Henderson & Kitshoff among five Ulster players ruled out of Cardiff game

Ulster will be without five players, including captain Iain Henderson and double World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff, for Friday's United Rugby Championship game with Cardiff.

Henderson (toe) and Kitshoff (knee) suffered injuries in Ulster's Challenge Cup quarter-final loss to Clermont on Saturday.

Rob Herring (hamstring), Nick Timoney (toe) and Stewart Moore (hamstring) will also miss Friday's game.

The Kingspan Stadium contest will be Richie Murphy's first home match since becoming Ulster's interim head coach.

Ulster will be hoping to bounce back from Saturday's 53-14 defeat by Clermont which ended their European campaign.

Murphy's side have also lost their past two URC games against the Sharks and Stormers.