ULSTER HAVE CONFIRMED that number eight Nick Williams will not be fit to play in this weekend’s Champions Cup clash with Saracens at Allianz Park [KO 3.15pm Saturday, BT Sport].
Williams enjoys last weekend's win with Franco van der Merwe. Presseye / Darren Kidd/INPHO
Presseye / Darren Kidd/INPHO / Darren Kidd/INPHO
Williams suffered concussion during last weekend’s comeback victory over Oyonnax and given the six-day turnaround between games, he is unavailable to director of rugby Les Kiss for the Pool 1 fixture.
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Fullback Louis Ludik is also likely to miss out this weekend due to an adductor strain.
More positively, the province have reported that tighthead prop Wiehahn Herbst is set to feature against Sarries after his calf problem cleared, while Darren Cave and Jared Payne have returned to training following shoulder and foot injuries, respectively.
Both Ireland internationals are in contention to feature against Saracens, although the midfield pairing of Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall has been performing superbly for Ulster in recent times.
Payne hasn't played for Ulster this season yet. Presseye / Stephen Hamilton/INPHO
Presseye / Stephen Hamilton/INPHO / Stephen Hamilton/INPHO
Stuart Olding, another Ireland international, is now also close to regaining fitness after his recovery from an ACL operation, with Ulster stating the 22-year-old is “likely to return to competitive action in the coming weeks.”
Ireland U20 international Sammy Arnold has been ruled out for three weeks after suffering a hamstring strain against Oyonnax.
Tommy Bowe [knee], Iain Henderson [hamstring] and Dan Tuohy [ankle] remain on the comeback trail, with no specific return-to-play dates at this stage.
Williams blow for Ulster but Ireland's Payne back in contention for Sarries clash
ULSTER HAVE CONFIRMED that number eight Nick Williams will not be fit to play in this weekend’s Champions Cup clash with Saracens at Allianz Park [KO 3.15pm Saturday, BT Sport].
Williams suffered concussion during last weekend’s comeback victory over Oyonnax and given the six-day turnaround between games, he is unavailable to director of rugby Les Kiss for the Pool 1 fixture.
Fullback Louis Ludik is also likely to miss out this weekend due to an adductor strain.
More positively, the province have reported that tighthead prop Wiehahn Herbst is set to feature against Sarries after his calf problem cleared, while Darren Cave and Jared Payne have returned to training following shoulder and foot injuries, respectively.
Both Ireland internationals are in contention to feature against Saracens, although the midfield pairing of Stuart McCloskey and Luke Marshall has been performing superbly for Ulster in recent times.
Stuart Olding, another Ireland international, is now also close to regaining fitness after his recovery from an ACL operation, with Ulster stating the 22-year-old is “likely to return to competitive action in the coming weeks.”
Ireland U20 international Sammy Arnold has been ruled out for three weeks after suffering a hamstring strain against Oyonnax.
Tommy Bowe [knee], Iain Henderson [hamstring] and Dan Tuohy [ankle] remain on the comeback trail, with no specific return-to-play dates at this stage.
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European Rugby Champions Cup Injury Update jared payne Saracens Ulster