LIKELY TO be out for six weeks with ligament damage, centre Darren Cave is the only recently injured player not included in Brian McLaughlin’s 34-man Ulster squad to face Clermont in the Heineken Cup on Saturday.
Paddy McAllister is back in contention after missing the previous three games though, while Nevin Spence has been back at training for over a week and will compete with Ian Whitten to partner Paddy Wallace in Cave’s absence.
Clermont haven’t lost at Stade Marcel-Michelin since November 2009. Ulster sit on top of Pool Four on 19 points, with Clermont three behind on 16.
A win or draw for Ulster will be enough to secure progression to the last eight as group winners. Even a loss by less than five points, providing Ulster score the same amount of tries as Clermont on Saturday, would be enough.
Ulster have also announced that Roger Wilson will return to the province after leaving for Northampton in 2008. The number eight has signed a three-year deal starting at the beginning of next season. He has one Irish cap from Ireland’s 2005 tour to Japan.
“He displays all the physical attributes necessary for a top-class number eight and is an incredibly consistent performer,” said Ulster director of rugby David Humphreys. “He’s currently playing the best rugby of his career and we’re delighted that he has decided to return to Ulster and to commit his long term future to the club.”
ULSTER SQUAD (v Clermont): Forwards: C Black, T Court, A Macklin, J Afoa, J Cronin, P McAllister, A Kyriacou, N Brady, R Best, L Stevenson, J Muller (capt), D Tuohy, T Barker, N McComb, S Ferris, P Wannenburg, W Faloon, M McComish, C Henry, R Diack. Backs: P Marshall, R Pienaar, I Porter, I Humphreys, P Jackson, P Wallace, I Whitten, N Spence, S Terblanche, C Gilroy, S Danielli, C Gaston, A Trimble, A D’Arcy. Unavailable due to injury: D Fitzpatrick, J Payne, P Nelson, D Cave.
