The Irish URC side have also confirmed their squad of 43 for the 2024/25 campaign, slightly down in size from 2023/24.
Flanker Alessandro Izekor powered over with just seconds remaining to snatch Benetton a vital 18-14 United Rugby Championship victory over Connacht at Stadio Monigo.
While most of the focus is currently on the Rugby World Cup in France, the 2023/24 BKT United Rugby Championship season gets under way this weekend.
Robert Baloucoune, Caolin Blade, Shane Daly and Max Deegan are the four players previously capped by Andy Farrell at Test level with Ireland who have been named in the 35-man Emerging Ireland squad.
Ulster have bolstered their squad for the upcoming 2022/23 season with the signing of 23-year-old Irish-qualified scrum-half Michael McDonald on a one-year deal from Western Force, the Super Rugby Pacific side.
Dual international Karmichael Hunt has been promoted to the starting side for the NSW Waratahs' Super Rugby AU showdown with the Brumbies in Sydney on Saturday night.
Scotland's Alan Tait recalls how very different the World Cup was when launched in 1987: 'Your team room in the hotel had two fridges absolutely jam-packed with Steinlager... lads just piled into it.'
It's been a difficult few years for Blues supporters, but can the addition of a new head coach, who has the capacity to instil a strong set of values in his squad, be enough to get them back in the play-offs?
