'll be available."

Murphy is also without Cormac Izuchukwu, Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Nathan Doak, Bryn Ward and Stuart McCloskey, who are with the Ireland squad in Portugal.

After the Portugal camp, training panellist Ward will link up with the Ireland XV squad before the 6 February game against England A at Thomond Park.

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said his side "need to be better" at taking their opportunities after they were beaten by a last-play try against Scarlets on Saturday.

The Irish province had led 22-20 as the clock went red at Parc y Scarlets but fell to their third United Rugby Championship (URC) loss of the season when Ellis Mee went over in the 83rd minute.

Prior to the dramatic finish, Ulster had dominated the second half but failed to put the game away.

"Coming away to Wales is never easy. It's always tough," said Murphy after the loss to a side who had gone into the game bottom of the league.

"If you leave the game in the balance, you know that these Welsh clubs will come back at you later on. So when we look at from 40 minutes to probably 60 minutes, we had opportunities to take the game away from them there and we couldn't quite do that.

"So we need to be better in that area. We had plenty of opportunity across the game."

Murphy said it was "hard to believe" that Scarlets centre Eddie James was not shown a first-minute yellow card for a tackle on Mike Lowry and described the officiating around the maul as "interesting".

The former Ireland under-20s coach was also unsure of whether there was sufficient evidence to disallow a Jake Flannery score for a forward pass in the second half.

Despite his view on some of the big decisions, he felt his team were "just slightly under the level" they had previously shown this season.

"We've just got to keep trying to get better. This is a step backwards at the moment, but we can use that and learn from it and move on," he said.

"Our goal at the start of the season was always to get into the top eight and make sure that we get back into the Champions Cup. That goal hasn't changed."

Ulster have fallen to sixth in the table and are next in action at home to Cardiff on 24 January (19:45 GMT).

Joel Bell
BBC Sport NI

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Ulster prop Tom O'Toole says it is an "extreme honour" to play for Ireland after being named in Andy Farrell's squad for the forthcoming Six Nations.

The focus this weekend is on the United Rugby Championships, but on 5 February, Ireland kick off their Six Nations campaign against the current holders France in Dublin.

With 18 caps under his belt, O'Toole will be hoping to play a role in helping Ireland secure the title they won back-to-back in 2023 and 2024 after being named this week in Andy Farrell's wider panel for the championship.

''I think every player would love to get the opportunity to play in green, and I've been fortunate enough to play in it. It is an extreme honour to be back within that group.'' he told BBC Sport NI.

''I went in from early in my career and I got that experience and exposure from a young age with some incredible players like Jonny Sexton.

''The amount of experience you get from those guys, you can take into your day-to- day and how you carry yourself and how you get around your business. That's something I took from that experience.''

The tight-head prop, who joined the Ulster Academy in 2017, made his senior debut a year later and has been a key player in Richie Murphy's side ever since.

This weekend he will embrace the challenge of continuing their fine form against Scarlets at the Parc y Scarlets in Wales (15:00 GMT on Saturday).

''It's been incredible, it's been a great buzz. It was difficult last year for supporters and players, but it's really good this year with a great buzz about the place,'' added the 27-year-old.

''The new coaches have come in, they've been really good for the squad and we're playing an exciting brand of attacking rugby.

''It's really enjoyable to be a part of and it's the rugby I enjoy playing. It just took one or two performances to get that belief within ourselves and to prove we can do it and play.''

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Jacob Stockdale has not been included in Ulster's matchday squad to face Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship at Parc Y Scarlets on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Ireland wing has been following World Rugby's return-to-play protocols after he developed delayed concussion symptoms following last week's Challenge Cup win over Stade Francais at Affidea Stadium.

The Irish province's starting team for the meeting with Scarlets shows four changes from the side which defeated their French opponents in European competition.

Michael Lowry returns from an ankle injury to replace Stockdale at full-back, while Werner Kok is drafted in on the right wing.

Australia loose-head prop Angus Bell is named in the front row after being forced to withdraw from the starting team to face Stade Francais last week because of illness.

Charlie Irvine has overcome a calf injury and comes into the second row to partner captain Iain Henderson, with Harry Sheridan dropping to the replacements' bench.

The match will see scrum-half Nathan Doak, who was selected in the Ireland squad this week for the forthcoming Six Nations, make his 100th appearance for Ulster.

Ulster sit on 31 points in the upper echelons of the URC table going into the weekend.

Ulster: Lowry; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Kok; Murphy, Doak; Bell, Stewart, O'Toole; Henderson (c), Irvine; McCann, Timoney, Ward.

Replacements: Herring, O'Sullivan, Wilson, Sheridan, Dalton, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite.

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Ulster's European Challenge Cup last-16 tie against Ospreys at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast is to take place on Saturday 4 April, with a 20:00 BST kick-off.

Munster will travel to face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park in the same competition on the same day, with that match starting at 12:30.

In the last 16 of the Champions Cup, Leinster, the sole remaining Irish province, will be at home to Edinburgh on Sunday 5 April at 17:30.

Connacht will host the Sharks on Friday 3 April in the Challenge Cup, that game starting at 20:00.

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Ulster's Zac Ward is one of eight Ulster players names in Cullie Tucker's Ireland XV squad that will face England 'A' at Thomond Park on Friday, 6 February (19.15 GMT).

Ward, who featured in the Ireland XV against Spain in November, missed out on a place in Andy Farrell's 37-man squad for the Six Nations, but the winger will have the chance to impress in Limerick after a good run of form on the wing for his province.

Joining Ward in the 27-man squad are fellow Ulster backs Jack Murphy, Jude Postlethwaite and the three-time capped James Hume.

In the forwards, Ulster are represented by Sam Crean, Charlie Irvine, Scott Wilson and the in-form Bryn Ward - younger sibling of Zac - who picked up back-to-back man-of-the-match awards in the northern province's recent on-field wins against Munster and Stade Francais.

Leinster's four-time capped back row Max Deegan has been names as captain, with further capped Test internationals selected in the forwards including Leinster's Gus McCarthy, Munster's Oli Jager and Connacht duo Paul Boyle and Darragh Murphy.

Munster's Shane Daly and Connacht's Ben Murphy provide further Test match experience in the backs.

Ireland XV squad

Forwards (16): Diarmuid Barron (Munster), Billy Bohan (Connacht), Paul Boyle (Connacht), Sam Crean (Ulster), Max Deegan (Leinster, captain), Brian Gleeson (Munster), Sam Illo (Connacht), Charlie Irvine (Ulster), Oli Jager (Munster), Sean Jansen (Connacht), Diarmuid Mangan (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Stephen Smyth (Leinster), Bryn Ward (Ulster), Scott Wilson (Ulster)

Backs (11): Shane Daly (Munster), Matthew Devine (Connacht), Cathal Forde (Connacht), Fintan Gunne (Leinster), James Hume (Ulster), Dan Kelly (Munster), Joshua Kenny (Leinster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Jack Murphy (Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster).

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Ulster's utility back Stewart Moore has sustained an "significant knee injury" in training and will undergo surgery.

"All out of luck last week, three letters no athlete wants to hear. Different challenge ahead," the 26-year-old posted on social media.

Moore was loaned out to Newcastle Red Bulls in November but was recalled by Ulster after 19 days due to injuries in Richie Murphy's squad.

Ireland international Jacob Stockdale is a doubt for Ulster's United Rugby Championship game away to Scarlets on Saturday.

Stockdale will follow World Rugby's return to play protocols after he developed delayed concussion symptoms following the Challenge Cup win over Stade Francais.

Cormac Izuchukwu and Ben Carson are injury doubts for the game with Scarlets and their availability will be assessed ahead of the game.

Australia prop Angus Bell is available for selection after he was forced to withdraw from the starting team against Stade Francais through illness.

Forwards James McNabney and Juarno Augustus remain unavailable with their respective knee and ankle injuries.

Joel Bell
BBC Sport NI

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Having been deprived of a game last weekend, Ulster's Harry Sheridan is looking forward to a "massive fixture" against Stade Francais on Saturday at Affidea Stadium (13:00 GMT).

Second place Ulster take on pool leaders Stade Francais in a top of the table clash in the European Challenge Cup.

Ulster, who won their opening game against Racing 92, were awarded a 28-0 win and five points last weekend following the weather-enforced cancellation of their game against the Cheetahs in the Netherlands.

Sheridan says the squad are hoping to bounce back from the frustration of last weekend even though they have already qualified for the next round.

"We were going over there expecting to do a job. All we wanted to do was go down and play the game and obviously the game was called off last minute, it was unfortunate," said the 24-year-old second row, who has started nine games for Ulster this season.

''But we'll take five points every day of the week and change our focus now to Stade Francais. It's a massive fixture for us at home in front of our fans. I'm really looking forward to it.''

Sheridan's parents were part of Ulster's travelling support in the Netherlands last weekend and he is hoping Richie Murphy's side can produce a top performance to make up for last weekend's disruption.

''We've got to put an even better show on this weekend and really deliver," added Sheridan.

"We're looking to really show them and put in a performance that they can be proud of this weekend.

''We're aiming to get the maximum points against a tough opposition. That would put us in a great position to get home, round of 16, quarter, semi-finals going into this Challenge Cup competition, which is so highly revered.''

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Ulster hooker Tom Stewart has signed a two-year contract extension to keep him at the province until the summer of 2028.

The 25-year-old has played a key role in Ulster's impressive season and has registered six tries in all competitions so far.

Ireland international Stewart has been capped five times for Andy Farrell's side and captained an Ireland XV during their victory over Spain in November.

The Belfast native is due to start on Saturday as Ulster face Stade Francais at Affidea Stadium (13:00 GMT) in the Challenge Cup as Richie Murphy's outfit aim to secure top spot in Pool Three and a home draw in the last-16.

"Ulster Rugby is my home club and the team I always grew up wanting to play for," Stewart said after the announcement.

"I'm honoured to sign on for a further two seasons, and I'm fully focused on continuing to improve my game to help the team move forward.

"I'm hugely ambitious about what we can achieve as a club in the future and what we continue to push for this season."

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Jacob Stockdale has returned from injury as Ulster name a strong team to face Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup in Belfast on Saturday [13:00 GMT].

Both sides have already qualified for the knockout stages but the French side hold a one-point advantage over Ulster at the top of Pool Three.

Ulster were awarded a 28-0 win over the Cheetahs in their penultimate fixture after sub-zero temperatures in the Netherlands meant the game could not be played.

Head coach Richie Murphy has made 10 changes from the starting team which was set to take on the Cheetahs.

Harry Sheridan, David McCann, Nathan Doak, Zac Ward and James Hume are the only players to retain their starting jerseys for the game at Affidea Stadium.

Stockdale returns at full-back after he sustained a rib injury against Munster while Robert Baloucoune and Ward make up the back three.

Stuart McCloskey and Hume will form the centre partnership as Jack Murphy returns at fly-half alongside Doak.

Australian prop Angus Bell starts with Tom Stewart and Tom O'Toole, while Iain Henderson will captain the side from the second row with Harry Sheridan.

McCann, Nick Timoney and Bryn Ward will start in the back row as hooker Rob Herring, who signed a new contract extension, is named on the bench.

Ulster: J Stockdale; R Baloucoune; J Hume, S McCloskey; Z Ward; J Murphy, N Doak; A Bell, T Stewart, T O'Toole; I Henderson, H Sheridan; D McCann, N Timoney, B Ward.

Replacements: R Herring, E O'Sullivan, S Wilson, M Dalton, S Reffell, C McKee, J Flannery, J Postlethwaite.

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Ulster hooker Rob Herring has signed a contract extension to remain at the province until the summer of 2027.

The 35-year-old is Ulster's record appearance holder, having played 261 times for the province since his debut in 2012.

South Africa-born Herring has also won 43 caps for Ireland and was part of the side that won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023.

He follows the likes of Cormac Izuchukwu and Nathan Doak who have recently committed their futures to Richie Murpy's side.

"I'm delighted to be re-signing with Ulster. This club and supporters have given me so much over the years and feels like an adopted home for me and my family," Herring told Ulster's website.

"The hunger to keep improving, competing, and pushing this team forward is as strong as ever. With the group we have, I'm incredibly excited about what lies ahead and grateful for the continued trust Ulster has shown in me."

Loosehead prop Sam Crean has also extended his stay at Ulster until 2028.

The 25-year-old Englishman arrived from Saracens initially on loan in February 2025 before signing a permanent deal with the province last summer.