Two Irish European Cup-winning fly-halves past and present are casting a long shadow over Billy Burns as he prepares for the biggest game of his career.

Ulster will be without a handful of players when they head to Rodney Parade this Sunday to face a troubled Dragons outfit in the final run of three straight Guinness PRO14 games before a break for the climax of the Six Nations.

Joe Schmidt will be naming a larger-than-usual Ireland squad for the upcoming November internationals.

Ulster Rugby announced today that Gloucester out-half Billy Burns will join the side this summer on a two-year contract.