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BBC News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Earning 200th Ulster cap 'very special'
United Rugby Championship: Ulster v StormersVenue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Date: Friday, 28 March Kick-off: 19:35 GMTCoverage: Watch live on BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website & app Centre Stuart McCloskey says the milestone of his 200th Ulster outing this weekend has "crept up on him".The 32-year-old, who made his senior debut against Dragons in 2014, will become the 11th player to hit the mark for the province when he takes the field against the Stormers at Kingspan Stadium in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Friday night. "It's very special," said the 19-times capped Irish international."It's not something I've really thought about an awful lot until my dad reminded me at the start of the week and I thought 'Oh, flip'. It's really crept up on me."There's some amazing players in there, some guys I've played with for most of my career, so it'll be nice to join them." McCloskey did not play representative rugby while at Bangor Grammar and was not offered a place in the Ulster Rugby Academy after leaving he caught the eye playing for Dungannon in the All-Ireland League before belatedly joining the professional set-up. "There's been hard work and all that, but a lot of luck," he said of the key to his longevity in the side."A few injuries went my way at the start for me to get in there, then a few coaches liked me and gave me good chances."Thankfully I took a lot of those and I haven't been injured an awful lot over the years. That's kept me in and about it."Given his form, consistency and durability, McCloskey has drawn plenty of interest from elsewhere over the years and was heavily linked with a move to France last he cites his love for both the province and the city of Belfast as his reason for recently extending his stay with the side until he picks the URC quarter-final victory over Munster in 2022 as a highlight of his 199 caps so far, to win silverware with Ulster remains an ambition. "I love all the lads, I've enjoyed my 12 years here," he said. "I like what we're trying to build, I like some of the young guys coming through. "Hopefully I'll hold on to their coattails in a couple of years' time when they're coming into the form of their careers and looking to win something." While McCloskey will be adding to his considerable Ulster cap tally in the years to come, Friday's game represents a penultimate home fixture for John Cooney, the star scrum-half who will join French club Brive next season."He's definitely going to be a miss, he's some character," said McCloskey."He's been amazing for us since he arrived, from when he came from Connacht where he wasn't 100% first choice, to becoming one of the best nines in the league over the last seven or eight years. He's dragged us through some games."We'll miss his craic in the changing room. He's always got an opinion on something, it's normally wrong, but it's always good to argue."Whether it be milestones or impending departures, McCloskey added that the "game is the big thing" on Friday night with Ulster one point and one place outside the league's play-off spots with five games remaining. "It's not do or die but if we're going to make the top eight and give this thing a good go, we've got to win this," he said."It's a home game, I always feel we've a good chance against anyone at home."The Stormers are in and around us in the table so we'll go with positive vibes."
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Scarlets' Macleod returns from injury for Stormers test
United Rugby Championship: Scarlets v StormersVenue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Date: Saturday, 22 March Kick off: 15:00 GMTCoverage: Live in S4C & via BBC iPlayer. Updates on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app, followed by report and reaction Captain Josh Macleod returns from injury to start for Scarlets in their United Rugby Championship (URC) fixture against 28, was ruled out of his side's past two matches with a hamstring injury but will lead his side at Parc y Scarlets on internationals Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Taine Plumtree, Kemsley Mathias and Henry Thomas are all included in the matchday squad as head coach Dwayne Peel makes six changes from the side that took the field against will feature in a back three that includes Ioan Nicholas and Macs Page against the South African and Joe Roberts form the midfield as Ioan Lloyd and Gareth Davies continue at half-back. Marnus van der Merwe is recalled at hooker to pack down in the front row between Alec Hepburn and Sam Craig and Sam Lousi form the second row as Scarlets go for a new-look back row, with Macleod joined by Vaea Fifita and Taine Plumtree."You look at how tight the league is at the moment and it is clear it is going to go down to the wire in terms of the play-off race," said Peel. "Our form here in Llanelli has been excellent this season with the supporters really getting behind the boys. "We are going to need that again against a Stormers side who have come here with pretty much a full crew with a couple of Springboks back from injury."Ryan Elias, Mathias and Thomas provide back row cover on the bench - with former Stormer Jarrod Taylor and Dan Davis also among the forward replacements. Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe and Tomi Lewis cover the Murray and Johnny Williams are both ruled out due to calf injuries. Scarlets sit 10th in the URC table following defeats in Ulster and side boast a strong record on home soil though, winning their past six matches at Parc y are 12th in the league standings but are level with Scarlets on 28 narrow win at Bulls on 1 March ended a run of four successive defeats across all director of rugby John Dobson said: "Scarlets have been impressive this season and we know that it will have to be an 80-minute performance to get the result that we need from this one." Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Ryan Elias, Kemsley Mathias, Henry Thomas, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Tomi Warrick Gelant; Ben Loader, Wandisile Simelane, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Herschel Jantjies; Ali Vermaak, Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat (capt), Ruben van Heerden, Deon Fourie, Marcel Theunissen, Evan André-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Sazi Sandi, Gary Porter, Willie Engelbrecht, Dewaldt Duvenage, Jurie Matthee, Damian Eoghan Cross (IRFU)Assistant referees: Mike English (WRU), Tom Spurrier (WRU)TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
