Jared Payne signs new two year deal to remain to Ulster

Jared Payne has become the latest key Ireland player to sign a renewed deal with the IRFU. The Ulster centre/full-back agreeing a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Kingspan Stadium through to the summer of 2018.

The New Zealand native spent his first season in Belfast on the sidelines with injury, but he has since proven to be one of the best value-for-money imports of the professional era at provincial level while Ireland have profited from his abilities since he qualified under the residency rule in 2014.

Ulster Director of Rugby Les Kiss spoke in a statement yesterday about the player’s astuteness, intelligence and experience. The IRFU’s Performance Director David Nucifora referenced his worth as a decision-maker and a leader.