The UAFC

Hume seemed to be walking around ok after the match so hopefully nothing too serious .

Yeah and two locks, 2 hookers and an out half on the bench I think. Hopefully a few of these lads are prospects that can step up.

Crothers is a smart rugby player and McCormick is more than useful at hooker. Mcnabney is u19 captain playing a year above himself. 6ft 4/6ft 5 backrower with his pace is rare enough in ulster rugby. Postlewaithe is the top prospect from this batch, although not named in the squad. Some are missing...

Neill_M wrote: ↑Fri Jun 17, 2022 11:24 am Dan McFarland has signed a contract extension till summer 2025, Glasgow were rumoured to be after him for next season as their new coach.

Very happy with that, we might not be there yet but we are definitely heading in the right direction.

I think for any real progress more of the young guys have got to start stepping up - Tom Stewart and Callum Reid in the front row, Izzy in the second row and McCann/Sheridan/Crothers/McLaughlin in the back row. O'Shea developing at full back could help Lowry shift to 10 and I'd like Sexton to push p...

Sheridan listed as lock/ backrow. Worth an inspection in preseason maybe? Sheridan was good for the U20s, bit of grizzle about him He played in the preseason games against Saracens last year and fitted in pretty seamlessly. Very physical and has a high work rate. Presumably the younger forwards are...

As tough as it was to lose that match I'm not despondent - this Ulster side aren't at their peak yet. Lots of players are just coming into their own now and have years to build up experience and age presence and they are so good already. Lowry, Hume, McIlroy, Balacoune, Marcus Rea and O'Toole are go...

Shame about Finlay, thought he could get past Shanahan. Only 9 players in the academy at the minute, Probably going to be a big intake this year with 6/7 players joining This years intake will probably look something like James mcnabney 6/8 Lorcan mcloughlin 6/8 Ross McKay 10 Rory Telfer 12/11/14 S...

Shame about Finlay, thought he could get past Shanahan. Only 9 players in the academy at the minute, Probably going to be a big intake this year with 6/7 players joining This years intake will probably look something like James mcnabney 6/8 Lorcan mcloughlin 6/8 Ross McKay 10 Rory Telfer 12/11/14 Sc...

Ulster team to play Munster Rugby, United Rugby Championship Round 10, Saturday 8 January at Thomond Park, 7.35pm kick-off, live on RTÉ and Premier Sports: (15-9) Mike Lowry, Craig Gilroy, Ben Moxham, James Hume, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney; (1-8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole,...

A rumour I heard this week is that the Kitshoff deal may have legs after all!!! [emoji50] (hard to say what my confidence level is - good source with good contacts, but a bit of a throwaway comment on passing!) I also heard of a couple of old friends who won’t be offered contracts, never nice to he...

Hoping for Moore, Henderson and maybe McCann in for this match. Willwe go for the 6-2 split on the bench again? I suppose Gilroy will come in for Bob and to be fair he has looked very sharp this season any time he's had a chance. Rob Lyttle has been very absent recently which is a bit of a surprise,...

Ulster team to play ASM Clermont Auvergne, Heineken Champions Cup Round 1, Saturday 11 December at Stade Marcel-Michelin, kick-off 6.30pm local, 5.30pm UK / Irish time, live on BT Sport: (15-9) Mike Lowry, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney; (1-...

Good to see Tom Stewart back, is Hutley a 10 or is Humphreys covering from 15? A few of these lads could do with putting in a performance and get into the first team this season. McNabney is promising as well, Wilson in ahead of Saunderson is interesting- maybe a better scrummager ? From the trainin...

Yeah I thought Gilroy has been very good- in both preseason games and last night. Watching the Stormers vs Munster was sobering - the Stormers would take us apart with ease- high tempo, plenty of offloading and a pretty serious set of forwards. Hopefully we start to gel more as the season progresses...