Former Pres tight head Bryan O'Connor joins Ulster

The 25-year-old joins a fortnight after Marty Moore announced his retirement from rugby. 

Bryan O'Connor at Ulster training.

Cork front row Bryan O'Connor has completed a remarkable turnaround in his young career after impressing in a couple of pre-season friendlies with Bedford in England. 

As reported by the Irish Examiner in Tuesday's paper, the prop has signed with Ulster after new IRFU performance director David Humphreys was tipped off that Premiership clubs Saracens and Northampton Saints were set to offer O'Connor a deal. 

O'Connor has joined up with his new colleagues at Ravenhill and could be involved for the province against Connacht on Saturday.

The tight head had been with English Championship side Bedford since last year. He joined the club in the summer of 2023 in search of game time after two-and-a-half years with Gloucester.  

“I’m delighted to sign with the province and I’m looking forward to getting integrated into the squad," O'Connor said.

"I feel I can add to the group here and can improve my game under the coaching staff. I’m excited to get going for the rest of the season.”

The 25-year-old's signing comes a fortnight after Marty Moore announced his retirement from rugby. Moore, who had spent six years at Ulster, said last month that he has decided to "prioritise his mental wellbeing".

O'Connor, a native of Crosshaven, won a Munster Schools Senior Cup with PBC in 2017 alongside future Bedford teammate Sean French. He had a season with the Munster sub-academy and played for Ireland at the 2018 U20 World Championship. 

His form for UCC in the AIL led to an offer from Gloucester and he joined the Premiership side in January 2021, making his professional debut four months later against Northampton. He made 11 appearances for Gloucester before joining Bedford where he made 22 appearances last season. 

O'Connor's journey is similar to that of Munster's Tom Farrell. The centre, a former Ireland U20 international, spent the 2016/17 season with Bedford before joining Connacht. After seven years at the Sportsground, he joined Munster during the summer.

It's another example of why, even if a player does not earn a provincial contract early in their career, their window to play at the highest level in Ireland is not shut.

“Bryan has had a few years playing over in England and we feel, with his physical profile, there was an opportunity to bring him in and add to our squad depth at tighthead," said Ulster's head of operations Bryan Cunningham.

"Bryan joins a front row with a similar age- profile and we look forward to seeing his development and contribution over the season ahead.”

Ulster have one win from their three URC games this season, beating reigning champions Glasgow by a point in the opening round before suffering successive losses to the Lions and Bulls in South Africa.