Ulster

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Ulster have signed prop Corrie Barrett on a one-year deal after a successful trial.

Barrett linked up with the squad in pre-season and featured in their friendly defeats against Benetton and Exeter Chiefs.

He previously played for Ulster ‘A’ as well as having spells with Munster ‘A’, Bedford Blues, Saracens, and most recently, Doncaster Knights in the RFU Championship last season.

And the 26-year-old expressed his excitement at returning to Belfast to play with the province.

“I’m delighted to sign with Ulster, as a youngster, it was always my goal to play for the club," he told Ulster's website.

"After four seasons in England, I’m excited about coming back home and getting to play with my home province.

“The setup has been very welcoming and seamless. I can already see with the calibre of players and coaches here that my game will improve.”

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Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey has signed a two-year contract extension with Ulster.

The 32-year-old, who has won 18 Test caps, debuted for his native province in February 2014 and has since amassed 190 appearances for the side.

An integral part of the set-up at Kingspan Stadium, he had been linked with a move to France last season but is now committed to Ulster until the summer of 2027.

"I’m delighted to have signed a new contract for the next two years," he said.

"I feel like I’m playing the best rugby of my career, and I’m enjoying my role as one of the more experienced players in the team."

In what figures to be a youthful squad guided by former Ireland Under-20s head coach Richie Murphy this season, McCloskey added that he is looking forward to lending his experience to younger team-mates.

"We have a squad packed with talent, and have a good blend between experience and youth. It’s exciting times around the place, and we have a core of young centres coming through that I’m excited to work with and help push them on.

"I'm really motivated and excited for the season ahead as we move forward."

Head coach Murphy said McCloskey's experience within the group meant he had taken on a leadership role with his young squad.

"He has taken a real senior role within the team," Murphy said.

"He's been excellent. It's not necessarily a defined role but he has been really good over the past number of weeks leading those guys.

"We're very excited to have him and he seems excited to be here over the next number of years."

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy was not concerned with the result of his side's pre-season defeat to the Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday.

Seven days prior to their URC campaign starting with the hosting of Glasgow Warriors at Kingspan Stadium, Ulster led late against the English opponents they will see again in the Champions Cup come January.

But Rob Baxter's side scored 17 unanswered points in the final quarter to win the friendly 31-15.

Murphy, however, was not too bothered by the result, focussing instead on how well the game prepared his side for the resumption of competitive action this weekend.

“We're not really too concerned about the scoreline," said the Ulster coach.

“It was more about getting the hit-out. Our maul attack and defence and some of our breakdown stuff was really good.

"Our ability to look after the ball is probably something we need to work on."

Ulster played the game without the likes of Iain Henderson, Tom O'Toole, Cormac Izuchukwu and Rob Herring, with Murphy pleased by how his side responded physically without so many of their first-choice pack.

“It was a brilliant workout and a very physical game for a friendly,” he added.

“I don’t think the score reflects what the game was like. I don’t think Exeter would have thought they had won by 16 points and towards the back end of a game we’re trying to get ready for [the] weekend so we’re pulling players off and bringing in young guys."

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South African Werner Kok is in line to make his Ulster debut in Saturday's pre-season friendly against Exeter at Sandy Park.

The back-three player, who was signed from the Sharks this summer, is named among the replacements for the trip to England.

Zack Ward is handed his first Ulster start, with the trialist on the right wing after coming off the bench in last weekend's 26-19 victory over Benetton in Belfast.

The front row sees a return to action for Andrew Warwick at loosehead prop while trialist Corrie Barrett is named at tighthead.

Alan O'Connor will captain the team from the second row and development talent James McNabney starts at eight.

The half-back partnership this weekend sees scrum-half Nathan Doak pairing up with Kiwi Aidan Morgan, who made his debut for the province last weekend.

Ben Carson starts at inside centre and is joined by Jude Postlethwaite while Aaron Sexton starts again on the right wing with Ethan McIlroy completing the backfield at full-back.

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy; Zac Ward, Jude Postlethwaite, Ben Carson, Aaron Sexton; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Andrew Warwick, James McCormick, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell, Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, James McNabney.

Replacements: John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan, Scott Wilson, Henry Walker, Harry Sheridan, Reuben Crothers, David McCann, Nick Timoney, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Mike Lowry, Stewart Moore, Werner Kok, Ben Moxham

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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."

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy is expecting Werner Kok to make his debut for the province in this weekend's friendly away to Exeter Chiefs.

The South African back-three player signed from the Sharks this summer but was not involved in last weekend's 26-19 pre-season win over Benetton in Belfast.

In what is the final tune-up before Ulster's URC season begins against champions Glasgow on 21 September, Kok should feature at Sandy Park.

"We're hoping Werner will go," said Murphy.

"He picked up a very slight calf injury that kept him out of this game, it would have been crazy to play him.

"He should make next week."

Murphy will bring in the region of 27 players to Exeter, although those that toured South Africa with Ireland in the summer will again not be involved.

Having come off the bench against Benetton, Irish Olympian Zac Ward, who is on trial with Ulster, will get another chance to impress.

Having starred at the Paris Games in sevens, Ward has been transitioning back into 15s rugby while also learning a new position.

"He's literally here two weeks," reminded Murphy.

"He's had five training sessions. He was a back-row forward when he went to sevens, now he's on the wing. It's so different.

"Over the next couple of months, we'll be trying to upskill him and get him to a place where he feels comfortable on the wing."

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Summer arrival Aidan Morgan will make his Ulster debut in Saturday's opening pre-season friendly against Benetton at Kingspan Stadium.

Fly-half Morgan, 23, will partner Nathan Doak in the half-backs with Ireland Sevens player Zac Ward named on the bench as he continues his trial with the Irish province.

Ulster's other major summer acquisition wing Werner Kok, who arrived from the Sharks, will not feature in Saturday's game.

James McNabney is named in the back row following his promotion from the Ulster Academy.

The bench includes James Humphreys and Scott Wilson, who also have moved up from the province's academy squad.

Mike Lowry will captain the side from full-back with Academy player Rory Telfer, who represented Ireland at this summer's Under-20 World Cup, and Aaron Sexton occupying the wing berths and Jude Postlethwaite and Stewart Moore selected at centre.

Ulster's front row includes another trialist Corrie Barrett who will pack down with Eric O'Sullivan and John Andrew.

Harry Sheridan will partner Kieran Treadwell in the second row with McNabney joined by Sean Reffell and David McCann in the back row.

Ulster: Lowry; Telfer, Moore, Postlethwaite, Sexton; Morgan, Doak; O'Sullivan, Andrew, Barrett; Sheridan, Treadwell; McNabney, Reffell, McCann.

Replacements: McCormick, Reid, Wilson, A O'Connor, Marcus Rea, McKee, Humphreys, Carson, Walker, Irvine, McKillop, Brigg, Shanahan, Ward, Murphy.

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Ulster will play their festive interprovincials against Munster and Connacht on 20 and 28 December respectively.

When the United Rugby Championship released their fixture list in May, the traditional Christmas derbies had been listed without dates or kick-off times.

Leinster will host Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on 21 December before Leo Cullen's men travel to Thomond Park to face Munster on 27 December.

In another change, Ulster's away game against the Lions in Johannesburg on 28 September will now kick off at 11:55 BST.

URC festive interprovincials

20 December: Ulster vs Munster, 19:35 BST

21 December: Leinster vs Connacht, 17:30 BST

27 December: Munster vs Leinster, 19:35 BST

28 December: Connacht vs Ulster, 19:35 BST

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Ulster have confirmed that Ireland Sevens star Zac Ward will join the province's senior men's squad for an "extended trial" until the autumn international window.

Ballynahinch native Ward, 25, scored four tries for the Ireland Sevens side at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris, helping them finish sixth.

Ward's displays in the sevens code saw him named the men's sevens players' player of the year award at the Rugby Players Ireland awards in Dublin earlier this year.

“It’s great to be welcoming Zac into the squad, as we ramp up preparations for the new season," said Ulster head of rugby operations and recruitment Bryn Cunningham.

"Zac is coming off the back of a successful period playing with the national Sevens set-up, and we feel this is a good opportunity for him to bring his skills and qualities into the group in the weeks ahead.”

Ulster, who are preparing for their first full season under head coach Richie Murphy, have also signed former New Zealand Under-20 fly-half Aidan Morgan and South African wing Werner Kok during the off-season.

Ulster face Benetton and Exeter in pre-season friendlies before beginning their 2024-25 United Rugby Championship season at home to holders Glasgow on 21 September.