Pienaar set for Ulster return
Having returned from international duty with South Africa in the Rugby Championship, scrum-half Ruan Pienaar is included in the Ulster squad for the first time this season, as Mark Anscombe’s team prepare for their Heineken Cup Pool 4 match against Castres Olympique at Ravenhill on Friday (8:00pm).
Lock Neil McComb and hooker Nigel Brady also make a return and are named in Anscombe’s 27-man squad.
Number 8, Nick Williams, is included in the squad despite suffering a rib injury in the 25-0 win over Connacht. He is responding well to treatment and a decision on his fitness will be made later in the week.
Prop Declan Fitzpatrick aggravated a medial ligament injury in training last week and remains unavailable for selection.
Australian-born flanker, Sean Doyle, suffered a broken leg playing for Dungannon on Saturday and will be out for up to six weeks.
Extended Ulster squad:
Forwards: Rob Herring, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Neil McComb, John Afoa, Tom Court, Adam Macklin, Callum Black, Johann Muller, Dan Tuohy, Lewis Stevenson, Stephen Ferris, Mike McComish, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.
Backs: Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Michael Heaney, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy, Jared Payne.
