Ulster coach looking forward to new season

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin will be looking to build on three pre-season wins ahead of the start of Ulster's Magners League campaign away to The Dragons on Sunday.

"We are pleased with the way the three pre-season games went. To get two home wins was very important for us going forward, particularly as we want to bring in that fortress Ravenhill mentality again," he said.

"To get an away win (in Worcester) was really pleasing and the guys stepped up their performance again against a useful Worcester side.

"But it is now all about Sunday. It is our opening league game, our first really competitive match with points to be attained. We want to go and win the game, but we know it will be hard.

"The good thing about the pre-season games - outside the wins - was that we got to see almost everyone playing, particularly the young guys and I think we have shown that we have a good squad of about 30 players who can stand up and be counted".