So the current rumour is we had a prop lined up but that has fallen thought because of failing to make champions cup (either they want champions cup or we can’t afford them because of the loss of revenue from champions cup), so Eduardo Bello is a fall back option.
also with Moana Pasifika being disbanded ( only announced in April) there might be some props with no contract for next season, so their might be availability there. But it sounds like there will be no big name signing, short term signing for next year. To be honest while it was great to have someone like Bell for a few months I would prefer to have a Toomaga-Allen type for a few years instead
Bernard Jackman said on the 42 podcast (rugby weekly extra) that Chay Mullins is moving from Connacht to Ulster
Chay MULLINS : stats – All.Rugby
I bit of a surprise at first, but then guess it replacement cover for Kok and Moxham
Yeah he came from Sevens (which I used to follow quite a bit). A bit surprised that Connacht didn’t keep him, but yes we’re down two wingers from this season’s squad so can see the logic.
Adam McKendry confirmed in the tele that he has done a medical and of he passes that he will sign a 1 year contract.
Even if he passed the recent fitness test I don’t think Ulster will give him more than a one-year contract. With the injuries he has apparently had (has not played a minute since Sept 2024) it’s a risk.
Apparently originally they offered him a short term contract but then a one year after the fitness test, Saints and Zebra were also interested in him ( and stormers were interested in him last summer), maybe it got an offer somewhere else and ulster had to up their offer to secure him. Look how Marcell Coetzee worked out for us, hopefully the injury/ recovery is bit is behind him now
Also a rumour that just released Leinster academy lock Mahon Ronan is coming to ulster
Mahon RONAN : stats – All.Rugby
Sooooo Keynan Knox
That’s an odd one. Adding him and Gallo (neither confirmed of course), both being tight-heads, looks a bit unbalanced. Our real weakness is LH and the only strategy there seems to be to move Tom O’Toole.
I think its a good deal if both he and Bello sign but if its only one id be worried. TOT clearly moving to loosehead
Yeah, if we are getting both, great, relying on an academy player, McAllister, as your 3rd choice was always risky. More depth the better if he’s a solid option and not a journey man like Milasinovich ( no harm to him). I guess we do have EOS, Crean and Reid at LH, but the drop in quality after ToT quite big ( maybe EOS can rediscover some of his form/promise he had in this early years)
Bello also now. I hope he doesn’t find out I called him Gallo in another thread 🤦
good that they are now officially announced . I’m guessing that its for the squad, not hearing anything else on the radar. I think they normally have an “ulster confirms the squad for next season” post, would expect that in the next few days