McGann turned down the Waratahs for Munster

NEW Munster rugby signing Tim McGann of Australian provincial side Eastern Suburbs turned down a Super 14 contract with the NSW Waratahs in favour of the Heineken Cup champions.

The openside flanker, 25, is due to fly to Ireland as soon as the club side finishes their season, but their victory in last week’s Toohey New Cup semi-final over Manly Marlins means he will be in Australia for another week. Eastern Suburbs play Sydney University in the final this Saturday.

Speaking after the victory, McGann told the Sydney Morning Herald: “I hadn’t told anyone before this game, I didn’t want it to affect the week, but if we had lost I’d have been straight on the plane.

“The Waratahs offered me a contract as well, but, in the end, this was just a great opportunity at Munster.”

McGann has represented Australia at IRB Sevens and schools levels. In 2004 he joined rugby league outfit Wests Tigers but he returned to rugby union and Eastern Suburbs in January of this year. McGann is expected to provide cover for the Irish internationals in the Munster pack when they are on international duty.

Meanwhile, former All Black Paul Steinmetz and young back row Stephen Ferris return to the Ulster squad for this weekend’s Grafton Challenge with the Earth Titans at Ravenhill.

Steinmetz is back in action after he fractured his cheekbone during the Celtic League game against Cardiff last May — the second time he picked up such an injury last season.

The 29-year-old New Zealander is now fit again, as is Ferris, the 19-year-old who shot to prominence last season and who has now fully recovered from minor ankle surgery that saw him miss the Ireland A tour to north America in the summer.

Ulster also include new faces Tom Court and Mark Bartholomeusz from Australia as well as Tim Barker, who is back from Glasgow and Bangor-born Kieron Dawson, who has been signed from London Irish.

Ulster will be without Ireland internationals Neil Best, Rory Best, Bryan Young, Andrew Trimble, Isaac Boss and Tommy Bowe, who are required to take a break after their summer tour to New Zealand.

Also sidelined are skipper Simon Best, still recovering from a broken ankle, hooker Nigel Brady (back) and Matt McCullough who is recovering from a car accident in Canada.

Roger Wilson is still serving a three-match suspension.

The Ulster senior side face Andre Bester’s Rotherham-based side on Friday night and the respective A teams meet on Saturday at 1pm. The club with the highest aggregate score from both games will be crowned the Grafton Challenge Champions.

ULSTER: Forwards: J Fitzpatrick, D Fitzpatrick, T Court, P Shields, S Philpott, J Harrison, T Barker, R Caldwell, N McMillan, K Dawson, S Ferris, C Henry; backs: K Campbell, P Marshall, D Humphreys, P Wallace, P Steinmetz, K Maggs, A Maxwell, S Young, M Bartholomeusz, Br Cunningham.