Ulster have all but confirmed that they will be without Stuart McCloskey for next week's EPCR Challenge Cup final against Montpellier, with the centre still sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The 33-year-old suffered the hamstring issue late in their semi-final win against Exeter Chiefs 10 days ago, with the province’s latest medical bulletin confirming he will be out for "a number of weeks".
With just nine days to go until they face Montpellier at the San Mames in Bilbao, the inside centre now looks certainty to miss out.
Jacob Stockdale also looks highly unlikely to be involved next week, after Ulster confirmed the winger had successful surgery on a facial fracture sustained in the win against the Chiefs, although they have not put a timeline on his potential return.
Flanker David McCann is also racing to be fit for the trip to Bilbao due to a knee injury, and will miss Friday’s crucial URC meeting with Glasgow Warriors, which Ulster may need to win in order to reach the play-offs.
The province are also likely to be without captain Iain Henderson after the second row was shown a 20-minute red card in last week’s 38-38 draw with the Stormers. The second row is set to face a disciplinary hearing this week, where he will learn whether or not he will be suspended for the final on Friday, 22 May.
In better news, hooker Rob Herring and centre James Hume are nearing a return to action from their respective calf and neck injuries, and Richie Murphy could have the pair available for this Friday’s meeting with Glasgow in Belfast.
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