McCloskey And Ludik To Line Out For Ulster ‘A’ In Banbridge
Ulster ‘A’ will take on provincial rivals Leinster ‘A’ in a challenge game at Banbridge RFC’s Rifle Park on Friday evening (kick-off 5pm).
Stuart McCloskey and Louis Ludik will make their returns from calf and concussion injuries respectively, while coaches Kieran Campbell and Willie Anderson will also use the game to blood some of the province’s brightest young talents.
Ludik will start on the left wing opposite Mark Keane, who played for the Ireland Under-19s in last week’s international against Japan, on the right flank. Mark Best, a constant feature throughout the British & Irish Cup campaign which saw the Ulstermen reach the quarter-finals, completes the back-three.
Callum Patterson will start at outside centre, pairing up with McCloskey in the midfield, while the familiar partnership of Brett Herron and Dave Shanahan continue at half-back.
John Andrew will captain the side from hooker where he is joined in the front row by Tommy O’Hagan and Ricky Lutton. John McCusker who, like O’Hagan, made his breakthrough in the Ulster Bank League with Rainey Old Boys, is positioned in the second row with Peter Browne.
Joe Dunleavy, another product of the club system, will start at blindside flanker with former Ireland Under-20 internationals Conall Boomer and Greg Jones taking up the other loose forward positions.
Supporters can purchase tickets at the gate on Friday evening. Admission is just £5 for adults and under-18s go free.
ULSTER ‘A’ (v Leinster ‘A’): Mark Best; Mark Keane, Callum Patterson, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik; Brett Herron, Dave Shanahan; Tommy O’Hagan, John Andrew (capt), Ricky Lutton, John McCusker, Peter Browne, Joe Dunleavy, Conall Boomer, Greg Jones.
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Chris Cundell, Matthew Dalton, Aaron Hall, John Creighton, Angus Curtis, Andy Magrath, Tom Stapley, Lewis Sampson.