McKee to make senior debut against Scarlets

February 28, 2025
164
Ultimate Rugby

Scrum-half, Conor McKee, is set to make his first Ulster senior start this Saturday, as the province take on Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium in Round 12 of the BKT United Rugby Championship.

23-year-old McKee first got involved in rugby at CIYMS RFC, and he will proudly wear the club’s socks on Saturday evening as part of the activity around the URC’s Origin Round, which celebrates the communities and people who helped launch the careers of the league’s players and coaches.

There are two changes in the front row from the last outing in Treviso two weeks ago, with Callum Reid returning from injury to start at loosehead prop and Scott Wilson starting at tighthead prop, joining Rob Herring at hooker.

Alan O’Connor retains his position in the second row and captains the side alongside Matthew Dalton, who makes his first senior start since re-joining his boyhood province earlier in the season.

James McNabney is the only change to the back row, with the Development forward starting at number eight for the first time since being involved in the Ireland Six Nations training squad. Matty Rea gets the nod at blindside flanker and Nick Timoney starts again on the openside.

A youthful half-back partnership sees Academy fly-half Jack Murphy named alongside McKee, while the Ireland international duo of Stuart McCloskey and James Hume provide plenty of experience in the Ulster midfield.

In the back three, Jacob Stockdale starts on the left wing, with Michael Lowry taking up the right wing position, and Stewart Moore selected at full-back.

On the replacements bench, loosehead prop Sam Crean is in line for his Ulster debut after joining the province on loan from Gallagher Premiership side, Saracens, earlier this week. He is joined by John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell and David McCann as the forward options. Nathan Doak, Jake Flannery and Jude Postlethwaite are included as the backline replacements.

Ulster Rugby team v Scarlets Rugby, Round 12, BKT United Rugby Championship, Saturday 1 March, 5.15pm, Kingspan Stadium (Live on BBC Sport NI, Premier Sports, RTE):

(The players’ origin clubs are included alongside their names.)

1. Callum Reid (Instonians RFC) (22)

2. Rob Herring (SACS) (246)

3. Scott Wilson (Dromore RFC) (27)

4. Alan O’Connor (Capt.) (Skerries RFC) (205)

5. Matthew Dalton (Belfast Royal Academy) (10)

6. Matty Rea (Ballymena RFC) (107)

7. Nick Timoney (Blackrock College RFC) (159)

8. James McNabney (Cambridge House Grammar School) (12)

9. Conor McKee (CIYMS RFC)

10. Jack Murphy (Clontarf RFC) (5)

11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan RFC) (126)