Dan McFarland’s facet will play within the secondary competitors for the primary time of their historical past after failing to be one of many prime eight groups in Pool 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup.
Ulster dropped into the Challenge Cup and have been drawn away at excessive flying English Premiership facet Harlequins within the final 16 of the competitors.
The match on the Stoop will happen on the primary weekend on April.
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Ulster head coach Dan McFarland
The winners of that tie will face the victors of the Dragons v Northampton Saints recreation away from house.
‘Quins have lifted the Challenge Cup on three events – 2001, 2004 and 2011 – and have been runners up in 2016.
The London primarily based membership have former Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery on their teaching ticket and the 2 golf equipment have loads of European historical past assembly seven occasions with 4 of these assembly occurring within the final 4 years.
‘Quins gained the primary ever assembly of the edges in October 1996 leaving Belfast with a 21-15 win within the Heineken Cup.
The sides have been drawn collectively within the 2009/10 season when house advantaged prevailed, ‘Quins profitable 42-21 in London with Ulster gaining revenge at Ravenhill centre Darren Cave was among the many strive scorers in 21-10 victory.
The sides met within the back-to-back video games in December 2017 with Ulster doing the double.
They gained a decent affair on the Stoop 17-5 earlier than placing ‘Quins to the sword at Kingspan Stadium with a 52-24 win, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, John Cooney, Charles Piutau, Alan O’Connor and Andrew Trimble all dotted down within the bonus level victory.
Ulster did the double once more when the edges met within the double header in December 2019.
Cooney’s late penalty gave Ulster a 25-24 win in Belfast, seven days later Dan McFarland’s facet received a 34-10 bonus level win in London.
A run of 5 wins out of their final six video games have seen ‘Quins mover up to third within the English Premiership.
With hopes of a Pro14 closing gone coach Dan McFarland is looking forward to enjoying within the Challenge Cup.
“It’s thrilling, I’ve a number of expertise enjoying within the Challenge Cup and will certainly give us the possibility to play play-off rugby,” mentioned McFarland.
Everybody has received to be enthusiastic about enjoying in play-off rugby and that’s one thing that we’re very a lot looking forward to.”
After the frustration of shedding to Leinster the coach turns his consideration to the penultimate league recreation away on the Dragons on Saturday evening.
While there may be nothing at stake by way of league place it’s a likelihood for McFarland to give a few of his youthful gamers, like prop Callum Reid and again row David McCann, some useful recreation time.
“We have two video games left within the spherical robin and we’ve nothing exterior to acquire from this,” mentioned McFarland.
“We have certified for Europe and the way in which the league is formatted we are able to play in a playoff however there are many issues to acquire from the subsequent two video games.”
“There might be a possibility for a few guys to are available and have a go, we definitely have just a few battered our bodies after the weekend, there will probably be a possibility for a few guys to step in who’ve earned it on benefit.”
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