Ulster Set For Stadium Sell Out

Having been 48 short of a 12,300 capacity crowd in their first Pool 4 home game against Benetton Treviso in Round 1, the Ulster ticket office has already sold more than 12,000 tickets for the game against the unbeaten Pool 4 leaders.

The final 800 or so terrace tickets are currently on sale at the Ravenhill ticket office. They can also be bought on-line at www.ulsterrugby.com.

The two teams met in Pool 3 in the 2000-2001 season, when Saracens won both games. They ran in six tries in their 55-25 home win and then triumphed 21-13 at Ravenhill on Friday, 19 January, 2001.

There was a capacity crowd of 13,500 at Ravenhill for the return game and it looks as though the sold out signs will be up well in advance of the third meeting of the two teams next week.

Ulster, who have had three weeks without a game because of the Autumn International Series, have to travel to Celtic League table topping Munster this weekend. Coach Mark McCall is delighted his side will have such a tough warm-up ahead of Round 3 of the Heineken Cup.

"The Munster game is critical for us. It is going to be a hugely competitive game and it will get us into the right frame of mind for the back-to-back clashes with Saracens in the Heineken Cup," said McCall.

"It hasn't been ideal having three weekends without any competitive rugby, but we knew this break in the season was coming. What we didn't know, or expect, was that we would have eight players away on international duty with Ireland.

"That has been a real step forward for us and is a credit to the coaches who have worked so hard over the past five years within our academy system. It's great that so many of our players will return to the Celtic League and Heineken Cup having had game time with Ireland."

Among the players on both sides who have been on international duty in November are the veterans David Humphreys and Thomas Castaignede. The 34-year-old Humphreys picked up his 72nd cap in Ireland's win over Romania last weekend, while Castaignede earned his 47th in France's victory over South Africa.

"David's enthusiasm for the game has come back and he was superb for us in our Round 2 defeat in Biarritz. He hasn't played too many games over the past three years, especially with Ronan O'Gara starting in the Irish team, and he has been able to enjoy his rugby," said McCall.

"He is in great shape and fine form - exactly the same as Castaignede. Seeing those two players will be worth the price of admission alone at Ravenhill next week.

"Saracens have a mighty pack and any team that can do to Biarritz what they did to them at Vicarage Road has to be reckoned with."