Gilroy boost for Ulster as Kingspan makes ready for PRO14 return

Ulster begin their Pro14 campaign tonight (Friday) against Ospreys.

Summer signings, Jack McGrath, Sam Caret and Matt Faddes all earn their first caps.

And Craig Gilroy makes his first competitive outing in more than 11 months during which he was sidelined with a back injury..

He said: “I relish the opportunity and I’m excited to be back.”

Last year’s player of the year, Stuart McCloskey who has not been included in the squad, told Downtown & Cool that the mood in the camp has been really positive.

“I think everybody is pretty confident how well we have trained over the summer and how well the team has bonded,” he said

“There have been a lot of new faces coming in – quite a young squad from what it has been in the last few years.”

The match kicks off at 7.35.

How they'll line up -

ULSTER

(15-9): Matt Faddes; Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, James Hume, Rob Lyttle; Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8): Jack McGrath, Rob Herring (Capt), Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Sam Carter, Matthew Rea, Jordi Murphy, Sean Reidy.

Replacements: John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan, Ross Kane, Alan O’Connor, Greg Jones, David Shanahan, Michael Lowry, Louis Ludik.

OSPREYS

(15-9): Dan Evans; Luke Morgan, Cory Allen, Scott Williams, Keelan Giles; Luke Price, Matthew Aubrey;

(1-8): Rhodri Jones, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Lloyd Ashley, James King, Dan Lydiate (Capt), Olly Cracknell, Gareth Evans.

Replacements: Scott Otten, Gareth Thomas, Gheorghe Gajion, Sam Cross, Dan Baker, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Cai Evans, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler

• Ulster Rugby
• Pro14