McCall adds duo to Ulster squad

Celtic League NewsUlster coach Mark McCall has promoted Kieran Campbell and Stuart Philpott to an extended squad ahead of tomorrow night's Magners Celtic League game against Glasgow at Firhill.

Campbell is preferred to Paul Marshall who drops out of the squad while hooker Nigel Brady, is also left out.

It is an important game for Ulster as they have the opportunity - they would require a bonus point - of leapfrogging Glasgow in the table with a victory. It won't be easy as the Scots are unbeaten at Firhill this season, a run that included a last-gasp win over Leinster. McCall will confirm his team today.

Coach Michael Bradley announced a 25-man squad for Connacht's first match at the RDS, against Leinster on Friday. It includes the return of a fit-again Ronan Loughney, who has been out of action since damaging his hamstring against Glasgow four weeks ago.

Backrow Colm Rigney and fullback Daniel Riordan are named having overcome minor injuries in the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh supremo Andy Robinson has chosen a strong team for the tilt at Munster at Musgrave Park on Saturday night. Allan Jacobsen has been handed his first start of the tournament having overcome a serious calf injury.

The 29-year-old prop's World Cup adventure came to a premature end when he tore his calf muscle against Portugal in Scotland's opening match of the tournament in September. He was expected to be out until early November but has made a rapid recovery. David Blair, who made his debut last week against Connacht, has been given another chance to shine as Edinburgh's chief playmaker.

EDINBURGH: H Southwell; A Turnbull, B Cairns, N De Luca, S Webster; D Blair, M Blair; G Kerr, R Ford, C Smith; C Hamilton, B Gissing; A Hogg (captain), R Rennie, S Cross. Replacements: A Kelly, A Allori, M Mustchin, F Pringle, B Meyer, P Godman, J Houston.

ULSTER SQUAD: M Bartholomeusz, I Boss, T Bowe, B Cunningham, R Dewey, D Humphreys, K Campbell, M McCrea, A Trimble, P Wallace, N Best, R Best (captain) S Philpott, R Caldwell, K Dawson, C del Fava, S Ferris, D Fitzpatrick, J Fitzpatrick, J Harrison, R Wilson, B Young

CONNACHT SQUAD: M Deane, T Donnelly, G Duffy, P Durcan, A Farley, A Flavin, J Fogarty, D Gannon, R Loughney, K Matthews, M McCarthy, B McGovern, C McPhillips, R Morris, J Muldoon, J O'Connor, R Ofisa, C O'Loughlin, C Rigney, D Riordan, M Swift, O Treviranus, B Wilkinson, A Wynne, D Yapp.