Cardiff Welcome Back Taulupe Faletau for Clash with Ulster in United Rugby Championship

Taulupe Faletau, the Wales and British and Irish Lions number eight, has been named in Cardiff’s starting lineup for the first time this season after recovering from a broken arm sustained during the Rugby World Cup in October 2023. The 33-year-old will form a formidable back-row partnership with Alex Mann and Thomas Young.

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt expressed his delight at Faletau’s return, stating, “He’s a world-class talent, who everyone in the squad looks up to and will raise the standards in the team.” Sherratt believes Faletau’s experience will greatly benefit Cardiff’s younger players like Mann and Mackenzie Martin.

Ulster Struggling, Cardiff Aim to End Winless Run

Ulster currently occupy the eighth and final playoff spot in the URC, but with only five rounds remaining, the race for the postseason is tight, with just five points separating fifth to 11th place. The Belfast-based side have struggled of late, losing three of their last four league matches.

Cardiff, on the other hand, have endured a difficult run, losing their last five URC games and sitting 12th in the table. A sixth consecutive defeat would be their worst league run since 2015, and they will be aiming to end their winless streak at a venue where they have not triumphed since 2010.

“We’ve had some time off to recover and recuperate and then trained and prepared really well for the game. There is no reason why with this group, and the performances we have already put in on the road this season, we can’t put in another good account of ourselves and turn a good performance into a win.”

— Matt Sherratt, Cardiff Head Coach

The match will be broadcast live on BBC Two Wales and BBC Northern Ireland, with a match report available on the BBC Sport website and app. Highlights will also be shown on Scrum V on BBC Two Wales on Sunday.

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