Rugby – Squad News:Ulster received a welcome boost with news that Stephen Ferris and BJ Botha are available for selection ahead of Sunday's Heineken Cup clash against Biarritz at the Parc des Sports Aguilera.
The influential pair have been sidelined since picking up injuries during last month’s Magners League draw against Connacht at the Sportsground. Ferris injured his shoulder and ribs while Botha came off with a wrist problem.
However both were included in coach Brian McLaughlin’s extended 30-man squad named today with the match day 22 due to be finalised on Friday.
After a good start in the Magners League, Ulster carried that form into last weekend’s Heineken Cup opener with a bonus point win against Aironi at Ravenhill. Biarritz also opened with a win against Bath to lie second in Pool 4.
Connacht coach Eric Elwood also named his squad ahead of their Amlin Challenge Cup encounter against Aviron Bayonnais on Friday (7pm). The 25-man squad shows extra cover at frontrow and the backline as players await the results of late fitness tests.
Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan and Gavin Duffy return to the squad, while Darragh Fanning and Barry Fa’amausili retain their place after appearing in last weekend’s match day 22 for the narrow defeat to Italian side Cavalieri Prato.
The return of Ray Ofisa and Keith Matthews will help bolster the side as Connacht look to bounce back in their second Pool 1 outing at the Sportsground.
Ulster squad (v Biarritz):T Court, P McAllister, B Young, BJ Botha, R Best, N Brady, A Kyriacou, T Barker, J Muller, R Caldwell, D Tuohy, W Faloon, S Ferris, R D, P Wannenburg, C Henry, A D'Arcy, J Smith, D McIlwaine, S Danielli, A Trimble, N Spence, D Cave, I Whitten, P Wallace, I Humphreys, N O'Connor, R Pienaar, P Marshall, I Porter
Connacht squad (v Aviron Bayonnais):A Flavin, A Browne, B Fa'amasuili, B Upton, B Wilkinson, D Murphy, J Hagan, J Muldoon, J O'Connor, M Swift, M McCarthy, R Ofisa, R Loughney, S Cronin, C Willis, D Fanning, F Carr, F Murphy, G Duffy, I Keatley, K Matthews, M Nikora, N Ta'auso, S Monahan, T Nathan.