Ulster Rugby vs Edinburgh

POSITION: Back row D.O.B.: 23.03.91 HEIGHT: 188cm WEIGHT: 107kg

CORNELL DU PREEZ

South African-born back-row forward, Cornell du Preez, signed for Edinburgh Rugby early in the 2013/14 season from Super Rugby Franchise, the Southern Kings. The former Springbok Academy starlet is equally at home either on the flank or at number eight, is very strong physically, an exceptionally good carrier and powerful in defence. The dynamic back-rower has shown all of those attributes since his arrival in the capital, earning rave reviews for his performances in the wins over Leinster, Gloucester and Perpignan last season and has already nailed the Man of the Match medal in both his club’s Guinness PRO12 matches to date.

TRIPLE THREAT

POSITION: Loosehead prop D.O.B.: 24.08.92 HEIGHT: 183cm WEIGHT: 110kg

RORY SUTHERLAND

Edinburgh Rugby rewarded the form of one of the top props from the RBS Premiership with his first full-time contract to 2016. Former Trinity Primary and Hawick High School pupil Rory Sutherland came through the ranks with his hometown club and school sides before representing the Borders and Scotland at under-17 and U18 in the back-row. He switched to loose-head prop during his first season of senior rugby at Hawick RFC and, after a season with Biggar, caught the attention of RBS Premiership runners-up and Border League winners Gala RFC and earned selection for Scotland Club XV earlier this year.

POSITION: Centre D.O.B.: 03.05.90 HEIGHT: 183cm WEIGHT: 93kg

SAM BEARD

Sam joined Edinburgh Rugby in the early stages of the 2013/14 campaign from New Zealand side, Bay of Plenty. Born in Timaru, Beard moved to Christchurch to pursue a career in rugby, was called up to the provincial Canterbury B team and, after an impressive season in which he was named player of the year, was brought into the Crusader Knights, the development squad of the Super Rugby giants. An exponent of running rugby with an attacking style, Beard adds further depth to Edinburgh Rugby’s midfield, made his PRO12 debut away to Ulster in November 2013 and was instrumental in pulling his team back to register a draw against Scarlets last week, securing man of the match, to boot.

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ULSTER RUGBY