With Europe done and dusted for the time being and attention returning to domestic league action, here’s our latest review of how the Ulster boys are getting on abroad.

PRO14

Rory Scholes

Rory Scholes is yet to feature for Connacht this season.

Sam Arnold, Chris Farrell

In the two weeks of action prior to the kick off of Europe, Sam Arnold featured twice for Munster. He made a try scoring appearance off the bench in that horrific night for Ulster in Limerick and started their interprovincial derby against Leinster.

In their opening European fixture, Sam Arnold sustained a throat injury against Exeter but was deemed fit enough to come off the bench and score a try in Munster’s 36-22 win over Gloucester the following week. It was confirmed yesterday that Arnold has been called up to Ireland’s 42 man squad ahead of the Autumn Internationals.

Chris Farrell remains injured for Munster.

Tommy Seymour

Seymour has only featured in one game since our last update which was in the unfamiliar position of fullback in Glasgow’s 29-12 bonus point win over Cardiff on Sunday.

Gallagher Premiership

Ian Whitten, Gareth Steenson

Exeter set the pace in the Gallagher Premiership with two bonus point wins in their two league matches featured. They defeated Worcester 28-11 and Bath 39-24. Both Whitten and Steenson started against Worcester with the latter kicking four conversions. Against Bath, Whitten scored a try while Steenson converted four tries and added two penalties.

Both Whitten and Steenson played in Exeter’s opening European drew against Munster. Steenson kicked a conversion and a penalty. Looking to make amends for their slip up against Munster, Exeter were defeated by Castres 29-25 despite playing over half of the game with a man advantage. Steenson kicked ten points and also scored a charge down try just before half time. Ian Whitten started at 12.

Michael Heaney, Niall Annett, Callum Black, Neil Doak

Worcester hammered Pat Lam’s Bristol side 52-7 in the last match before Europe. Callum Black started at loosehead while Michael Heaney was an unused substitute.

Alan Solomans and Neil Doak have got this Worcester side playing some very nice rugby and they were clinical in their demolition of Bristol. They’ve only won two matches in the league this season, but, with a run of form, they could trouble the Heineken Champions Cup spots for next season.

Michael Heaney and Niall Annett started in their 38-27 away victory over Stade Francais as Neil Doak’s men continue their good form. Callum Black did not feature in this match. Heaney and Annett started again in a 27-21 win over Ospreys and look good to qualify as they sit three points ahead of Ospreys in top spot.

Paddy McAllister, David Humphreys, Jonny Bell

Gloucester recorded a fantastic bonus point victory over Wasps at the Ricoh Arena but were edged out by two points at home to Harlequins.

The Cherry Whites defeated Castres in Kingsholm in round one and played some nice rugby however they were unable to finish their chances and therefore lose out on a try bonus point against last season’s TOP14 winners.

Danny Cipriani was sent off as Gloucester were defeated by Munster in round two but Humphreys’ side showed determination in scoring three tries in the last 20 minutes of the match.

Paddy McAllister did not feature in these matches.

Mark McCall

As expected, Saracens won their two games in between the last update and the start of Europe. They defeated Bath 50-27 and Harlequins 25-20

Saracens were one of five sides to record away wins in their opening European match although it was not without controversy. It appeared on replay after Michael Rhodes’ try was converted that a Sarries player had a foot in touch in the build up. They easily defeated Lyon 29-10 at Allianz Park in round two.

Green King IPA Championship

Callum Patterson

Cornish Pirates defeated Nottingham Rugby 36-28 in their first fixture since the last update with Patterson starting at 12.

Pirates suffered two losses on the bounce against Ealing Trailfinders and Jersey Reds where they were defeated 41-35 and 33-10 respectively. Callum Patterson did not play against Ealing but started at inside centre against Jersey.

Their bad run of form continued as they were edged out at home by Bedford Blues 30-29 without Patterson in the starting lineup. The Pirates slip down to third after a great start to the season.

Brett Herron, Conor Joyce, Mark Best

Mark Best scored a try in Jersey’s 47-22 win over Doncaster while Brett Herron kicked two conversions. Joyce and Best both started while Herron came off the bench. In a 36-19 win over Yorkshire Carnegie, both Best and Joyce featured off the bench. Herron was not listed in the squad.

Mark Best was the only ex-Ulster player to start in their 33-10 win over Cornish Pirates however Brett Herron appeared off the bench. Jersey hammered Hartpury 52-17. Brett Herron grabbed two tries when he came on for Mark Best in the 58th minute. Conor Joyce did not feature.

Their recent form sees them jump from 12th to 6th in a month and seem to have gathered a bit of momentum.

Top 14

Paddy Jackson

The writing seems to be on the wall for Jackson’s Perpignan. They lost out narrowly against Montpellier and Pau 23-20 and 12-9 respectively with Jackson kicking all the points in the latter.

Perpignan are obviously prioritizing their league campaign as Jackson did not feature in their home loss against Sale but did start in a 25 all draw away to Bordeaux Begles and kicked nine points. Perpignan sit bottom of both their Challenge Cup group and the TOP14 and are winless this season.

PRO D2

Stuart Olding, Jeremy Davidson

Stuart Olding was sent off for a horror tackle in Brive’s 31-18 win over SA Charente and is currently serving a six week ban. Brive lost their next game without Stuart 30-19 away to bottom side, Massy. The PRO D2 had a break last weekend, but Brive are in action this evening against Montauban.

It hasn’t been all bad news for Olding however as he agreed a contract extension with the club seeing him through to 2020.

Dan Tuohy

Tuohy started Vannes’ 16-0 victory over Colomiers but did not play in a 42-12 loss against Union Cognac St-Jean-d’Angely. They take on Carcassone at home tomorrow evening and sit in 12th position, six points from the relegation zone.

Top 12

Conor Gaston, James McKinney

We’ve a new entry and thanks must go to Stephen Hillis for informing us that Conor Gaston and James McKinney play their rugby for Verona in Italy. Conor left Ulster in 2012 having made five appearances for the senior sides in search of more regular rugby. He joined London Irish before moving on to link up with Jeremy Davidson in Aurillac and then on to Verona.

For McKinney, he left Ulster in 2014 for Rotherham before signing for Jersey Reds and then Verona where he finds himself now. At Ulster he made 47 appearances and scored one try against Edinburgh in 2013.

Details are a bit sketchy on this one so I am not sure how much information I will be able to bring you in each update. For this update I can only find information on one match in the Italian Cup which was a 17 all draw against Lafert San Dona. McKinney and Gaston started with the former kicking seven points.