Ulster pair agree new deals

IRELAND prop Tom Court and Scottland winger Simon Danielli have agreed new two-year deals with Ulster.

Edinburgh-born Danielli, who married a local girl last summer, is Ulster’s top try scorer this season and is due to start for Scotland against Italy tomorrow, when he will win his 23rd cap.

Court, who was being chased by clubs in England and France, had no intention of leaving Ulster after a four-year stay in which he has progressed to the international side and was part of Ireland’s Grand Slam squad last season.

The 29-year-old Brisbane-born former shot putter, has played for Ulster on 51 occasions and can operate both sides of the front-row, although loose-head is his preferred position.

Court, who started life in Ulster playing for Belfast club Malone, was unlucky to lose his place on the Ireland bench for Saturday ‘s trip to Twickenham. He won his 17th cap when he came on as a replacements for John Hayes at the Stade de France.

Court, however, is included in a strong Ulster Ravens side to face London Welsh tonight at Ravenhill in the British and Irish Cup. Victory should help the Ravens towards the semi-final stage and make up for the disappointing draw against the Llanelli last time out.

The side is captained by experienced hooker Nigel Brady while on the other side of the coin, 19-year-old Mark Allen gets his chance in the centre. Allen was man-of-the-match for Methodist College when they won the last two Ulster Schools’ Cup finals.

ULSTER RAVENS (v London Welsh, Ravenhill): M McCrea; T Seymour, M Allen, I Whitten, T Nagusa; N O’Connor, P Marshall; T Court, N Brady, capt, B Young, N McComb, R Caldwell, TJ Anderson, W Faloon, R Diack.

Replacements: A Kyriacou, A Whitten, E O’Donoghue, D Pollock, C Willis, I Humphreys, D Cave.