Ulster sign Bronson Ross

[breakdown]

Ulster Rugby has signed 27 year-old tighthead prop, Bronson Ross, from Coventry Rugby Club on a one-year development contract.

Ross was born in Oamaru, New Zealand, but is Irish qualified.
He played for Dunedin in New Zealand and moved to Europe when he was 22. He spent two seasons at Boroughmuir in Scotland before representing Spanish side Guernica for a year. He joined Coventry at the start of the 2012/13 season and played 26 times for the club in National League 1.

Commenting on signing for Ulster Rugby, Ross said: ‘I have always wanted to play top-level rugby and so I am delighted to be joining one of the best rugby operations in Europe.

My mother was originally from Belfast, I have a lot of family there, so it will be great to represent the Province.’


http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/11493.php

[breakdown]

Can play hooker as well

http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s425/st178319.htm

[Loki]

hell of a name. anyone seen him play?

[RuPi]

Not short of tight heads anyway Afoa, Fitzpatrick, Lutton, Macklin, McAllister and now this guy with McCall also an option at tight head if required.

[Dave]

Is that name the right way round?

[breakdown]

Surely a bit of an underwhelming signing really considering there are some THPs playing super rugby that are IQ?

Could be another great find mind you

[BaggyTrousers]

Moderate excitement level, career path not thrilling but hey we'll give him a fair crack of the whip.

Hell of a handle mind you.

[Rudi]

Feeling pretty positive about our depth at TH regardless of Ross's ability, providing BBJ hangs around for another year and we get Fitzpatrick and Macklin fit. I think most other teams would love to have that many options. Best of luck to him though.

[pip14]

Plays Hooker? Brady leaving?

[breakdown]

Is Macklin injury prone like DFitz or has he just be unlucky? Surely with that depth at THP we could get rid of Fitzpatrick?

[shamalicious]

I hope this doesn't mean BBJ is going...

[Gael]

Is Macklin injury prone like DFitz or has he just be unlucky? Surely with that depth at THP we could get rid of Fitzpatrick?

Fitzpatrick is a great test-level scrummaging tighthead when he's fit. I don't feel comfortable getting rid of him.

[jamjams]

Tighthead props are an awful lot like buses...!

Infact we'd be looking a bit shallow on the loosie side in comparison. Maybe McAlister should stay put if we're keeping all our other THs, provided Bronson Ross isn't another Michael Bent.

[Dave]

Is Macklin injury prone like DFitz or has he just be unlucky? Surely with that depth at THP we could get rid of Fitzpatrick?

Well the thing is we don't have depth at all at TH. Lutton has some game time yet remains somewhat unproven. I don't know why Paddy Mac is currently being considered a tight head. I know it is rumoured that he wishes to play there but surely that is a mere experiment that if fails will result in him returning to loosie ASAP. So i wouldnt consider him a converted TH unless the experiment has been shown to work. Macklin and Fitz are of course terribly injury prone. McCall two sub appearances? Chocolate Fitzy is by far the most impressive scrummager and will remain here despite his unpopularity. I for one think he is an asset!

[ruckover]

So that leaves us with:

LH - Court, Black, McAllister, McCall
HK - Best, Herring, Annett
TH - Afoa, Fitzpatrick, Lutton, Macklin, Ross

I wouldn't say our prop worries are over yet, but if this guy proves to be another Lutton then we'll be one step closer to solving it. Like Baggy, I'm not overly excited about this but I'm interested to see what he can do.