ULSTER HAVE SECURED the services of Ireland international Craig Gilroy after the 24-year-old signed a new two-year contract.
The winger, who has six international caps, will remain at Ravenhill until the end of the 2018 season.
Gilroy has scored 35 tries for Ulster and becqme the youngest player to win 100 caps for the province when he lined out against Benetton Treviso in the Guinness Pro12 in February.
“I’m delighted to be staying,” he said. “I still have huge aspirations with Ulster and Ireland so it’s great to be continuing here with my home Province. I’m really enjoying my rugby and I’ve got a lot of family and friends here.
“I love playing for Ulster, particularly at Kingspan Stadium, where we receive fantastic support. It’s a great place to play and it’s a great place to score tries.
“The squad that we have, and that we are continuing to develop, looks really good and I think we’re close to winning some silverware.”
Gilroy made his Ulster debut in November 2010 and has since established himself in Neil Doak’s squad but hasn’t yet broken into the international fold on a regular basis.
He was one of the unfortunate players to miss out on Joe Schmidt’s World Cup squad having being included in the extended training panel for the summer.
Regarded as one of the most exciting players in the Pro12, Gilroy enjoyed a prolific season last year as he was named Ulster’s player of the year as well as being included in the league’s dream team.
“Craig re-signing with Ulster Rugby was paramount to our succession plan as he brings with him huge experience at such a young age,” Ulster team manager, Bryn Cunningham, added.
“He is a member of our core group of young local players who will drive Ulster Rugby forward over the next few years.”
Ulster travel to Edinburgh on Friday evening for the resumption of the Pro12.
C’mon Leinster, let’s put this bogey team behind us and try for an all irish quarter final!
Poor delusional ospreys, they need to raise their game 5 levels just to avoid being killed in the collision areas, too many of them will be thinking of wealthy courtiers abroad to bother showing up against an impressive Leinster set up
Well… It hasn’t stopped them kickin our asses in previous seasons!
Not gona be easy(it never is against The Ospreys) but confident we will get the result required to get a last 8 spot. Both teams have good strong teams named so will be a good game as always when these two teams take the field.
get on leinster too win with bonus pts. ospreys have nothing too play for but leinster have all too play for. prob have 3 tries by h/t. and 3 more by full.
Phil are you ok?
never better just pissed that no matter what happens this weekend the frenchies will all get home Q/F’s. ye will get 5 pts and we will get 4 i think. and you n me agree that sean cronin is m..k but that strauss is some push on too ireland/leinster.
I never thought I’d live to see the day that Philip wrote a comment without abusing Leinster. Great to see, best of luck to all 4 provinces this weekend.
What is it four or five Lions in the pack. Hopefully Leinster will win but with Poite on the whistle anything could happen
All AB’s motto, ” your never a failure until you start blaming someone else”.