Two-year contract sees Humphreys return home

ULSTER’S Ian Humphreys has signed for his home province on a two-year deal. The former Ballymena Academy pupil has been playing for English side Leicester Tigers since the summer of 2005 when he left club side Belfast Harlequins.

“I am really pleased to be signing for Ulster,” said Humphreys. “Everyone who grows up in Ulster wants to play for Ulster and it is something that I have always wanted to do. When the chance came along I took it and I am really looking forward to it. It will be great playing alongside a lot of guys that I have grown up with and played alongside at various levels, I went to school with Matt and Bryan and Rory is one of my best mates.”

When asked if elder brother David had been offering him any advice, Ian said: “David has always been there for me, I have talked to him about things and he told me that everything is going well under Matt Williams and he likes the way things are being run, he is there for advice but would never force his opinions.”