ULSTER HAVE NAMED a 27-man squad for their first Heineken Cup match of the season this Friday against Aironi. The matchday 22 will be named later this week.

Ulster rugby also today confirmed that Bryn Cunningham has retired. The full-back made 150 appearances for Ulster over ten years but has had to retire after a number of persistent interviews.

“Over the past fifteen months I’ve worked incredibly hard and through considerable pain in order to regain full fitness but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. Having to finally make the decision to call it quits and end my rugby career is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

“Ulster Rugby has been a massive part of my life for the past thirteen years. Ravenhill is like home, I love the place, the supporters, and everything about it. I will miss it dearly and wish everyone still involved in Ulster Rugby the success that they and the club deserve, success which I am sure, is just round the corner.”

ULSTER SQUAD FORWARDS

Tom Court, Paddy McAllister, Bryan Young, BJ Botha, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyriacou, Tim Barker, Johann Muller, Ryan Caldwell, Dan Tuohy, Willie Faloon, Robbie Diack, Pedrie Wannenburg, Chris Henry

ULSTER SQUAD BACKS

David McIlwaine, Jamie Smith, Simon Danielli, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Paddy Wallace, Ian Humphreys, Niall O’Connor, Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Ian Porter