Ulster hit with raft of injuries prior to Thomond clash with Munster 

Ulster's Angus Bell leaves the pitch injured. Pic: Grace Halton

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy is set to be without several frontliners for the Thomond Park meeting with Munster in Round 16 of the URC on Saturday evening. 

Six of Murphy's matchday 23 in the 29-21 loss to Leinster last week were withdrawn through injury and will take no part in the crucial Thomond fixture, and are doubts for the Challenge Cup semi-final against English outfit Exeter Chiefs on May 2.

Props Angus Bell (foot), Scott Wilson (ankle) and Tom O'Toole (hand), and centres James Hume (neck), Jude Postlethwaite (hand) all miss out on the Interpro clash, as does young back-row Bryn Ward (shoulder).

The aforementioned injuries, added to the continued absence of Nick Timoney (hip), James McNabney (knee), Rob Herring (calf), Rob Baloucoune (elbow), Rory McGuire (shoulder) and Stewart Moore (knee), mean head coach Murphy will travel to Limerick with a bare squad; however, full-back Michael Lowry is in contention to return from a groin injury.

With Ulster now firmly in a battle to finish in the URC play-off positions, Murphy's charges face Munster before taking on the current top two, Glasgow and the Stormers in the final two rounds.