Rugby: Boyd to make Ulster debut as Ireland internationals return

Academy prop Jacob Boyd will make his Ulster senior debut in Treviso on Saturday evening, as Head Coach Richie Murphy also welcomes back a number of Ireland internationals.

Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Cormac Izuchukwu and Nick Timoney are all included in the starting XV.

Boyd, a former Schools’ Cup winning captain with RBAI, featured off the bench in last weekend’s friendly against Queensland Reds, and the 20-year-old will start at loosehead prop. Herring and O’Toole will provide international experience alongside him in the front row.

Alan O’Connor returns in the second row to captain the side, with Izuchukwu joining him in the engine room. Nick Timoney and David McCann continue at openside flanker and number eight respectively, with Matty Rea getting the nod at blindside.

Behind the pack, scrum-half Nathan Doak and fly-half Aidan Morgan make up the half-back partnership.

After completing their comebacks from injury lay-offs last week, Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey and James Hume all return to competitive action in the Ulster backline.

McCloskey and Hume resume a familiar midfield partnership, with Stockdale named on the left wing, joining right wing Michael Lowry and fullback Stewart Moore in the back three.

Another prop, Bryan O’Connor, is also in line to earn his first Ulster cap from the bench.

John Andrew, Scott Wilson, Kieran Treadwell and Reuben Crothers are the other forward replacements, with Dave Shanahan, Jake Flannery and Jude Postlethwaite named as the backline options.

Ulster side to play Benetton Treviso in the URC, Saturday February 15 (5.15pm)

1-8: Jacob Boyd, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (C), Cormac Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, David McCann

15-9: Stewart Moore, Michael Lowry, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak

Replacements: John Andrew, Bryan O’Connor, Scott Wilson, Kieran Treadwell, Reuben Crothers, Dave Shanahan, Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite