Fitzpatrick included in Ulster squad

Declan Fitzpatrick may feature for Ulster against The Dragons at Ravenhill in the Magners League on Friday night after head coach Brian McLaughlin announced his 27-man squad.

Fitzpatrick has made a good recovery from a calf injury which has kept him out of action since the early part of the season.

Ireland's Tom Court and Stephen Ferris as well as South Africa's Ruan Pienaar are also named in the panel following the end of the Autumn International Series.

The Ulster team and replacements will be named on Thursday.

Ulster Squad:

Forwards: Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick, Paddy McAllister, Bryan Young, BJ Botha, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyriacou, Tim Barker, Dan Tuohy, Neil McComb, Pedrie Wannenburg, Willie Faloon, Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry.

Backs: Adam D'Arcy, David McIlwaine, Jamie Smith, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Simon Danielli, Paddy Wallace, Nevin Spence, Ian Whitten, Ian Humphreys, Niall O'Connor, Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar.