Ulster News! Ulster News!

First topic message reminder :

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/11419.php

One year extension for Paddy Wallace, a year's try-out apiece for James McKinney and David McIlwane.

Two years for Mike McComish. Sigh.

Just need a replacement now for Birch and Ferris. Badly needed.

Unless Ferris is staying...

Well I ame xtremely suprised Best didn't make the squad he would have been my starter.

Dragons supply most Lions than Ulster???

Its a fix.

Hopefully fonacab will be shirt sponsors in 2017 and we'll get a few more guys in there.

Interview with Ferris on BBCNI last night did anyone see it?

He wasn't letting anything slip regarding where he'll play next year but it looks like it may not be Japan after all.....

rodders wrote:Interview with Ferris on BBCNI last night did anyone see it?

He wasn't letting anything slip regarding where he'll play next year but it looks like it may not be Japan after all.....

What did he say that implied that rodders? And do you mean, somewhere other than Japan, or were you hinting at him actually staying at ulster?

Just watched it. Rather strange. He just point blank refused. I reckon he's playing two Japan clubs off against each other trying to get the best deal.

We know exactly what he told us- nothing. He's still aiming to prove his fitness, presumably so he can get a better contract offer from Ireland or Ulster, and if he doesn't manage it he'll be away.

I rem a few weeks ago that it seamed like DH still wanted to keep him, and hadn't given up on it.

The piece had hinted that there were other offers on the table and that Japan was not now the likely destination. What that means is open to speculation.

My own guess is that he'll re sign with Ulster and this Japan story is just Ferris way of negotiating an improved offer..... time will tell...

Im torn wether its a good idea him staying at Ulster, if his body is in as bad a shape as has been made out then a stint in Japan might be the best for everyone

rodders wrote:The piece had hinted that there were other offers on the table and that Japan was not now the likely destination. What that means is open to speculation.

My own guess is that he'll re sign with Ulster and this Japan story is just Ferris way of negotiating an improved offer..... time will tell...

I think you could be right on that one mate.

Would the lure of Japan really be more enticing (yes, more money for less effort) than staying put, playing his way back to fitness and putting himself back in the frame for a much more (hopefully!!!) upbeat and positve version of Ireland and a possible WC squad involvement?

Rodders the reason that mcConish resigned is because Ferris has given a strong indication he will stay. The problem for the Ulster branch is that they can only offer him a contract if he doesn't agree one with the IRFU. It is my understanding that he will be speaking to Schmidt in the next fortnight to discuss if he would be part of future Irish plans. Ill get more info tomorrow.

Two things I noticed after the match last night.

At the end Trimble was shaking hands with everyone using his left hand.

Now, he might have just been holding something in is right but I wondered at the time if he had taken a knock.

Secondly, in the interview with Afoa shown at ? half time ? he talked about the same group of players continuing on next season in a "we" rather than a "they" sense. Do we know for sure what Big John is doing next season?

I noticed that too MrsP with Trimble, and said the same thing. He had banjaxed his hand before, a few years back hadnt he?

Then again it may just have been he was holding something.

So, does anyone know when tickets are released??

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:Rodders the reason that mcConish resigned is because Ferris has given a strong indication he will stay. The problem for the Ulster branch is that they can only offer him a contract if he doesn't agree one with the IRFU. It is my understanding that he will be speaking to Schmidt in the next fortnight to discuss if he would be part of future Irish plans. Ill get more info tomorrow.

You the man Hookster

Jared Payne has signed a new 3 year contract which is great news for Ulster

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/11453.php

maybe some good news for Ireland too?

marty2086 wrote:Jared Payne has signed a new 3 year contract which is great news for Ulster

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/11453.php

maybe some good news for Ireland too?

Battle for the 15 shirt for RWC 2015?

marty2086 wrote:Jared Payne has signed a new 3 year contract which is great news for Ulster

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/news/11453.php

maybe some good news for Ireland too?

Wasn't expecting a 3 year contract, maybe 2, but delighted with it. Great player who just seems to glide past defense. Has a knack of making the difficult appear to be incredibly simple.
Can see Schmidt trying Payne out then it's down to how he performs in green.

Munchkin still over a year to go before hes Irish qualified but if hes signing on until hes 30 its not likely he'll break into the AB squad so the signs are good

Some good options developing at 15 for Ireland with Henshaw coming through and Zebo not looking out of place there if needed

Despite Ulster being happy with him at 15, might Schmidt want to take a look at him as BOD's replacement even if only for a stop gap. He would plug the hole better than any other 13's IMO.

Munchkin wrote:
Can see Schmidt trying Payne out then it's down to how he performs in green.

Most concise and relevant point.
Schmidt will do the choosing.
It's up to players then to prove they can go up even an extra gear for the National side. I hope Schmidt is ruthless and demands a performance from all players that rises above all Provincial efforts.
When he has a group of players he trusts to give 100 percent in all games, and ones that can naturally compete at the highest International standard (meaning SH competitiveness not just 6N ability) then he can really begin to do his work and plan and plot a strategic rise from the ashes.

Payne still has a year left on his initial contract, so it seems early to be negotiating an extension - both for him and Ulster?? Great news all the same!

Can't see him being moved from 15, as Ulster only have Nelson there, and then it's a jump down to Andrew and Scholes.
I hope to see Olding backing up Cave at 13 next season as he has all the pace and attributes to excel there.

The Great Aukster wrote:Payne still has a year left on his initial contract, so it seems early to be negotiating an extension - both for him and Ulster?? Great news all the same!

Can't see him being moved from 15, as Ulster only have Nelson there, and then it's a jump down to Andrew and Scholes.
I hope to see Olding backing up Cave at 13 next season as he has all the pace and attributes to excel there.

Aukster you forget McIlwaine will be back at 15 next season too

Payne and Bowe could be option at 13 for Schmidt with the number of options available on the wings Caves had a poor season this year and hasn't been able to play well in big games which is a shame

At the end of the day, who is BOD's replacement going to be at 13? And will they be a better 13 than Payne at 13? And in so doing, we also allow Kearney to stay put as one of our best players. Its pretty much common sense. I wouldn't want him moved at Ulster, but I'd bet money that Schmidt would be thinking about it.

marty2086 wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:Payne still has a year left on his initial contract, so it seems early to be negotiating an extension - both for him and Ulster?? Great news all the same!

Can't see him being moved from 15, as Ulster only have Nelson there, and then it's a jump down to Andrew and Scholes.
I hope to see Olding backing up Cave at 13 next season as he has all the pace and attributes to excel there.

Aukster you forget McIlwaine will be back at 15 next season too

Payne and Bowe could be option at 13 for Schmidt with the number of options available on the wings Caves had a poor season this year and hasn't been able to play well in big games which is a shame

Fair point Marty I had a feeling I forgot someone. I rate McIlwaine but not enough to be first choice (yet), so Jared will still be at full back. Schmidt shouldn't be interested in moving him until he's IQ.
WRT Cave, he had a good start to the season but has had to play too much rugby with the loss of Nevin and the injury to Farrell. Considering the surfeit of wings, Bowe is a possiblity for 13 but no more so than Trimble who IMO has the more suitable skillset. Olding might just come back from Uncle Sam with a letter to Anscombe that he be played at 13 as much as possible!

Hope I'm not shooting myself in the foot...
but I just wanted to make sure everyone on here who is a non-season ticket holder like me knows that Scarlets returned tickets go on GENERAL SALE today at 2pm.

Confirmed today on twitter Birch is away to Rotherham next season. Bets of luck big man.

clivemcl wrote:Hope I'm not shooting myself in the foot...
but I just wanted to make sure everyone on here who is a non-season ticket holder like me knows that Scarlets returned tickets go on GENERAL SALE today at 2pm.

Hah! I hope you get sorted. I told you you were being premature with your complaints!

Yea Notch, got sorted and it still isn't sold out yet strangely. Do people not realise how big this game is?

Semi final of the league and not sold out the day before the match? Is it the weather?

Birch was hailed as something special, what happened? All the best to him!

clivemcl wrote:Yea Notch, got sorted and it still isn't sold out yet strangely. Do people not realise how big this game is?

Semi final of the league and not sold out the day before the match? Is it the weather?

Birch was hailed as something special, what happened? All the best to him!

Can't believe the Scarlets only shifted about 2,000 tickets if even as well. Hope it sells out.

Actually Dodger, hearing its more like 80 tickets they shifted. Thats the problem.

The reason its not sold out yet is because tickets have only been on general sale for a day. People have previously been told season ticket holder could only get tickets and may have missed the Scarlets returns going on general sale. So there are thousands of unsold tickets that have just been made available yesterday.

It may not sell out before the game, not because of a lack of demand, but because we just don't have time to sell the Scarlets return tickets. However, if there are unsold tickets I could see them going in walk-up trade on the night.

Bloody typical, all these tickets floating around and I can't go

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22471165?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook



All the best Adam. IMO the player who sparked the ballsy exciting style of rugby Ulster have taken to in recent seasons.

Notch wrote:Actually Dodger, hearing its more like 80 tickets they shifted.

That might explain why it hasn't sold out.

I hope Adam D'Arcy lands on his feet. Good player. Just got a better prospect in Peter Nelson coming through.

D'Arcy would do a job at any number of teams.

BOOM! Hate to say i told you so...but...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/northern-ireland/22482921?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Was just reading that, Clive. Veeeeeery interesting.

So the All Blacks had made contact with him, and he decided to stay. We're doing something right, anyway.

We'll have some midfield next season.

If very thin at FB. I'd rather he stayed at 15.

Makes me wonder about center though with Luke and Olding both looking like future stars. Makes me feel a little like a traitor, but really starting to wonder if we should opt for Olding over Jackson for the 10 spot??

Just reading that article

Paynes played for the Chiefs, Crusaders and the Blues over the space of 4 seasons and only played for one at the blues before leaving for ulster

Anyone know why he didnt last long at any of these teams? Seems odd for such a good player

He might have met a local girl for all any of us know!

I think the man we should be grooming for 13 is Luke Marshall. He has a great head for reading the defence and could be the next generation for us and Ireland there. Olding to stay at 12, with McKinney pushing Jacko at 10...

Irish backline potential in a few years

9. Marmion/Murray
10. Jackson/Madigan
11. Zebo/Kearney
12. Olding/McSharry
13. Marshall/Cave
14. Gilroy/Bowe
15. Kearney/Payne/Henshaw

Golden wrote:Just reading that article

Paynes played for the Chiefs, Crusaders and the Blues over the space of 4 seasons and only played for one at the blues before leaving for ulster

Anyone know why he didnt last long at any of these teams? Seems odd for such a good player

Golden,

I am not at all sure but I thought that the whole "Super Rugby" thing in the SH meant that players can have 2 clubs at the same time. Maybe a wee bit like our lads have an AIL team as well as Ulster beside their name. Could that explain it? Or maybe I've got that completely wrong.

Hopefully someone who knows about these things could clarify.

Well they are contracted to provincial teams as well as Super Rugby teams. But Payne has played for 3 Super rugby teams.

From Wiki "Payne debuted with the Waikato Chiefs in 2007, however his game time was limited and he was not resigned for the 2008 season. In 2009, Payne was signed by the Crusaders, for whom he made 22 appearances in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. In 2010 it was announced the Blues had signed him for the 2011 Super Rugby season."

Just seems odd that a player of his quality would have played for 3 different teams and then leave for Ulster all in the space of 4/5 years

Golden wrote:Well they are contracted to provincial teams as well as Super Rugby teams. But Payne has played for 3 Super rugby teams.

From Wiki "Payne debuted with the Waikato Chiefs in 2007, however his game time was limited and he was not resigned for the 2008 season. In 2009, Payne was signed by the Crusaders, for whom he made 22 appearances in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. In 2010 it was announced the Blues had signed him for the 2011 Super Rugby season."

Just seems odd that a player of his quality would have played for 3 different teams and then leave for Ulster all in the space of 4/5 years

What's odd about it? NZ rugby is a lot more competitive than Ireland and you often see players move around from team to team.

4 teams in 4/5 seasons not seem a bit much? I just think been a player of his quality teams would be reluctant to let him go

Golden wrote:4 teams in 4/5 seasons not seem a bit much? I just think been a player of his quality teams would be reluctant to let him go

Sonny Bill Williams played for Canterbury, Crusaders and Chiefs in 3 successive seasons. The contract system works different in NZ and the players switch around quite a lot.

Fair enough