Rugby: Soper names first Ulster squad
Ulster v Dragons, Kingspan Stadium, Saturday March 2 (7.35pm)
Dan Soper, has named the Ulster team to take on Dragons in the United Rugby Championship tomorrow night (7.35pm)
The province return to URC action at home for the first time since the home Interprovincial derby victory over Connacht before Christmas.
Soper will make the step up from Assistant Coach to Head Coach for the match, following the departure of Dan McFarland last week. Current Ireland Under-20s Head Coach Richie Murphy will then take over on an interim basis until at least the end of the current season following the conclusion of the Under-20s Six Nations on Friday March 15th.
Ulster Rugby Academy graduate, James Hume, will captain his province from a centre partnership that sees him paired with 21-year-old Jude Postlethwaite.
Springbok and double World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff starts at loosehead prop and is joined at hooker by Tom Stewart, and fellow prop Tom O’Toole, who returns to the team for the first time since being called up to Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell’s Six Nations squad.
The second row sees Cormac Izuchukwu and Harry Sheridan come together as the two locks.
The back row is unchanged from last time out against Ospreys, with David McCann, Marcus Rea and Nick Timoney retaining their places.
Soper opts for the experienced half-back partnership of John Cooney and Billy Burns, while Academy products Mike Lowry and Ethan McIlroy start on the right and left wing respectively. Will Addison completes the back field as he starts at full-back.
The bench sees a welcome return to action for lock, Kieran Treadwell, who is back in the squad after an injury sustained against Harlequins in January.
John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Scott Wilson, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reffell, Nathan Doak, Luke Marshall, Jacob Stockdale form the replacement options from the bench.
Ulster are without captain Iain Henderson, who is unavailable after picking up a toe injury playing for Ireland in the Six Nations.
Ulster squad v Dragons
15-9: Will Addison, Ethan McIlroy, James Hume (C), Jude Postlethwaite, Mike Lowry, Billy Burns, John Cooney
1-8: Steven Kitshoff, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Cormac Izuchukwu, Harry Sheridan, David McCann, Marcus Rea, Nick Timoney
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Scott Wilson, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reffell, Nathan Doak, Luke Marshall, Jacob Stockdale