The Newport Gwent Dragons set out to gain their second league double of the season over Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday February 15th (kick-off 7.30pm).
Most-capped league player Adam Black and hooker Ben Daly are joined up front by tight head prop Lee Harrison, who proved his fitness in the Premiership last weekend on returning from injury.
Richard Parks, back from a knee injury picked up on Boxing Day against Cardiff Blues, and Andy Hall join captain Michael Owen in the back row, as Colin Charvis remains injured and Joe Bearman looks likely to return for the following league game against Edinburgh.
In the backs, scrum half Andy Williams pairs up with experienced fly half Ceri Sweeney who kicked four penalties and two conversions against Ulster last time round, and centre Ashley Smith and fullback Martyn Thomas return from injury as Aled Thomas and Phillip Dollman move to the bench.
The Dragons won 31-11 when the sides met last at Rodney Parade in October but Head Coach Paul Turner is aware of the challenge his team will face this weekend at Ravenhill.
“We’re delighted to see players returning to the team but unfortunately this is offset by the injuries that our squad have suffered over the season. It’s evident how hard the players have been training over the past few weeks and credit must go to the conditioning department and assistant coaches who’ve coordinated some excellent sessions with the boys to prepare them for this weekend,” said Turner.
He added: “Ulster are a multi-talented squad and we know that Ravenhill will be a difficult place to go. They seem to have turned a corner after their European win against Bourgoin last month and put in a very good performance at Kingsholm where they deserved the win.”
The Dragons have had time to regroup in the short break throughout February.
Captain Michael Owen commented: “It’s been a good few weeks in terms of preparation for the league with the coaching staff working hard to keep things fresh and exciting for everyone involved in the squad. It’s a boost for the team to have some of our injured players back and they’ll relish the opportunity at Ulster on Friday.”
Ulster squad: M Bartholomeusz, S Danielli, B Cunningham, M McCrea, T Bowe, P Steinmetz, N O’Connor, P Wallace, D Humphreys, P Marshall, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, B Young, D Fitzpatrick, R Best, N Brady, J Harrison, R Caldwell, C Del Fava, M McCullough, N Best, K Dawson, S Ferris
Dragons: Martyn Thomas; Gareth Wyatt, Paul Emerick, Ashley Smith, Richard Fussell; Ceri Sweeney, Andy Williams; Adam Black, Ben Daly, Lee Harrison, Adam Jones, Peter Sidoli, Andy Hall, Richard Parks, Michael Owen (Capt)
Replacements: Steve Jones, James Corsi / Adam Brown, Gethin Robinson, James Harris, Phillip Dollman, Aled Thomas, Wayne Evans
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
