Fit-again Davidson and Bell set to start for Ulster

TWO former internationals are preparing for a battle to get back into the international scene.

Jonathan Bell and Lion Jeremy Davidson have had more than their fair share of injuries but are bidding to win back their places in the Ireland side after being picked for Ulster's game against Bedford at Ravenhill on Friday (7.30pm).

Ulster coach Alan Solomons has been forced to name an experimental side for the pre-season opener with a plethora of injuries and international commitments restricting his selection.

Bell has fully recovered from long-term Achilles tendon trouble, while Davidson proved his fitness during last week's warm-up match in Scotland following a succession of injuries which saw him miss the tail-end of last season.

Bell in particularly is looking forward to be back on the park. The 28-year-old centre, has not played a game since the Heineken Cup clash with Treviso last January.

"It's been a long time coming," said Bell. "I just cannot wait to get a piece of the action again. It as a difficult time for me. The injury I had was a long-term one, but through excellent rehabilitation, I'm fit for action again."

The Connacht team to play Bristol Shoguns at the Galway Sportsground today (6pm) will feature six players making their debut Full-back Justin Meagher, winger James Norton, centre Dermot O'Sullivan, fly-half Shane Moore, prop Fabien Boiroux and number eight John O'Sullivan.

Meanwhile, South African rugby officials are prepared to print posters of the spectator charged with assaulting referee David McHugh to prevent him entering rugby grounds in the Republic ever again. Potchefstroom businessman Pieter van Zyl, 42, has been charged with assault after attacking the Irish official during Saturday's Tri-nations test between South Africa and New Zealand in Durban.

McHugh suffered a dislocated shoulder in the attack and was present in court on Sunday when a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm was laid against his assailant.

Van Zyl was granted bailed and will appear in court again on September 9.

Rian Oberholzer, managing director of SA Rugby, said: "You can be sure we are not going to back off. He is going to be banned for life and if it means printing posters we will make sure we enforce it."

CONNACHT: J Meagher; J Norton, D O'Sullivan, M McPhail, T Robinson; S Moore, C Keane; D McFarland, J Flannery, F Boiroux; A Maher, R Frost; M Swift, J O'Sullivan, P Neville.

Replacements: R McCormack, H Bourke, P Bracken, C Rigney, M Walls, T Allnutt, O Grennan, W Maxwell, Warwick Waugh, Eric Elwood.

ULSTER: B Cunningham, J Topping, J Bell, R Constable, J Cunningham, A Larkin, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, C Boyd, J Davidson, M Blair, A Ward, R Nelson, N McMillan. Replacements: R Kempson, P Shields, M McCullough, N Best, R Spee, S Stewart, S Young.