We're picking the ultimate Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster teams of the professional era, position by position, province by province, and we want your help. Today, it's Ulster's front three.

Loosehead prop

There are some serious performers to choose between in the Ulster front row including a bona fide Ulster and Irish legend, world-class imports and a couple of unsung heroes. The looseheads definitely fall into the latter category, with a choice between Tom Court, Justin Fitzpatrick and Jack McGrath.

McGrath at his best takes the jersey but with just one season under his belt, and a season where his form dipped slightly at that, it’s too soon for his inclusion. That leaves a shoot-out between Court and Fitzpatrick.

With 26 Ireland caps and both European and domestic honours under his belt up north Fitzpatrick’s CV is under-appreciated. However, with eight seasons and over 150 appearances Tom Court’s durability and versatility earns him the nod, the Queenslander is widely respected amongst his peers.

Candidates: Tom Court, Justin Fitzpatrick, Jack McGrath

RTÉ selection: Tom Court

We need your consent to load this 123FormBuilder contentWe use 123FormBuilder to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

Hooker

At hooker there is no debate to be had: Rory Best is the biggest certainty in this Ulster side. In the interests of democracy we’ll throw European Cup winner Allen Clarke and current international Rob Herring in as candidates but with 15 seasons, two Lions tours and 124 international caps under his belt, Best has attained elite status within Irish rugby history.

The highly successful latter part of his international career saw his international medal count extend to four championships, two Grand Slams and a further two Triple Crowns.

While failure to break the quarter-final glass ceiling at Rugby World Cups is often cited as a regret, the inability to add to the solitary Celtic League title of 2006 must be a huge disappointment for a generation of Ulster players of which Best was the figurehead.

Candidates: Rory Best, Allen Clarke, Rob Herring

RTÉ selection: Rory Best

We need your consent to load this 123FormBuilder contentWe use 123FormBuilder to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

Tighthead prop

Ulster’s most successful forays into the overseas market have arguably been at tighthead so we’re going to keep the contenders exclusively to imports.

With due respect to Simon Best, few could argue with the trio of John Afoa, BJ Botha and Robbie Kempson.

Kempson did play most of his rugby in Belfast at loosehead but was more than capable of shifting across, and his inclusion as a tighthead makes for a stronger six candidates across both sides of the scrum. Although only at the province for two years, Kempson brought a work-rate and hardness to Ulster that many of his team-mates cite as something they hadn’t seen before - his 37 caps for the Boks attest to this. 

Similarly, BJ Botha brought standards to Ulster’s scrum that had been missing for some time. He was absolutely world-class in his prime and a World Cup winner to boot. 

If Kempson and Botha set standards in certain areas of the game, Afoa consolidated these gains and added a layer on top. While his carrying and handling invariably caught the eye, Afoa also possessed an engine that was second to none and never gave an opposition loosehead a rest. 

Candidates: John Afoa, BJ Botha, Robbie Kempson

RTÉ selection: John Afoa

We need your consent to load this 123FormBuilder contentWe use 123FormBuilder to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences