Ulster getting back to normality

Rugby will return to Ravenhill for the first time since the tragic passing of Nevin Spence when Ulster host Connacht on Friday and coach Mark Anscombe spoke sensitively yesterday about the need to move on and play rugby.

Sport may dwindle in importance at such times but its restorative powers don’t and the province’s players clearly welcomed the return to normality that came with training and playing by racking up seven tries last weekend away to Cardiff.

“It has been tough but they knew that Nev was a doer and getting back to work and what they are paid to do is what he would have wanted and they respect that,” said Anscombe. “Their performance showed that.”