JASON Tovey will start at full-back for Newport Gwent Dragons in tomorrow’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Ulster in Belfast.
The 25-year-old fly-half makes his return to the squad after a passport mishap meant he could not travel to Paris to face Stade Francais a fortnight ago.
Captain Lee Byrne is out with a hip injury while Hallam Amos and Tom Prydie are on Wales duty, so Tovey is given the number 15 jersey.
He has not started for the Dragons at full-back since 2010 but produced an impressive kicking performance to punish his former region when playing there for Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day, 2012.
Angus O’Brien impressed in Tovey’s absence against Stade Francais and makes his third appearance on the spin at fly-half.
On-loan Carmarthen Quins centre Rhys Williams makes his regional bow next to Ashley Smith in midfield while James Benjamin replaces Nic Cudd (bruised leg) at openside flanker.
Ulster are without captain Rory Best, Jared Payne, Tommy Bowe and Craig Gilroy and Chris Henry because of Ireland duty, although Stuart Olding is released to start at full-back and Robbie Diack is among the replacements.
Influential overseas players Ruan Pienaar and Nick Williams are also absent from the Irish province’s squad.
Ulster: S Olding; L Ludik, D Cave, S McCloskey P Nelson; P Jackson, P Marshall, C Black, R Herring, W Herbst, L Stevenson, F vd Merwe, C Ross, S Reidy, R Wilson (captain). Replacements: J Andrew, A Warwick, D Fitzpatrick, N McComb, R Diack, M Heaney, I Humphreys, R Andrew.
Dragons: J Tovey, M Pewtner, R Williams, A Smith, A Brew, A O’Brien, R Rees, B Stankovich, R Thomas, D Way, J Thomas, R Landman (captain), L Evans, J Benjamin, A Powell. Replacements: E Dee, O Evans, L Fairbrother, S Andrews, O Griffiths, J Evans, G R Jones, A Hewitt.
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