Mark McCall's desperate race for fitness has ended unsuccessfully, a disappointing setback for both the player on a personal level and Ulster as they prepare for tomorrow's European Cup semi-final against Stade Francais at Ravenhill. McCall, who has been sidelined since August 26th with disc damage in his neck, has been unable to secure medical insurance covering him to participate against the top French side. Despite being cleared by his own neuro-surgeon and receiving a medical certificate to authenticate the diagnosis, the 31-year-old's insurers demanded that he attend a consultant of their choice for a second opinion.
The affable centre explained: "My insurance company won't cover me to play against Stade Francais. It has been an ongoing process over the past 10 days and obviously it wasn't 'flu that forced me to withdraw from Dungannon's league match last weekend. On Tuesday I went for an independent medical examination and while the consultant gave me a positive report, he added the rider that he couldn't rule out the injury occurring again.
"The insurance company therefore deemed that I was unfit to play. There has been a great deal of toing and froing behind the scenes to try and find a solution. In the back of my mind I even considered playing without insurance but thankfully Harry Williams took that decision out of my hands. He simply said there was no way that he would let me take the risk of playing without insurance.
"It has been an incredibly frustrating period as I feel fine physically. On Tuesday I was sure that I was playing and the nerves were starting to tingle in anticipation. It has been a crushing disappointment. I am not even thinking about what the future holds. I'll have plenty of time for that next week. The priority now is the game and ensuring that Ulster win. The last thing that I want to be is a distraction."
The last sentiment is typical of the individual and therefore makes his predicament all the more distressing. McCall had worked extremely hard, retained a positive air and was an enthusiastic supporter of his Ulster team-mates from the touchline. It was his mobile phone that was used to relay the message that sent Irish flanker Andy Ward dashing to hospital during the Toulouse game to witness the birth of his wife Wendy's first child, a baby boy named Zac.
What his long-term future holds may not be known for a couple of months. Ulster coach Harry Williams articulated the feelings of the whole squad: "We are very disappointed, we wish that Mark was able to play. The players are philosophical about the loss of such a talented player. We weren't sure of Mark's position so that was the technical hitch for not naming the team earlier.
"The players knew that he possibly wouldn't play so they were prepared in one sense. We now have the team that played the majority of the match against Toulouse."
McCall's absence means that Jan Cunningham will continue in the centre, a role he assumed to great effect in the Toulouse match. Andy Park starts on the left wing with Ballymena team-mate Sheldon Coulter on the right.
Captain David Humphrey's recovery from a shoulder injury is a huge boost to the northern province. Cambridge University full-back Robin Morrow is among the substitutes as is Dungannon scrum-half Stephen Bell, happily recovered from a shoulder injury that had kept him sidelined since before Christmas.
Bell's presence has another effect, ensuring that Bective Rangers AIL Division Two clash with Old Crescent goes ahead. Bective would have received a postponement if they had two players involved but now they have only one, Bryn Cunningham. Scrum-half Mark Edwards is not required by Ulster.
Meanwhile in Division One Blackrock welcome back several players for the visit of Clontarf to Stradbrook. Brian Carey has recovered from a shoulder problem and is named at full-back, Tom Keating is on the wing while Rob Casey and Hubie Kos are restored to the second row.
Their opponents are not as fortunate. They will be without Ryan O'Neill, so Dara McElligott makes his league debut on the right wing while a final decision on second-row Colm Power (bruised kidney) will not be taken until tomorrow morning. Mick Coughlan stands by to deputise.
Cork Constitution are without Munster wing Anthony Horgan because of a hamstring injury for their journey to Dooradoyle to tackle Garryowen. Dave O'Brien is named on the left wing.
In Division Two, Old Wesley make several changes for Sunday's game against Greystones. Simon Mitchell and Brian Doherty switch places, dual status player Ivan Dunne is preferred to Andrew Leeson while under-20 hooker Ian McKee replaces Matt King. Dave Bursey comes in for the injured Craig Brownell.
Ulster: S Mason; S Coulter, J Cunningham, J Bell, A Park; D Humphreys (capt), A Matchett; J Fitzpatrick, A Clarke, R Irwin; M Blair, G Longwell; S McKinty, T McWhirter, A Ward. Replacements: R Morrow, B Cunningham, S Bell, D Topping, S Duncan, G Leslie, R Weir.
Cork Constitution: B Walsh; J Kelly, Conor Mahony, Cian Mahony, D O'Brien; R O'Gara, B O'Meara; I Murray, J Fogarty, J O'Driscoll; D Sheahan, K Murphy; D Corkery, U O'Callaghan, J Murray.
Bective Rangers: J Sweeney; J Carvill, J Hannon, J Bolger, B O'Connor; S Montgomery, C Moore; P Hatton, M Edwards, W Johnson, J Hardy, J O'Donovan, A Considine, N Welsh, D Guerin.
Clontarf: M Woods; D McElligott, M Smith, S Fitzsimons, O Winchester; R Murphy, R O'Reilly; H Hurley, B Jackman (capt), P McQuillan; R Vorster, C Power/M Coughlan; C Brownlie, D Moore, P Ward.
Old Wesley: S Mitchell; B Doherty, I Dunne, C Younger, D Keeshan; C Robinson, Q Ahearne; R Jackson, I McKee, S Kinlan; D Bursey, R Farrell; R Gavin (capt), F Fitzgerald, D Murphy.
