Ulster Provides Injury Update on Ethan McIlroy Following Early Exit Against Munster

Ulster Rugby has issued an injury update on fullback Ethan McIlroy, revealing that the 23-year-old suffered a facial fracture and a concussion during Friday night’s clash against Munster at the Kingspan Stadium. The club’s latest squad update sheds light on the extent of McIlroy’s injuries after an unfortunate incident early in the match.

McIlroy faced a challenging moment in the 14th minute when, in an attempt to score a try against the reigning United Rugby Championship champions, he was knocked unconscious. Shane Daly, Munster’s opponent, executed a cover tackle to prevent the try and was subsequently yellow-carded for the challenge.

Following the incident, McIlroy received medical attention at the Royal Victoria Hospital Emergency Department and was discharged later that evening. The club, however, has not provided a specific timescale for the fullback’s recovery, leaving uncertainty about his availability for upcoming fixtures against the Lions, Glasgow Warriors, and Edinburgh in the next three weeks before the commencement of the Champions Cup.

Despite the early setback, Ulster went on to secure a notable 21-14 victory, placing them in fourth position in the URC standings. Reflecting on the match, Head Coach Dan McFarland expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, particularly their attacking intent.

“I was pleased with a lot of what we did,” McFarland remarked in an interview with the Ulster website after the match. “We showed real attacking intent, we were dangerous for long periods of the first half, but we found ourselves at 0-14 down, on the back of their scrum getting control of us and some inaccuracy.”

Acknowledging the challenge of facing the unbeaten champions, McFarland commended his team’s resilience and fighting spirit. He noted, “I was really proud of some of the rugby we played. It would have been nice when we got 7 points up we showed some more composure, but maybe the guys wanted to show their fighting spirit for the remaining five minutes of the game!”

The victory against Munster highlighted Ulster’s ability to withstand pressure and showcased the determination that McFarland’s side brings to each match, leaving fans hopeful for a successful season ahead.