Injured Ulster trio in frame for French trip

The injured trio of Paddy Jackson, Jared Payne and Craig Gilroy were named in Ulster’s provisional 26-man squad for the Heineken Cup trip to Castres on Saturday.

Fly-half Niall O’Connor and experienced hooker Nigel Brady return to a fairly familiar-looking squad. However, Jackson is quickly responding to treatment for a turned ankle and Payne’s groin strain has also eased while Ulster are confident Gilroy will complete the Graduated Return To Play protocol following a bang to the head.

With a tough test ahead of them up front at Stade Pierre Antoine, coach Mark Anscombe may bring in the hardened Neil McComb to partner Lewis Stevenson in the engine room and leave Iain Henderson on the bench, while with explosive number eight Nick Williams sidelined for eight weeks, Roger Wilson gets a chance to show why he returned to Ulster after four years with Northampton.