Ulster’s McCloskey Returns for Champions Cup Clash Against Dupont-Captained Toulouse

The Investec Champions Cup match between Toulouse and Ulster is scheduled for Sunday, 8 December, at the Ernest-Wallon stadium in Toulouse. Kick-off is set for 15:15 GMT. Coverage will be available on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, and Radio Ulster, with text updates provided on the BBC Sport website and app. Ireland international Stuart McCloskey has been named in the Ulster starting XV for their Investec Champions Cup opener on Sunday against current titleholders Toulouse, led by French standout Antoine Dupont. McCloskey steps into the inside centre position, replacing Jude Postlethwaite. Although Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, and Cormac Izuchukwu have also returned from Ireland duty earlier this week, they are listed among the replacements. McCloskey’s inclusion is one of five alterations to the squad following last week’s United Rugby Championship loss to Leinster. Andrew Warwick, Harry Sheridan, Matty Rea, and Marcus Rea have all been recalled to the forward pack. Matty Rea’s return at blindside flanker results in James McNabney shifting to number eight, while Dave McCann, who started at number eight against Leinster, is not included in the matchday squad. For six-time champions Toulouse, who defeated Ulster 48-24 in Belfast last season, France captain Dupont will start alongside Thomas Ramos and Romain Ntamack. Ulster head coach Richie Murphy faces the absence of wingers Jacob Stockdale, Ben Moxham, and Zac Ward, as well as scrum-half John Cooney, all due to injury. However, Werner Kok, who sustained an injury against Leinster, has been cleared to start in an unchanged back three alongside Mike Lowry and Stewart Moore. McCloskey will form the midfield partnership with Ben Carson, who scored two tries against Leinster. Nathan Doak and Aidan Morgan are retained as the half-backs. Warwick takes over from Eric O’Sullivan at loose-head prop, with hooker James McCormick and tight-head prop Scott Wilson also featuring in the front row. Alan O’Connor will captain the team from the second row, partnering with the returning Sheridan. The Rea brothers and McNabney complete the Irish province’s back row. McCormick, Morgan, Carson, and Kok are set to make their Champions Cup debuts for Ulster. The Toulouse squad, spearheaded by Dupont, features seven France internationals. Italy wing Ange Capuozzo and Argentina centre Santiago Chocobares are also in the starting lineup for the Top 14 leaders. However, Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn is not part of the squad. Toulouse: Ramos; Capuozzo, Barassi, Chocobares, Lebel; R Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Ainu’u, Mauvaka, Aldeheri; Flament, Meafou, Willis, Banos, Roumat Replacements: Marchand, Neti, Merkler, T Ntamack, Graou, Costes, Mallia Ulster: Moore; Kok, Carson, McCloskey, Lowry, Morgan, Doak; Warwick, McCormick, Wilson; O’Connor (capt), Sheridan; Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, McNabney Replacements: Herring, O’Sullivan, O’Toole, Henderson, Izuchukwu, Shanahan, Postlethwaite, Timoney