Kiss arrival puts Ulster players on high despite high-profile departures

If a sense of trauma permeates the Ulster rugby squad following the shock departures in the summer of David Humphreys and coach Mark Anscombe someone has forgotten to tell Tommy Bowe and Darren Cave.

Both international three-quarters welcomed season ticket-holders to the renamed Kingspan Stadium in Belfast yesterday with nothing but positive thoughts for the upcoming season, and a World Cup next year.

Director of Rugby Humphreys stunned fans and players alike with his decision to take over at English Premiership Gloucester several weeks ago, and then Anscombe returned from New Zealand for pre-season training to find his services were no longer required.