Black returns to action with Ulster Ravens

Ulster prop Callum Black has been named on the Ravens starting team to play Leinster 'A' at Donnybrook on Friday night (6pm) after months of inactivity due to a neck injury.

Black has been sidelined since sustaining the injury in a pre-season friendly against Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins side, but makes his return alongside John Burns and Adam Macklin in the front row.

Iain Henderson will partner Neil McComb in the second row, while Conor Joyce, David McGuigan and Ali Birch making up the back row combination.

Ian Porter and Paddy Jackson, who have featured heavily for the senior side at the start of the season will direct affairs from the half back positions. Phoenix Academy players Chris Farrell, Michael Allen, Chris Cochrane, Conor Gaston and Ricky Andrew complete the backline.

Ulster development players Niall Annett and James McKinney are among those who start on the replacements bench.

The fixture is expected to test a young Ravens side ahead of their first British & Irish Cup game against Doncaster on Friday, November 11.

Ulster Ravens: R Andrew, C Gaston, M Allen, C Farrell, C Cochrane, P Jackson, I Porter, A Birch, D McGuigan, C Joyce; N McComb, I Henderson; A Macklin, J Burns, C Black. Replacements: N Annett, K McCall, R Jablonski, J Simpson, S O’Connell, B Mcllroy, J McKinney, P Nelson.