There is much talk around UIster this season about the legends of 1998/99, but Stuart McCloskey is keen for the current Ulster side to write their own piece of winning history.

Declan Kidney’s London Irish embark on life in the Championship tonight with the former Munster and Ireland boss having assembled a squad he hopes is capable of not just returning to the Premiership but staying there.

Joe Schmidt has angrily denied influencing provincial selection, rubbishing suggestions he has “blocked” Darren Cave’s path back to the Ireland squad.

UIster inflicted the first defeat of the season on table-toppers Glasgow and duly returned to third place in the Guinness PRO12 table.