[tag=image]http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I ... 6x5gro.jpg[/tag][tag=content]Ulster have moved to improve their long-term planning at fly-half by announcing the signing of Brett Herron from Bath and that Ireland U20 fly-half Johnny McPhillips has been upgraded to a development contract.
Herron, a product of prestigious rugby school Wellington College, made his debut for Bath United in 2014 and was marked as one of their most promising talents. The Irish-qualified 20-year old has also featured for the England U18 side.
McPhillips, 19, is coming close to completing his first year in the Hughes Insurance Academy and has featured heavily for Queens’ University in the Ulster Bank League and was also the starting fly-half for the Ireland U20s during their Six Nations campaign.
Les Kiss, Ulster’s Director of Rugby, welcomed the two new signings.
“We are delighted to bring Brett into the Ulster environment,” Kiss claimed. "He has undoubted potential with an array of skills and a real line-breaking ability, which we aim to explore further.
“With the depth of international class out halves at Bath, Brett’s opportunities have been limited to the A team and Rosslyn Park, where he has excelled. An injury curtailed his almost certain starting berth for England in the U20 World Cup.
“Johnny McPhillips enjoyed a successful stint with Ireland U20s in this season’s Six Nations Championship and that experience will stand him in good stead.
“He is mature well beyond his years and he has the right temperament and ability to succeed at the highest level. He will undoubtedly push through next season and stake a claim for senior squad involvement.
“We would fully expect Paddy Jackson to be involved with Ireland squads in the coming years so the knock-on effect will be the requirement for Ulster to produce more Irish-qualified options at 10. Brett and Johnny are definitely two very exciting prospects.”
Ulster’s Operations Director, Bryn Cunningham, also added his excitement at the additions of Herron and McPhillips to the Ulster squad.
“Having Paddy Jackson in situ and knowing Ian Humphreys wouldn’t be with us next season, it was imperative to scour the market to unearth some Irish-qualified talent,” Cunningham added.
“With Brett and Johnny now available to us next season, and with Andrew Magrath from Ballymena progressing well in our Academy, we will have a strong roster of talented young fly-halves who will all push each other hard, thus providing a really competitive environment which is essential for their development.
“Pete Nelson is recovering from his very unfortunate ankle injury, while we are delighted to see the return of Stuart Olding. Primarily an outside back and centre respectively, Pete and Stuart give us more genuine options as real attacking threats in the 10 channel. We also have Sam Windsor, who provides another option at 12/10.”[/tag]
Ulster increase fly-half stocks
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