Ward can be 'devastating' for Ulster - Soper

Ulster assistant coach Dan Soper says Zac Ward has the potential to be a "devastating" weapon for the club but admits he is on a "steep learning curve" as he tries to establish himself as a winger in the 15s game.

Ward made his first Ulster appearance in Saturday's 26-19 friendly win over Benetton in Belfast.

The 25-year-old - the son of former Ulster and Ireland flanker Andy Ward - joined Ulster on a trial basis earlier this summer after starring for the Ireland Sevens at the Paris Olympics.

"You get the ball in his hands and he makes things happen," said Soper.

"Those things he did in sevens when he was on the edge of the pitch, if we can create opportunities like that for him, he could be really devastating but it's certainly so foreign to him in terms of he played all his 15s rugby in the back row and now he's thinking about backfield coverage and catching high balls."

Soper, who said Ulster have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday's friendly away to Exeter Chiefs (17:00 BST), added: "The great thing has been, and it comes from the sevens environment, he's been really good at going after those extras and finding other bits and pieces he needs to do the extra training on.

"He's making progress but it's a tough transition, what's he's doing."