Ulster have confirmed Tom O’Toole is available for the province’s clash with Benetton on Saturday after completing a six-game suspension dating back to last year.
The Ireland international hasn’t featured in a competitive outing since he was sent off in Ulster’s 22-19 defeat to Munster on December 20 but is available for his side’s trip to Italy for an important United Rugby Championship fixture.
The prop was handed the hefty ban following his red card for a dangerous clearout on Munster’s Alex Nankivell in the festive inter-pro at Ravenhill.
The 26-year-old has missed four matches for Richie Murphy’s side, including the victories over Connacht (December 28) in the United Rugby Championship and Exeter Chiefs (January 17) in the Champions Cup, as well as Ireland’s triumphs over England and Scotland in their first two games of the Six Nations.
But O’Toole will be back at Murphy’s disposal on Ulster’s return to competitive action at Stadio Monigo three weeks on from the chastening home reverse on January 26 to Benetton’s fellow Italians Zebre that has left the province ninth in the League standings and outside the end-of-season Play-Off spots.
Meanwhile, Ulster have also confirmed that Tom Stewart (hamstring), Andrew Warwick (ankle) and Eric O’Sullivan (knee) will have scans this week to determine the extent of injuries sustained in their friendly defeat to Australian side Queensland Reds on Friday.
However, Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey and James Hume – who is in line for his first competitive playing time of the 2024/25 season after he returned against the Reds following a 10-month layoff – are all available for selection after their recent injury problems.