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.”

Coach Matt Williams was delighted with the signing.

“I think it is a tremendous capture by Ulster,” said Williams. “I watched Ian as a young boy with Dungannon and was impressed with him. He was tremendous when Leicester defeated Munster at Thomond Park in the Heineken Cup last season and I thought it was great to see an Irish flyhalf doing so well.

“He is an Ulsterman with a great deal of experience in the Premiership and with his older brother David retiring at the end of the season, it is a tremendous and huge bonus for the Ulster side.

“It was obviously a great opportunity to bring him home and he ticks every single box with history, pride and the desire to play here. He will also be great to be competing with the talented Niall O’Connor who has been influenced so much by David this season and progressed so well.

Meanwhile Williams has named his 26-man squad for Saturday’s Magners League game in Cardiff (kick off 5.30pm).

The main addition to the squad is former Sullivan pupil Darren Cave, who will be hoping to be included in the team following on from some encouraging Ulster A performances.

Michael Bradley also announced his 26-man squad ahead of his sides final away encounter in the Magners League against the Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday (kick off: 7.10pm).

Ofisa Treviranus has recovered from injury to be named among the backs having been out since December with a broken leg. Galwegians Liam Bibo, Peter Durcan and Joe Merrigan have also been included as Connacht travel to Newport looking to go one better than last time out against Ulster.

Worcester flanker Tom Wood has signed a two-year contract extension with the Guinness Premiership club.

The 21-year-old has been rewarded after breaking into the first-team squad this season and establishing himself with a series of impressive displays.

Wood said: “I’m delighted to agree a new extension at Warriors, I have thoroughly enjoyed this season and being such a big part of the first-team squad. I feel with the coaching team at Warriors I can continue to develop and improve even more next season.”

Director of rugby Mike Ruddock added: “He has made rapid strides and has the physical size to make an international back-row forward. He also has the determination to carry him to that goal.”

ULSTER: (forwards): J Fitzpatrick; R Best, T Court, J Harrison, K Dawson, S Ferris, R Caldwell, C Del Fava, M McCullough, Nl Brady, B Young, N Best, R Wilson, S Philpott. (Backs): P Marshall; I Boss, P Wallace, N O’Connor, M McCrea, D Cave, A Trimble, T Bowe, B Cunningham, R Dewey, P Steinmetz, M Bartholomeusz.