Ulster Signings

[Dharper]

Wasn’t butterworth from ail? Clive Ross did a job of sorts. Izzy is a gamble worth taking, clearly physical enough.

[StandUp]

The question I would like to know is who is responsible for signing these players and why are they getting the majority of them wrong.

Is it Bryn? McFarland?


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That’s one of the questions the IRFU should be asking.
There has to be some accountability. After all, UR is a business.

[StandUp]

Wasn’t butterworth from ail? Clive Ross did a job of sorts. Izzy is a gamble worth taking, clearly physical enough.

Clive Ross was worse than Jones.

[nonplussed]

The question I would like to know is who is responsible for signing these players and why are they getting the majority of them wrong.

Is it Bryn? McFarland?


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Both.

[StandUp]

Wasn’t butterworth from ail? Clive Ross did a job of sorts. Izzy is a gamble worth taking, clearly physical enough.

Clive Ross was worse than Jones.

Didn’t Ross come from Leinster?

[Dharper]

Thought he was an ail signing

[Dave]

Two of successes have spent more time injured than fit.

Marcell, Addison and Moore have all spent long periods out injured but it wouldn’t sit with me having them in any other group.


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True. When you think what could be if these guys hadn't suffered multiple serious injuries.

[StandUp]

Two of successes have spent more time injured than fit.

Marcell, Addison and Moore have all spent long periods out injured but it wouldn’t sit with me having them in any other group.


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True. When you think what could be if these guys hadn't suffered multiple serious injuries.

And Afoa wasn’t a lying b@stard, and Ruan hadn’t been shafted, and Gibbes wasn’t a sh1tebag, and, and, and……

[Columbo]

I personally wouldn’t have Vermeulen in as a success. I’d have him in the decent category, and even then borderline.. And in fairness to Nagle and Kearney, I think they actually did well for us, short-term, I’d be inclined to class them as decent.

However you can argue the toss about one player or another, but this is a very, very good question - in the Irish system, where your hands are tied to a large extent when it comes to signing NIQs it means that it’s very important to consistently sign good ‘value-adding’ ones, and our record doesn’t stand up well..

[nonplussed]

We have a hustory of tom kite signings. Its our shtick

Brad Free
Henry Head
The Pfist
Andy Kershaw
Sam Harding
Tim Boys
Grant Webb
Mike Maguire
Clinton Schiftoske
Rowan Frost
Tia Tamarua
The Hond
Paul Emerick


And many more..

We have form for this

[StandUp]

We have a hustory of tom kite signings. Its our shtick

Brad Free
Henry Head
The Pfist
Andy Kershaw
Sam Harding
Tim Boys
Grant Webb
Mike Maguire
Clinton Schiftoske
Rowan Frost
Tia Tamarua
The Hond
Paul Emerick


And many more..

We have form for this

And yet Bryn is still earning with three hands……
Where is the accountability?

[Columbo]

The other big issue that this question raises is that Ulster are so dependent on quality signings because our local production line is so patchy. It’s not awful, because we’ve produced some good players in the last few years, but it’s not great - eg Doak is almost literally the first good SH we’ve produced since his dad, and as mentioned on another thread, Jacko the only decent 10 since Humph (see also tighthead prop and back row for similar slim pickings in the last few years..)

Obviously we aren’t Leinster with their school system etc, but why aren’t we producing even 50% of the talent they are?? Why do we always seem to provide disproportionately small numbers in Irish age grade squads? Why are our clubs so crap? Is anyone trying to do anything about all this?? Petrie? Bryn? Who tf is responsible?? Does anyone have a plan, other than spinning on Twitter about how things aren’t our fault??

[StandUp]

The other big issue that this question raises is that Ulster are so dependent on quality signings because our local production line is so patchy. It’s not awful, because we’ve produced some good players in the last few years, but it’s not great - eg Doak is almost literally the first good SH we’ve produced since his dad, and as mentioned on another thread, Jacko the only decent 10 since Humph (see also tighthead prop and back row for similar slim pickings in the last few years..)

Obviously we aren’t Leinster with their school system etc, but why aren’t we producing even 50% of the talent they are?? Why do we always seem to provide disproportionately small numbers in Irish age grade squads? Why are our clubs so crap? Is anyone trying to do anything about all this?? Petrie? Bryn? Who tf is responsible?? Does anyone have a plan, other than spinning on Twitter about how things aren’t our fault??

All excellent points.

[richardt84]

Not sure there has been a thread on this.

Recruitment wise over the last 5-6 years.

Who has been a successful signing?

*Success*

Marcel Coetzee
John Cooney
Marty Moore
Will Addison (I won’t hear that he hasn’t been a success)
Rory Sutherland (very short term but hard not to put him here)
Duane Vermeulan considering the circumstances (not the player of a few years ago)

*Decent*

Henry Speight
Jordi Murphy
Bradley Roberts
Alby Mathewson
Billy Burns

*Miss*

Sam Carter
Frank Bradshaw Ryan
Ian Madigan
Declan Moore
Gareth Milasinovich
Jeffery Toomaga Allen
Jack McGrath
David O’Connor
Bill Johnston
Ian Nagle
Peter Browne
Jean Deysel
Alan Bennie
Mick Kearney

*Jury is out*

Jake Flannery
Michael McDonald
Sean Reffell



*Had to be included in the list*

Leone Nakarawa
Arno Botha

The recruitment at Ulster in my view has been poor for a long time.


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While he’s had better high points than Carter I’m not sure I’d agree that Murphy is decent when compared with Carter as a miss if you look at his time here as a whole I.e. over the course of his time here is Murphy really better than a miss? He left Leinster as a starting 8 (admittedly due injury) in a Champions Cup final but hasn’t been close to an Ireland squad since moving here.

Edit - just checked and he was capped in his first season and called up for the RWC in 2019 but that highlights his regression at Ulster since.

[CIMANFOREVER]

The worry for me is that only Moore is going to be here next year from the success group.

Just can’t see Cooney staying and don’t know what will happen with Addison.

Kitschoff is a cracking signing. I just hope there are a few more top level ones.


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We should be trying to keep Sutherland