Iain Henderson aiming for Ulster return

Ulster hope to be able to call on Ireland’s Iain Henderson for Saturday’s Guinness PRO12 date at Cardiff Blues, though the shoulder injured in the win over Australia is still to be fully assessed.

“Of our Irish contingent, Iain has been released to play, and he’s very eager to get more minutes under his belt, but we have to see how the injury is,” said Ulster’s assistant coach Allen Clarke yesterday.

“Rory Best won’t be involved, he’s had a lot of rugby in the autumn series, as has Paddy Jackson, and of course Jared Payne, Andrew Trimble, and Stuart Olding all picked up injuries in camp in any case. But Stuart McCloskey looks as if he’s ready to come back in at centre after his foot fracture, and prop Rodney Ah You too trained today and could be available for Cardiff,” added Clarke.