Ulster welcome back Six Nations sensation for final but Bok misses out

Ireland wing Rob Baloucoune is set to start for Ulster on Friday in the Challenge Cup final against Montpellier after overcoming an elbow injury which has kept him sidelined since March.

The 28-year-old picked up the injury shortly after being named the BKT Rising Player of the Guinness Six Nations after a scintillating campaign.

His selection is a welcome boost to an Ulster side that have been dealt their share of injuries to key personnel in recent weeks, as well as a ban handed to Iain Henderson.

Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey headlines the list of injured players, but he will be joined on the sidelines by Jacob Stockdale and hooker Rob Herring, who was forced from the field after only 13 minutes of the recent defeat to Glasgow Warriors and was replaced by Tom Stewart, who will start in the No.2 jersey for the final.

After undergoing surgery on his elbow in March, Baloucoune was initially expected to be sidelined for three months, with his return scheduled for mid-June. The eight-cap Ireland international is therefore back a month ahead of schedule in time for their bid to win their first trophy in 20 years.

Fixture

Challenge Cup

Montpellier

12:00

22 May 26

Ulster

All Stats and Data

Baloucoune will take his place on the right wing, with Zac Ward occupying the left flank, meaning there is no place in the squad for South Africa Sevens international Werner Kok. That Blitzbok star has therefore played his final game for Ulster, with his departure announced last week, before the province failed to make the United Rugby Championship play-offs.

Ulster XV: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak; 1 Angus Bell, 2 Tom Stewart, 3 Tom O’Toole, 4 Harry Sheridan, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 6 David McCann, 7 Nick Timoney (c), 8 Juarno Augustus.
Replacements: 16 James McCormick, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Charlie Irvine, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Ethan McIlroy.