Ulster Squad 2013/2014

First topic message reminder :

Thought I'd start a thread we can use to discuss next seasons squad, signings, departures etc.

Kicking off with the news James McKinney looks set to return. That, coupled with the news that Michael Heaney is set to for another two seasons after this year and the emergence of Stuart Olding, leaves us with great depth in the halfback positions.

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/james-mckinney-set-for-ulster-return-1-4875769#.UTk2IS-FU4Q.twitter

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/11252.php

So where else do we need to strengthen- tighthead?

Cheers Don

clivemcl wrote:Bowe back to training this week. Will we stick with trimble and Gilroy though?? Anyone, want to make a match thread?

I'm still coming to terms with the fact I've got a booking on Saturday and so will be watching on skyplus at about midnight by myself having spent the whole evening avoiding all technology.

Yoo Hoo!

Bowe has been running in the opposition in their training at Portora

Henderson been playing 6- possibly an indication of starting line-up

Bowe will be on the bench against Sarries according to the BBC...

rodders wrote:Bowe will be on the bench against Sarries according to the BBC...

"Cleaner to aisle three please!"

Sounds like big John Afoa won't be here much longer, just back from NZ to play this game then off again. Can't see that being sustainable for very long.

Its a strange situation, but ultimately, he has a baby daughter who he has only spent a day and a half with before leaving mum to it. I admire his desire to be loyal to both his club and his wife.

I have to say though, whats Mrs Afoa's problem with our wee country???

Na, only joking. Having experienced a pregnant missus myself, I'd say with the hormones and all, whatever she wanted she was gona get, and Afoa being a good husband said 'yes dear' to everything...

Looks like D'Arcy, Cochrane, one of Birch/McComish are away as well as well as Ferris.

McIlwaine and McKinney coming back

Wallace still not sorted.

Stevvvviiiieeee!!!

I think John is away which was why the Leinster game was so important

Flip big John too! We need Faloon and Whitten back!

Going to miss D'Arcy

Will any of D'Arcy, Cochrane, one of Birch/McComish move to Connacht? McComish has been there before.

Losing Ferris, Birch/McComish, I hope we get Copeland from Cardiff Blues in, has a year left but sure everyone moves early these days.

Would love D'Arcy to stay in ireland, I though he was a great attacking player, and if injury free would add to the squad depth for Connacht.

Replacing Afoa is he goes and backrow cover is essential. Aside from his scrummaging his contribution around the park is ridiculous. Better than I have seen from any other TH. That's the scale of what we will need to replace

I actually think Afoa is the best TH on the planet ..just didn't want to say that before in case the NZ came looking to sign him back....

Anscombe admits Ferris is likely gone next year .....

rodders wrote:I actually think Afoa is the best TH on the planet ..just didn't want to say that before in case the NZ came looking to sign him back....

He's never really showed that it on the Int stage.

Don't fret Rodders! Given the increasing tensions between North Korea and Japan (amongst others)...he might change his mind...

Cari wrote:Don't fret Rodders! Given the increasing tensions between North Korea and Japan (amongst others)...he might change his mind...

Ah come on Cari ... if Stevie can hack it in Belfast.......

rodders wrote:

Cari wrote:Don't fret Rodders! Given the increasing tensions between North Korea and Japan (amongst others)...he might change his mind...

Ah come on Cari ... if Stevie can hack it in Belfast.......

I see the IRUPA young player of the year is to be renamed after Nevin Spence.

Good move IRFU

Standulstermen wrote:I see the IRUPA young player of the year is to be renamed after Nevin Spence.

Good move IRFU

That's really cool! Well done IRUPA (are they separate to the IRFU?)

Cari wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:I see the IRUPA young player of the year is to be renamed after Nevin Spence.

Good move IRFU

That's really cool! Well done IRUPA (are they separate to the IRFU?)

Yes but both would have had to agree

Great news .

Signed an Irish qualified tight head prop called Bronson Ross. Nothing more than a squad player.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22604289

Don't want to be pessimistic but it sounds like this guy could be our very own Peter Borlase/Michael Bent.

If Paddy Mac goes over to the dark side of the scrum that makes about 15 tight heads you will have on the books.

I'd have Bent in my team every day and twice on Sundays before I'd have Borlase. Willing to see how he goes next year and if he can hold off Moore and Furlong.

Surley there are irish TH's in the English Championship better than this guy.

What about a guy like Royce Burke Flynn, who has been in the Leinster academy, Doncaster and Montauban. He is now in the AIL with Clontarf. A guy with a lot of potential.

Jeebus lads give the guy a chance!

To be honest Bronson Ross is 27 and is only getting a one-year development contract.

It would appear to be just squad cover, he may surprise us, but everything is pointing to one of those players that maybe don't even get a game, like Paul Emerick brought in as injury cover, and can't remember him playing.

But as they say

its better to hay it and nor need it, than need it and nor hay it.

Adam Macklin and Conor Carey are leaving, which means next year we have;

Afoa, Fitzpatrick, Bronson Ross and maybe Paddy Mac.

Are they?

Did I know that?



Where are they off to?

Ricky Lutton? He going too?

No, he's not. Add Lutton to the list. Having 4 recognised tightheads and 1 guy who might switch is fair enough.

Conor Carey is off to Ealing. I think we're just giving up on Adam Macklin.

Is Macklin not on a sabbatical to get more gametime like McKinney / McIlwaine?

Notch wrote:No, he's not. Add Lutton to the list. Having 4 recognised tightheads and 1 guy who might switch is fair enough.

Conor Carey is off to Ealing. I think we're just giving up on Adam Macklin.

Conor apparently had offers from French clubs in the Pro D2 as well. I really hope playing for Ealing in the Championship works out for him and he comes back a good player. McLaughlin had planned to give him first cap for Ulster then he got injured in training.

Are there any Ealing fans on here by the way?

Yes, Dodge, Hound of Harrow is yer man

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23061494

So Ferris is sticking with Ulster, no mention of wether its a provincial or central contract just that his contract was up on the 30th

Roll him out for a lot of the big games, and roll him up in cotton wool for the rest being the tactic?

Thomond wrote:Roll him out for a lot of the big games, and roll him up in cotton wool for the rest being the tactic?

The problem I have with that is, if he gets little game time, how can we be sure he can still bring big performances worth dropping another player (Diack) who may be in super form? He has to play more games that just Heineken. We need to know if he is done or still a world class player!

Let's wait and see.

It might well be that he is in no worse a state than he was last season. The ankle trouble was new and it is possible that he might have had some game time if the thing had all been sorted at the earliest opportunity rather than leaving it.

The man himself clearly felt his knee was in good shape.

Let's wait and see.

But, in the mean time...

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/29442.php

He is expected to miss at least the first four months of the new season.

Ulster and the IRFU are saying its a 6 month extension, so maybe dangling a long term contract in front of him if he can get himself fit and playing.

Stephen Ferris has six months from the start of this new deal to get fit and back to playing- if he manages that he'll be signing a new contract, if he doesn't... I just hope he does!

How does that work?

He misses 4 months of next season.

That takes us to the end of December.

He has signed a 6 month contract extension.

That takes us to....the end of December too.



Not a lot of wriggle room there.

Nope, although I can see him getting an extra month or two if he's close to fitness. I hope he makes his return in the inter-pros over Christmas. And stays fit.

The important thing is they dont rush it, with him being out for so long the muscles will need to be fragile in his legs.

Some appearances over the Christmas period of the bench and build him up to be ready for HC knockout stages?

Mixed feelings on this one... obviously delighted that the big man isn't leaving but the nature of this contract suggests that his career is very much in the last chance saloon.

Really hope he's back on the pitch soon and has many more seasons in a white, green and red shirts to come.

All reports I heard last night seemed to suggest that the injury scuppered the move to Japan which is worrying if they dont think he could handle the lower impact game there

marty2086 wrote:All reports I heard last night seemed to suggest that the injury scuppered the move to Japan which is worrying if they dont think he could handle the lower impact game there

I doubt they would pay the big schileros to a guy who would basically miss their whole season. It ends in January of so. Why pay him to rehab in Japan. At least Ulster and Ireland have a chance of wheeling him out in the new year for some big games.

Any word on whether Afoa is staying or going lads?