Stuart McCloskey: Ulster centre 'fighting' for Ireland return

Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey says he is determined to add to his six Ireland caps since making his debut in 2016.

Injury ruled the 29-year-old out of selection for this year's Six Nations squad but he is fit again and out to impress Irish coach Andy Farrell.

«I still think I've a bit more left in me,» he told The Ulster Rugby Show.

«I'll still be fighting over the two to three years I think I've got left of really good rugby for myself and maybe I'll get back for the World Cup.»

He added: «I've only just got back for the Connacht game and I still wasn't maybe 100%. This would be the first week I'm fully, fully fit so hopefully I can put in a good game against the Dragons on Sunday and with any luck get back in there.»

Ireland's impressive nine-match winning run came to an end last weekend with the Six Nations defeat by France in Paris.

McCloskey is aware of the stiff competition for places in the Irish line-up and particularly at centre.

«I'd be lying to you if I said I didn't think I should have played a bit more. But the way they are playing at the minute you can't really complain.

»The results are going well and Andy's got them playing a great brand of rugby — they were pretty unlucky at the weekend against France.

«The guys that are there are world class. Bundee (Aki) and Robbie (Henshaw) both started for the Lions while I thought it was a bit of a joke that Garry (Ringrose) wasn't on the Lions tour in the first place. So you've got three of probably the five or best best centres in the world there.

»Have I been playing at that level? I would argue that I have at some stage in my career. Whether I could have got a break here or there, maybe got a run of a couple of games in a row — it would have been nice but that's just the