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Best: 'Jack is a quality player and it's exciting for Ulster.' Dan Sheridan/INPHO

'We need to get away from the days of signing bit-part players from other teams'

Rory Best has described the acquisition of Jack McGrath as a statement signing from Ulster.

LAST UPDATE | 4 Apr 2019

RORY BEST SAYS Ulster’s acquisition of Jack McGrath from Leinster is a statement signing for the province, as they bid to strengthen their resources and continue on an upward trajectory under Dan McFarland.

The IRFU this week confirmed McGrath’s move north after the loosehead prop initiated discussions over a potential switch having becoming frustrated by a lack of starting opportunities at both club and international level in recent times.

McGrath follows Jordi Murphy in making the move to Belfast from his native province and the 29-year-old will hope consistent game-time in the number one jersey will help him challenge Cian Healy at international level.

Following the arrival of Murphy and Marty Moore last summer, and the signing of Wallaby lock Sam Carter for next season, Ulster have made strong moves in the market as their revival under McFarland gathers momentum. 

Speaking on The42 Rugby Weekly, Ireland captain Best says it’s important Ulster continue to acquire the right calibre of player moving forward, rather than be content in adding ‘bit-part’ players to their squad.

“Over the last 12 months now, we have brough in British Lions and Irish internationals,” the hooker said. “Bringing in Jordi and Marty and now Jack McGrath, and I think we need to get away from the days where we kind of signed bit-part players from other teams and hoped they were good.

“Now to be saying we’re signing internationals is a great statement. We need to make sure we keep pressure on our structures and systems, that we can bring through plenty of Ulster-born players, but ultimately these are guys that are going to add something to the shirt, and they’re going to add something to the environment.

“The likes of the Eric O’Sullivans coming through, in Jack McGrath’s case, he can learn off him. These guys can learn off one of the best looseheads.”

On the signing of McGrath, Best added: “He’s a quality player. I’ve really enjoyed playing with him, not so much in a Leinster shirt. But playing with him for Ireland and seeing the way he progressed from a bit of a squad player to being a starting Irish international and the battle between him and Cian Healy has really come down to whoever got injured has fallen out and then the other one has had to wait their turn.

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“That’s the sort of quality player you want but also as a person, he’s a top bloke. Really good guy around the place and you want people who are likeable as ultimately when you get into a battle, you need to trust people around you.

“And Jack has all of that and it’s really exciting for Ulster Rugby.”

Reflecting on last weekend’s quarter-final defeat to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium, Best believes it was the type of performance that the players and supporters alike can take heart from, as Ulster look to push on and compete for silverware again.

“That was probably one of the big things we wanted to achieve from this season, obviously we want success, but we wanted everyone who doubted us last year, that doubted our commitment and ability. We didn’t want to prove them wrong but we wanted to bring them back in and show them, this is actually what Ulster Rugby is about, this is what we leave on the pitch and this is what traditionally Ulster have been about.

“That’s what we want to get back to and we want to re-engage with the community, with the fans and want to give them something they can be proud of. I think Saturday was obviously a massive step towards that.” 

First published today at 18.38

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    Mute Drew Walsh
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    Apr 4th 2019, 6:44 PM

    Cooney was a bit part player when he joined Ulster now look at him.

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    Mute JoeO
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    Apr 4th 2019, 6:49 PM

    @Drew Walsh: He’s won more European Cups than Best

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Apr 4th 2019, 8:09 PM

    @JoeO: Allan Clarke won the HCup playing hooker at Ulster, doesn’t make him a better hooker in Ulsters history. Rugby is a team sport so trophies cannot be used to measure individual players.

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    Mute Rochelle
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    Apr 4th 2019, 8:33 PM

    @Drew Walsh: He was the backup 9 behind Marmion for the Pro 12 champions when he signed, hardly bit part.

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    Mute Eoin Murphy
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    Apr 4th 2019, 9:05 PM

    I genuinely think eric o suillivan can start ahead of him if eric really pushes himself

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    Mute RabidHorizon
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    Apr 4th 2019, 11:31 PM

    @Eoin Murphy: his scrummaging will need to come on to do that. Leinster got 3 points of the back of a scrum pen on his side. They also got out of the corner when Stockdale dropped the ball with a scrum pen on his side. Not knocking the kid he can do it, but he has work ons

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    Mute Eoin Murphy
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    Apr 4th 2019, 11:57 PM

    @RabidHorizon: to be fair he was up against argubly the best TH in the world but you have a good point

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    Mute Harry O'Callaghan
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    Apr 4th 2019, 9:50 PM

    Sad to see him go, quality player when fit but he just wasnt moving healy. His form has dipped since the lions tour and was behind Ed byrne in the pecking order in recent weeks.
    But there’s some serious prospects at Leinster coming through that can develop their game like Thomas clarkson & Michael Milne. It’ll be between Byrne, Dooley & Bent fighting it out for a bench spot behind healy. Imo Byrnes better than Dooley. Bent will probably retire or move on next season

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 4th 2019, 10:03 PM

    @Harry O’Callaghan: Can’t see Bent going anywhere yet. He’ll be too important next season with Furlong and Porter gone for long periods. And Porter hasn’t shown himself up to being a solid starter at TH if Furlong was to go down with an injury they’d struggle.

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    Mute Harry O'Callaghan
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    Apr 4th 2019, 10:32 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: Porter is more than capable of holding his own. He’s still relatively new to tighthead, but even already at such a young age he’s leapfrogged John Ryan to be Irelands 2nd choice tighthead. They also have Vakh Abaladze & Jack Aungier coming through, so hopefully they’ll get more game time this year

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 4th 2019, 10:42 PM

    @Harry O’Callaghan: Porter is a fine option off the bench and had a great performance against Wales last year in the Six Nations but the amount of starts he’s got for Leinster in the last 2 seasons would point to them not being quite sure he’s ready to start big games just yet. And while Abdaladze and Aungier are very talented players Leinster aren’t going to start the season with just the two of them available while Furlong and Porter are at the WC.

    And it’s debatable if Porter has leapfrogged Ryan as Ireland’s 2nd choice TH. They’ve split appearances this season so it’d seem that they’re pretty neck and neck.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 4th 2019, 10:42 PM

    @Harry O’Callaghan: Porter is a fine option off the bench and had a great performance against Wales last year in the Six Nations but the amount of starts he’s got for Leinster in the last 2 seasons would point to them not being quite sure he’s ready to start big games just yet. And while Abdaladze and Aungier are very talented players Leinster aren’t going to start the season with just the two of them available while Furlong and Porter are at the WC.

    And it’s debatable if Porter has leapfrogged Ryan as Ireland’s 2nd choice TH. They’ve split appearances this season so it’d seem that they’re pretty neck and neck.

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    Mute Harry O'Callaghan
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    Apr 4th 2019, 10:56 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: He’s hardly going to be starting while Furlongs fit though? But whenever he has started, he’s been brilliant. He’s so new to tighthead, but even already look where he is at. He’s just naturally talented. And o my going to get better, will Ryan get better…I doubt it. He’ll be 31 in August. Abaladze has already gotten some game time for the senior team this year which is a huge plus.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 4th 2019, 11:12 PM

    @Harry O’Callaghan: And what of the 6 games this season that he’s been on the bench while Bent started to go with 5 last season. Porter’s starts this season have come against the Dragon’s x2, Zebre and Ulster which aren’t exactly the most dangerous of scrums. I don’t doubt his natural talent or how good he could be but we’re talking about the here and now. If the Heineken Cup final is tomorrow and Furlong is injured who do you think starts at TH? For me it’s Bent.

    And anyway my original point was Bent will be at Leinster next season which he undoubtedly will unless you think they’re going to start the season with two TH’s with a combined 90 minutes of professional rugby under their belts. Do you think they’ll do that?

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 4th 2019, 11:12 PM

    @Harry O’Callaghan: And what of the 6 games this season that he’s been on the bench while Bent started to go with 5 last season. Porter’s starts this season have come against the Dragon’s x2, Zebre and Ulster which aren’t exactly the most dangerous of scrums. I don’t doubt his natural talent or how good he could be but we’re talking about the here and now. If the Heineken Cup final is tomorrow and Furlong is injured who do you think starts at TH? For me it’s Bent.

    And anyway my original point was Bent will be at Leinster next season which he undoubtedly will unless you think they’re going to start the season with two TH’s with a combined 90 minutes of professional rugby under their belts. Do you think they’ll do that?

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    Mute Harry O'Callaghan
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    Apr 4th 2019, 11:40 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: Why isn’t Bent in the national side then if you rate him more highly than Porter? He probably will be there next season, considering the lack of game time the other two have.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 4th 2019, 11:52 PM

    @Harry O’Callaghan: Well for one thing try as I might my opinion doesn’t count for anything when it comes to the national squad selection. And even then I wouldn’t have him in the squad ahead of Porter who’s a fantastic option off the bench. But if there was a important match to start I’d go for Ryan who, while not being a better player than Porter, is a far superior scrummager at the moment.

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    Mute Harry O'Callaghan
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    Apr 5th 2019, 12:19 AM

    @Eddie Hekenui: Is that why he was picked for only 2 games, and Porter was picked for 3 games. Arguably Ireland’s toughest tests…England, Wales & Scotland?

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 5th 2019, 1:06 AM

    @Harry O’Callaghan: Again Porter is a fantastic TH to have of the bench because of how dynamic he is but there is a difference between being the bench TH and 2nd choice TH. World Cup tomorrow who starts for Ireland if Furlong is injured? I reckon it’s Ryan. When Furlong was rested in Australia who got the start? Ryan

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    Mute Martin Quinn
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    Apr 5th 2019, 2:19 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui:

    Disagree with that it will be Porter who will be number 2 under TF :: Ryan works hard but will always be a bench player where Porter will take over from TF when needed…………….

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    Mute Mark Smith
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    Apr 4th 2019, 8:20 PM

    The vibes are good for the future.

    No more sand kicked in the faces of our front row.

    Four quality props

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    Mute grandslamkbo
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    Apr 5th 2019, 3:21 AM

    @Mark Smith: He is a great player and a superb addition to Ulster. I love the way Best referred to Jack McGrath as a “British Lion” above :)

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    Mute O'Cinnéide Pól
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    Apr 5th 2019, 9:35 AM

    @grandslamkbo: Best should know better and I’m sure McGrath wouldn’t be too pleased to be called a British lion.

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    Mute Peter Brophy
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    Apr 4th 2019, 10:13 PM

    Charles Piutau was no bit player but he just didn’t fit, seems to be more about finding someone who fits.

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Apr 4th 2019, 10:26 PM

    @Peter Brophy: he means the ones that had to be cleared out recently like Ah You, Herron, Herbst and Shalk VdM. Piutau actually did very well at Ulster and carried the backline at times.

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    Mute Peter Brophy
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    Apr 5th 2019, 12:08 AM

    @Kingshu: Ah You was terrible

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Apr 4th 2019, 11:05 PM

    I think that (esp when Grant joins next year) as a whole the Ulster Coaching ticket will be the strongest out of all the provinces. The others have good coaches as well but there are some weaker coaches as where, there isnt a weak link in the Ulster coaching ticket. Over all as a coaching team Ulsters would be strongest. Which is a fantastic starting point for building a team. Year one has been better than we could have hoped, already excited about year two.

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    Mute rugbyanbeer
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    Apr 4th 2019, 10:35 PM

    Ulster seem to have all their ducks in a row no messing around with Coaches coming in mid season nice depth in the pack .

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    Mute Andrew Adams
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    Apr 4th 2019, 11:25 PM

    @rugbyanbeer: the change of CEO i believe has influenced that. We’re not making big statements about where we’ll be in 5 years time whilst, at the same time, flying by the seat of our pants. We’re keeping a lid on things whilst planning / recruiting well ahead of time.

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    Mute rugbyanbeer
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    Apr 4th 2019, 11:39 PM

    @Andrew Adams: Its very positive onwards and upwards .Methinks the feel good factor had Rory putting off his retirement the old war horse wants an Ulster trophy

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    Mute barry keogh
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    Apr 5th 2019, 8:56 PM

    It’s becoming clear that gym fitness is not enough for a prop and while a big roster needed to cover injuries the big roster doesn’t help with on field time. One for the exercise physiologists.

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