Ulster have announced the majority of the players who will represent the province under new coach Alan Solomons next season.
New faces to the squad are lock Aidan Kearney, the former UCD second row now with Dungannon, and Paddy Wallace, the former Campbell College and Trinity College Dublin out half.
Of this season's squad, hooker Allen Clarke has retired, scrum half Stephen Bell has moved to Bedford in England, and full back Grant Henderson has returned to South Africa.
The remaining seven squad places will taken up by Tyrone Howe, who is currently negotiating an Irish contract, a hooker, two back row forwards, a centre and a full back.
It is believed that Springbok hooker Charl Marais , who is currently playing under Solomons in South Africa, will take the one of these places.
The squad to date is as follows:
Jonathan Bell, Jan Cunningham, Niall Malone, Simon Best, Brad Free, Tony McWhirter, Mark Blair, Justin Fitzpatrick, Russell Nelson, Clem Boyd, David Humphreys, Shane Stewart, John Campbell, Paddy Johns, James Topping
Ryan Constable, Aidan Kearney, Andy Ward
Sheldon Coulter, Gary Longwell,Paddy Wallace, Richie Weir