Jacob Stockdale back for key clash with Harlequins

Fledgling international star Jacob Stockdale will be back in Ulster’s colours when the next stage of the Champions Cup gets underway for Les Kiss’s side on Sunday when they face in-form Harlequins at The Stoop.

Stockdale, who is scoring for fun again this season including a double against Argentina last month, will be in the starting line-up along with Iain Henderson, Stuart McCloskey, and skipper Rory Best. Also back for Ulster to bolster a shaky scrum is tight-head Wiehahn Herbst, but Kyle McCall is still an absentee as is Jean Deysel and Rodney Ah You.

While Jared Payne is again missing, Kiss said there were positive vibes that the Ireland international is coming close to fitness again following nerve damage in his neck. “Jared getting closer and closer some really positive signs over the past week or two . So that’s moving in the right direction he’s training really well doing contact work. We’ll just see where we get to, but he’s not available this week,” said Kiss.