Ulster all changed for Ospreys

Celtic League: Ulster coach Mark McCall has made six changes to the team that lost the final European Cup match against Cardiff for Saturday's Celtic League clash with table-toppers Neath/Swansea Ospreys at St Helen's tomorrow night.

Bryn Cunningham, Tyrone Howe, Rory Best, Rod Moore, Gary Longwell and Campbell Feather are restored to the starting line-up, the latter as captain. Shane Stewart is included among the replacements for the first time since damaging a knee in a pre-season friendly against Harlequins.

Overshadowing the team announcement, though, was the confirmation that New Zealand-born, former Irish international flanker Andy Ward will retire from competitive rugby at the end of the season. Ward first came to Ulster in 1994 at the behest of the Ballynahinch club and never looked back. He married a local woman, Wendy, and they have two sons, Zac (6) and Bryn (6 months). He made his debut for the province in 1997 - he played his 100th game for Ulster against Leinster last May - and was capped in January of the following year by Ireland, for whom he played 28 times.

"My decision to retire at the end of this season has been one of the hardest decisions I have had to make in my life," Ward said yesterday. "I have achieved all that is possible for me to achieve in the sport and I want to retire when I am at the top. The young players in the squad are really improving and the time is now right for me to step aside and give them a chance.

"I first want to thank all those who have helped me in any way, in particular those at Ballynahinch who brought me over from New Zealand to play a bit of rugby for a few months back in 1994.

"I feel so fortunate to have played with so many great players over the years; especially wearing the white of Ulster, I can assure you that there is no prouder man than myself when I pull on that jersey with the famous red hand.

"I want to acknowledge my sincere thanks and appreciation to all the fans of Ulster Rugby who have given me such tremendous and heartfelt support throughout the years. Whenever you hear that Ravenhill roar or perhaps your name being chanted, believe me, it lifts you another six inches."

The province also announced that they will play a friendly against South African Super 12 side The Bulls, under floodlights at Ravenhill on Friday, February 11th. The Bulls have just announced their preliminary squad for the 2005 Super 12 competition and it includes former Ulster flanker Warren Brosnihan, who was part of the Bulls side which won the Currie Cup last October.

Meanwhile, the Connacht team show three changes for their Celtic League game against Cardiff at the Sportsground on Saturday. There is one alteration in the backline to the side that beat Grenoble at the same venue last weekend, with Conor McPhillips introduced on the right wing. Eric Elwood is ruled out through injury, so Paul Warwick switches to outhalf with Darren Yapp resuming his normal posting of outside centre.

In the pack, Stephen Knoop returns from injury to start at tight head in place of Peter Bracken, and John O'Sullivan comes into the side at number eight, with John Muldoon shifting to blindside flanker and Michael Swift moving to the bench. In the replacements, Dan McFarland has recovered from injury as has Mark McHugh.

Leinster have named a squad for their game against The Borders on Saturday night in Scotland. Gary Brown, Christian Warner and David Quinlan return after injury, while there are also places for Lansdowne second row Kristian Kos and Blackrock College's former Ireland under-21 captain David Gannon. Ben Gissing is in line to make his 50th appearance for the province at the weekend.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, P Steinmetz, K Maggs, T Howe; D Humphreys; K Campbell; S Best, R Best, R Moore; G Longwell, M McCullough; C Feather (capt), R Wilson, N Best. Replacements: P Shields, R McCormack, R Frost, A Ward, R Spee, A Larkin, S Stewart.

CONNACHT: Matt Mostyn; Conor McPhillips, Darren Yapp, James Downey, Ted Robinson; Paul Warwick, Chris Keane; Raymond Hogan, Bernard Jackman, Stephen Knoop, Christian Short, Andrew Farley, John Muldoon, Matt Lacey, John O'Sullivan. Replacements: Dan McFarland, John Fogarty, Pieter Myburgh, Michael Swift, Tom Tierney, David Slemen, Mark McHugh.

LEINSTER (from): E Byrne, P Coyle, J Lyne, R Nebbett, G Hickie, D Blaney, B Gissing, C Potts, D Gannon, K Kos, A McCullen, N Ronan, V Costello, B O'Meara, B O'Riordan, D Holwell, F Contepomi, D McAllister, D Quinlan, K Lewis, C Warner, D Hewitt, J McWeeney, J Norton, G Brown.