Connacht coach Andy Friend said it was for the good of the game that prop Paddy McAllister had his citing for a dangerous tackle on Marcell Coetzee thrown out.

Will Addison returns from a four-week suspension for Ulster who are on a mission to avenge last year’s home loss to Connacht.

A knee ligament injury means Connacht will have to plan without their player of the year Colby Fianga’a for this weekend’s Champions Cup clash with Gloucester and next week’s inter-pro derby against Munster.

Connacht coach Andy Friend has warned his side can’t afford to get into an “arm wrestle” against Montpellier in their return to the Heineken Champions Cup this weekend.

Munster have moved to ease their fly-half problems by adding academy number 10 Ben Healy to their Heineken Champions Cup squad.

Five-try Connacht picked up their second bonus-point victory in a week as Andy Friend’s side overwhelmed Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Ultan Dillane and Kieran Marmion remain as replacement options.

Irish lock Quinn Roux is a doubt for Connacht’s PRO14 quarter-final with Ulster on Saturday week.

In-form Ulster winger Craig Gilroy must be content with a place on the bench as head coach Mark Anscombe made wholesale changes for Friday’s crucial Heineken Cup meeting with Northampton Saints in Franklins Gardens (8pm).

Ireland squad members Stephen Ferris, Craig Gilroy and Paul Marshall have been released for this Friday’s game against Edinburgh at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Tommy Bowe will make his eagerly awaited return to Ulster colours when he lines out on the right wing against Cardiff in Friday evening’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Cardiff Arms Park (7.05pm).

Ulster can call on two more internationals for the visit of Munster to Ravenhill this Friday night after Dan Tuohy and Chris Henry were included in Mark Anscombe's 26 man squad.

Ulster prop Paddy McAllister will be sidelined for the majority of the season after picking up a serious knee injury in training last week.

Ulster's new coach Mark Anscombe has said that the players are training hard as he looks to develop the fundamentals.

Gavin Duffy has been called up to the Irish squad after Keith Earls was ruled out of Saturday’s second test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

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 Coach Brian McLaughlin has named a squad of 31 players from which he will choose his starting XV and replacements for this Saturday's Heineken Cup Final against Leinster at Twickenham (kick-off 5pm).

Brian McLaughlin has made 10 changes to the Ulster XV for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Munster at Thomond Park (kick off 7.30pm).

Stephen Ferris and Rory Best will be rested for Ulster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Munster in Thomond Park on Saturday (7.30pm) and so are not included in the 32 man preliminary squad.

Ulster remain hopeful that Chris Henry and Paul Marshall will be fit to play Edinburgh in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final (5.45pm).

There is no place for rested Ireland internationals Stephen Ferris and Rory Best in Ulster’s starting XV for Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 match against Leinster at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Paul Marshall is the only fresh injury concern for Ulster as Brian McLaughlin today named a strong preliminary Ulster squad to face Leinster at Ravenhill in the RaboDirect PRO12 on Friday (5.15pm).

Brian McLaughlin has made 12 changes to the starting XV for the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Connacht tomorrow (5.15pm).

Ulster emerged unscathed from their historic 22-16 Heineken Cup win over Munster in Thomond Park, allowing head coach Brian McLauhglin to name a strong 37-man squad for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 fixture against Connacht at the Sportsground (5.15pm).

Brian McLaughlin has included Stephen Ferris in his provisional squad for Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter final against Munster at Thomond Park (1.45pm).

Brian McLaughlin has included Darren Cave and captain Johann Muller in his 32-man squad for Ulster’s visit to the Stadio Monigo on Saturday to take on Treviso in the RaboDirect PRO12 (3.15pm).

Those who believe Declan Kidney will be quickly able to find alternatives and back-up support for Cian Healy, Mike Ross and Tom Court, the trio who have carried the scrummaging responsibilities throughout the RBS 6 Nations Championship, will have to think again.

As Ireland U20s have no game this weekend Brian McLaughlin has decided to include outhalf Paddy Jackson in the 33-man panel ahead of Ulster's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Edinburgh this Friday night at Ravenhill (kick off 7.05pm).

Brian McLaughlin has named Paul Marshall and Pedrie Wannenburg in the starting line up for Ulster's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with the Ospreys at Ravenhill tomorrow (7.05pm).

Pedrie Wannenburg has returned to the Ulster squad ahead of their must-win RaboDirect PRO12 game against Ospreys at Ravenhill on Friday (7.05pm).

Tom Court, Chris Henry, Paddy Wallace and Dan Tuohy will all be available for Ulster’s RaboDirect PRO12 trip to Cardiff this Friday (7.05pm).

Ulster have named Paddy Wallace and Dan Tuohy in their team to face Dragons in the RaboDirect PRO12 at Ravenhill on Friday (7.05pm), in the hope they will be released from the Irish 6 Nations squad.

Ulster have named a 28-man provisional squad ahead of the visit of the Dragons to Ravenhill on Friday night (7.05pm).

LUKE FITZGERALD hopes of breaking into Declan Kidney’s Six Nations squad to face Wales look to be dashed by a neck injury which has cost him a place in the Irish Wolfhounds selection to face the English Saxons on Saturday.

There have been several enforced changes to the Ireland senior and the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds squads.

WE may be at the very start of a World Cup cycle with three and a half years to shape an Ireland team to take on all comers in 2015 but the Six Nations squad unveiled by head coach Declan Kidney yesterday was very much in the ‘as you were’ mould.

ULSTER coach Brian McLaughlin has branded Declan Kidney’s latest Irish squads as “conservative” and lamented the absence of a number of his players from both the senior and Wolfhound panels yesterday.

Ulster have named a 34-man squad ahead of Saturday's winner-takes-all Heineken Cup clash against ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Marcel Michelin (3.40pm).

Luke Fitzgerald and Tomás O’Leary are two of the big names who must be content with a place in the Irish Wolfhounds having missed out on Declan Kidney’s first choice Six Nations squad.

Despite being forced off the field in the win over Edinburgh at the weekend Pedrie Wannenburg (foot) and Ian Humphreys (hamstring) have been named in Ulster’s 33-man panel ahead of Friday’s crucial Heineken Cup match with Leicester at Ravenhill (8pm).

Ulster have been boosted by the return of a number of key players to the match day 23 for Friday's trip to play Edinburgh at Murrayfield in the RaboDirect PRO12 (7.30pm).

Brian McLaughlin has named an extended 35-man squad as Ulster prepare for Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield (7.30pm).

Many of the young players who faced Leinster on Moday evening at the RDS have been named in the provisional squad for the sold-out clash against Munster at Ravenhill this Friday.

ULSTER skipper Johann Muller says he will not have to say much to psyche up the team ahead of Friday’s RaboDirect Pro12 derby clash with Munster at Ravenhill.