RUGBY/European Cup: Ulster may take great pleasure in putting one over their fellow Irish provinces regardless of the circumstances - witness their victory over Munster prior to last season's Heieneken European Cup final - but their generosity toward their provincial counterparts cannot be disputed, writes Gerry Thornley.

The latest example of this is their willingness to loan Paddy Wallace and prop Bryan Young to Leinster for the knock-out stages of this season's competition.

Since qualifying for the quarter-finals as the top seeds from the pool stages, Leinster have been hit with a spate of injuries to their outside backs and at prop, and so Wallace and Young were yesterday named as Leinster's two additional players for the knock-out stages.

Wallace, who had not been included in Ulster's Heineken Cup line-up due to injury (fractured fibula) sustained in the early part of the season in a Celtic League match against Swansea, returned to rugby this month.

Two seasons ago, Munster signed Dion O'Cuinneagain in similar circumstances, and the northern province have also granted Leinster a friendly.

The game will be played at Lansdowne Road next Friday week.