Rugby:Ulster's pivotal game of the season comes this Sunday when they take on Biarritz in their own back yard and carry genuine hopes of advancing to the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup for the first time since they won the competition in 1999.
As the build-up gathers pace this week, Ulster Rugby also took care of some housekeeping with news that lock Dan Tuohy has signed a new two-year deal, while prop Paddy McAllister and centre Nevin Spence have been upgraded from development to full contracts.
Tuohy has become a regular in the Ulster XV since moving from Exeter Chiefs at the start of the 2009/10 season. Known for his strength in the lineout and quick turn of foot, he also won international honours for Ireland at under-21 level before arriving in Belfast.
McAllister and Spence both came through the academy system at Ravenhill with McAllister given a development contract at the start of the season. The Ballynahinch prop made his senior debut for the province against Ospreys last September.
Nevin took the same path as McAllister after featuring for Ireland at the under-20 Junior World Championships in Argentina. He made his first start for Ulster against Glasgow last April. After six senior starts he made a telling contribution when scoring a try away to Bath at the Rec in the Heineken Cup the week before Christmas. He crossed the whitewash again last Friday during the Magners League win over Italian side Treviso.
Ulster head into Sunday’s crunch game second in Pool 4 on 13 points, two behind leaders Biarritz. Kick-off at Ravenhill on Sunday is 3.30pm.
