Great list; I was just wondering where I could find something like this.  One small detail/correction: I think Jacob Boyd got one cap last season (48′ minutes vs Benetton).

The other Year 3 academy lads are interesting. It’s probably unlikely now that any of them see game time this season, so offers of senior/development contracts will have to be made based on training and AIL appearances. Graham and Kenny were well regarded (for speed and power respectively) at underage.  I think Kenny had a long term injury about a year ago.  Walker was good in U20, had two years there.

@forestial  thanks,  still working on it, but thanks for the heads up on Boyd.  Yeah never really give the academy much thought, maybe because we have seen so little of them this year out side of McAllister ( and Scott to a lesser degree).  We have this idea that Richie gives the young ones a chance… not so much this year.   Even when you think they signed McNamara on a short term to cover full back, skipping over Graham which does not a good sign for him I guess.  You also wonder about Boyd if McAllister is already higher up the pecking order.  Of course there might be some injuries that I know nothing about.

Looking at Bryan O’Connor, he’s 27, been with us for 2 years and played very little for us and its seems he has only 16 caps in total across all teams he’s been at.  I’m assuming he will but in the squad today, but you think he really needs to be showing something on Saturday if he has a hope of staying on. 

Still have to finish first post, but I only listened to the start of the new stand up pod cast but its sounds like John Andrew, Shanahan, and Humphreys are being cut this summer, which isn’t a huge shocker considering how little game time they have had the last 2 seasons 

Marcus Rea must be at risk of getting cut (although we don’t know his current contract end date).  Position-wise he’s directly competing with Timoney and Ward, whom he doesn’t match up too well against.  He’s frustrating to watch: can be very good in the turnover battle but just doesn’t do it often enough.  I’d think either him or Reffell (not both) could be gone.

So I was looking at the timing on contract announcements last year,  Crean and McGuire were announced on the 14th of May and then  22nd of May the confirmed the whole squad of 43 senior players.   Also on the 22nd they announced departing players before the last home game, so they will likely do the same before the Glasgow game.   Including next years new signings we currently have 49 Senior players ( thats not including the 7 final year Academy players),  if you assume that John Andrew, Shanahan, and Humphreys are gone that 46 senior players and you think we are still looking or about to announce a LH as the very least, so you would that there will be a few players still to be dropped 

Probably a few of those academy lads don’t make it. None of Stevens/Kenny/Graham have ever played for the senior team so you’d worry for them.

I dream that when all the contracts are done for the season, we’ve enough left over to go and try and get Andy Warwick to come back.  It was absolutely criminal he wasn’t offered anything at the end of last season, he’s always been a rock for us, never stood out or threatened the Ireland selectors, but you’d never worry about the scrum with him on the team sheet in the way I have been doing this season without him.

Yeah didn’t understand why he was not kept on, he was Mr dependable, but maybe he wanted to leave it ( contract offer was poor?  ) who knows.  

Adam McKendry reports that Ireland Under-19s scrum-half Connor McVicker the first player confirmed to be joining Ulster’s Academy next season

I suppose this coming week (with our last home game on Friday) will reveal who is leaving at the end of the season.  Connacht seems to be reducing their squad to about 39 players and there was talk earlier that other provinces may forced to do likewise.

As well as McVicker I saw that a centre Tom Bell from Regent is joining the academy.  I’d expect Owen O’Kane (outhalf) also in that group. Ulster had a good number of lads in this year’s Ireland U-19s.

@forestial yeah we will know this week, but i’m not expecting any surprise major signings, maybe some Leinster academy players that didn’t get contracts ( not that I have checked if there any)

Jamie Benson made prem team of the week:

PREM Rugby Team of the Week: Tom Willis ‘a cruel joke’

15 Jamie Benson (Harlequins): Ulster have a serious player coming to the Affidea Stadium next season if this is anything to go by. Once again deployed at full-back, the Irish-qualified ace tore through Newcastle for fun at times with 136 metres from his 10 carries, and bagged himself a fine hat-trick for his troubles. Freddie Steward and Olly Woodburn were not far off selection, though.

If we dont sign a prop of some sort for next season I would be seriously concerned. That said I have been impressed with McAllister so far but loosehead is a massive area of worry.

John Andrew (137)

Angus Bell (15)

Matthew Dalton (23)

James Humphreys (8)

Werner Kok (33)

Ben Moxham (41)

Rory McGuire (1)

Bryan O’Connor (5)

Marcus Rea (59)

Sean Reffell (16)

David Shanahan (104)

The province can also confirm that Academy players Sam Berman, Wilhelm De Klerk, Ethan Graham, Lukas Kenny and Josh Stevens will also leave following the conclusion of the current season.

They left it very late to announce this.  Most I expected , but a bit more than what I was expecting ( the amount of academy players really) .  Shame about Kok but not a surprise,  surprised about Dalton thought he’s been good this season, and slightly surprised about De Klerk. 

I assume that the rest of the year 3 are getting contacts , Jacob Boyd (Prop) Henry Walker (Hooker), Tom Brigg (Back Rower), Aitzol Arenzana-King (Winger)?

So 4 academy players get contracts and 4 new signings, so as it stands 3 less senior contacts compared to last year?  does that mean more signings to come or we need more savings?

Night of the long knives there!  After the numbers released in the last two years, I thought it would be a bit less than 11.

I think, assuming 4 are promoted from academy, the squad will be at about 40 next season.  There seems to be a drive from the IRFU to cut the numbers.

I’m still astounded that we aren’t bringing in a loose-head prop.  With McGuire, O’Connor and Bell leaving, we only have two seniors in that position (O’Sullivan and Reid, both of whom have had many injury problems).  Boyd plays there of course and good to see him moving up but he’s awfully green.  In Besty we trust!

Surely we are going to do a deal for a front row forward