Kyriacou To Lead Ravens Against Llanelli
The Ulster Ravens management, including coach Neil Doak and manager Gary Longwell, have announced their team and replacements to face Llanelli in the third round of the British & Irish Cup on Friday (Parc y Scarlets, kick-off 7.15pm).
As expected, South African Robbie Diack will make a welcome return to action and he will start at number 8 for the resumption of the British & Irish Cup.
Thomas Anderson and David Pollock join him in the Ulster Ravens’ back row, while lock Neil McComb gets another Ravens start and he is joined by Ryan Caldwell fresh from Ireland Wolfhounds duty.
The front row has a very experienced look to it with Bryan Young and Declan Fitzpatrick propping alongside hooker and captain Andi Kyriacou.
The selected half-backs are Cillian Willis and Niall O’Connor, who kicked the Ravens to a 9-0 Interpro win over Leinster in Navan last week.
Mark McCrea makes a welcome return in the number 13 jersey, while Ian Whitten, Tommy Seymour, Timoci Nagusa and Jamie Smith complete an exciting back-line.
Ulster Ravens team manager Gary Longwell said: “We need a big performance on Friday night, it is vital that we get a victory to keep our cup momentum going after our opening two wins.
“Only one team will qualify out of each pool so we cannot afford any slip-ups. Llanelli are an excellent side that have recently found a rich vein of form, so we are expecting a very tough challenge ahead of us.”
ULSTER RAVENS (v Llanelli): Jamie Smith; Tommy Seymour, Mark McCrea, Ian Whitten, Timoci Nagusa; Niall O’Connor, Cillian Willis; Bryan Young, Andi Kyriacou (capt), Declan Fitzpatrick, Neil McComb, Ryan Caldwell, Thomas Anderson, David Pollock, Robbie Diack.
Replacements: Nigel Brady, Adam Macklin, Ed O’Donoghue, Willie Faloon, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Darren Cave.