Gilroy is back in the starting XV. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

ULSTER DIRECTOR OF Rugby Les Kiss will rest a number of first team players for this weekend’s European Champions Cup trip to face Oyonnax.

The sides meet at the Stade Charles-Mathon on Sunday (1pm) and Ulster have made eight changes to the team which lost 9-7 to Munster at Kingspan Stadium on 2 January.

Experienced pair Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson have both named on a strong bench with Paul Marshall and Ian Humphreys starting in their place, while Craig Gilroy returns from injury to play at full-back and Louis Ludik drops out.

Prop Wiehahn Herbst misses out through an injury picked up last Saturday so Ricky Lutton replaces the South African.

Meanwhile, Andrew Trimble is not involved in the matchday squad after making his 200th appearance in the defeat to Munster.

Ulster

15. C Gilroy
14. S Arnold
13. L Marshall
12. S McCloskey
11. R Scholes
10. I Humphreys
9. P Marshall

1. K McCall
2. R Best (c)
3. R Lutton
4. L Stevenson
5. F van der Merwe
6. R Diack
7. C Henry
8. R Wilson

Replacements:

16. R Herring
17. C Black
18. B Ross
19. N Williams
20. S Reidy
21.  R Pienaar
22. P Jackson
23. L Ludik

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