Iain Henderson ‘itching to go’ after lengthy layoff

European Champions Cup Pool 3

A frustrated Iain Henderson is back and raring to go as Ulster attempt to salvage some pride from an otherwise disastrous Champions Cup campaign.

The international flanker has been left frustrated since his last game against Argentina in June due to a hip operation that has thwarted the exciting 22-year-old’s rise to the top.

Henderson is one of eight Ulster changes to face the quarter-final chasing Leicester Tigers at the Kingspan Stadium this evening from the side that were humiliated 60-22 in Toulon last week.

Back come Tommy Bowe, Luke Marshall, Craig Gilroy and Ian Humphreys into a much-changed back-line, while Rory Best, Callum Black and Wiehahn Herbst form a new front row with Henderson packing down at blindside flanker.

“Last match I played was in June and then I had a frustrating pre-season,” said Henderson the 12-times capped international. “The hip just didn’t get right and I went to see a specialist who said I needed an operation.

“Then returning to hard training after Christmas I had a slight hamstring strain from all the running. But over the last couple of weeks it’s been full training sessions,” explained Henderson who wants to take out his frustration on a Tigers side seeking a bonus try victory to retain hopes of making the last eight.

“I’m itching to go after a seven-month pre-season,” laughed Henderson. “The gym is like a prison I can’t wait to get out on the pitch and play some rugby. We now need to bounce back especially playing at home and Leicester are always such a big confrontational team.

"If we can front up against a very physical set-piece orientated team and dominate them (we can win). That will give us huge confidence with the break for the next few league games.

"A couple of bonus point wins puts us right back in contention in the Guinness Pro12 and there is no reason why we can’t get them in the next few matches. But we never want to lose at Ravenhill. It’s our fortress.”

Ulster have history on their side as the Tigers have played three times in Belfast and lost all three.