Stockdale suffers facial fracture as Ulster sweat over another Ireland star

Ulster and Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale sustained a facial fracture in their Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Exeter on Saturday, and will now see a specialist.

While Ulster have not confirmed when the incident occurred, it was presumably during his tackle on Immanuel Feyi-Wabso, which saw his face make direct contact with the England wing’s shoulder and vice versa. Stockdale was yellow carded for the incident and did not return to the field after failing his head injury assessment.

In what was a positive result for Ulster, their injury list that has come from it is not as rosy for head coach Richie Murphy.

Alongside Stockdale, fellow Ireland international Stu McCloskey is also a casualty from the game, having picked up a hamstring injury. The inside centre continued his barnstorming season with another strong display at the Affidea Stadium, but will now have scans to discover the extent of the injury.

Despite playing the full 80 minutes, flanker David McCann is also a concern for Ulster, having picked up a knee injury in his try-scoring display. He, too, will undergo scans this week to learn the extent of the injury.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Ulster

38 - 38

Full-time

Stormers

All Stats and Data

Ulster face a tricky final two rounds of the United Rugby Championship season, playing the top two in the league. First up are the top-of-the-table Stormers in Belfast on Friday, before taking on the Glasgow Warriors the following week in Scotstoun.

Ulster will be boosted by the returns of Angus Bell, Rob Herring and Scott Wilson for those contests, with Wallaby prop returning after being carted from the field against Leinster last month.