Ulster

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Ulster have confirmed the appointment of former New Zealand international Clarke Dermody as the province's new forwards coach.

The 46-year-old, who will join this summer before the 2026-27 season, will replace Jimmy Duffy.

Dermody will move to Ulster from Super Rugby side Highlanders, where he has fulfilled a number of positions including a two-year stint as head coach between 2022 and 2024.

"While we are sad to say goodbye to Jimmy Duffy who is moving on, as a coaching team we are very excited to be welcoming Clarke to Ulster this summer," said Ulster head coach Richie Murphy.

"He is an experienced coach, with a strong track record of developing top talent. We are looking forward to seeing him implement his methods and philosophy with our squad next season."

During his playing career, loose-head prop Dermody played for Southland, Highlanders and London Irish, where he made over 100 appearances before injury forced his retirement in 2012.

He made three Test appearances for the All Blacks, two of which came against Ireland in 2006.

His coaching career began at Southland Stags in 2014, while he was the Highlanders' scrum coach during their 2015 Super Rugby triumph.

As co-coach alongside current Ireland attack coach Andrew Goodman, Dermody won back-to-back National Provincial Championship titles with in 2019 and 2020 with Tanman Mako.

Having impressed as Highlanders forwards coach, Dermody was appointed head coach in 2022 following Tony Brown's departure for Japan before transitioning into assistant coach two years later after Jamie Joseph's return to the Dunedin-based franchise.

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Academy player Wilhelm De Klerk and Bryn Ward are two of 10 changes made by Richie Murphy for Friday's final regular season United Rugby Championship match against leaders Glasgow Warriors in Belfast.

Ulster need a positive result to secure a play-off spot and Champions Cup qualification and are bolstered by the return of Rob Herring and James Hume from injury.

However, they are without captain Iain Henderson as they await the outcome of a disciplinary hearing following his red card against Stormers.

It is a huge few weeks for the northern province and they will also be wary of their upcoming Challenge Cup final against Montpellier in Bilbao on 22 May.

Sam Cream starts at loosehead prop with Tom O'Toole, who missed the draw against Stormers through illness, back at tighthead prop alongside Herring.

Harry Sheridan and Charlie Irvine start in the second row with development forward Joe Hopes and academy forward Ward handed starts in the back row.

Nick Timoney retains his position as openside flanker and will captain the side, while Conor McKee starts at scrum-half and Jake Flannery at fly-half.

In the midfield, De Klerk begins as the inside centre for the first time with Hume at outside centre.

After all registering tries against the Stormers, the back row remains unchanged with Zac Ward starting on the left wing, Werner Kok on the right wing and Michael Lowry at full-back.

Tom Stewart, Angus Bell, Scott Wilson, Cormac Izuchukwu and Lorcan McLoughlin the forward replacements, while Nathan Doak, Jack Murphy and Ethan McIlroy are the backline options.

Glasgow have a one-point lead at the top of the URC and ended their three-game run without a win against Cardiff Rugby in their last match.

Ulster: Lowry; Kok; Hume, De Klerk; Z Ward; Flannery, McKee; B Ward, Timoney (capt), Hopes, Irvine, Sheridan, O'Toole; Herring, Crean.

Replacements: Stewart, Bell, Wilson, Izuchukwu, McLoughlin, Doak, Murphy, McIlroy.