Aaron Sexton could feature for Ballynahinch against Queen's University
Aaron Sexton could feature for Ballynahinch against Queen's University
Former Ulster winger Aaron Sexton, who earlier this year was pursuing a potential career in American Football, is now back in the province and in line for a return to playing rugby at club level.
The 25-year-old who featured 10 times for Ulster departed the squad last December to have a shot at the NFL’s International Player Pathway Programme in a bid to secure a contract in the lucrative pro game.
Having returned home, the former sprint champion and Ireland Sevens player has come back to club Ballynahinch and is expected to be part of the home team’s squad for the opening round of the new-look Ulster Senior Cup against Queen’s University.
Hinch, who are the current Senior Cup holders, also have another player coming back to Ballymacarn Park as Pierce Crowe is expected to be lining out alongside regulars Claytan Milligan, Bradley Luney and Paul Kerr for the fixture against the students who have recently appointed former assistant coach DJ Creighton as their director of rugby.
This season two groups containing four clubs in each will determine who makes the Senior Cup Final — the top two teams make it through for the final to be played later in the campaign — while the remaining four senior sides not involved in this structure contest the Senior Shield.
All teams throughout the domestic revamp will play three rounds of games ahead of kick-off for the AIL.
The other fixture in Group A brings Dungannon who lost last season’s Cup Final to Hinch, and Banbridge together at Stevenson Park.
In Group B, the Cran is the venue when Ballymena visit Clogher Valley for their opener.
In the Senior Shield, Rainey travel to Belfast Harlequins for their first round clash and do so — as with most sides at this time of year — with a squad containing only about half a dozen or so first team regulars.
Skipper Michael McCusker is in the team along with regular hooker Daniel O’Neill while long-serving Scott McLean is expected to play out half.
Quins have Zac Solomon back at the club and featuring at flanker while fellow starters Roland Marki, Connor Scollan and Aidan Kelleher are all due to make their debuts.
Malone regulars Ross Todd, Matty Rae and Dan Kerr are in the team for their clash with Ballyclare at Gibson Park.
Senior Cup Group A: Ballynahinch v Queen’s University, Dungannon v Banbridge
Group B: Instonians City of Armagh (played Friday), Clogher Valley v Ballymena.
Senior Shield: Malone v Ballyclare, Belfast Harlequins v Rainey.