Henson available to face Ireland after suspension is reduced

Gavin Henson last night had his 72-day ban reduced by three weeks after a four-hour appeal hearing in Dublin.

But Ospreys star Henson will still miss Wales' Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham on February 4th, and the Millennium Stadium appointment with Scotland eight days later.

He can play again from February 13th, meaning he will be available for Wales' trip to Ireland later that month. Henson's initial suspension ran until early March.

His likely comeback game will be for the Ospreys against Celtic League opponents Borders in Swansea on February 17th.

Henson was suspended for 10 weeks and two days after being cited and found guilty of elbowing Leicester prop Alex Moreno during a bitter Heineken European Cup clash between the Ospreys and Leicester just before Christmas.

Ulster coach Mark McCall has added Matt McCullough and Paul Steinmetz to the 22 on duty against Glasgow for Friday night's European Cup match against Biarritz at Ravenhill. The Ireland second row and the New Zealand centre cum wing came through fitness tests yesterday.

The return to fitness of McCullough (back) and Steinmetz (knee) is a huge plus for McCall ahead of a make-or-break game for Ulster's pool ambitions.

"They trained fine, but we will have to wait and see if there are any reactions," said McCall about the returning players. McCall is aware that he not alone needs a win but one that comes with a bonus point and preferably a large margin of victory: all this against one of the best teams in Europe.

If McCullough and Steinmetz prove to have fully recovered they are likely to start the match, with James Topping and Rowan Frost dropping to the bench.

Munster's walking wounded all took a part in yesterday's training with John Kelly (damaged hand) the most active. John Hayes (twisted ankle) and Jerry Flannery (back) were a little more limited in their exertions but should travel to France for Friday night's game against Castres.

Marcus Horan (viral infection) and Anthony Foley (family reasons) were late withdrawals from the Edinburgh match but both have been named in the squad as have Denis Leamy and Anthony Horgan, who were rested last weekend. The extended squad also includes Mossie Lawler and Frankie Roche, the latter returning to the squad in place of Eugene McGovern.

Connacht have also unveiled an enlarged squad of players ahead of their European Challenge Cup match against Montpellier at the Sportsground. Michael Bradley must do without Tongan international Andrew Mailei, who is not registered for this tournament due to his mid-season arrival.

The main injury doubts surround John Hearty (hamstring) and prop Stephen Knoop (ankle).

ULSTER (squad): B Cunningham, T Bowe, K Maggs, A Trimble, P Steinmetz, D Humphreys, I Boss, K Campbell, A Larkin, J Bell, J Topping, B Young, R Best, S Best, J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, R Wilson, N McMillan, R Frost, N Brady, J Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, S Ferris.

MUNSTER (squad): S Payne, J Kelly, A Horgan, B Murphy, T Halstead, G Connolly, I Dowling, M Lawler, R O'Gara, J Manning, P Stringer, T O'Leary, M Horan, F Pucciariello, J Hayes, F Roche, J Flannery, D Fogarty, D O' Callaghan, P O'Connell, T Hogan, M O'Driscoll, D Leamy, S Keogh, D Wallace, A Foley.

CONNACHT (squad): M Mostyn, J Hearty, M McHugh, T Robinson, K Matthews, D Yapp, C McPhillips, P Warwick, D Slemen, C Keane, T Tierney, R Hogan, D McFarland, J Merrigan, J Fogarty, A Clarke, S Knoop, D Gannon, C Short, A Farley, A Gallagher, J Muldoon, M Swift, M Lacey, B O'Connor, C Rigney.