Tom Court has never earned a piece of silverware in eight seasons with Ulster, but the prop’s experiences as part of Ireland’s 2009 Grand Slam-winning squad tells him that may be about to change.

RABO DIRECT PRO 12:

Ulster 26 Scarlets 13

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 5:

Ulster 27 Montpellier 16

Ulster 29 Munster 19

Treviso 3 Ulster 35

Ulster 48 Benetton Treviso 0

John Afoa has rejected more lucrative offers from France and a crack at the Rugby World Cup in 2015 to reunite his family in Gloucester, according to Nigel Davies.

Ulster have been rocked by the news New Zealand prop John Afoa will leave the province at the end of the season after signing a long-term deal with an Aviva Premiership club.

Ulster’s John Afoa will start at tighthead in the only change to the starting XV that defeated the Scarlets a fortnight ago for tomorrow's RaboDirect PRO12 Final against Leinster at the RDS (4.45pm).

RABODIRECT PRO12

Irish players must take responsibility against Saracens

Having gotten back to winning ways against Leinster last weekend, Ulster prop John Afoa can sense the confidence in the squad as they prepare for Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens in Twickenham (6.30pm).

Mark Anscombe admits that John Afoa’s preparations for Saturday’s crucial Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens at Twickenham have been far from ideal.

Mark Anscombe admits that John Afoa’s preparations for Saturday’s crucial Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens at Twickenham have been far from ideal.

Last time these sides met in the RaboDirect Pro12 the Leinster scrum was left in a heap.

RABODIRECT PRO12

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has restored Paddy Jackson to his starting XV, naming the 21-year-old at flyhalf for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Treviso at Ravenhill (7.05pm)

Ulster 26 Zebre 3

By Ian Cusack

John Afoa could have been forgiven for thinking he had got his timing wrong when, within weeks of his arrival in Belfast, the IRFU announced a spate of restrictions on the number of non-Irish qualified players and the length of time they could spend with the provinces.

Ulster 47 Scarlets 17

Ulster’s South African scrum-half Ruan Pienaar will make his 50th appearance for the province when they tackle Scarlets at Ravenhill this evening.

John Afoa is adamant the three components of Ulster’s recent good form must be repeated if the northerners are to achieve the double over Premiership giants Northampton at Ravenhill this evening.

Northampton 6 Ulster 25

Scarlets 12 Ulster 19

Benetton Treviso 15 Ulster 16

Zebre 25 Ulster 27

Glasgow Warriors 8 Ulster 19

Ulster 25 Connacht 0

Prop Declan Fitzpatrick has been withdrawn from the starting team for the RaboDirect PRO12 derby against Connacht after aggravating a medial ligament injury in training this morning.

A late Felipe Contepomi penalty handed defeat to an Ireland XV at Kingsholm on the eve of their three-Test tour to New Zealand.

By Ian Cusack

The Ulster starting XV and replacements to face Leinster in the Heineken Cup Final at Twickenham tomorrow (5pm) has two changes from the side that beat Edinburgh in the semi-final.

Ulster’s Tom Court returns to Twickenham for the first time tomorrow since his traumatic appearance against England last March — but Mike Ross believes the Ulster prop has already exorcised his St Patrick’s Day demons.

Ulster’s former Auckland Blues prop John Afoa believes Joe Schmidt wouldn’t turn his back on Leinster to return to his old club.

As the last step along the road to a Heineken Cup final, this was not the procession many believed Ulster would enjoy against Edinburgh on Saturday.

Ulster’s progress today to a Heineken Cup final depends on...

The ERC have admitted John Afoa’s tackle on Felix Jones deserved a red card.

The ERC Disciplinary Committee have handed prop John Afoa a four-week ban after a hearing this morning.

Ulster prop John Afoa has been cited for a dangerous tackle on Munster full-back Felix Jones in Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park.

Ulster’s star prop John Afoa might miss the province’s crucial Heineken Cup semi-final against Edinburgh after he was cited today for an alleged ‘tip tackle’ on Munster full back Felix Jones.